Knights of the road or

[seth1]

What makes the matter worse,or seem worse is the amount of trucks on the motorway and as Shady sadie pointed out,none of the offending vehicles were foriegn.no surprise here then,i wonder how many stick to the european directive on hours and speed.funny how most of the foriegn vehicles are either Scania or volvo,seperate fuse for the limiters,paperclips fill the cabs.

Or you could blame the tacho stations for putting the wrong k factor in on a 6year calibration.But at the end of the day no ones forcing you to use the motorways,go back to the trunk roads.

while limiters are set at 56mph things will not change,haulage industry guys have moaned since it was brought in.it changed their job dramatically in terms of milages.

one place limiters wouldnt go amiss is cars pulling caravans.

surly an outfit is as big as a 7.5 t vehicle.and when would expect tacho laws not to apply?

 

[Zafiral]

99% of lorry drivers drive like professional (yes even some of the overseas ones), and there are just as many bad car drivers.

However the big difference is the amount of damage that a lorry can do compared to a car. Some lorry drivers use this to their advantage and they need to be stopped and have their licences revoked FOR LIFE immediately.

 

[Guest]

Happy New Year

I've a long history of high annual mileage driving and towing. Family, friends and work colleagues all seem to rate me a steady caring driver.

When I first posted I exepected support from truck drivers here as other truckers around me on the day in question vented their anger at two of their fellow drivers.

I run a business, and guess how most of our goods get around.

Years ago my husband ran his own racing team for a very short time and I actually owned the race truck as that was the only way we could finance it.

I'll try and take in all the advice directed my way.

But I'm still at a loss as to how a truck that can't complete a reasonable overtaking manouvre in good time and the chap on the inside lane who "can't" or will not ease off for a second or two is helping or respecting other truck drivers who share the constraints of the Tacho.

Many road users have dead lines to meet and I don't believe that truckers are any more important than many other business users.

Towing a caravan or our race shuttle, the vast majority of UK truckers give a flash to indicate that the outfits rear end has cleared their vehicle and many truckers give me space and I always try and do the same for them.

I asked if some "KINDLY KNIGHT" of the road could explain. But here their knighthoods seemed to have slipped a little.

Taking note of G's comments, going to the NEC yesterday we saw two trucks travel for several miles with little difference in the gap between them, only for the following truck to fail in his attempt to overtake an a hill. Yet another truck passed both with ease. (empty maybe) At least the guy gave in and pulled back in.

If truck drivers are under so much pressure, is it not time for

a review of drivers hours and closer auditing of employers planning of routes and drops. The truck drivers and others could all benefit.

 

[g_374369443]

Happy New Year

I've a long history of high annual mileage driving and towing. Family, friends and work colleagues all seem to rate me a steady caring driver.

When I first posted I exepected support from truck drivers here as other truckers around me on the day in question vented their anger at two of their fellow drivers.

I run a business, and guess how most of our goods get around.

Years ago my husband ran his own racing team for a very short time and I actually owned the race truck as that was the only way we could finance it.

I'll try and take in all the advice directed my way.

But I'm still at a loss as to how a truck that can't complete a reasonable overtaking manouvre in good time and the chap on the inside lane who "can't" or will not ease off for a second or two is helping or respecting other truck drivers who share the constraints of the Tacho.

Many road users have dead lines to meet and I don't believe that truckers are any more important than many other business users.

Towing a caravan or our race shuttle, the vast majority of UK truckers give a flash to indicate that the outfits rear end has cleared their vehicle and many truckers give me space and I always try and do the same for them.

I asked if some "KINDLY KNIGHT" of the road could explain. But here their knighthoods seemed to have slipped a little.

Taking note of G's comments, going to the NEC yesterday we saw two trucks travel for several miles with little difference in the gap between them, only for the following truck to fail in his attempt to overtake an a hill. Yet another truck passed both with ease. (empty maybe) At least the guy gave in and pulled back in.

If truck drivers are under so much pressure, is it not time for

a review of drivers hours and closer auditing of employers planning of routes and drops. The truck drivers and others could all benefit.

Euro/ sadie? I think it was said way back in this long thread.But you are mixing up bad inconsiderate drivers,be they in cars,vans or trucks,With some sort of perception that Merely truck drivers should be targeted for this type of criticism of their standard of courteous driving, by labelling it as dangerous, when it is no more dangerous than following a slower moving vehicle down a single carriage road and being unable to overtake!

It maybe frustrating, it might hinder the rate of knots you clearly feel you should be able to go at,but all it is, is a inconvenience. Thats all

And there are far far far worse things happening on our roads and m/ways, by drivers of cars, vans,and yes even trucks too, which are more than just an issue of inconsiderate actions, they are a dam right danger to all road users.

So you have my sympathies, as I said before, but its hardly worthy of the title "knight of the road or plain nuts" as I don't believe hgv drivers are knights, and the driving you described was hardly worthy of the "nuts" description either.

 

[seth1]

Happy New Year

I've a long history of high annual mileage driving and towing. Family, friends and work colleagues all seem to rate me a steady caring driver.

