Asda HGV - how slow is too slow?
Discussion
Private Pile said:
TooMany2cvs said:
280E said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, no. Because that's not the offence they'd be committing, is it?
Hmm - is there a lower limit for HGVs other than NSL? If there is, I haven't noticed many HGVs sticking to it!If a truck is doing 60mph, he might not be exceeding the speed limit, but are any other offences being committed? Yes, they are. Clue: Construction & Use regs.
But for 99% of HGVs on the road - and 100% of Asda-liveried HGVs...
Super Slo Mo said:
Hang on, was this on a flat section of road or uphill? I've driven many a truck that couldn't maintain its max speed on an uphill section of motorway.
I have not so fond memories of grinding up parts of the M62 at a lot less than 30mph.
It might just be the case that the truck was going as fast as it could on that piece of road. Might also be that there was a problem with the vehicle and he was nursing it along to the nearest safe place to stop.
Nah, dead flat. It was locked at 37mph too so I think they had the cruise control on. Unless there was a problem with the truck he could've gone to limiter as even the largest HGVs manage it by that part of the motorway.I have not so fond memories of grinding up parts of the M62 at a lot less than 30mph.
It might just be the case that the truck was going as fast as it could on that piece of road. Might also be that there was a problem with the vehicle and he was nursing it along to the nearest safe place to stop.
I hadn't considered the time slots for delivery. As I said, there wasn't much other traffic around so in itself it probably wasn't dangerously slow in this instance... but the thought of a fleet of HGVs effectively acting as rolling roadblocks at half the speed limit for cars worries me!
simoid said:
As I said, there wasn't much other traffic around so in itself it probably wasn't dangerously slow in this instance... but the thought of a fleet of HGVs effectively acting as rolling roadblocks at half the speed limit for cars worries me!
If only there was a way for faster traffic to easily get past them.I had a puncture and had to replace the tyre with one of those temporary ones limited to 50mph.
The problem with driving at that speed is that it comes as a surprise to other drivers even when you have your hazards on.
The other thing of note was that I passed two other vehicles, one a car, the other a van. My idea was to use them as a buffer to those drivers not looking. Two passed the one behind me at speed then pulled into the gap I'd left between us. It doesn't take a lot of working out that if they hadn't seen me overtake the slow vehicle, then I must have been going at the same speed to be that close to them.
The problem with driving at that speed is that it comes as a surprise to other drivers even when you have your hazards on.
The other thing of note was that I passed two other vehicles, one a car, the other a van. My idea was to use them as a buffer to those drivers not looking. Two passed the one behind me at speed then pulled into the gap I'd left between us. It doesn't take a lot of working out that if they hadn't seen me overtake the slow vehicle, then I must have been going at the same speed to be that close to them.
TooMany2cvs said:
simoid said:
As I said, there wasn't much other traffic around so in itself it probably wasn't dangerously slow in this instance... but the thought of a fleet of HGVs effectively acting as rolling roadblocks at half the speed limit for cars worries me!
If only there was a way for faster traffic to easily get past them.
simoid said:
TooMany2cvs said:
simoid said:
As I said, there wasn't much other traffic around so in itself it probably wasn't dangerously slow in this instance... but the thought of a fleet of HGVs effectively acting as rolling roadblocks at half the speed limit for cars worries me!
If only there was a way for faster traffic to easily get past them.You're serious, aren't you?
BTW, you do know that mobile cranes are allowed on motorways, with a 31mph maximum speed...?
TooMany2cvs said:
<blink>
You're serious, aren't you?
BTW, you do know that mobile cranes are allowed on motorways, with a 31mph maximum speed...?
I'm serious, yes... a slow vehicle in traffic causes problems for traffic flow. A very slow vehicle, without warning, could be dangerous. Do you disagree?You're serious, aren't you?
BTW, you do know that mobile cranes are allowed on motorways, with a 31mph maximum speed...?
Generally when I see a crane it's got flashing amber all over it or an escort. I note that 50cc bikes and cyclists are banned from motorways, is that because presumably they can't get much over 30mph?
simoid said:
A very slow vehicle, without warning, could be dangerous. Do you disagree?
Yes, I do.70mph is 31.3m/s
56mph is 23.6m/s
40mph is 18m/s
If you really can't notice that you're closing on an 8m2 supermarket advert one third of a truck length more per second than you expect, then I don't think the truck's speed is the biggest problem.
TooMany2cvs said:
Yes, I do.
70mph is 31.3m/s
56mph is 23.6m/s
40mph is 18m/s
If you really can't notice that you're closing on an 8m2 supermarket advert one third of a truck length more per second than you expect, then I don't think the truck's speed is the biggest problem.
This is true: there are other problems at play - these problems are exacerbated by a very slow vehicle. Some people are inattentive on the roads, don't have sufficiently powerful vehicles to safely accelerate into a gap in lane 2 traffic, may not be good at judging speed of traffic in front or approaching from behind, etc. I look forward to living in a world where everyone is an "above average" driver though.70mph is 31.3m/s
56mph is 23.6m/s
40mph is 18m/s
If you really can't notice that you're closing on an 8m2 supermarket advert one third of a truck length more per second than you expect, then I don't think the truck's speed is the biggest problem.
This was the general thinking behind my post last night - unnecessary added risk on a road designed to be fast and free flowing. Obviously 49cc bikes and mopeds, cyclists and agricultural vehicles are banned from motorways. Why do you think this is? Might it be because they are too slow? I don't think I'm the only one who thinks a 37mph cruising speed is too slow without hazards or beacons.
simoid said:
I look forward to living in a world where everyone is an "above average" driver though.
