What should I have done?

[suffolkb]

Coming back from Ipswich, I was doing 50 in the 50 limit. As we came to the end of this, a juggernaut in the outside lane was doing about 52 with a huge queue behind him. The limit was now 70, so I began to accelerate and he starts beeping away - must have upset him. It took him nearly a mile to pass me as we were now going uphill. If I had just shot off, he could have simply pulled into the inside lane and all the people he was blocking could have gone on their merry way. There was no way that I was going to slow down to 40 for him, but what would you have done?.

[steveo3002]

i would have sped off assuming he wasnt ready to pull in front of me, like you say it makes sense that he can then pull in behind you and let the traffic get past

[suffolkb]

Nope, he was still behind me at the time. It took me ages to get past him as I had to wait for the queues to overtake. Next time he can watch my trusty MZ shoot up the road.

[Conor]

Coming back from Ipswich, I was doing 50 in the 50 limit. As we came to the end of this, a juggernaut in the outside lane was doing about 52 with a huge queue behind him. The limit was now 70, so I began to accelerate and he starts beeping away - must have upset him. It took him nearly a mile to pass me as we were now going uphill. If I had just shot off, he could have simply pulled into the inside lane and all the people he was blocking could have gone on their merry way. There was no way that I was going to slow down to 40 for him, but what would you have done?.

You created the situation and perpetuated it. There was only one person at fault here - you.


As a HGV driver, what you do annoys the living hell out of me.

Why the hell couldn't you have slowed down 1MPH and let him complete the overtake? Would your life have come to an end?

READ THE SODDING HIGHWAY CODE. It explicitly states that you must give way to an overtaking vehicle, not just sit there next to them mile after mile.

If he'd let off the accelerator on the hill, he'd drop to a speed a damned sight slower than 40MPH and now be stuck in the outside lane with a queue of cars behind him and a stream of selfish morons like you undertaking him which is far more dangerous.

We have speed limiters which are set to roughly 56MPH. We can't go any faster.

You're typical of the absolute dire rubbish standard of car driving I have to put up with for 2000 miles a week. Bet you leave your foglights on too and brake at speed cameras.

Muppet.

[Conor]

Nope, he was still behind me at the time. It took me ages to get past him as I had to wait for the queues to overtake. Next time he can watch my trusty MZ shoot up the road.

Why did it take you ages to get past him? His vehicle is limited to 56MPH.

[anewman]

You created the situation and perpetuated it. There was only one person at fault here - you.

I agree! Had some loser in a subaru imprezza like 5 inches behind me at just over 70mph and I couldn't move back in and was in fact advancing on traffic in the inside lane. I tapped the brakes to try make him put some distance. A gap appeared on the inside lane, and he swerves straight in, undertakes me and squeezes between me and the car in the inside lane I'm advancing on (but I slowed to let this dangerous driver through as I could see this coming a mile off) swerving back in front of me, then we're at a speed camera and he slams on the brakes. Not sure if it's his usual reaction to speed cameras or if he thought he'd try p*ss me off. Had I done what I would have liked to he'd have come straight into me, all because he's an arrogant loser with nothing better to do. And with this style of driving you have to wonder if they did pass a driving test.

You're typical of the absolute dire rubbish standard of car driving I have to put up with for 2000 miles a week. Bet you leave your foglights on too and brake at speed cameras.

Muppet.

It's the old people going around my 20mph limit estate at under 15mph and braking for the speed bumps that *really* do my nut. Second of course to insane drivers who tailgate you inches at national limit then undertake dangerously.

I must admit I have occasionally undertaken traffic but only after waiting and giving them plenty of space and opportunity to move back in. If they do not move back in I assume they don't know the highway code and I'm of course not willing to pull into their lane then the next lane then all the way back for some loser in the middle lane. Maybe I'm wrong, but there you go. My sister claims she saw police pull a slow middle lane hogger over, only wish it happened more often.

See http://www.middlelanemorons.com/ for details of this annoying phenomenon :)

But in the situation of the speed change yes, you should have allowed him the opportunity to pull back in.

Another pet hate of mine is ending up behind someone doing 30mph on the slip road to a motorway, but luckily it's only happened once so far.