When I first posted I exepected support from truck drivers here as other truckers around me on the day in question vented their anger at two of their fellow drivers.

I run a business, and guess how most of our goods get around.

Years ago my husband ran his own racing team for a very short time and I actually owned the race truck as that was the only way we could finance it.

I'll try and take in all the advice directed my way.

But I'm still at a loss as to how a truck that can't complete a reasonable overtaking manouvre in good time and the chap on the inside lane who "can't" or will not ease off for a second or two is helping or respecting other truck drivers who share the constraints of the Tacho.

Many road users have dead lines to meet and I don't believe that truckers are any more important than many other business users.

Towing a caravan or our race shuttle, the vast majority of UK truckers give a flash to indicate that the outfits rear end has cleared their vehicle and many truckers give me space and I always try and do the same for them.

I asked if some "KINDLY KNIGHT" of the road could explain. But here their knighthoods seemed to have slipped a little.

Taking note of G's comments, going to the NEC yesterday we saw two trucks travel for several miles with little difference in the gap between them, only for the following truck to fail in his attempt to overtake an a hill. Yet another truck passed both with ease. (empty maybe) At least the guy gave in and pulled back in.

If truck drivers are under so much pressure, is it not time for

a review of drivers hours and closer auditing of employers planning of routes and drops. The truck drivers and others could all benefit.

I have a simple question here,obviously few will agree.But why should an HGV driver pull back in to the nearside lane of a motorway when traffic is behind him or her?Even if the said vehicle is 1km/h faster than the vehicle thats being over taken its still making progress.If every HGV slowed down to match the speed of the one in front would we then have serious convoys.

Bearing in mind the roadtax on a 44tonne HGV which has been dropped from best part of

 

[Guest]

Sadie drove us to the NEC yesterday and to our uncles funeral earlier in the week.

First time I've been driven by her for a while, she and my wife both learnt to drive with the same instructor getting on for thirty five years ago.

There's nothing wrong with her driving or attitude to other road users.

In support of her argument again, the HGV's at the front are holding up others HGV's often. M40 example yesterday was not to bad, but one guy who could not ovetake still slowed down fellow truckers so how was he helping.

 

[seth1]

hello,respectfully Sadie might be a good driver by your standards,but whos to judge your driving.ive just taken the time to fully read this thread,and i to can see the pattern.

I fail to see the significance this could have on someones life.you only have to look at the 6 oclock news and whats going on to see how lucky we are.on the timescale how late did this weeks problem make her.

regards

 

[g_374369443]

Euro. I really am not sure what relevance your opinion of Sadies driving expertise has to do with anything, regarding this topic and indeed, I am sure my friends would also say what a good driver I am too!

What I have noted,is regardless of what is said in defence of HGV drivers, you are still attacking a minute,amount of inconsiderate HGV drivers, with the venom that one would associate is left for those nutty drivers!

Which to me clearly shows that this is an attack on HGVs, otherwise by now this thread would have died or as often happens changed direction,and would properly by now be full of posts concerning All types of road uses from the inconsiderate to the dam right dangerous ones.Which I note is something you have yet to comment on,whilst you still persists on giving examples of inconsiderate HGV lorries.

Is it just a case of watching HGVs rather than the road! cuzz you seem to be missing rather alot of what normal drivers see each day.Or do you have a selective memory?

 

[Guest]

I think you have both again missed the point. On route to the NEC we were not held up.

But a HGV held up others but he did give up, not the worlds end but another lorry manouvre that seemed pointless.

Frustration for the Lorry drivers may be?

We've had a good laugh and wind up with Sadie and she got a HGV Driver starter pack for her birthday.

My comment about her driving was about her respect for other road users rather than the idea that's been put forward that she's may be driving at ten tenths with no care for other road users.

 

[ShadySadie]

After a variety comments and interpretations, some good, and may be some not so good.

May be this idea might be worth considering.

Leaving the NEC via M42 to the M40 the M42's hard shoulders are now used by drivers at peak times.

In the evening rush hour there was less congestion at junctions with the hard shoulder being used as far as we could remember.

Could it be beneficial to HGV drivers and others if HGV's could move over to the hard shoulder lane when others HGV's try to overtake.

The M42 has extra emergency lay-by areas due to the hard shoulder usage. In Ireland the practice of moving left on to the hard shoulder to let others pass on A roads and other major roads seems to work for all road users.

Using the hard shoulder to let other trucks pass might allow HGV drivers to maintain better progress and not hinder other HGV's and assist all road users by cutting congestion.

 

[Dustydog]

It would have to be a bloody long hard shoulder with no blockages etc.

Cheers

Alan

 

[g_374369443]

So really Sadie, what you are saying is our main road network, is simply not up to the job.And whilst using the hard shoulder is indeed used in some places, do not forget this itself brings about another serious safety issue, where motorist have to get off said road,and no doubt "some" as they already do,will be cutting across moving traffic very late with no where for other road users to swerve ie hard shoulder.

If one also assumes that as a junction approaches that all users of the hard shoulder are then forced to move back into the proper lane, we then also end up with a bottleneck and potential near misses as some do not give way.

