Is truck "elephant racing" against the law?
Discussion
Nigel Worc's said:
Lorry drivers say "why should we be stuck behind a slower lorry, in answer I'd say "why should I be stuck behind you " ?
I think you will find that most wouldn't give the idea much thought.If they can overtake, they overtake, if not, they don't.If they are in their cars and a lorry slows them down for a while, it's unlikely they give that much thought either.I certainly never have, not even before I drove one.Someone else posted that they will flash a truck out before the driver has even started to indicate & that's something I have done for most of my life.I read the signs, let them out and wait. *shrugs*Digby said:
I think you will find that most wouldn't give the idea much thought.If they can overtake, they overtake, if not, they don't.If they are in their cars and a lorry slows them down for a while, it's unlikely they give that much thought either.I certainly never have, not even before I drove one.Someone else posted that they will flash a truck out before the driver has even started to indicate & that's something I have done for most of my life.I read the signs, let them out and wait. *shrugs*
It's the length of time they take, not the fact they do it.heebeegeetee said:
Nah, it's far simpler than that.
Sum up: The worst drivers moan the most. The end.
The reason that people like 10 pence and Nigel moan so much is 'cos they can't bloody drive.
I love you. Sum up: The worst drivers moan the most. The end.
The reason that people like 10 pence and Nigel moan so much is 'cos they can't bloody drive.
You don't have any evidence to back up your points of view. You malke sweeping unfounded allegations and assumptions. You don't acknowledge there's even a problem and, if there is one, it's all down to those stupid car drivers.
And you, well, you don't drive trucks any more, but because you were once a truck driver, you (and other truck drivers) are the only ones with relevant experience to make qualified comment on road issues.
I've already said the are many problem groups on our roads, and trucks are just one part of them. But no, because I dare include truckers, and I am not one, my 750,000 mainly motorway miles of the past few years, and my opinion, don't count.
Instead, by recognosing that all groups, including truckers, cause congestion, I am a 'moaner' who 'can't drive' on arterial routes. Yet another ill founded allegation by someone who spent his life chugging at circa 60mph and little else.
Truckers are obviously such a virtuous group, which is of course reflected by their glowing reputation and enourmous salaries. I bow down.
Digby said:
..And minimum speeds for cars of 60 mph on motorways.Quicker than soon!
And how oh wise one do you propose to deal by some regulation with the situation where 60 is too fast be it due to weather or some other reason outwith the driver or authorities control?Practically describe in detail how you'd deal with it, not some one line bulls
t sentence that has had so little thought into the matter as to be laughable.
F i F said:
Digby said:
..And minimum speeds for cars of 60 mph on motorways.Quicker than soon!
And how oh wise one do you propose to deal by some regulation with the situation where 60 is too fast be it due to weather or some other reason outwith the driver or authorities control?Practically describe in detail how you'd deal with it, not some one line bulls
t sentence that has had so little thought into the matter as to be laughable.
F i F said:
And how oh wise one do you propose to deal by some regulation with the situation where 60 is too fast be it due to weather or some other reason outwith the driver or authorities control?
Practically describe in detail how you'd deal with it, not some one line bullst sentence that has had so little thought into the matter as to be laughable.
In France, there is a lower limit when it rains on their M way if memory serves. That what you mean? Anyway, if Gordons morons were still in charge we would have limiters fitted I am sure of it. Not sure about call me Dave, it is a thing that the European sat nav bods are pushing.Practically describe in detail how you'd deal with it, not some one line bulls
t sentence that has had so little thought into the matter as to be laughable.@ digby, it's you that needs the whoosh parrot. There are dozens and dozens of reasons why it might not be appropriate to travel at 60 or over. Not possible to regulate for all situations.
I have taken your camera suggestion as a joke, but the point is that it would be another unenforceable law, that wouldn't deal with the real problem children yet possibly have negative impact on people who were never a problem in the first place. We have enough laws like that already.
Unless of course you are simply trolling, in which case, pat yourself on the back as you got a bite.
I have taken your camera suggestion as a joke, but the point is that it would be another unenforceable law, that wouldn't deal with the real problem children yet possibly have negative impact on people who were never a problem in the first place. We have enough laws like that already.
Unless of course you are simply trolling, in which case, pat yourself on the back as you got a bite.
F i F said:
@ digby, it's you that needs the whoosh parrot. There are dozens and dozens of reasons why it might not be appropriate to travel at 60 or over. Not possible to regulate for all situations.
I have taken your camera suggestion as a joke, but the point is that it would be another unenforceable law, that wouldn't deal with the real problem children yet possibly have negative impact on people who were never a problem in the first place. We have enough laws like that already.
