Agrhhhhhhh rant about stupid white van man! Should I complain?

kr15snw

Was driving into work this morning and I cross a bridge to do this. It's a 4 lane bridge and sometimes it's 2 lanes going each way and sometimes it's 3 going one way and 1 going another. Just depends on the flow of traffic.

I was on the dual carriage way approaching the bridge (doing 60ish as was about 300 yards from the roundabout before the bridge entrance) when I approached the usual queue of traffic. As normal the left lane was tailed back and the right lane was clearer. I normally go down the right lane and if it's only one lane on the bridge we all filter in together (this happens every morning).

As I was approaching the queue of traffic a white van pulled out from the back (suddenly and from a stop). I was doing about 50 by this point and had to emergency stop, as did the 4 cars behind me. I was furious but then was even more annoyed when he didn't speed up. He actually stopped and kept in speed with the traffic on the left meaning there was a gap of about 200 yards in front of him, before the next vehicle! He continued like this until he got to the bridge meaning no one could pass him and there was a proper tail back because of it!

Luckily I had a friend in the car who took a photo of the van on her phone so we have the registration and the company name.

So to sum up he cut me up (badly!) and then blocked a main dual carriage way.

Should I complain to his company or just leave my rant here! Lol

realised

My partner and I were on the motorway once when we had a van up far too close to ours and then undertook and cut us meaning my OH had to break sharply (the van had nowhere to go - there was traffic in that lane anyway)

I called the company up and complained straight away. The driver needs to know that it was extremely dangerous and I felt the company needed to know what kind of driver was representing them.

They were very grateful I had taken the time to call. I didn't want to think that my not calling would have resulted in that driver continuing to drive dangerously and result in an accident.

pjcox2005

I would have said it was 50/50 here.

The van probably shouldn't have pulled out to the right at short notice, but I would suggest doing 60mph with a roundabout 300yards away is excessive speed and hence your need to emergency stop.

At that speed you had about 10secs before you would be at the roundabout. If traffic had already tailed back then that time would be less so it suggests you didn't actually take into account any potential issues from other drivers ahead.

On that basis I wouldn't call to report.

warehouse

Overtaking static/slow moving traffic that's likely to pull out at 50-60mph is dangerous driving. Yes, the white van driver was being a bit of an idiot, (probably fed up with people not wanting to queue with everyone else so causing a longer queue), but it was YOUR speed that caused the issue, not his.

Drop it and join the queue tomorrow.

kr15snw

warehouse wrote: »

Drop it and join the queue tomorrow.

The issue with this is you don't know if 1 or 2 lanes are open until you reach the bridge. And why would there be a dual carriage way if you don't use both lanes of it?

Lil_Me_2

kr15snw wrote: »

The issue with this is you don't know if 1 or 2 lanes are open until you reach the bridge. And why would there be a dual carriage way if you don't use both lanes of it?

There is a sign 500 yards away from the roundabout which indicates which lanes are open so that's rubbish.

However I do sympathise that the van driver was an idiot to deliberately move into your path and cause you to make an emergency stop.

darkpool

kr15snw wrote: »

So to sum up he cut me up (badly!) and then blocked a main dual carriage way.

but it's ok for you to drive past slow moving cars then cut in?

i wish there was more white van drivers like that.

Azari

darkpool wrote: »

but it's ok for you to drive past slow moving cars then cut in?

i wish there was more white van drivers like that.

That is all.

blue_monkey_2

I was driving home the other day and we have to drive up a small road into the village, there is just about room for 2 cars to get past each other driving at around 20 mph.

A local company tipper was driving towards me so I moved over as far as I could - but he didn't and he was on my side of the road. And then, instead of slowing down he actually speeded up, he must have seen me as I have an MPV and I ended up having to drive my car up the side of the bank and into the hedge to avoid a head on collision with him. I had the kids in the car and was terrified if I am honest.

I got home and the first thing I did was call the company to tell them to tell their drivers to slow down in the lane and not drive like idiots. I was really annoyed and I said I knew it was not his fault but he needs to tell his drivers to slow down. He apologised and thanked me for calling to tell him. But why shoudn't I call if I know who might have been driving? This driver represents their company so they need to know if drivers are giving them a bad reputation.

BillTrac

And how many times do you drive along a dual carriageway which approaches some roadworks, signs all say use both lanes and merge in turn, ......and some t**t (usually in a HGV) decides he rules the road and will cover both lanes ro prevent you overtaking him.

Slows everyone down, and it really p*****s them off when you manage to overtake them

OK, I USUALLY HAVE TO CUT THEM UP BUT HEY, WORKS BOTH WAYS..:rotfl:

LittleMissAspie

warehouse wrote: »

Overtaking static/slow moving traffic that's likely to pull out at 50-60mph is dangerous driving. Yes, the white van driver was being a bit of an idiot, (probably fed up with people not wanting to queue with everyone else so causing a longer queue), but it was YOUR speed that caused the issue, not his.

Drop it and join the queue tomorrow.

What speed do you do on a 3 lane road with a 70mph limit, where the left lane is stationery and the other 2 lanes are free flowing then?