[suffolkb]

Conor. Why was the HGV driver breaking the speed limit and being in the outside lane in the first place. Seems pretty stupid to me. That 50 limit is there because it is a high risk area and I do not remember seeing any signs saying `50 except if you are an idiot in a lorry`. Not too many fog lights on my motorbike. And I do not brake for speed cameras because I keep to the limits - hence I was doing 50 and the prat in the lorry was speeding. And it took me ages to pass him because of the bloody great queue of cars that had built up while he had chosen to be in outside lane (of 2). I thought it would be a good idea not to just pull out on them `cos I`m not a HGV driver and like to overtake safely.
Also, please tell me how I was undertaking a lorry that was behind me the whole time?
And I really can`t figure out why my simply driving at the new limit of 70 thus leaving the inside lane now totally clear would make him take his foot off the accelerator. Or do HGV drivers only want to pull in when they are well under what is generally regarded as a safe stopping distance.
Of course, perhaps you are one of those HGV drivers who think that speed limits do not apply to them and condone speeding in an accident zone. Almost all lorry drivers are excellent. I do not think that this one falls in that category.
I still think that my clearing off once the 50 limit ended would have been the `right` thing to do and will do so if the situation ever happens again. Never happened to me before because most HGV drivers would not have been breaking the speed limit and would not have been in the outside lane.
Terribly sorry if my liking for obeying speed limits upsets you, but I feel that they are there for a reason and so stick to them.

[suffolkb]

Conor - I think we`ll have to agree to disagree on this one. I think that he should not have been speeding in the outside lane in the 50 limit and you think that I should gone under 50 mph in the now 70 limit to let him pass instead of just getting out of the way. I`ve seen your other posts and you seem a decent chap - so let`s leave it there.
You did wind me up a bit. Just come back from my hilly run round the village in 31 min 15 s, a record by 34 secs thanks to the anger I was feeling. So thanks for that.

[iluvmylexus]

everyone knows that MZ's are highly sophisticated machines with speedos that are much more accurate than the speed limiter on a modern HGV. what you should have done was sped up and got out of his way, what you did do was stupid and dangerous to yourself and others. i bet you also flashed your lights to let the truck driver it was safe to move over. No? i thought not.

I am now going to shout to make sure the message gets through:

wHEN YOU ARE ON A MOTORBIKE THERE IS NO POINT BEING RIGHT IF YOU ARE DEAD

[suffolkb]

When I did start to speed up to get away, he got very indignant and started with the air horns so I stopped. I agree I should have left and let him pull in behind me. Where I think he should have been all the time. Don`t know about newer models, but my German version doesn`t have a flasher. Makes no difference anyway as he pulled in well before he was what I would consider a reasonable distance ahead. When I am in the car, and on all my previous bikes, I always flash when I think it`s safe. Very few lorry drivers wait that long. If I pass you, I would not pull back in until I was a safe stopping distance in front of you. That would be putting you in danger and I choose not to do that.
We get a lot of speed indicators on the roads near here. I always get the smiley face and my speedo agrees with the speed the machine says I am doing. Surprising on such an agricultural machine, but true.

[ts_aly2000]

Oh don't worry about the HGV drivers round there, A14, A12, Haughly Bends 50. Most of them drive like idiots anyway and aren't even from this country.

Whenever there is an accident round here it ALWAYS involves a lorry. A man was recently killed by a lorry, while the lorry driver was texting his girlfriend on his mobile phone. He got 3-years in prison for that. But seriously, every accident on the A12/A14 involves a lorry and it's no wonder why.

The people on here will try to argue that you're in the wrong, when you're not at all. Don't worry about it.

The ironic thing about that 50-zone is that it's there as so many people have been killed along it. It's a very dangerous piece of road, with other junctions crossing it across the flow of traffic. That's why it's 50.

And as for these people speeding through it, don't worry about them... As the Police often have one of those mobile speed trap vans on the corners in additional to the fixed cameras. I knew someone who racked up 12-points in about 3-months along that stretch, well, they kept on complaining about it having started a new job then lost their licence.

It's one of the roads round here that the Police are hottest on. Further down towards Rougham when the A14 was being rebuilt and the limit was 40, they caught something like 3000 drivers in a day and printed the names of every single one of them in the local newspaper.

Don't worry about it. The people criticising you here are the ones that are riding on your bumper wanting you to do 90. And no matter how fast you go, there will always be someone who wants to go faster. It's just the nature of that road.

