Fakenham Road - Drivers of tractors and the like.

Fakenham Road - Drivers of tractors and the like.

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Discussion

drophead

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

157 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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I don't have a beard nor am I company director but my gears are grinding at the odd driver tractors and other agricultural traffic down the Fakenham road between Drayton and Fakenham.

Now obviously they have a right to be on the roads and they need to earn their keep just as the rest of us, but I do find it irritating when they can clearly see well over 10 or so cars crawling along behind them and not pull over at a safe place.

Clause 169 doesn't shed anymore clear light on the matter since it is up to the common sense of tractor driver on whether they are causing a hold up. But surely they must be aware of the f***wittery that takes place once the drivers behind start getting irate and the stupid overtaking malarkey starts.

Just seeing if anyone shares my (slightly rambling) view that it would be courteous for drivers of tractors etc to kindly pull over when there is more than 10 cars behind it.

What do you all think?

gaz453

387 posts

132 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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i for one agree. it does get on my nerves when the driver looks behind him and still doesnt pull over!

what also annoys me is when people dont over take if there is more than one car (plus tractor). so you get an even more cars stuck behind, but im one of these people thats gets really annoyed and just over takes them all (when safe!)

drophead

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

157 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
gaz453 said:
what also annoys me is when people dont over take if there is more than one car (plus tractor). so you get an even more cars stuck behind, but im one of these people thats gets really annoyed and just over takes them all (when safe!)
Yes this. I am seeing this habit of forming a road train behind slow moving vehicles more and more. And yes, I also do the same multi-car overtakes as a result. God bless straight sixs.

Overtaking (well!) really is a dying art it seems...

crankedup

25,764 posts

243 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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Coming from the other side of the issue, I have a pre 1930's car caravan combo and this is really slow. I keep a close eye on what's occurring behind me and use common sense to pull in to a layby. Most drivers give a thumb up 'cheers mate' acknowledgement for pulling over. However, the driver immediately behind who refuses to overtake is a real pain and very annoying for me as well as those caught behind. Even on a straight safe overtake opportunity still refuse to overtake, and you would be surprised how many drivers fall into this category!

J12KJR

2,860 posts

243 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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Lots of drivers of slow vehicles are decent and pull over and are always given a pleasant thank you hand signal when I go past, those who don't receive a totally different option.
I think many drivers when following a slow vehicle just can't be ars*d to make the effort of watching the road around them and so end up just sitting there. As said when you can safely overtake said tractor and several other vehicles at the same time it is a sad reflection on the driving ability/ concentration levels of the other drivers.
Driving to the conditions around you requires you to put some effort in and many it seems would rather just latch on to the vehicle infront and just follow it like a sheep irrespective of what speed it is doing.

Cliftonite

8,408 posts

138 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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And, on many rural, single carriageway A-roads, there just isn't anywhere to pull in. For miles. And has anyone else noticed the current trend to not sign post laybys? In Lincolnshire for example? Hardly helpful for the cause!

Plus, if only people would either overtake or leave adequate spaces for those that are capable drivers and can, life would be so much easier for all concerned.


Konan

1,835 posts

146 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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That road is my daily drive. I don't think I'm going to start grumbling about what goes on ....in case I can't stop. wink

drophead

Original Poster:

1,056 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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Cliftonite said:
if only people would either overtake or leave adequate spaces for those that are capable drivers and can, life would be so much easier for all concerned.
This should be law. It would also have the benefit of significantly decreasing pointless tailgating.

finishing touch

809 posts

167 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I don't think this is just an East Anglian problem.

I had a motorcycling holiday in Yorkshire a while back and the sheep wouldn't pull over to let you by either.


Paul G

bosshog

1,583 posts

276 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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As someone who has worked (not now) on a farm in Norfolk I know a fair bit about this subject. Generally speaking we all pulled over whenever it was ok to. A lot depends on what you are towing or what machinery you have on the back ( or front). Its not always possible to pull over. The biggest issue is, even if you pull over, and then pull back out, in busy periods (or roads) you pretty much immediately have at least 10 cars behind you and you've only got 400 meters further down the road. At this point you're not going to just pull over again otherwise you never get anywhere and you have a job to do as well. This is compounded by the fact that Norfolk is full of old people who drive at 40 everywhere and have never overtaken anyone in their life. It only takes a couple of these behind you and then no one can overtake. There is more than enough room to safely overtake a tractor on the Fakenham road.


Mrs Muttleysnoop

1,412 posts

184 months

Sunday 31st May 2015
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I was behind a Porsche the other day on the A12. He was driving in lane 2 at about 56 mph with no one in front of him. He could have so easily moved into lane 1 as it was clear.