Yes they really convicted the driver

Yes they really convicted the driver

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StuntmanMike

11,671 posts

151 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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Its a sad story all around, as someone who has spent 22 years driving Artic's I wont move any direction without checking my mirrors, forwards or backwards, I spent a fair time abroad in a right hand truck truck though, that dose sharpen your attention, I am not knocking the driver, I am sure I have done it, I am sure we all have, incompetent lorry driver V impatient cyclist doesn't do the story justice, had a long conversation with a friend who last week was involved in a fatal accident in Belgium last week.
He has chucked his job and at first I didn't recognize his voice, this has hit him hard and I'm a bit worried about him, wasn't his fault, and he knows it, he is also one the best and most experienced drivers I have ever met, so it can happen to anyone.
Its a reality everyone of us on here faces, be careful out there people.

Digby

8,242 posts

246 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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Hugo a Gogo said:
Bennet said:
I can't imagine trying to squeeze down the side of a waiting lorry.
how about a parked lorry blocking a road?

we don't know how long it was there, if the driver was there or if the engine was running when the guy tried to get past
Try and find out what's happening before attempting to squash between them? Fairly standard practice if you have a self-preservation mindset.

I would have immediately assumed one of those trucks may be about to move as it's rare for two of them to park side by side for any length of time and completely block a road.

MrTrilby

949 posts

282 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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Bennet said:
I'm just being honest. Maybe I had poor instruction. In reality, I suspect everyone here relies on the basic awareness of their surroundings method, rather than a specific system of checking both wing mirrors every time they move off. You can of course, quote MSM, pretend it's standard practice, and make a case for placing the blame squarely on the driver.
I think you're right - I suspect the majority of drivers rely on guessing that it's probably ok to pull away, on the basis that it's worked out well for them so far, or they've simply fallen out of the habit. However, just because most people drive badly, doesn't mean they can evade blame for crashes if they fail to check both mirrors before pulling away or performing other manoeuvres.

StottyEvo

6,860 posts

163 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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walm said:
StottyEvo said:
Their lack of protection is also bad for motorists as the lapse in concentration can easily kill the cyclist...
Isn't it slightly worse for the cyclist in this scenario?
(Assuming you mean a driver's lapse in concentration.)
Have you ever been doing something dangerous and a child walks in the way, you'll tend to find you're angry at the child as you could hurt them.

Look back to the dashcam vid posted earlier of the pedestrians and the bike whizzing through the gap. If that was a car he'd have been mad as there could've been a bump. As it was a cyclist he was angrier, as he could have killed the fella.

telecat

Original Poster:

8,528 posts

241 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
quotequote all
Most Drivers learn not to put themselves in a position where they are in danger. A lot of cyclist's don't seem to use that same sense even when they are also drivers. That's why many of them end up injured or dead. The bottom line is that you do not rely on anybody else on the road to do anything other than the wrong thing.

heebeegeetee

28,754 posts

248 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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telecat said:
Most Drivers learn not to put themselves in a position where they are in danger.
Whoa! As a former hgv driver I disagree with that *massively*, and as someone whay has recently returned to doing a city commute, I disagree even more strongly. You're a 100% wrong regarding drivers in my opinion.

mph1977

12,467 posts

168 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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heebeegeetee said:
telecat said:
Most Drivers learn not to put themselves in a position where they are in danger.
Whoa! As a former hgv driver I disagree with that *massively*, and as someone whay has recently returned to doing a city commute, I disagree even more strongly. You're a 100% wrong regarding drivers in my opinion.
the amount of car drivers who place themselves in dangerous positions next to heavies is none trivial

MrTrilby

949 posts

282 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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mph1977 said:
the amount of car drivers who place themselves in dangerous positions next to heavies is none trivial
Indeed, and the number of car drivers who place themselves in dangerous positions next to other cars is also none trivial. Take a look at any merge-in-turn junction and watch car drivers accelerating into gaps that don't exist, playing chicken with other cars to force them to back down and let them in. Take a look at the tailgating on wet motorways when visibility is limited by spray.

PoleDriver

28,640 posts

194 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
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The fact he was a cyclist is probably the reason this has been posted!
The fact he was a cyclist is totally irrelevant!
The fact he lacked common sense is (IMHO) 70% of the reason he died.
The fact the truck driver was not paying attention is (IMHO) 30% of the reason he died.
But because the truck driver has such a huge responsibility (Literally) society says he must take the brunt!

mph1977

12,467 posts

168 months

Saturday 6th June 2015
quotequote all
MrTrilby said:
mph1977 said:
the amount of car drivers who place themselves in dangerous positions next to heavies is none trivial
Indeed, and the number of car drivers who place themselves in dangerous positions next to other cars is also none trivial. Take a look at any merge-in-turn junction and watch car drivers accelerating into gaps that don't exist, playing chicken with other cars to force them to back down and let them in. Take a look at the tailgating on wet motorways when visibility is limited by spray.
merge in turn - the opportunity for most drivers ( rather than steering wheel operatives ) to make several hundred yards of progress ... the biggest problem i see with merge in turn is those in the nearside who suddenly realise that their lack of obsdervatio nand thought has caused them to be delayed for seconds to minutes and now they absoluitely can;t let the drivers who followed the rules in in front of them ... sadly there's no 'mast abeam' call in the highway code unlike on the water...