[espresso]

[B]
READ THE SODDING HIGHWAY CODE. It explicitly states that you must give way to an overtaking vehicle, not just sit there next to them mile after mile.


:rotfl:

It's all very well quoting the Highway Code when it suits you but how many times have we seen HGV's duelling in lanes one and two on the motorway. Does the HGV in the inside lane ease off to let the overtaking HGV past? No the duel often goes on for miles, until the the next incline and the less laden HGV wins! There has to be a bit of give and take and common sense helps.

:beer:

[Conor]

Conor. Why was the HGV driver breaking the speed limit and being in the outside lane in the first place.

Because he wasn't. Car, motorbike and van speedos can overread up to 10% and aren't checked for accuracy once they leave the factory. Lorry speedos can only overread up to 2.5% and are mandatorily checked for accuracy every two years.

Therefore, it is most likely the lorry was doing an actual 50MPH whereas our OP was doing an "indicated 50MPH", i.e his speedo showed 50MPH but because of the 10% allowance, was more nearer to 45MPH actual speed.

Looking at the rest of your anti-HGV rant, it appears you have a problem with your driving and look to pass the blame onto lorries as you're so prejudiced against them because you see them as being the source of congestion and hold ups on the UK road network.

[tomstickland]

I'm not understanding the original description. Coming out of a 50, a car and lorry were side by side, the car accelerated, but it took a mile for the lorry to overtake the car. Why? A car should be capable of reaching 70 from 50 in seconds.

Or was it a motorbike?

[Altarf]

[B] As a HGV driver ...
READ THE SODDING HIGHWAY CODE. It explicitly states that you must give way to an overtaking vehicle, not just sit there next to them mile after mile.


Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Perhaps you should get a few copies of the Highway code to give to your HGV colleagues as they don't seem to have read rule 144 recently.

[Dave Brooker]

Coming back from Ipswich, I was doing 50 in the 50 limit. As we came to the end of this, a juggernaut in the outside lane was doing about 52 with a huge queue behind him. The limit was now 70, so I began to accelerate and he starts beeping away - must have upset him. It took him nearly a mile to pass me as we were now going uphill. If I had just shot off, he could have simply pulled into the inside lane and all the people he was blocking could have gone on their merry way. There was no way that I was going to slow down to 40 for him, but what would you have done?.

Lorry drivers can be psycos who like to intimidate car drivers like this.

Next time some fool in a lorry picks on you take his plate and complain to the lorry firm/VOSA.

[melancholly]

why couldn't the HGV driver have just braked a little and pulled in to the inside lane?! it seems just as petty for him to stay in the outside lane as it is to try to keep him there!

personally, i would have sped off, but that's because i spend so long on the motorway (just typed motorwar by mistake, but it fits the M6 pretty well!) that i want to get the journey over as soon as possible (and before anyone starts, i mean - clearly - as soon as 'safely' possible!). off the motorway though, i'm more than happy to be spiteful and take corners at 20mph when i'm being tailgaited, or brake at every turning just in case it's mine, usually gets them off my bumper!!

[oldagetraveller]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Perhaps you should get a few copies of the Highway code to give to your HGV colleagues as they don't seem to have read rule 144 recently.

Hands up those who went to check Rule 144? I did!:o

144: Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.

[scbk]

If it was me - so long as the HGV was still behind me, I'd have accelerated as we left the 50 limit. If the lorry was alongside me, I'd have slowed down and let him in then if necessary overtaken him

[tomstickland]

I've got more time for HGV drivers than moaning car drivers. How do you think it feels driving a massive truck where maintining momentum is everything, and being !!!!ed about by car drivers who can accelerate and brake on a whim?

And that's after having to drive onto the grass verge on a slip road to avoid being cut up by one, but I'd had a 6th sense bad feeling before putting myself into that position, so I'm not complaining. (Lorry pulled over into my lane, but I was in a non-ideal position, and don't think I should have boxed myself into sitting side by side with one on sliproad).

[Altarf]

Whilst I have some sympathy for HGV drivers, they don't always exactly help themselves.

OK it is helpful if they maintain momentum (although it is not a life or death situation if they don't), but does that mean that when they take several miles to overtake each other on dual carriageways, the huge queue of cars behind should just shrug and say 'it's ok, they needed to maintain momentum'.

