[Closed] Ah, truckers, you galant knights of the road!

Tailgating trucks are ace. Take your foot off the gas, scrub 10mph or so, then accelerate back up to speed. Rinse and repeat, happy in the knowledge that they might as well be throwing five pound notes out of the window. They soon get the message.

Report to the operator.
If it is a larger operator they will be quite happy to know.
Issue is, they are in short demand, they rarely get sacked as most fleet operators can't get enough drivers.
They do get bonuses for driving efficiently and safely, and with most having in cab cameras these days they should pull the driver up if driving badly.

I had a similar issue with a very bad driver on the M6, Buffaload central office were pleased to hear from me and did call back to follow up.

3-10
Liked the way you belittle their lifestyle with suggestions of stereotypical trucker behaviour and insinuate their bad driving by suggesting that you were driving badly when actually driving how you deemed to be safe, but you could have used extensive capitals and sections of bold type, not to mention expletives.

If I were doing a lot of miles on the motorway I'd be getting a rear-facing dashcam exactly for cases like this - it is easy to forward the film to the company involved, or if he really was that close, plod.

Report it to the operator you say? He was that close I could smell the Yorkies and fags on his breath, unless of course the operator was OV_lOV, AS THATS ALL I COULD F*****G SEE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR.

(That score any better Kayak?)

I have to disagree with Kayak; it's a strong 7/10 from me.

I'm with bear, I rate it. Maybe even an 8.

8?!? There's not even any swearing! IWTSDHATD* I thought traffic joining a carriage had to filter in, not t'other way round.

*I Wasn't There So Don't Have All The Details - just made that up, I think it'll catch on! 🙂

That score any better Kayak?)

That's a negatory good buddy.
[img] [/img]

You think that the truck driver's on STW........ 🙄

...or rides a bicycle.

Clearly not driving like that as the STW Roadcraftsmen drive impecably, right.

Unless it was Stevextc closing the gap in case someone was thinking of pulling out of the slip and nicking his braking space.

It's the ones who set up a rolling roadblock on dual carriageways, where one truck gets a tow from a bigger one, thinks he's got enough to overtake, pulls out and goes to overtake, then sits side-by-side, with the bigger truck, totally unable to make any more headway due to the limiter, for three or four miles.
Smooth move, Ex-Lax, the line of vehicles behind you applaud your advanced driving skills. 👿

If you sat behind them for five miles you *might* be a minute behind schedule.

Sorry Pondo. I liked the sense of control conveyed by the op, underpinned by the threat of extreme violence beneath an apparently calm surface. Or is that just me?

*I Wasn't There So Don't Have All The Details - just made that up, I think it'll catch on!

So not "I want to shit down his ass-tasting dentures" then.

I liked the sense of control conveyed by the op, underpinned by the threat of extreme violence beneath an apparently calm surface. Or is that just me?

Me too.

Besides the swear filter gets all the the good words so unless you go all Mr Mackey about it and just use the word "Mmm'kay" a really sweary rant doesn't work.

I liked the sense of control portrayed by the op, underpinned by the threat of extreme violence beneath an apparantly calm surface.

[url= https://m.liveleak.com/view?i=a39_1493912812 ]Like this dude? 🙂 [/url]

So not "I want to shit down his ass-tasting dentures" then

Did the truck look like the one below and is your real name Dennis Weaver? If you can answer yes to both I think I may know what happened.

[img] [/img]

It's the ones who set up a rolling roadblock on dual carriageways,

Lorry Driver Celebrates First Anniversary Of Overtaking Manoeuvre

LORRY driver Dennis Jackers was last night celebrating the first anniversary of starting to overtake fellow trucker Bob Mellows and the creation of a tailback described by the UN as a “crime against humanity”.

People are selfish ****s.
Some of them drive trucks.
APF

On the other hand, I do a few miles on the M5 every day, and by far the majority of shit lane choices are made by car drivers. By far.

by far the majority of shit lane choices are made by car drivers. By far.

