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[Gaffers]

http://road.cc/content/news/171470-hgv-operator%E2%80%99s-licence-revoked-after-its-actions-led-death-two-cyclists

I have no doubt that a new company will be quietly setup in the next few months with another family member at the helm and a completely different name.  I will be keeping an eye out

Nice to see a long sentence given to the motorist as well, although from experience I can say that a tough sentence gives no solace.  A weak sentence just amplifies the heartache.

[Varche]

Good outcome. Anything that brings down road deaths has got to be good.

My mother used to be an avid cycling racer doing well in races up to 100 miles in length. That all stopped when she was eighteen. A lorry towing a trailer loaded with straw performed an ill judged overtake on a narrow road and knocked her off the bike and ran over it and her legs. No action was taken against the driver or the firm. Their solicitor successfully argued that she was accelerating(it was just starting to go downhill) and that made the overtake hard to judge!. It was 1949 and times have changed. She suffered from back pain for nearly 45 years as a result until it was sorted when she tripped on a loose paving slab in Newcastle! The owner of the lorry company later gave her £50 to buy a new bike.

[biggriffin]

A very common situation within road transport, going from silly O clock starts to a bit later, then doing depot based wok, 15-18 hr days are not uncommon within transport, as long as the card shows the relevant rest has taken place,its legal.
These only come to light when a serious breech of road safty happens or the operator, has an investigation against them and time sheets,wage slips and cards are compared.
 I won't go into the reasons why this is common, or a long winded explanation, but,customers,supermarkets, times etc, and keeping your job all come into it.,

[Gaffers]

Thankfully Varche, things have improved although we have so way to go yet in terms of having a suitable deterrent for putting other road users at risk.

It is scary to think that this type of behaviour may be commonplace or even standard in the UK industry.  It would explain the difference I have noticed between how French and UK HGV drivers treat other vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

[Entwood]

Thankfully Varche, things have improved although we have so way to go yet in terms of having a suitable deterrent for putting other road users at risk.

It is scary to think that this type of behaviour may be commonplace or even standard in the UK industry.  It would explain the difference I have noticed between how French and UK HGV drivers treat other vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

French drivers are generally better in all aspects, the standard of driving in UK is one of the poorest in the world IMHO.

The only thing that matters to most is "ME" .. they don't care about pedestrians, cyclists, other cars, caravans, trucks, laws, common sense etc etc .. as long as they get their own way and do what they want the world is a good place .. and they are NEVER, EVER in the wrong. 

[Gaffers]

Thankfully Varche, things have improved although we have so way to go yet in terms of having a suitable deterrent for putting other road users at risk.

It is scary to think that this type of behaviour may be commonplace or even standard in the UK industry.  It would explain the difference I have noticed between how French and UK HGV drivers treat other vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

French drivers are generally better in all aspects, the standard of driving in UK is one of the poorest in the world IMHO.

The only thing that matters to most is "ME" .. they don't care about pedestrians, cyclists, other cars, caravans, trucks, laws, common sense etc etc .. as long as they get their own way and do what they want the world is a good place .. and they are NEVER, EVER in the wrong. 

Actually I would argue that their car drivers are worse than ours, although we are catching up pretty quickly.  I agree fully with your statement with the general behaviour of lorry drivers.  The 7.5T category seem to be the worst but I wonder how much of this problem stems from the pressures they are placed under?

[tigers_gonads]

Thankfully Varche, things have improved although we have so way to go yet in terms of having a suitable deterrent for putting other road users at risk.

It is scary to think that this type of behaviour may be commonplace or even standard in the UK industry.  It would explain the difference I have noticed between how French and UK HGV drivers treat other vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

French drivers are generally better in all aspects, the standard of driving in UK is one of the poorest in the world IMHO.

The only thing that matters to most is "ME" .. they don't care about pedestrians, cyclists, other cars, caravans, trucks, laws, common sense etc etc .. as long as they get their own way and do what they want the world is a good place .. and they are NEVER, EVER in the wrong. 

Nail on head there Nige 
And just to round it off, my lads has his first driving test at 14:00 today 
Fingers crossed he will pass and turn out a decent driver 
If he does drive like a idiot, i'll have to enforce some good old fashion style parenting 

[biggriffin]

Thankfully Varche, things have improved although we have so way to go yet in terms of having a suitable deterrent for putting other road users at risk.

It is scary to think that this type of behaviour may be commonplace or even standard in the UK industry.  It would explain the difference I have noticed between how French and UK HGV drivers treat other vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

Any person who is tired, worked a long day, then is going home, can cause the same out-come, eg
Driving from lets say Hampshire to France, then doing some work, then going to somewhere else, its not only Hgv drivers who get tired, it just happens that when it goes wrong in a truck its bigger, and makes better news, than the factory or office bod, who's been working double shift, to get the work done to hit his targets, then driving the next morning after 3 hrs sleep to the customers!