When the HGV driver is looming two feet off your back bumper when you are driving at what your speedo (I don't care about his speedo) says is the legal limit, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they need to maintain momentum'.

When the HGV driver you are just about to overtake on the motorway, flicks on his indicator and then a nanosecond letter starts to move 40 tonnes of truck into your car, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they needed to maintain momentum'.

The standard response is the sort of rant posted by Conor, that it that they have to deal with the poor standard of driving from all the car drivers. Yes there are a lot of mad, bad and dangerous car drivers on the road, but HGV drivers like to portray themselves as professional drivers. Perhaps they ought to act that way and not lower their standards to those of the car drivers they are criticising.

[Conor]

When the HGV driver is looming two feet off your back bumper when you are driving at what your speedo (I don't care about his speedo) says is the legal limit, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they need to maintain momentum'.

Why are you in L2? L2 is for overtaking. L1 is for driving in.


When the HGV driver you are just about to overtake on the motorway, flicks on his indicator and then a nanosecond letter starts to move 40 tonnes of truck into your car, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they needed to maintain momentum'.


Firstly, at least we use indicators to indicate a lane change.

Secxondly they don't just flick their indicators and instantly move out. An artic doesn't instantly do anything.

Third , if you actually manage to look further than the end of your bonnet and engage brain, you'd see the lorry gaining on what was ahead of it and deduce that a lane change was likely.

Fourth, if you actually used your mirrors once in a while, you'd see the lane to your right is clear.


The standard response is the sort of rant posted by Conor, that it that they have to deal with the poor standard of driving from all the car drivers. Yes there are a lot of mad, bad and dangerous car drivers on the road, but HGV drivers like to portray themselves as professional drivers. Perhaps they ought to act that way and not lower their standards to those of the car drivers they are criticising.

1.7 million miles in the last 14 years both points and accident free. You?

[Conor]

And that's after having to drive onto the grass verge on a slip road to avoid being cut up by one, but I'd had a 6th sense bad feeling before putting myself into that position, so I'm not complaining. (Lorry pulled over into my lane, but I was in a non-ideal position, and don't think I should have boxed myself into sitting side by side with one on sliproad).

See the dashed line at the end of the sliproad? Clue: It's a GIVE WAY. Traffic on the sliproad gives way to traffic on the main carriageway.

The trouble is people now expect traffic on the carriageway to move over into L2 to allow them on and are flummoxed when they don't. Assuming of course that they're not the clowns I see who leave it to the last 20ft before looking in their mirror.

[tomstickland]

No, it was nothing to do with the end of the sliproad. The lorry simply pulled from the left hand to the right hand lane when moving down a twin lane sliproad.

[Asus Mobo]

Lorry drivers can be psycos who like to intimidate car drivers like this.

Next time some fool in a lorry picks on you take his plate and complain to the lorry firm/VOSA.



:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I dislike some lorry drivers and moped riders and taxi drivers and police drivers and women drivers and boy racers and bus drivers and delivery drivers and old drivers hairy drivers and bald drivers but,

If they wish to overtake me let them carry on its their funeral, I think the OP was being ultra stubborn or just a crap driver.

[mrbadexample]

I can't see what all the argument's about? :confused:

As far as I can see, the OP was in lane one doing 50, with an artic in lane two doing 50. They got to a 70mph limit. OP sits at the same speed as the artic for a mile, preventing it from pulling in and holding everyone up.

What was wrong with pressing the accelerator pedal (that's the one on the right :rolleyes: ) until you get to 60mph? The truck can't keep up and slots in behind you. Everyone else overtakes and gets on with their lives. No-one starts a thread on how bad HGV drivers are. :p

HGV drivers are usually (and yes, there's always an exception - the one you remember versus all the thousands that you didn't notice because they didn't cut you up, attempt to murder you or whatever) far better than the average car driver. They have more experience, more road sense and a good deal more skill. Plus on top of that there's always someone shouting at them to get such and such a delivery done come what may, and to top it off they have a complex (and ever-changing) set of legislation to adhere to regarding driving hours and breaks etc. No wonder they lose the plot from time to time. All your average motorist seems to be worrying about these days is texting their mate or putting their make-up on whilst going to work. :rolleyes:

[mrbadexample]

The people on here will try to argue that you're in the wrong, when you're not at all. Don't worry about it.


