a road with two lanes going north and one going south.
the nearside lane of the northbound is a bus lane at set hours.
6 wheel truck with second axle raised is on northbound outer lane waiting to turn right.
Bus comes up bus lane on inside of truck (outside bus lane hours)
truck sets off to turn right and rear end swings out, taking out several feet of bus side.
So who is to blame? bus driver for going up inside in bus lane or trucker for failing to see bus coming up nearside and not waiting before turning?
or both?
Having driven both types of vehicle-I would have to say both!
Truck driver should have looked in his mirror,seen the ■■■■ of a bus driver coming up the inside and waited until he got past,hurled abuse at him and then turned!
The bus driver,who should know about tail swings(as buses have them too) should have waited until the truck completed its manoevre before passing.
I`d say it would be hard to call-probably 50-50 in my opinion!
its a interesting question that,it has nearly happened to me,on many an occasion,i do overhang a bit at the rear.
i would say the bus driver,as although his lane on approach is clear,he must factor in what the truck is doing,or about to do,and prepare for that in advance.
i think it"s called reading the road.
i stand to be corrected,but thats my opinion,for what it"s worth.
Reason - the trucker should have known the back end would impede the other lane and checked left mirror before turning so as not to cause an incident.
The same reasoning could be used if the front end of the truck had done the same.
The only possible partial ‘get out’ would be if it was an artic (or W&D) which was in such a position that to see an approaching vehicle was impossible due to the combination being angled a certain way.
Reason - the trucker should have known the back end would impede the other lane and checked left mirror before turning so as not to cause an incident.
The same reasoning could be used if the front end of the truck had done the same.
The only possible partial ‘get out’ would be if it was an artic (or W&D) which was in such a position that to see an approaching vehicle was impossible due to the combination being angled a certain way.
That’s the way I see it from the info given…
serious head on now, could the bus not see that there was a danger when passing on the inside.
If the bus drivers in Edinburgh are anything to go by, they think they nown the roads.
If there had been only one lane and the swing would go over the pavement with a pedestrian running along it - would the truck driver be at fault if the swing hit the pedestrian - YES - same reasoning - the driver should be aware of where bits of the vehicle go.
tried to describe it as accurately as possible, would post a pick but can’t find one except on google earth and don’t know how to post that.
the road is completely straight at that point, 30 mph limit, normal town "A " class road width.
The way I see it, (and the resulting media coverage) it’s the truck drivers fault (I know I know, can I borrow your tin hat Rog), it’s he that should ensure that it is safe to proceed, before and during any manouver. Doesn’t stop the bus driver from being an ■■■■■■ ■■■■ though. Had similar sort of thing in Sheffield, 3 lane approach to r/b, l/h lane for going left, middle lane is bus lane, r/h lane is fr straight on and turning right, I was in R/h lane going straight on, when ■■■■■■■■ bus driver, at speed,decides that he has a god given right to cut me up on the r/b (although he stuck between his white lines), I ended up clashing wing mirrors and put o/s rears wheels on r/b, we had words at the next bus stop, it was gratifying that some of his passengers also thought he was a ■■■■■■■■■ .
ROG:
If there had been only one lane and the swing would go over the pavement with a pedestrian running along it - would the truck driver be at fault if the swing hit the pedestrian - YES - same reasoning - the driver should be aware of where bits of the vehicle go.
most roads are wide enough to make a right turn with out the rear end going over the pavement, it’s when a bus lane is put in, usually where there is not enough room for 2 lanes carrying vehicles that are 8’ wide.
So the council and their bus priority measures can be blamed.
Bus lanes were the worst thing that were ever invented.
Very few people know how to use them properly, including bus drivers.
I’m sick of having dirty looks for driving down a bus lane outwith it’s operating hours when there is a long queue in the outside lane.
8wheels:
you have to think for others and if necessary block the lane.
Rigid truck drivers could learn alot from the above quote.
There’s a couple of bits of road where I do that in my rigid round Belfast on my usual route… but no mater how well you ‘block’ both lanes some tube in car/van will squeeze into the half-lane and hurl abuse
8wheels:
you have to think for others and if necessary block the lane.
Rigid truck drivers could learn alot from the above quote.
Your not kidding, I’ve seen some of em trying to reverse into side streets without hindering traffic onthe other side of the road ie like reversing round a corner on car test, Me I stick hazards on well before, tap brake light 2/3 times, make the truck 30’ wide and swing the truck right over so anyone approaching head on, gets the idea (although occasionaly some don’t, I try and time it so a truck is approaching cos they know what I’m up to) and I end up at about 45 deg on the road, nice angle to reverse back and gives me good all round view. Warning this method does often scare the ■■■ out of the flash car drivers up your backside and it annoys them to boot .
ROG:
If there had been only one lane and the swing would go over the pavement with a pedestrian running along it - would the truck driver be at fault if the swing hit the pedestrian - YES - same reasoning - the driver should be aware of where bits of the vehicle go.
.
I’m sick of having dirty looks for driving down a bus lane outwith it’s operating hours when there is a long queue in the outside lane.
Ive had that many a time - well said that man.
Those sat in the queue either
A} cant tell the time
B} cant read
- YES - same reasoning - the driver should be aware of where bits of the vehicle go.