Side swiped by foreign lorry driver

Dimey

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I can only assume it is due to poor driver training in some countries. Even if their mirrors aren't properly adjusted, and there are big blind spots. They should still be fully aware of all vehicles in their surrounding area on the road.

Yes and regulations aren't enforced so much in some EU countries so it allows unscrupulous owners to get away with cutting corners.

Sadly I've seen LHD lorries in lane 1 bump a car in lane 2, veer back then drive back out to bump the car three or four times in order to bully the car to move out of lane 2 for the lorry.

Its this bullying technique that sometimes goes wrong and causes accidents. Not because the driver makes a mistake re poor mirrors or lack of attention but through planned bullying.

The errant lorry driver knows the car in question will be too busy getting out of the way and correcting his car's course to take down any registration detail. Not that the driver is worried about that, as I mentioned in my previous post.

Jack_Regan

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You can't afford to get it wrong when it could cost someone their life. In a HGV you don't change lane just because you think it might be clear. You have to be 100% certain.

We all can't be perfect.;)

alastairq

It is a sad state of affairs where our Authorities have arrived at the point where they cannot cope.

The odd mangled car..the occasional severely injured person, really doesn't make enough impact on the powers-that-be these days.

Policing has become a matter of 'expediency'...?

Increasingly, it is the Insurers whoa re looked to, to sort out the aftermath.

But, what happens if a British [or, UK] LGV driver does similar in France, or Germany, or Poland?

CAn our drivers 'get away' with this sort of behaviour?

I suspect not.

It really is about time someone got our own Authorities by the scruff of the neck, gave them a good shaking

...maybe, instead of spending billions on high-speed, mythical rail links, some of that was spent improving enforcement?

If foreign LGV's involved in such incidents were automatically impounded [pending investigations]....regardless of what type of load they are carrying...and with no responsibility for the security or condition of that load[when released]....and if foreign national drivers were detained, again pending investigations....before they can get too far.....maybe, just maybe, foreign owners /shippers might start to impose their own discipline on their employees?

And, maybe Heston services might be a more pleasant place to be on a night-time?

BUT...for starters, what I also feel is needed is for us, JOe Publics, to take more social responsibility, and REPORT any such incidents witnessed or involved in...........the more these are reported eventually more action will be taken.

Say nothing [which is what the drivers, and the Authorities, hope for] and nothing will ever be done.

Bullies cannot stand being reported.

Dimey

Sadly when folk in Kent report, the police and council say they can't do anything.

Even things as minor as reporting the bottles of pee and rubbish left on road verges to the council. The council does nothing.

Many foreign lorries won't pay fees for lorry parks so they park up on side streets or on country lane verges and their tyres tear up the nice grass & wild flowers on the verge, leaving a rutted muddy mess or broken kerbstones.

Kent County Council are quick to stop gypsies parking on roadsides but they won't stop the foreign lorries who sit around with their primus stoves and leave the mess in their wake.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Some very astute posts here, and Jamie Carter is absolutely right in that there is no blind spot on the passenger side of a modern lorry...IF...the mirrors are properly adjusted and the driver can be bothered to keep them and the windows clean, let alone actually look in the things.

Just as in this country with car and lorry drivers alike, there are some who can and some who can't drive, and some who don't give a toss either way.

The incompetent foreign lorry driver isn't bothered as there is no comeback.

What is very interesting though is the complacency here for the attitude of our police service, government/councils and insurers.

Whilst you continue to pay for shoddy insurance they'll supply it.

Whilst you vote for the same career politicians as you always have, don't be surprised if things continue on the same downward spiral of the last 20 years.

Ratboy

As I already stated, using a private car, through France, speed cameras flashed me, but was not followed up. I was confused with the kph/mph readout. Whether they had film in them who knows? Like I said too much aggro to paperchase.

We are part of the EU, and travelling between Euro countries, no passport required/no border checks. Come to the UK, loads of checks. So why the discrepancies?

Jamie_Carter

Jack_Regan wrote: »

We all can't be perfect.;)

If you drive a HGV, and you aren't aware of nearby vehicles. And you don't check your mirrors, and check again. Then you shouldn't be driving something that can easily kill many people in one go.

banger9365

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

If you drive a HGV, and you aren't aware of nearby vehicles. And you don't check your mirrors, and check again. Then you shouldn't be driving something that can easily kill many people in one go.

even with the mirrors set right can you still lose a car next to the cab
if you ever drive one or sit in one have a look and i do not mean a transit van

gilbert_and_sullivan

banger9365 wrote: »

even with the mirrors set right can you still lose a car next to the cab
if you ever drive one or sit in one have a look and i do not mean a transit van

Then they arn't set right.

Properly set there is no hiding place, how do you think a proper driver reverses an artic through a series of manoeuvers around machinery cars posts high kerbs etc, yes the steering wheel attendant will hit one or several of them during his botched attempts, but we're not talking about steering wheel operatives we're talking lorry drivers here.

Lorry drivers deserving of that name take a pride in doing their job well, others don't, simple.

CKhalvashi

Willyoulearn wrote: »

When I say side swiped, maybe I am using the wrong term, but this seems to be how they refer to these incidents. Because these drivers are driving left hand drive vehicles, they cannot see if it is clear to move into the lane to the right and a collision occurs.

It was a driver from the EU so you would think it would be straight forward to pursue, but it seems that is not the case. Once they are back home, they start claiming the incident was 50/50. Perhaps I could try this next time I crash into someone!

I've driven RHD vehicles of this size on European roads, and I've not hit anything, due to adequate mirrors. Ours are the biggest allowed on EU roads (we do music event management, and the stages are in the trailers), so if it can be seen in these, it should be seen in anything else.

Our smaller stuff (rigid) is no more difficult than a car to drive, whether in the UK or not.

Dimey wrote: »

Yes it certainly feels that way :-)
Us locals have learned to be wary. I feel sorry for people who have no idea what they are getting themselves into when they take the occasional drive down to the ferry terminals or Eurostar.

Going in/out the UK (in a car) quite regularly, roads in Kent are no different to where I live (on the other side of London). This is, however, just my experience, and I usually go out at about 4am, and back in again very late evening, so these are quiet times on the roads anyway.

CK