Sure. Amble about at whatever speed you like without considering anyone else on the road. It doesn't matter, because if you're not speeding, then you must be doing everything right, and therefore it's everyone else at fault. :rolleyes:

[Throbbe]

Haughley bends I'm guessing? If it was westbound then there's an uphill slope that you wouldn't notice much in a car or bike, but I'd imagine it would be a royal pain for a laden HGV to make up the speed lost.

The correct thing to do was to do what you eventually did, but I must confess in the same situation my initial response is to accelerate away (usually with an apologetic wave to the HGV driver at least :cool: ).

On roads, as on internet messageboards, I think the golden rule has to be don't get wound up. :rotfl:

[derrick]

See the dashed line at the end of the sliproad? Clue: It's a GIVE WAY.

No it isn't, a give way line has 2 parallel dotted lines,(ACROSS the carriageway, not parallel with it), the slip road has only a single dotted line PARALLEL with the carriageway.

233: When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway. You should :Give priority to traffic already on the motorway

Lane discipline 112: If you need to change lane, first use your mirrors and check your blind spots (the areas you are unable to see in the mirrors) to make sure you will not force another driver or rider to swerve or slow down. When it is safe to do so, signal to indicate your intentions to other road users and when clear move over.

And what is all this about HGVs being restricted to 56 mph/ (the legal limit for HGVs on a motorway is 60 mph and has been for years), I have lost count of HGVs sitting on my tail @ 70mph in the middle lane whilst I am overtaking vehicles in the inside lane, so most do not have limiters on them.

HGVs travelling in convoy 6 feet from the one in front,(where is their braking distance? if an emergency happens up front there will be a concertina accident.

Indicators do NOT give you a right of way, they are an intention of your action and it is up to the driver of the vehicle at your side if they want to move or not, this is not always possible and causes harsh braking as the HGV moves out with no consideration for the car driver,(I am bigger than you, move!).

Mirrors? HGV drivers use them for reversing and not for what is overtaking them,(don't pull out on an overtaking vehicle!).

138: Before overtaking you should make sure
the road is sufficiently clear ahead
the vehicle behind is not beginning to overtake you
there is a suitable gap in front of the vehicle you plan to overtake.Overtaking
241: Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe to do so.
Overtake only on the right. You should
check your mirrors
take time to judge the speeds correctly
make sure that the lane you will be joining is sufficiently clear ahead and behind
take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot area to verify the position of a vehicle that may have disappeared from your view in the mirror
remember that traffic may be coming up behind you very quickly. Check your mirrors carefully. When it is safe to do so, signal in plenty of time, then move out
ensure you do not cut in on the vehicle you have overtaken
be especially careful at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distanceFlashing of headlights is a warning as in the highway code:-
90: Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.91: If another driver flashes his headlights never assume that it is a signal to go. Use your own judgment and proceed carefully.


ALL the above is from the Highway Code
(http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/index.htm)
1.7 million miles in the last 14 years both points and accident free. You?

That will be because the car drivers have had to take evasive action, I would stake my life on it that you have caused countless accidents, after all you drive an HGV for gods sake!


HGV drivers are motorised thugs

[mrbadexample]

And what is all this about HGVs being restricted to 56 mph/ (the legal limit for HGVs on a motorway is 60 mph and has been for years), I have lost count of HGVs sitting on my tail @ 70mph in the middle lane whilst I am overtaking vehicles in the inside lane, so most do not have limiters on them.

Most DO have speed limiters fitted, it's a legal requirement for almost all vehicles with a maximum permitted gross weight of over 7500kg. (Notable exceptions - fire engines etc.)

Many 7½ tonners are exempt - those first used before October 2001 (which will remain exempt), and those first used after December 31st 2004 (which will require speed limiters fitted from January 2008). The legislation regarding this is complex and not expecially exciting. :rolleyes: Some are also exempt if they have, for example, a EURO II engine. Limiters, where fitted, should be set to 90km/h (about 56mph).


ALL the above is from the Highway Code
(http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/index.htm)

Which is not a legal document. :rolleyes:

1.7 million miles in the last 14 years both points and accident free. You?

