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[Vamps]

More to the point is, WHY are Scottish, Irish and European Trucks exempt able to get around the limiter rule.

I didn't know that.....

[albitz]

Anyone trying to undertake a truck which is in the process of turning left shouldnt be on the road imo.
I havent driven trucks on the open road but I use to shunt them and drive them around the 2 mile airfield where I worked as well as occasional drivers mate duties to help with slinging etc for loads of concrete,so I hope I have a bit of an ideaof whats involved.

[Mr Skrunts]

I was in Italy running at 44ton at 56mph and a Spanish truck went past me like I was going backwards

Was he cooking his breakfast and reading the paper at the same time.?

[albitz]

More to the point is, WHY are Scottish, Irish and European Trucks exempt able to get around the limiter rule.

I didn't know that.....

If you come from Norn Irn to stranraer and you are behind a line of trucks which came off the same boat you did,you can hardly keep up with them,56mph my arse.

[amigov6]

That old chestnut. Car & HGV  drivers!!!!

1. Every HGV driver held a car licence first so has been on both sides, car drivers know no better. (pos servs. exceptions)

2. Yup, some HGV drivers use the size of thier vehicle to intimidate other road users. This is wrong.

3. All HGV vehicles registered after 1987/8 (E reg) are limited to 56mph or 90kph. Uphill loaded we can't achieve that which is why we have up to 16 gears. If one truck's 44t & another is lighter he uses the middle lane to overtake, same as on a flat if one truck will do 57 instead of 56 he's going to overtake as the law allows him, you have the third lane to yourself, many supermarket trucks are limited to 52mph for fuel economy, sorry but the rest of us are'nt waiting, again you have the third lane.

4. Entering roundabouts is another favourite. Off the top of my head i can't remember the road no. but one of the M62 jctns to Huddersfield (J.24 A629 i think) is a prime example. Just before the main H'field roundabout it splits into 3 lanes. Truck needs to be in the middle lane according "Get in lane signs". In some one's infinite wisdom as soon as you enter the roundabout there are only 2 lanes, bad enough for cars but you're totally breaked in artic with a 45ft trailer behind you & cars squeezing to your left & right inches from you. We have to wait until a car driver with a modicum of common sense waits & flashes us out. We don't pinch a bit of YOUR lane for fun we physically need it to move, stops the cars stuck behind hooting 'coz they hav'nt moved

5. If in your car entering a roundabout intending to turn right ie third exit PLEASE indicate so the truck who needs a longer gap than a car can go across the roundabout. If you don't indicate right as the highway code instructs & have to stop for a loaded truck it's a bit late to start flashing your lights & blowing your horn 3/4 of the way round if you didn't INDICATE.

6. I don't profess to know how to do whatever it is you have to do when you finally get to your place of work. I'd have no idea, not a clue, would'nt know where to start, seems you all know how to do my job though. Bit more to it than sitting on motorways.
    Suddenly everyone's an expert.....& i've got tomorrow, today now off so i'll be tucked up in bed all morning.

[stuart30]

Ahhh dear old Lorries.....

I kinda have a love hate relationship with them,love being a drivers mate but hate them being on the roads at all other times.

Im sorry too say you do get the idiots who think as there bigger they will do just as they bloody well please...mate of mine used too drive the tippers,his favourite saying was ""They soon move when they see the wheel nuts spinning past there passenger window"".

The guy was deadly serious as well....

Tonight coming into work had an Arctic driving like a complete thingy...The roundabout leading onto the A14 has two lanes going over and round and onto the A14 slip (slips dual lane).

I pull up in the inside lane as im in no rush...arctic pulls up in outside lane,traffic flow around the roundabout means im level with his cab all the way round (not good as its got an adverse camber) and neck and neck down the dual slip road....low and behold he doesn't have enough speed too pull onto A14 and get out of the way (cars can quite easily) so instead he insists on trundling along the full slip road forcing my self and 3/4 cars behind me too virtually come too a halt before joining the A14....not a huge problem on a Sunday afternoon but complete suicide on a weekday evening.

in lgv i peronally would not be in that situation as my blind spot (nearside front corner) is always kept clear. but the vehicles that was behind you could be classed as undertaking
and unless the roundabout is roadmarked differenly then any exit that is past 12 o clock from entry then the driver should use a right hand signal and the right hand lane if it is a 2 lane approach

The roundabout in question (spittals for anyone local) coming from the direction i was (Brampton) is dual lane then just before the roundabout splits into 3 lanes.

Nearside is for turning left onto A1 north or going straight over...middle lane for going straight or taking slip onto A14 and the outside lane for A14 and coming all the way round and back the way you've come.

Personally i think the dual slip is an accident waiting too happen...especially when its rush hour,people in the inside lane of the A14 are reluctant too allow people too filter in so when you have two lanes trying too filter in at the same time it can get quite hairy.