Unless of course you are simply trolling, in which case, pat yourself on the back as you got a bite.
It wasn't trolling, it was lighthearted banter relating to how many cars heavy goods vehicles have to pass and the comments regarding trucks being restricted to lanes which will inevitably be full of those types of driver! Do you really think I was being serious and that I am the type of road user who believes that to be a genuinely feasible idea? Would anyone? If you do, I'm guessing my suggestion of drivers having to balance a sausage on their head, to increase smoother and less erratic braking and acceleration, may cause you to explode!! I have taken your camera suggestion as a joke, but the point is that it would be another unenforceable law, that wouldn't deal with the real problem children yet possibly have negative impact on people who were never a problem in the first place. We have enough laws like that already.
Unless of course you are simply trolling, in which case, pat yourself on the back as you got a bite.
Nigel Worc's said:
Digby said:
Nigel Worc's said:
It's the length of time they take, not the fact they do it.
Never bothered me.I can't help, sorry.Maybe I spend too much time driving.
The faster the car I drive, the more it bothers me lol
With respect how do we know you are joking when there is absolutely no indication in the original post that it was a joke; you see there are people out there who actually seriously believe a 60 min for cars is appropriate. How do we know you aren't one of the window lickers?
Anyway you carry on relying on the usual PH fallback of "I was only joking, should have put a smiley."
Anyway you carry on relying on the usual PH fallback of "I was only joking, should have put a smiley."
10 Pence Short said:
1.You don't have any evidence to back up your points of view.
2. You malke sweeping unfounded allegations and assumptions.
3. You don't acknowledge there's even a problem and, if there is one, it's all down to those stupid car drivers.
4. And you, well, you don't drive trucks any more, but because you were once a truck driver, you (and other truck drivers) are the only ones with relevant experience to make qualified comment on road issues.
5. I've already said the are many problem groups on our roads, and trucks are just one part of them. But no, because I dare include truckers, and I am not one, my 750,000 mainly motorway miles of the past few years, and my opinion, don't count.
6. Instead, by recognosing that all groups, including truckers, cause congestion, I am a 'moaner' who 'can't drive' on arterial routes.
7. Yet another ill founded allegation by someone who spent his life chugging at circa 60mph and little else.
1. Well, i've got 30 years of personal experience. How do I translate that into 'evidence'?2. You malke sweeping unfounded allegations and assumptions.
3. You don't acknowledge there's even a problem and, if there is one, it's all down to those stupid car drivers.
4. And you, well, you don't drive trucks any more, but because you were once a truck driver, you (and other truck drivers) are the only ones with relevant experience to make qualified comment on road issues.
5. I've already said the are many problem groups on our roads, and trucks are just one part of them. But no, because I dare include truckers, and I am not one, my 750,000 mainly motorway miles of the past few years, and my opinion, don't count.
6. Instead, by recognosing that all groups, including truckers, cause congestion, I am a 'moaner' who 'can't drive' on arterial routes.
7. Yet another ill founded allegation by someone who spent his life chugging at circa 60mph and little else.
2. No I don.t. I make statements based on 30 years of personal experience.
3. Well no, I don't really. Tbh I don't really think there are any major problems out there worth talking about, other than the sheer numbers of cars and the fact that so many of them are driven badly and too slowly.
4. No, what i think is that people who haven't driven trucks should not comment on how trucks should be driven - or - should listen to what those have driven trucks are saying.
5. I don't agree there are many problems groups out there. There is little going on that the competent drivers can't easily cope with. Driving a car is shockingly easy albeit frustrating, but I do see on a daily basis countless drivers making bloody hard work of a very, very easy task; and I've been watching this not just from the limited perspective of a car, but from the lofty perches of countless lorries too.
6. All the other groups put together, be they hgvs, cyclists, peds or whatever, all added up don't make one tiniest fraction of the problems that cars cause. Take the road where I work - it has cars permanently parked on both sides of the road, as has countless thousands of miles of inner city roads throughout the UK. These cars reduce the road space by 66%, they reduce the road to single track with few (sometimes none) passing places, they cause obstruction, they reduce visibility and they reduce safety. They are there permanently.
The big problem is, that as you quite clearly demonstrate, car drivers just flat refuse to acknowledge the problems they cause. They are absolutely convinced that all the problems are caused by someone else.
If the trucks cause problems on arterial routes then those problems would be there permanently because the trucks are there permanently. I must ask you, have you ever experienced driving on empty roads at night, and then experiencing how those very same roads grind to a halt as millions of cars take to the road as the sun comes up? Seriously, have you ever done it? I used to do it on a fairly regular basis, and it was something to be seen.
