Roundabout advice

EssexExile

Patrick05021989 wrote: »

With the above in mind, I assume that so called "professional" HGV drivers should have the skills and experience that would not allow such collisions to happen.

Don't assume too much, it only took me 4 days of training to become an HGV driver.

bugslet

Naturally I am biased, but I'd suggest that most LGV drivers in the UK are professional and have a great deal to contend with on the road. However, that doesn't make anyone a perfect driver and we all make mistakes. And in driving we all need to take responsibility for looking out for ourselves, which includes watching for other drivers of any size vehicle.

I went to a conference at the end of last year where the head of the DVSA was talking and there was a discussion about how stringent the requirements for pass an LGV test are and shall we say that in some countries in the East EU, they aren't:eek:. Vehicle maintenance and drivers hours are a whole new topic......

Anecdotally, my drivers talk of spotting the newbie East EU drivers that struggle to get on the train (Eurotunnel), and how poor the driving standards are generally.

bugslet

EssexExile wrote: »

Don't assume too much, it only took me 4 days of training to become an HGV driver.

In which case you are either a. really ancient (like me) cos it used to be easier , or b. incredibly talented:D. I've known a few drivers have to take a good few runs at it.

Car_54

Patrick05021989 wrote: »

Although I am convinced that I am not to blame ( as far as the principle behind the accident goes ) I will not put myself in that position again.

What principle is that then?

The one that says it's OK to change lanes without checking, in the belief that other drivers follow what you imagine to be the rules?

Car_54

ciderboy2009 wrote: »

Out of interest I know that, in Spain, any driver in the outside lane on a roundabout has priority over any driver in the inside lane & it's perfectly legal to go as far as you want (even if doing a u-turn) in the outside lane.

I wonder if Poland has a similar rule?

It's not illegal in this country either.

Car_54

PasturesNew wrote: »

I know many HGV drivers do follow a "different set of rules".... whereby if they're large and turning right many do take the left hand lane .... I'm wary of this, so I'd have either hung back to see where he was going, or booted it to make sure I was well out of the way if he did it.

It's not a "different set of rules". It's Rule 187 in the Highway Code.

"In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to ... long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length."

Patrick05021989

What principle is that then?

The one that says it's OK to change lanes without checking, in the belief that other drivers follow what you imagine to be the rules?

The one that that the HGV driver failed to indicate at any given time.
Are you telling me that you have never exited a roundabout into a two lane road with another vehicle next to you?

Patrick05021989

It's not a "different set of rules". It's Rule 187 in the Highway Code.

"In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to ... long vehicles (including those towing trailers). These might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length."

Sure, car drivers are required to look out for "this & that".
What steps does the HGV driver have to take to ensure the he is performing a correct and safe maneuver?

bugslet

Patrick05021989 wrote: »

Sure, car drivers are required to look out for "this & that".
What steps does the HGV driver have to take to ensure the he is performing a correct and safe maneuver?

The same. Which is why way back on page 1, several people suggested that the most likely scenario is 50/50.

SuzieSue

Patrick05021989 wrote: »

Patronizing. For the past 7 years I have been driving approx. 20-25k miles/year along various roads, and countries. Never had even a minor accident. With that in mind I dont see myself as an inexperience driver.


.

My comment wasn't aimed at you as I don't know whether you checked your mirror or not. If you didn't then you should have done, but we are all human and forget to do things. I was just saying how difficult I found it when I first started driving that I used to dread having to enter a roundabout in the righthand lane.