Would agree with that (M3 and M27) but crap lane choice is ultimately an inconvenience.

Driving 40tonnes of metal 2 feet from someone's bumper at 50mph is dangerous, ****ing idiotic, deliberately aggressive and likely to put someone in the morgue the second anything goes wrong.

Again, on the other hand (in a dissenting mood, must be the shit result from the local elections 🙂 ), I've had similar from plenty of car drivers, in mitigation lorry drivers can see miles ahead so will know if they need yo brake long before you, and if you're slowing down to let someone on to the motorway, the highway code says you is wrong to do so (I think).

Newark to Grantham on A1; tailgated by DPD night trucker.

Used the tried and tested method espoused by Cougar - slow down, brake, speed up, slow down and repeat ad nauseam; Mr DPD got a little annoyed - repeated use of horn, flashing lights and generally threatening behaviour.

Window down to give him two fingers followed by speeding up and slowing down; pulled into layby and he followed, naturally, but I didn't stop; drove slowly and then accelerated back onto the main road.

Made sure he could see me by driving relatively slowly and then.....repeating.

That was fun - always have 4 cell maglite to hand.

Some lorry/truck drivers are considerate and drive appropriately but many are nothing more than f***ing halfwits in a hurry.

slowing down to allow traffic filter in from the slip road

Worng. They're supposed to fit in with you, not you fit in with them.

-3 points for dangerous driving +2 for hooker joke

Ah truck drivers a fair few are dickheads, slowing down to 30 through a village causes them much vexation it seems, I like cougars idea.

I over took a tipper truck on the A59 that was doing well above 56mph, are all trucks legally obliged to be limited to that speed?

It's great when they start playing wacky races on the A1 trying to overtake each other

Are we actually close to espousing a policy of aggravation towards the vexed? Because I'm not sure if that will lead to many positive outcomes.

"I want to shit down his ass-tasting dentures"

Wrong forum for that acronym- surprised you use the same login for both though.

frankconway - Member
Newark to Grantham on A1; tailgated by DPD night trucker.

Sit behind him and save a few quid on fuel?

Any of you ever drive truck?
Changing speed is a real pain. You have about 14 gears and every time you drop a few mph, you need to clump through the gears,down then back up again. Life is just much easier if you can pick a speed and hold it. Folks playing games in front of you? Probably just as funny as someone turning up at you work and standing in the way of your chair as you try to wheel across the office or adjust the height. But I guess you are all doing much more important things

I'm not keen on the idea of slowing down to allow drivers in off the slip road (or changing lanes for the same reason). It's quite clear in the Highway Code that those joining should adjust their speed appropriately to merge in.

Well I wasn't aware of that.

However if people didn't adjust their speed on the inside lane, nobody would ever be able to join the M62 until about 9:30am.

Charlie - 14 gears or not, truck drivers have to adhere to the rules of the road, just as everybody else should. And tailgating somebody at a distance of 2m in a 44t vehicle is incredibly dangerous. In an ideal world, all car drivers would all be able to drive at 70mph on the motorway all of the time, and all truck drivers could do 56mph. Unfortunately traffic is a very real thing, so everybody has to adjust their speed accordingly and maintain a safe braking distance

Allowing the traffic to filter in from the left, wether right or wrong, isn't the point of my original post, tailgating truckers is the point. However, as a 60k pa driver, allowing cars to filter in is both courteous and avoids side swipes. As you approach in lane 1 and the traffic filtering in approaches lane 1, you end up in their blind spot, it totally avoids being side swiped.....I've seen it happen on more than one occasion.

I love the dash cam vids where idiots brake test HGVs

I'm not keen on the idea of slowing down to allow drivers in off the slip road (or changing lanes for the same reason). It's quite clear in the Highway Code that those joining should adjust their speed appropriately to merge in.

Allowing the traffic to filter in from the left, wether right or wrong, isn't the point of my original post, tailgating truckers is the point. However, as a 60k pa driver, allowing cars to filter in is both courteous and avoids side swipes. As you approach in lane 1 and the traffic filtering in approaches lane 1, you end up in their blind spot, it totally avoids being side swiped.....I've seen it happen on more than one occasion.

