Should it be in the test

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

4rfv.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=44435

Yes i think it should be in the test and not just a couple of lesson’s either.

Your view’s please. :wink:

2

I do agree maybe the industry could try and run a scheme were people are given the chance to go out in a HGV and maybe have a go at drving in a controlled environment.
There is a charity do round here for Breastcancer I think were women are sponsered to drive different vehicles and most find that driving the trucks a real eye opener and leave with a greater appreciation of the problems of driving HGV’s.

I also wonder how much of the increase is due to side swipes from left hand drive trucks.

3

I agree with both the motorway training and demonstration of an LGV environment but seeing as the DSA seem determined to lower the standards of car drivers (remember the examiner who resigned recently) I can’t see it happening.

4

muckles:
I do agree maybe the industry could try and run a scheme were people are given the chance to go out in a HGV and maybe have a go at drving in a controlled environment.
There is a charity do round here for Breastcancer I think were women are sponsered to drive different vehicles and most find that driving the trucks a real eye opener and leave with a greater appreciation of the problems of driving HGV’s.

I also wonder how much of the increase is due to side swipes from left hand drive trucks.

Yes and Robk as the driver :laughing: :laughing:

5

It’s all very well including it for the newly qualified but what about educating the millions that are out there already who don’t have a clue :open_mouth: :open_mouth: .

You know them, they’re the ones that have been driving for X number of years and think they know it all :unamused: :unamused:

6

kitkat:

muckles:
I do agree maybe the industry could try and run a scheme were people are given the chance to go out in a HGV and maybe have a go at drving in a controlled environment.
There is a charity do round here for Breastcancer I think were women are sponsered to drive different vehicles and most find that driving the trucks a real eye opener and leave with a greater appreciation of the problems of driving HGV’s.

I also wonder how much of the increase is due to side swipes from left hand drive trucks.

Yes and Robk as the driver :laughing: :laughing:

What calm, mild mannered, keeps his opinions to himself Rob? :smiley:
Oh Sorry :blush: not that Rob, you mean the other Rob K, :laughing: Well if he did take them for a trip they’d be left in no doubt about the problems car drivers give us. :open_mouth: :laughing:

7

Dogmanbodie:
It’s all very well including it for the newly qualified but what about educating the millions that are out there already who don’t have a clue :open_mouth: :open_mouth: .

You know them, they’re the ones that have been driving for X number of years and think they know it all :unamused: :unamused:

That’s why I think the industry could try and do something, I know loads of people who’d really love to have a go at driving an artic. And most wouldn’t appreciate it when they are training as they have no experience of being on the road with trucks, but after a few years they might understand more and learn more from a bit of time in a truck. If you got a few thousand to have a go each year then there’d soon be a core of people who had a better understanding of truck driving.

8

I think it should be taken even further back to basics. Before you can have a provisional car licence, you should complete a CBT on a 2 wheeler and have to ride a moped or scooter for at least 6 months before being allowed behind a steering wheel of any sort. It might replace the cycling proficiency test

9

I would have to agree with all the above points that have been raised. I have been driving 7.5 tonne HGV’s for Royal Mail for a number of years now. During my daily work I constantly see car drivers either panicking or at a total loss of knowledge with regards to how they should drive when sharing the same road space with a HGV.

I would have to say that there needs to be greater education for the general motoring public on what it takes to drive a HGV. To highlight this point on a recent trip in my car I was chatting to a friend of mine and she said that she is often very nervous and scared when sharing the same bit of road space with a HGV. My response to this is that I would trust any HGV driver more than I would trust your average car driver. I also advised her when out on the road just to hang back and take her time and to give the HGV driver the space he needs. I also said to her what ever you do NEVER EVER cut up, or pull in to quick after overtaking a HGV whilst on a duel carriage way or on a motorway.

After or chat I do believe I gave her some insight into what it takes for all of us professional drivers to do our job safely on a daily basis.

10

HI why do the goverment not look at all country and take from these countrys the bits that are best,

HERE in germany ,a learner will have to do the following to take and pass their test…

Take a eye-test, first aid test., practical lessons at the end of which a test is taken and must be passed with a certain no, correct,

then one is taken out on the road with both a automatic and a manual
gearbox cars, you do light,town heavy reverseing,AND motorway driveing.
night driveing, long distance this is normaly a trip of about300-500kms and is a mixture of motorway and country roads,anti-skid training is taken as well and when you are ready you will then take your test and youare on probation for two years ,in this time you are not allowed to be caught out
doing any thing wrong,

11

Yaldingweir:
7.5 tonne HGV’s

:question: :confused:

oh you mean buzz boxes :laughing: :laughing:

12

In my view , all new drivers should undergo HGV awareness theory.
This would run alongside the current theory side of the driving lessons.

On completion of the theory and the practical driving test, the new driver should be required to spend a day with an HGV driver and a PSV driver.

These 2 tasks must repeat must be completed before the issue of their spanking new driving licence. If it’s not completed the licence is not issued.
Paperwork must be countersigned by the company who they undertake the day with.

They would then have the basic knowledge and understanding of what it takes to drive a large vehicle.

As for the funding side…the money saved from reduced casualties by better education/awareness training would surely cover the cost.

13

Funding shouldnt be a prob anyway - get the driver to pay for it! What is more, upon loss of licence for any reason, they should have to go through it all again - from medical, thru theory, test etc.

14

Logistics Loader:
On completion of the theory and the practical driving test, the new driver should be required to spend a day with an HGV driver and a PSV driver.

It would then be down to us bunch to scare the new car drivers into deciding that driving a car is not worth it. Leaving us with an empty road which gives us an easier job :slight_smile:

15

they shouldn’t just believe its cos drivers are intimidated by big vehicles and dont know how to react…

I think its as much cos some drivers are getting cocky, taking bigger risks and being militant against other road users cos they have the magic bubble of invincibility afforded by “I’m insured”, “I’ll get compensation” and “where ther’s blame there’s a claim”.

the fact that road ragers (as I pointed out in a thread about such) will try and brake-test a 38 tonne wagon at 50mph in their little M reg astra in their fit of pique, is testament to this.