That will be because the car drivers have had to take evasive action, I would stake my life on it that you have caused countless accidents, after all you drive an HGV for gods sake!

You'd stake your life on Conor causing countless accidents? I can count quite high - you obviously don't value your life much!

HGV drivers are motorised thugs

Bit of a sweeping statement, don't you think? :whistle:

[Hermione54]

What everyone is forgetting is that HGV drivers are car drivers too, in their spare time. They must see it from both points of view and must be as irritated as the rest of us are when they are driving their car and come across one truck overtaking another at + 0.5 mph on a dual carriageway.

But the point has been well made that British HGV drivers are much better trained and examined than those of us who've only passed the ordinary car driving test.

[derrick]

Most DO have speed limiters fitted, it's a legal requirement for almost all vehicles with a maximum permitted gross weight of over 7500kg. (Notable exceptions - fire engines etc.)

Many 7½ tonners are exempt - those first used before October 2001 (which will remain exempt), and those first used after December 31st 2004 (which will require speed limiters fitted from January 2008). The legislation regarding this is complex and not expecially exciting. :rolleyes: Some are also exempt if they have, for example, a EURO II engine. Limiters, where fitted, should be set to 90km/h (about 56mph).


I have had 38 tonners up my tail in the centre lane of a 3 lane motorway whilst doing 70-75 mph overtaking vehicles in the inside lane, it happens, and dispels the theory that ALL hgvs have limiters,(and don't forget the ones that may have them fitted but have been altered!),



Which is not a legal document. :rolleyes:

Not in itself,but:-

From the Highway Code (http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/index.htm):- Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words MUST / MUST NOT. In addition the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.

You'd stake your life on Conor causing countless accidents? I can count quite high - you obviously don't value your life much!

Yes I can count as well, he made the statement:- "1.7 million miles in the last 14 years both points and accident free. You?"

Whilst I can't prove my statement,(but have seen evidence whilst driving,car drivers as well, of HGV drivers causing/nearly causing accidents with their cavalier approach to driving), neither can he disprove it.


HGV drivers are motorised thugs


Bit of a sweeping statement, don't you think? :whistle:

Maybe so, but it is my opinion and we are all entitled to that :think:


HGV drivers "professionals" yes, professional idiots.

[mrbadexample]

I have had 38 tonners up my tail in the centre lane of a 3 lane motorway whilst doing 70-75 mph overtaking vehicles in the inside lane,

Just out of interest, when looking through your rear-view mirror at the vehicle behind you, how do you know what its plated weight is? :confused:

it happens, and dispels the theory that ALL hgvs have limiters,(and don't forget the ones that may have them fitted but have been altered!),


You may note that I did not say that ALL HGVs have speed limiters. It isn't a theory, it's a legal requirement when the vehicle falls into scope of the regulations. Nor did I say they weren't tamper-proof. :rolleyes:

[derrick]

Just out of interest, when looking through your rear-view mirror at the vehicle behind you, how do you know what its plated weight is? :confused:

It hardly matters, we are talking HGVs, class 1,2 &3. I am talking the biggest artics that weigh up to 40 tons, they all do it, you are now just arguing for arguing sake



You may note that I did not say that ALL HGVs have speed limiters. It isn't a theory, it's a legal requirement when the vehicle falls into scope of the regulations. Nor did I say they weren't tamper-proof. :rolleyes:

I did not say that you said all had limiters, but when this sort of debate starts the general opinion is that "HGVs are limited to 56mph", which beggars the question why, when the legal max speed limit for HGVs is 60 mph, (on a motorway).



............

[Asus Mobo]

It hardly matters, we are talking HGVs, class 1,2 &3. I am talking the biggest artics that weigh up to 40 tons, they all do it, you are now just arguing for arguing sake

Sorry mate not all drivers are breaking speed limits or driving up the back of other drivers, maybe its how you percieve things.


I did not say that you said all had limiters, but when this sort of debate starts the general opinion is that "HGVs are limited to 56mph", which beggars the question why, when the legal max speed limit for HGVs is 60 mph, (on a motorway).

They are regulated to 56mph to allow for the poor readings that speedos give, you can think your doing 60mph in the cab but your actually doing 56mph, its to stop haulage companies incurring fines because of untrustworthy speedo readings.