Allowing the traffic to filter in from the left, wether right or wrong, isn't the point of my original post, tailgating truckers is the point.

Exactly, it's not about what you are doing wrong, it's everyone else!

Newark to Grantham on A1; tailgated by DPD night trucker.

Used the tried and tested method espoused by Cougar - slow down, brake, speed up, slow down and repeat ad nauseam; Mr DPD got a little annoyed - repeated use of horn, flashing lights and generally threatening behaviour.

Window down to give him two fingers followed by speeding up and slowing down; pulled into layby and he followed, naturally, but I didn't stop; drove slowly and then accelerated back onto the main road.

Made sure he could see me by driving relatively slowly and then.....repeating.

That was fun - always have 4 cell maglite to hand.

Some lorry/truck drivers are considerate and drive appropriately but many are nothing more than f***ing halfwits in a hurry.

The road isn't the place for that kind of childish shit TBH. Behaving like that makes you no better than the driver you're attempting to punish for bad driving. If a copper saw you doing it they'd probably do both of you and rightly so.

Some of you folk need to get a grip...

Nothing wrong with being courteous and helpful to traffic joining the motorway, but it sounds like you've slowed enough to cause traffic behind you to have to slow, and that's a bit dangerous. I wouldn't slow to allow traffic on, I'd move over a lane if clear to do so.

A lot of motorway slip roads will have bunches of cars joining together due to traffic light controlled roundabouts, which makes it more important to be reactive, easing off the accelerator slightly to allow cars to filter in at joining speeds safely is often all you need to do.

This Highway Code nonsense might be legally accurate but is completely impractical. Do the same people insist on 1970's braking distances?

I'd interperate "lifting off the accelerator slightly" as different to "slowing down so much that the truck behind has to slow down too".

The road isn't the place for that kind of childish shit TBH. Behaving like that makes you no better than the driver you're attempting to punish for bad driving. If a copper saw you doing it they'd probably do both of you and rightly so.

Agree with this. Dangerous and utterly pointless.

Sounds like an identical incident on the same motorway I had last month. I kept to 50 truck up my hatch then took over blowing his horn.

Nearly every weekend I observe people who have no clue how to use a motorway.

It needs to be part of the test/lessons (at least at a theory level).

60-65mph in the left lane, not busy at all. Big gaps in front, big gaps behind me. Lots of people bunched up in the middle lane. At least every other slip road, someone will match my speed and start trying to move into the side of me!

I'm not perfect, but I know when I do wrong. I've misjudged gaps and timing and had to say sorry, but bloody hell, a lot of people need to learn how to join a motorway safely!

A Dutch truck cut me up coming to join the motorway yesterday. Going full pelt and just came along side me on the left and forced me to slam on to avoid being sideswiped.

Loads of room behind me to join, but he just didn't want to slow down. First time that's happened though.

Few months ago, I saw Cheshire Police, overtaking the middle lane of traffic to flash his sign at them to "move left!". They all moved over, he zooms off the tell the next lot, then they all indicate back into the middle lane and carry on!

A personal hate of mine is 'considerate' inside lane drivers who simply pull into the middle lane to let those on the slip road joining the motorway an unimpeded run. Yes - Edinburgh bound M90 drivers at junction 3 I am talking to you. 😈

Lane discipline in the UK is terrible. The number of times you see 3 and 4 lane carriageways turned into 2 lane by people who don't know how to use a motorway.

Keep left, overtake slower traffic, then move back left. It's not hard is it?

In France you would get a ticket for driving the way 75% do in the UK.

Life is just much easier if you can pick a speed and hold it.[

Obviously, that's why every 50 limited motorway section I've driven has the second lane full of HGVs trying to carry their limited speed and passing cars doing 50.

Folks playing games in front of you? Probably just as funny as someone turning up at you work and standing in the way of your chair

My office chair doesn't wipe out families when I use it like a ****.