Not really a easy question to answer, but glad to see you posting..........

 

[seth1]

being totally honest,the road network is not up to the job,its very poor,look at the m6 around stafford and cheshire,look at the fatalities.on the face of what Sadies suggests is ok and i cross to Ireland regular with work out there and no doubt it works there.when an obstacle approaches the motorists pull back on the main road.it seems they have a mutual understanding.the only difference being the roads being used as examples arnt motorways.

 

[trucker]

I think prahaps shady sadie should organise to go out for a day with a lorry driver just to find out for herself what we have to put up with in a 12 hour day. I know we would be going a bit slow for her liking but as I say she might just appreciate what $*#* we have to put up with on a daily basis

Any takers to have her in your cab for a day???

Kevin

 

[ShadySadie]

From what we briefly saw on the M42 the extra emergency laybys seemed to work OK and I assume the camera systems and overhead lights are used if the hard sholder lane has a hazard.

Hard shoulder use is already working so it's not as if I've suggested something that is not already working.

Should our current resources and technologey not be combined to keep roads and freight moving rather than build more roads or have all road users fleeced by Brown's lot inflicting road pricing on road users over burdened wallets and purses.

Motorway and dual carriageway hard shoulder use for the freight industry could surely benefit that business and all road users if managed correctly.

Millions are being spent on new motorway active variable message signs and more cameras, why not get maximum bang per buck as they say and make the technology infrastructure work for peak efficiency.

Do the roads just need a womans touch rather than me sitting in a truckers cab, I've done that in the past boys and had the "guided tour" of the sleeper bunks ;-)

My David drove us to Estoril for a race

 

[Parksy]

I'm sure that others will have more details and correct me if I'm wrong but the system in use on the M42 in the West Midlands is being extended to part of the M6 which joins the M42.

At peak times the M42 is subject to a variable speed limit and is usually kept to 50mph for all vehicles.

The use of the hard shoulder coupled with the lower speed limit for all vehicles is said to have reduced congestion and accidents on the M42 considerably.

I've driven solo and with the caravan along the M42 at peak times and the traffic has flowed although slower than normal.

 

[ShadySadie]

That's correct Parksy. They use the technology to keep the traffic flowing with the addition of some extra emergency layby areas.

Large HGV lorrys have to stay out of the overtaking lane on motorways, so why not allow the freight industry to move on to the hard shoulder if it helps keep them to their schedules and keeps the road running. Section oo the M25 that have 4 lanes on hills allow truckers and others to overtake and maintain progress.

We have 4 lanes including the hard shoulder on most motorways, lights and cameras control the hard shoulder of the M42 wit a little work it must be able to work on all routes.

Loop systems under roads can detect moving traffic or stationary break downs or hold ups along with cameras.

 

[Zafiral]

Sadie

From you original post, adding an extra lane will not solve the problem as if a lorry doing 90 kph wanting to overtake another lorry doing 89.95 kph sitting in lane 2 (as people do on 4 lane roads with frequent lane 1 becoming the off slip) will have to use lane 3 and if you are towing, you will still not be able to overtake in lane 4.

 

[xtrailman]

Have i made 100?

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

To do what Sadie is suggesting will not be as expensive as putting in a 4th lane, but I still think that the govt. wont be happy about putting in overhead gantries every 1/2 mile, warning drivers to exit the hard shoulder because of a break down, but nice idea

 

[Gafferbill]

Wow...............

This post has passed it's century and is all about people perceiving that they are being delayed on our roads.

It has gone from trucks getting in individuals way, to inadequate road design, to not enough technology.

Nobody likes to be delayed whether it is on a road , at an airport, at railway station or at A&E.

Could the problem be the attitude of the Human to such a delay?

It was not that long ago it took several days to travel around this country by stagecoach!!!!!!

Nipping down to Estoril would have been out of the question.

 

[ShadySadie]

I've just heard that it has been announced on the BBC lunch time news that the Government are going to open up more M'way hard shoulders for drivers to use due to lack of road capacity ;-)

I might post again when I've stopped laughing.

Sadie x

 

[SteveW77]

I hope you keep your eyes open while you laugh, or you might run a broken down car up the arse at 70 mph.

Steve W

 

[Clockwork_374390647]

Not before time Sadie. Added safety can be incorporated in to main road arteries at reasonable cost.

If they tore up rail track for lorries to use we could all be happier.

 

[DEANO3528]

Clockwork said:

"If they tore up rail track for lorries to use we could all be happier."

This was talked about several years ago, early eighties possibly, the major problems being the low height of bridges (we used to have to do Felixstowe to Holyhead with overheight (9' 6") containers) and the insufficient width of the permanent way. Several bypasses are built using disused railways, but there are constraints.

I think the M42 hard shoulder system works very well, having experienced it on numerous occasions.

Something I have noticed a lot, and it's getting worse, is peoples inability/reluctance to move back to lane 1 preferring to loiter in lane 2 all the time. That along with the lack of signalling/positioning on roundabouts has to be far more discussion-worthy.