The problems that the millions of cars would cause would stay there until the cars cleared off the roads again, and then the roads would be relatively empty and clear again and the roads would become efficient again.
I find it fascinating to see how the drivers of those cars such as you and Nige are totally convinced that you are not the problem and it's all someone else's fault.
7. Little else? Fwiw, I think I have spent far more time dicking about with cars one way or another than you have, including many years in low-level motorsport and preparation of cars and equipment for same.
On top of that I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in trucks inc owning and maintaining some of those trucks.
By that measurement i think you've got sod all experience of much at all, apart from your experience of the very dark side of car enjoyment of course.
I know though, that you will continue to tell me I'm wrong.
--
Just to add - I'm fascinated by Nigel's desire to recount his hardcore experience of driving in Belguim and Luxembourg etc. I've just checked - if I've read right Luxembourg is smaller than Staffordshire and 1/10th the size of the West Midlands.
I wonder how many people would think to cite driving through Staffordshire on the M6 as evidence of experience?
heebeegeetee said:
If the trucks cause problems on arterial routes then those problems would be there permanently because the trucks are there permanently. I must ask you, have you ever experienced driving on empty roads at night, and then experiencing how those very same roads grind to a halt as millions of cars take to the road as the sun comes up? Seriously, have you ever done it? I used to do it on a fairly regular basis, and it was something to be seen.
We started heading into London earlier and earlier for that very reason.Firstly, you have to learn the lorry ban routes.It's no good relying on signs telling you which weights are allowed on xxx road at which time, because there may not be any signs.You can get a permit if absolutely necessary, but this does not allow you to beat the traffic, arrive at your destination and then wait some time for them to open.For all of the above you face heavy fines if you fall foul, of course (I was just fleeced of over £500 for this)
We currently will often beat the traffic, find a spot on the allowed routes to park up (most of which you must leave by 7.00 am or face a fine) and will then pull away at one minute to seven, allowing you to enter the route you require a few minutes after 7.00 as they will now allow HGV traffic at this time (It's all about timing!).You can avoid a lot of traffic and fines by doing this, but of course, a few seconds after 7.00am, you have to then pay the congestion charge.If I didn't know better, I would say they worked this all out to be that way on purpose
There are a few routes you can take that do not come under the lorry ban network, but if your destination happens to be on one of those routes, you often find yourself having to cover many more miles to do so and the increased fuel costs etc will add up to thousands! We currently have a drop which takes an average of 40 minutes to arrive at, but this now takes an hour and 40 minutes due to the ban zones.It also passes by more built up areas now which seems rather pointless.
Forgot to add that the beauty of these tactics is that you head in on relatively clear roads and head back out at a reasonable time again.The route out involves a pretty clear run and you pass mile after mile of nose to tail traffic heading in on the roads you just cruised along an hour or so earlier.
Incidentally, I have booked some time off during the Olympics
Edited by Digby on Sunday 26th February 10:42
Digby said:
Incidentally, I have booked some time off during the Olympics
Good call.Being a permanent night driver I'm hoping to see zero problems.(The only destinations I have down that way are Enfield and Reigate anyway)Edited by Digby on Sunday 26th February 10:42
I can see it all descending into a complete and utter nightmare when it comes to the roads.
Extra traffic on the roads which will not be eased by all the work they are now doing.
Be interesting to see how they will attempt to control it.
That and various protest groups for [insert subject here] making whispers about mass protests during the Olympics.You don't want to be anywhere near....
heebeegeetee said:
Just to add - I'm fascinated by Nigel's desire to recount his hardcore experience of driving in Belguim and Luxembourg etc. I've just checked - if I've read right Luxembourg is smaller than Staffordshire and 1/10th the size of the West Midlands.
I wonder how many people would think to cite driving through Staffordshire on the M6 as evidence of experience?
I have served, lived, worked, and driven in many many countries, none of these experiences will match up to you drove a lorry once or twice though !I wonder how many people would think to cite driving through Staffordshire on the M6 as evidence of experience?
I have driven, rode, and flown, many different makes and types of vehicles.
I do not hold lorries up with my car, but lorries do hold me up.
I move for faster traffic,when there is any, in my experience most lorries don't, else I wouldn't have to change speed because of them,........ in the UK, often.
I find driving around the mainland EU easier than driving around the mainland UK, because lorries dont hold me up anywhere near as often ....... why can't you accept this ?
As I find it is lorries holding me up in the UK, and not in mainland EU, I notice the one big difference is they are encouraged to not do so over there, by restricting their lane use at different times, I think that would be worth trying over here.
So, as I eluded to earlier, fook off with your experience crap !
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