A personal hate of mine is 'considerate' inside lane drivers who simply pull into the middle lane to let those on the slip road joining the motorway an unimpeded run

I do that all the time. If they are going to end up alongside me then I'll move over a lane and let them on. What's wrong with that? 😕

Seems like hazard perception, conflict avoidance and generally being courteous to me.

Obviously, that's why every 50 limited motorway section I've driven has the second lane full of HGVs trying to carry their limited speed and passing cars doing 50.

I've been travelling the A1M roadworks between Leeming & Scotch Corner for the past 2 years & never seen that. Don't think I've ever been tailgated by an HGV either (although I've had many a tow from them)
Bustaspoke to the forum please!

Obviously, that's why every 50 limited motorway section I've driven has the second lane full of HGVs trying to carry their limited speed and passing cars doing 50.
I've been travelling the A1M roadworks between Leeming & Scotch Corner for the past 2 years & never seen that. Don't think I've ever been tailgated by an HGV either (although I've had many a tow from them)

Come to Manchester and have a drive round the roadworks section of the M60

You can be doing 50 mph and have a LGV literally 2ft from your back bumper.

Frightening.

 

I think we all need to drive less and ride more.

I do that all the time. If they are going to end up alongside me then I'll move over a lane and let them on. What's wrong with that?

Seems like hazard perception, conflict avoidance and generally being courteous to me.

The issue is that in their haste to vacate the inside lane, they invariably fail to take account of the traffic in the middle lane and just pull in causing that traffic to have to slow or do the same to traffic in the 3rd lane. Make the traffic on the slip road slow down or slow down to allow them in yourself, but don't just shift the problem further up the lanes.

Another crazy crash on the Forth road bridge on Friday involving a lorry and car, its meant to be a 40 average but folk give you hassle or undercut if you stick too close to 40, lorries cars and buses all culprits
Its the tailbacks that it causes that does my tits in

Another crazy crash on the Forth road bridge on Friday involving a lorry and car

I drove past just as it had happened. A Renault Megane ended up perched on top of the centre reservation gridded section. Air bags deployed, but thankfully it didn't look like their were any serious injuries.

matt_outandabout - Member
I think we all need to drive less and ride more.

Geoff J - not sure what middle lane you're on about? The M90 is two lane.

The issue is that in their haste to vacate the inside lane, they invariably fail to take account of the traffic in the middle lane...

Okay, so the problem isn't with the general thing of people moving to the middle lane to let other traffic on more easily (which I do), but with the more specific issue of people doing this badly or at times when they shouldn't (which [i]hopefully[/i] I don't)?

Fair enough I guess.

Obviously, that's why every 50 limited motorway section I've driven has the second lane full of HGVs trying to carry their limited speed and passing cars doing 50.

Don't lorries have more realistic speedometer? Or at least the drivers know what their true speed is?

I'm really not a fan of people braking on the motorway for anything other than oncoming traffic or speed cameras - if you can't just move over, and the traffic behind you is quite dense, then braking to let someone merge is surely inconveniencing more people than the merging driver?

A lot on here are coming across like those bellends who spout the hatred at cyclists.

Some people are twunts.

Some people drive trucks.

Some people drive cars.

Some people ride bicycles.

Obviously, that's why every 50 limited motorway section I've driven has the second lane full of HGVs trying to carry their limited speed and passing cars doing 50.

I have never seen this.

Don't lorries have more realistic speedometer? Or at least the drivers know what their true speed is?

I use the GPS speed on Waze. Dial in at about 52 -53 on the cruise control. Works for me.

Geoff J - not sure what middle lane you're on about? The M90 is two lane.

It's more of a generic point, although I could have perhaps been more specific in my j3 reference.

However, as a 60k pa driver........

Really.........where did you get this figure from. More like 35 to 40k for 70 hours a week living in a tin box with no toilet and parking in a layby or industrial estate because everywhere else is full up by 5 o'clock. Depending where you live, the going rate is only £8 to £10 per hour so you're probably not going to get the best of "professional driver" for that money. Haulage rates and standards are a race to the bottom so you can get cheap goods in the shops.

