Driving Standards Again2 - Germany & HGV's
Discussion
Right this time I drove back from Germany in a very large & very very slow campervan, thats as big as a small lorry & just as slow. I even got to play lorry flash yer lights, to pull in when it's safe etc.
It would do "slightly" more than 56mph but only just.
Across Germany almost all the Lorries stuck to the inside lane (They have to at peak times it's the law) at the 80 kph / 56 Mph speed limiter range. If one slowed a little for a hill, they'd all adjust speed & continue along quite merrily It's the law they have to. Cars could pass the lorries in safety & no car drivers were pulled out on.
At or near the Belgium border it quite literally becomes a farce right through to the UK where it even gets worse.
I stuck with the truck in front at whatever speed it would do, I had all day & was not in rush to get to the ferry 200 miles away 2 mins earlier. From the German Border onwards I witnessed quite literally hundreds of cases of what I'd describe as Obstructive & even dangerous driving.
I found the trucks that could do 56.5mph on the flat were the ones that slowed down the most on the hills. So For evey one that overtakes on the flat it's the same one that gets overtaken at the hill.
What I witnessed in the UK ( I had lots of time to) was quite an eye opener. As the truck behind closes to within 6ft & I'm not joking! they would pull out regardless of what was coming from behind, it's all to do with overtaking timing.
The Dualled E40 through Holland is a constant 56.5mph lorry race for nearly 100 miles (not unlike the A1).
Speed limiters are not the cause of the problem, it's the a**hole drivers who get away with it because they can & no one is going to give them a ticking off.
The system works almost perfectly in Germany, as they can't overtake there is no need to catch up & hence follow right up each other asses. Gaps are left so cars can exit junctions, they adjust their speed when need be etc.
I think it's high time we introduced similar rules over here in the UK.
Question for the Trafpols out there, when was the last time you stopped a truck driver for pulling out on a car with little or no indication?
PS: I also have an HGV II licence in case your wondering.
>>> Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 17th March 08:33
It would do "slightly" more than 56mph but only just.
Across Germany almost all the Lorries stuck to the inside lane (They have to at peak times it's the law) at the 80 kph / 56 Mph speed limiter range. If one slowed a little for a hill, they'd all adjust speed & continue along quite merrily It's the law they have to. Cars could pass the lorries in safety & no car drivers were pulled out on.
At or near the Belgium border it quite literally becomes a farce right through to the UK where it even gets worse.
I stuck with the truck in front at whatever speed it would do, I had all day & was not in rush to get to the ferry 200 miles away 2 mins earlier. From the German Border onwards I witnessed quite literally hundreds of cases of what I'd describe as Obstructive & even dangerous driving.
I found the trucks that could do 56.5mph on the flat were the ones that slowed down the most on the hills. So For evey one that overtakes on the flat it's the same one that gets overtaken at the hill.
What I witnessed in the UK ( I had lots of time to) was quite an eye opener. As the truck behind closes to within 6ft & I'm not joking! they would pull out regardless of what was coming from behind, it's all to do with overtaking timing.
The Dualled E40 through Holland is a constant 56.5mph lorry race for nearly 100 miles (not unlike the A1).
Speed limiters are not the cause of the problem, it's the a**hole drivers who get away with it because they can & no one is going to give them a ticking off.
The system works almost perfectly in Germany, as they can't overtake there is no need to catch up & hence follow right up each other asses. Gaps are left so cars can exit junctions, they adjust their speed when need be etc.
I think it's high time we introduced similar rules over here in the UK.
Question for the Trafpols out there, when was the last time you stopped a truck driver for pulling out on a car with little or no indication?
PS: I also have an HGV II licence in case your wondering.
>>> Edited by cptsideways on Wednesday 17th March 08:33
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