<scratches head> I don't think you quite understand what an average is, do you...?simoid said:
Obviously 49cc bikes and mopeds, cyclists and agricultural vehicles are banned from motorways. Why do you think this is?
Because they're legally only capable of <30mph. That's the cut-off for motorway acceptability - hence 31mph cranes being fine.TooMany2cvs said:
280E said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, no. Because that's not the offence they'd be committing, is it?
Hmm - is there a lower limit for HGVs other than NSL? If there is, I haven't noticed many HGVs sticking to it!If a truck is doing 60mph, he might not be exceeding the speed limit, but are any other offences being committed? Yes, they are. Clue: Construction & Use regs.
Excluding peculiarities the general speed limits are in the link to a you.gov site so you can look it up for yourselves.
https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
It also contains this little gem:
"Speed limiters
A speed limiter must be fitted on:
vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, eg buses, minibuses, coaches, stretch limousines
goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of more than 3.5 tonnes
Speed limiters are designed to reduce accidents. They limit the maximum speed of a vehicle by restricting the fuel supply to the engine. Having a speed limiter may mean that your vehicle can’t reach the speed limit."
So now you know why we have elephant racing......
https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
It also contains this little gem:
"Speed limiters
A speed limiter must be fitted on:
vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, eg buses, minibuses, coaches, stretch limousines
goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of more than 3.5 tonnes
Speed limiters are designed to reduce accidents. They limit the maximum speed of a vehicle by restricting the fuel supply to the engine. Having a speed limiter may mean that your vehicle can’t reach the speed limit."
So now you know why we have elephant racing......
Edited by paintman on Sunday 13th November 12:18
MJK 24 said:
TooMany2cvs said:
280E said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, no. Because that's not the offence they'd be committing, is it?
Hmm - is there a lower limit for HGVs other than NSL? If there is, I haven't noticed many HGVs sticking to it!If a truck is doing 60mph, he might not be exceeding the speed limit, but are any other offences being committed? Yes, they are. Clue: Construction & Use regs.
simoid said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Yes, I do.
70mph is 31.3m/s
56mph is 23.6m/s
40mph is 18m/s
If you really can't notice that you're closing on an 8m2 supermarket advert one third of a truck length more per second than you expect, then I don't think the truck's speed is the biggest problem.
This is true: there are other problems at play - these problems are exacerbated by a very slow vehicle. Some people are inattentive on the roads, don't have sufficiently powerful vehicles to safely accelerate into a gap in lane 2 traffic, may not be good at judging speed of traffic in front or approaching from behind, etc. I look forward to living in a world where everyone is an "above average" driver though.70mph is 31.3m/s
56mph is 23.6m/s
40mph is 18m/s
If you really can't notice that you're closing on an 8m2 supermarket advert one third of a truck length more per second than you expect, then I don't think the truck's speed is the biggest problem.
This was the general thinking behind my post last night - unnecessary added risk on a road designed to be fast and free flowing. Obviously 49cc bikes and mopeds, cyclists and agricultural vehicles are banned from motorways. Why do you think this is? Might it be because they are too slow? I don't think I'm the only one who thinks a 37mph cruising speed is too slow without hazards or beacons.
TooMany2cvs said:
BTW, you do know that mobile cranes are allowed on motorways, with a 31mph maximum speed...?
No mobile crane I have ever used has a 31mph speed limit on the motorway.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special...
TooMany2cvs said:
simoid said:
I look forward to living in a world where everyone is an "above average" driver though.
<scratches head> I don't think you quite understand what an average is, do you...?simoid said:
Obviously 49cc bikes and mopeds, cyclists and agricultural vehicles are banned from motorways. Why do you think this is?
Because they're legally only capable of <30mph. That's the cut-off for motorway acceptability - hence 31mph cranes being fine.I don't think you understood the nuance of my "above average driver" comment. It was to remind you that not everyone is perfect and we have millions and millions of "below average drivers". For whom slow moving vehicles pose a problem.
What do you mean by "acceptable" - is this minimum speed enshrined in law? Its interesting that you do believe there is an unacceptably slow speed on which to travel on a motorway - if you can't notice a vehicle doing 30mph... etc
TooMany2cvs said:
MJK 24 said:
TooMany2cvs said:
280E said:
TooMany2cvs said:
Umm, no. Because that's not the offence they'd be committing, is it?
Hmm - is there a lower limit for HGVs other than NSL? If there is, I haven't noticed many HGVs sticking to it!If a truck is doing 60mph, he might not be exceeding the speed limit, but are any other offences being committed? Yes, they are. Clue: Construction & Use regs.
Enjoy your Sunday.
simoid said:
Why do you keep snipping my posts and ignoring parts which are relevant to the discussion?
Because I just quote the bits I'm replying to. If everybody quoted everything all the time, then a typical thread would just be a wall of quoted text.simoid said:
I don't think you understood the nuance of my "above average driver" comment.
Oh, I did.simoid said:
It was to remind you that not everyone is perfect and we have millions and millions of "below average drivers". For whom slow moving vehicles pose a problem.
Mm. I don't think "ability to figure the approach rate of another vehicle" is a great point to draw "average". It's more a point somewhere below "bare minimum competence"...simoid said:
Its interesting that you do believe there is an unacceptably slow speed on which to travel on a motorway - if you can't notice a vehicle doing 30mph... etc
Here's a video of a driver who didn't manage to notice slow-moving vehicles in front...https://embed.theguardian.com/embed/video/uk-news/...
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