:beer:

[mrbadexample]

It hardly matters, we are talking HGVs, class 1,2 &3. I am talking the biggest artics that weigh up to 40 tons, they all do it, you are now just arguing for arguing sake


I'm not arguing, I'm just assisting you with some facts, as you seem to be a little misinformed. ;)

HGV class 1,2, & 3? Those classes haven't existed for some time.

Biggest artics 40 tonnes? Guess again. :p In the UK, try 44 tonnes (given 6 axles and road-friendly suspension). Let's not get into STGO (Special Types General Order) movements.

They all do it? Hardly - it's actually a very small minority. :rolleyes:

I did not say that you said all had limiters

I'm sorry. It looked like that to me:

it happens, and dispels the theory that ALL hgvs have limiters

[Conor]

But the point has been well made that British HGV drivers are much better trained and examined than those of us who've only passed the ordinary car driving test.

Sadly because of the attitude of pillocks like derrick, many people won't take up HGV driving because of what it is perceived as. The end result is that there are a lot of Poles now driving UK wagons on Polish licences and the level of skill is truly horrific and they don't give a toss about the law either.

So the standard of HGV driving overall is probably going to drop dramatically over the next decade as most British HGV drivers will have retired (current av age is 58)and because of derrick attitudes there aren't the people coming in to replace them so it's left up to the Poles, Bulgarians etc to fill the seats.

Reap what you sow derrick. BTW, did you enjoy your breakfast delivered by lorry whilst sitting on furniture delivered by lorry before going to work at a company that wouldn't exist without lorries?

[derrick]

Sadly because of the attitude of pillocks like derrick, many people won't take up HGV driving because of what it is perceived as. The end result is that there are a lot of Poles now driving UK wagons on Polish licences and the level of skill is truly horrific and they don't give a toss about the law either.

It is because of the attitude of morons like you,(who think because their vehicles are bigger than others that they have the right to bully the smaller ones), that HGV drivers get the stick that they do, never mind the Poles, the bad driving of "professionals" has been going on for in excess of 10 years. You cannot believe that HGV drivers do not just pull out on car drivers,(with and without signals), causing those drivers to harshly brake or change lanes when not safe to do so usually into the path of an overtaking vehicle in the outside lane, if you do then you really do have your head firmly stuck in the sand.

So the standard of HGV driving overall is probably going to drop dramatically over the next decade as most British HGV drivers will have retired (current av age is 58)and because of derrick attitudes there aren't the people coming in to replace them so it's left up to the Poles, Bulgarians etc to fill the seats.

It isn't just my attitude it is the majority of the driving public. You have quoted the highway code in some of your responses, but only choose the rules that suit you, ignoring the ones that don't suit, e.g. lane discipline and the rules re overtaking.

Reap what you sow derrick. BTW, did you enjoy your breakfast delivered by lorry whilst sitting on furniture delivered by lorry before going to work at a company that wouldn't exist without lorries?

This is really pathetic, just because you deliver various articles to shops does not give you the right to flout the rules of the road.

[gilbert and sullivan]

Hi my first post so be gentle! I didn't realise there wwas so much hatred of truck drivers anymore, silly me i thought the days of putting 'scum of the earth lorry driver' on official forms (i'm serious) was over apparently not. Funny how people who don't do a certain job are so expert at it. Do you know if i see a driver of a car/bike/anything make a mistake or do something daft,i as a long term truck driver try to make allowance for them as the driving is not their profession. I would not expect to tell an accountant or doctor or teacher how to do their job cos i woudn't have a clue, so why are people who don't do my job so bleeding good at it. I have to agree that the standard of truck driving has dropped drastically over the past twenty or so years same as bus driving (especially since deregulation) but if you think its bad now enjoy the prospect of the next twenty when our own drivers will be priced off the roads by the foreign imports. My own suggestion is buy yourself the biggest 4x4 you can afford to at least offer some protection(not serious)!! Bit of a rant i know. ttfn.

[Altarf]

When the HGV driver is looming two feet off your back bumper when you are driving at what your speedo (I don't care about his speedo) says is the legal limit, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they need to maintain momentum'.

Why are you in L2? L2 is for overtaking. L1 is for driving in.

Who mentioned L2? If I am doing what I believe is the speed limit in L1, it is never acceptable for anyone, let alone a HGV driver to hang two feet off my bumper as happens all too frequently.