[Gaffers]

I understand that lorry and van drivers have to earn a living but that does not mean you lose all consideration for other road users.  I have had quite a few instances where my life has been put in danger because of very bad lorry and van driving.  Two of (many) to note:

1.   Cycling along on the main road through the village (30mph limit installed after my bro was killed there a couple of years earlier by two lads racing)  Lorry comes screaming past well over the limit prob around 40.  No traffic coming the other way and decides to drive as close to me as possible inevitably clipping my handlebars with the rear of the trailer.  I was airborn but because of what happened to my bro I also had a helmet (they were new back then and cost a fortune)  Bike was knackered but I only had bruising and a considerable amount of shock.

2.   While at Uni in Sheffield I cycled everywhere and I lived at the top of Eccleshall hill which meant a nice long (and fast) ride in to uni and a good workout on the way back.  I had uprated brakes and specially designed tyres for my 700C wheels.  Needless to say I wore a helmet, elbow and needpads, I had reflective gear, lights which I used religiously in all but the finest weather (rare in sheffield) I had a mirror, a pollution mask and a homemade airhorn.  Going through built-up area with parked cars on my left so I come out halfway in the road.  I am doing 30mph freewheeling behind a car which is obeying the limit. I am at a safe distance I know I can stop in time.  Van driver comes up behind and sits right on my tail, literally inches from my wheel.  I wasnt going to pull to the left until I get past the parked vehicles.  So the van goes outside me half straddling the middle of the road causing oncoming motorists to swerve.  He cuts into me and slams the brakes on, I dont know if it was because of traffic slowing ahead because he was obscuring the view.  I slammed my brakes on but couldent avoid impact with the side of his van which sent me into the back of a parked car.  I was airborn again but thanks to some army training I managed to do some sort of roll and minimise injury.  I got up memorised the number plate as he was speeding away, I turn around and see 2 coppers.  I think 'excellent! Just where I needed them.  Turns out they didn't see anything and they were not interesteed in the slightest.  Even though this chap was guilty of dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident all he got was a verbal warning over the phone!    The front wheel and forks were fubarred, they wouldent even give me his details to get damages off him!  The parked vehicle was an old jag so the chrome bumper I hit was as solid as a rock, the black tyre mark rubbed off nicely.

So forgive me if I do not advocate pointless manouvres and dangerous driving made by drivers of all vehicles but esp lorries and vans.  It takes every ounce of my being to not go completely mental when somebody does something pointless and dangerous whether it be intentional or not.  This is why I could never be a traffic policeman, I would not be objective enough  

[Andy B]

you have the far right hand lane available in a car, unless the car is towing a trailer and should only be doing max 60mph anyway. ......

Yes I'm talking about when I'm towing, & therefore am like you - I'm not allowed in lane 3. At no time did I mention going above 60. I can manage 60 up hill & down dale all day long with the 'van on. 'Your' problem is that without a downward hill you're restricted to 56 but seem to think that everyone else should have to slow down when you do.

[Johnboy0811]

Been reading all your posts and see it has given a lot of different opinions. We all have our own minds as to what we should do but I think if all motorists can be courtous to each other it would work so much better but can't see that happening anytime soon.

[tunnie]

I personally prefer the system in europe. trucks are not allowed to overtake each other during morning and afternoon rush hour. far better. I also have a pet hate of trucks doing 45 mph on a roads. seen other trucks same size do 60.

[Andy B]

....... seen other trucks same size do 60.

They shouldn't, but were probably just keeping up with the flow of traffic. 50 mph in a Nation Speed Limit applies, same as me with the caravan on the back.

[Kevin Wood]

I personally prefer the system in europe. trucks are not allowed to overtake each other during morning and afternoon rush hour. far better. I also have a pet hate of trucks doing 45 mph on a roads. seen other trucks same size do 60.

But an HGV is speeding at 45 on a single carriageway "A" road!

Kevin

[Andy B]

I personally prefer the system in europe. trucks are not allowed to overtake each other during morning and afternoon rush hour. far better. I also have a pet hate of trucks doing 45 mph on a roads. seen other trucks same size do 60.

But an HGV is speeding at 45 on a single carriageway "A" road!

Kevin

So .... I'm wrong again .......  :-/  

[HGV mechanic]

ok,, agree and disagree with some things said , firstly cannot understand why people try to tamper with the limiter :-? tacho doesent lie ,, and go mad at drivers saying there limiter is set to low , i.e there sat nav says so !
secondly i feel many psv, hgv divers drive FAR to close to each other,
and finally i wish some people would give alittel consideration at narrow roundabouts/juctions

apart from that love trucking

(anyone drove a scania V8 topliner      the power )

[Richie London]

my dad was hgv when he came out of RAF.in 1975 on my mums birthday his lorry jacknifed and flipped on a newly resurfaced rd. 6 months later he came out of an army hospital in tidworth i think it was called. but one of his best friends died 2 days later for the same firm on the same spot my dad crashed. 3 lorries jacknifed in 1 week on the exact same spot.
2 broken legs, 2 broken arms, glass embeded so deep in his face neck and  body they couldnt remove it, couldnt move his neck for 2 months. my mum still has the picture that was in the local paper at the time it happened, took nearly 4hrs to free him from the lorry

compensation. 6000