With slip roads, several times I've pulled safely into lane 2 to allow cars onto lane 1 from the slip road only for a continuous stream of vehicles to join and accelerate up to 70 mph leaving me stranded in lane 2 doing 56 mph with my left hand indicator on trying to get back. I've even been held out there so long that I missed the next exit I wanted. Courtesy works both ways........

However, as a 60k pa driver.....

I saw this and thought the same but then realised he was taking about his mileage.

Er, I read that "60K pa" as number-of-miles-driven (by the poster)?

Surely courtesy, whilst an excellent thing, should never happen at the expence of the rules. You might know what's going on but other people won't. I refuse to bend the rulers to be nice or accept courtesy. By the book is never wrong.
I dream of the day when HGV traffic returns to the railways or canals and stuff the selfish gits who want next day delivery.
Bearing in mind that all generalisations are based on truth I find commercial drivers of all sorts to be the worst. The excuse that their oversized wagon needs more space or constant speed is at best flaming selfish.

I dream of the day when HGV traffic returns to the railways or canals and stuff the selfish gits who want next day delivery.

I agree with the sentiment.

However, how would you get your stuff from the railhead to the supermarket or the container of pipes for a fabrication plant?

Yep, that's 60,000 miles per annum!

Bearing in mind that all generalisations are based on truth I find commercial drivers of all sorts to be the worst

Surely courtesy, whilst an excellent thing, should never happen at the expence of the rules.

I think such courtesy is required [i]more[/i] specifically [i]because[/i] people don't follow the rules.

i.e. If everyone maintained a [i]proper[/i] 2 second gap (i.e. ~62.5 meters at 70mph) then it would be a lot easier for oncoming traffic to slot in without the need for anyone to move over. But they don't

You might know what's going on but other people won't.

Well I wouldn't normally move out if it was going to cause other traffic to brake or take action. But I'd hope my indicator would be enough to tell other drivers what was going on.

But you still don't break the rules. Bugger the excuses.

So even if there was absolutely no reason that you couldn't move to the middle lane to let slip road traffic on more easily, you still wouldn't?

That seems like an overly zealous enforcement of "the rules" to me.

Yep, that's 60,000 miles per annum

Thanks...........my mistake [img] [/img]

I think lorry drivers are a problem that will go away. Driverless cars? I think there's much more mileage in driverless lorries. No drivers hours, comfort breaks or other such delays, more controllable fuel economy, nighttime haulage that might get incentives rather than premium rates.

No I don't think the future is particularly bright for lorry drivers and personally I can't wait, 15 years max I reckon.

Bearing in mind that all generalisations are based on truth I find commercial drivers of all sorts to be the worst

I'd say the reverse is true (IANACD).

+1

It's a constant source of frustration, and occasional fear and anger, that while drivers of double decker buses and 44 ton lorries can give me enough room when they pass, drivers of Nissan Micras and Honda Jazzes can't seem to manage it on the same piece of road.

mattsccm - Member

But you still don't break the rules.

Show me this rule that states you are not allowed to move over into the middle lane to overtake traffic... 💡

😉

Rule 259
Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway. You should

give priority to traffic already on the motorway
check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder
stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway
remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.

There is no rule that you can't move into the middle lane. However, if everyone is following the rules then you shouldn't need to. The onus is on the joining traffic to match their speed.

TBH, especially if the middle lane is clear, it is far safer and much more sensible to move other to give the joining traffic time more space.

i.e. If everyone maintained a proper 2 second gap (i.e. ~62.5 meters at 70mph) then it would be a lot easier for oncoming traffic to slot in without the need for anyone to move over. But they don't

But everyone would either need to slow down to accommodate the extra car or pull out to maintain their 2 second gap.

Of course. Adding a car into the two second gap would require the other cars to ease off a little to adjust their speed to maintain the gap.

Or move over a lane to make space, *if* there is room for them in the next lane.