When the HGV driver you are just about to overtake on the motorway, flicks on his indicator and then a nanosecond letter starts to move 40 tonnes of truck into your car, are you just supposed to shrug and say 'it's ok, they needed to maintain momentum'.

Firstly, at least we use indicators to indicate a lane change.

Secxondly they don't just flick their indicators and instantly move out. An artic doesn't instantly do anything.

Third , if you actually manage to look further than the end of your bonnet and engage brain, you'd see the lorry gaining on what was ahead of it and deduce that a lane change was likely.

Fourth, if you actually used your mirrors once in a while, you'd see the lane to your right is clear.



Firstly I use indicators to indicate a lane change and so do the majority of other car drivers. If some car drivers do not that is no excuse for HGV drivers to drive dangerously themselves.

Secondly, are you seriously saying that in your millions of miles you never see your colleagues start to switch lanes as the indicator flicks on?

Thirdly, if your colleagues engaged their brain and looked ahead they would anticipate that they would need to overtake and start to indicate before they actually started to move.

Fourthly, as the main roads around here (and no this is not the back of beyond) are only dual carriageways, moving to a non-existent L3 is a bit tricky. And if your colleagues used their mirrors a bit more then they might see that they are being overtaken and not make a dangerous manoeuvre.

The standard response is the sort of rant posted by Conor, that it that they have to deal with the poor standard of driving from all the car drivers. Yes there are a lot of mad, bad and dangerous car drivers on the road, but HGV drivers like to portray themselves as professional drivers. Perhaps they ought to act that way and not lower their standards to those of the car drivers they are criticising.

1.7 million miles in the last 14 years both points and accident free. You?

Me? Not the insecure sort that needs to see if they can p!ss higher than the next guy.

[anewman]

Now now, lets all be nice. I'm sure there are good and bad HGV drivers. Same with car drivers. Maybe they could be a little more prone to the "i'm 40 tonne, I move you get out the way" approach, but I'm sure not all do.

[roswell]

My understanding of this this thread is as follows,
1) Op is on a motorbike doing 50
2) Lorry is doing 50
3) Lorry has started to overtake bike
4) Both lorry and bike enter 70 limit
5) Bike remains at 50 till lorry over takes it

Conclusion its the bikes fault for not maintain speed and could easy have made room for the lorry either by speeding up or slowing down ... courtiouse driving is whats needed not arrogance from borth parties. as the lorry had already started his manouver I for one wouldnt want to sit on a bike with 3 mm of leather between me and 10 ton of lorry being arrogant.

[xycom1]

You created the situation and perpetuated it. There was only one person at fault here - you.


As a HGV driver, what you do annoys the living hell out of me.

Why the hell couldn't you have slowed down 1MPH and let him complete the overtake? Would your life have come to an end?

READ THE SODDING HIGHWAY CODE. It explicitly states that you must give way to an overtaking vehicle, not just sit there next to them mile after mile.

If he'd let off the accelerator on the hill, he'd drop to a speed a damned sight slower than 40MPH and now be stuck in the outside lane with a queue of cars behind him and a stream of selfish morons like you undertaking him which is far more dangerous.

We have speed limiters which are set to roughly 56MPH. We can't go any faster.

You're typical of the absolute dire rubbish standard of car driving I have to put up with for 2000 miles a week. Bet you leave your foglights on too and brake at speed cameras.

Muppet.

Truck drivers like yourself shouldn't drive like !!!!! - roadspace is precious enough - you lot shouldn't be allowed to overtake.

[Conor]

Truck drivers like yourself shouldn't drive like !!!!! - roadspace is precious enough - you lot shouldn't be allowed to overtake.

Fine, no problem. Just don't moan when you go to the petrol station to find them waiting for a delivery. Likewise the shops.

Remember we're limited to the hours we drive and unlike you, we're on the roads because we have to be.

[Conor]

Firstly I use indicators to indicate a lane change and so do the majority of other car drivers.


Really?

So sure of that you're prepared to put £500 on it? I am.

As I have a higher viewpoint than you and do infinitely more mileage, I get to see a lot more. If you're so sure you're right, put your money where your mouth is. I'll borrow some AV gear and tape a 9hr round trip to Bristol I do that's 493 miles and all done on motorway save 40 miles.

My £500 is safe.