Reversing HGVs and similar
Discussion
In the light of this article, I wonder what a driver has to do in order to avoid an incident.
I don't know the exact circumstances - but all the bin lorries I have encountered in our area beep loudly when reverse gear is engaged.
Common sense should dictate that if you cannot see the driver in his mirror, then he cannot see you - so what has gone wrong here do we think?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12391...
I don't know the exact circumstances - but all the bin lorries I have encountered in our area beep loudly when reverse gear is engaged.
Common sense should dictate that if you cannot see the driver in his mirror, then he cannot see you - so what has gone wrong here do we think?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12391...
BBC said:
Cumbria bin lorry man admits tourist death
The driver of a council bin lorry has admitted being to blame for the death of a tourist in the Lake District.
Mary Cook, 54, died after being struck by the 7.5 tonne refuse van while she was on holiday in Grasmere last June.
Simon Steele, 54, of Bank Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, pleaded guilty to causing her death by careless driving at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday.
He was remanded on bail and will be sentenced on 7 March.
Mrs Cook, a school librarian from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, died on 2 June while she and her husband were walking down Easedale Road, a narrow lane near Grasmere.
The lorry reversed into her when the driver - who was not used to that particular vehicle - failed to see her.
Judge Paul Batty QC warned Steele he could be sent to prison.
I can only presume that the woman has wondered behind the wagon after it started to reverse - and that for some reason she was unable to get out of the way quickly enough.The driver of a council bin lorry has admitted being to blame for the death of a tourist in the Lake District.
Mary Cook, 54, died after being struck by the 7.5 tonne refuse van while she was on holiday in Grasmere last June.
Simon Steele, 54, of Bank Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, pleaded guilty to causing her death by careless driving at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday.
He was remanded on bail and will be sentenced on 7 March.
Mrs Cook, a school librarian from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, died on 2 June while she and her husband were walking down Easedale Road, a narrow lane near Grasmere.
The lorry reversed into her when the driver - who was not used to that particular vehicle - failed to see her.
Judge Paul Batty QC warned Steele he could be sent to prison.
Without knowing the full details of the case, it's hard to judge.
We are expected to drive to a higher standard than most motorists, and checking whether it is clear to reverse is a basic check. Once reversing, maintaining a low speed and observation to check it remains clear, should be a given?
That said, there are a lot of suicidal idiots out there, but it's still us that are up for grabs.
Part of the job I'm afraid.
We are expected to drive to a higher standard than most motorists, and checking whether it is clear to reverse is a basic check. Once reversing, maintaining a low speed and observation to check it remains clear, should be a given?
That said, there are a lot of suicidal idiots out there, but it's still us that are up for grabs.
Part of the job I'm afraid.
I know the lane where this occurred and I would not expect any great speed there in forwards or reverse... which is why I am puzzled - but he has plead guilty 
I have seen many reversing cameras and screens on ebay for less than £20, so even a good quality set up shouldn't cost too much.
I have seen many reversing cameras and screens on ebay for less than £20, so even a good quality set up shouldn't cost too much.
Mill Wheel said:
I have seen many reversing cameras and screens on ebay for less than £20, so even a good quality set up shouldn't cost too much.
Almost every rigid nowadays has one, and very useful they are too ! More of a problem fitting them on an artic (ie detachable trailer). As this was a bin wagon, I'd be amazed if it wasn't fitted with one?The poster that suggested it is middle aged females that tend to be guilty of this, is spot on. Why they do it, I have no idea? The same sort of mentality that supposes it won't hurt when you get hit by a car or crushed by a lorry because you're wearing a hi-vis vest?
Children seem to be taught that it is their "right" to walk into the road at any time, as they are pedestrians. I wonder if they are surprised when they get hit, and it hurts?
I suppose as this was a bin wagon, the driver could have asked for assistance from one of his colleagues? This may be the "careless" bit?
I'd suggest that, similarly to the number of bicycle fatalities, middle-aged woman are disproportionately involved in these time of things, because they tend to have blind faith in the rule of law, the sanctity of pavements, right of way, use of indicators ( re the other thread 
etc and don't 'expect the unexpected' as much - so when it all goes tits up, they get squashed
etc and don't 'expect the unexpected' as much - so when it all goes tits up, they get squashedlittleredrooster said:
It wasn't a bin wagon, though. The article says it was a 7.5 tonner....bin wagons are surely heavier than that...?
They are and normally have cameras at the rear 1) To stop hitting anything when revering and 2) to keep an eye on the operators when using the hydraulics on the rear littleredrooster said:
philthy said:
......As this was a bin wagon, I'd be amazed if it wasn't fitted with one?
It wasn't a bin wagon, though. The article says it was a 7.5 tonner....bin wagons are surely heavier than that...?I was waiting to pass a bin wagon on our estate yesterday morning - and the car waiting on the other side tried to drive down the pavement on the wrong side of the road - no idea what he would have done if a bin man had stepped out from behind the wagon.
Once he saw I was blocking his exit, he gave up and had to reverse back to his previous position! It's not like the bin men are slow or anything - you don't have to wait more than 8 - 10 minutes for them to do the whole street!
It can be quite surprising how stupid people can be when trucks are about. I drive a 32ton eight wheeled bin truck and on one job I do I have to reverse down an alley that goes past the entrance of one of our council depots.
When I reverse down the alley, normally at around 5.30am the council workers are usually hanging around outside their gate and often don't bother moving out of my path or will wander or drive behind my truck. This is despite the truck having a very loud bleeper that says "warning, this ******* vehicle is reversing" I also turn on the hazard warning lights, 4 large rear facing spot lights and 4 amber beacons. If the stupid council workers can't work out that I am reversing what hope is there for Joe public? All our trucks have reversing cameras and they aren't that expensive anyway.
I suspect there may be more to this story than is being told by the paper.
When I reverse down the alley, normally at around 5.30am the council workers are usually hanging around outside their gate and often don't bother moving out of my path or will wander or drive behind my truck. This is despite the truck having a very loud bleeper that says "warning, this ******* vehicle is reversing" I also turn on the hazard warning lights, 4 large rear facing spot lights and 4 amber beacons. If the stupid council workers can't work out that I am reversing what hope is there for Joe public? All our trucks have reversing cameras and they aren't that expensive anyway.
I suspect there may be more to this story than is being told by the paper.
An elderly lady pedestrian was killed by a refuse lorry in Wimborne town square when she stepped in front of a stationary refuse truck. The driver could not see her due to high dashboard and moved off. i believe that a a result of the accident the local refuse trucks now have mirrrors that allow the driver to see the front of the vehicle.
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1655945.0/?s...
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1655945.0/?s...
philthy said:
Almost every rigid nowadays has one, and very useful they are too ! More of a problem fitting them on an artic (ie detachable trailer). As this was a bin wagon, I'd be amazed if it wasn't fitted with one?
The poster that suggested it is middle aged females that tend to be guilty of this, is spot on. Why they do it, I have no idea? The same sort of mentality that supposes it won't hurt when you get hit by a car or crushed by a lorry because you're wearing a hi-vis vest?
Children seem to be taught that it is their "right" to walk into the road at any time, as they are pedestrians. I wonder if they are surprised when they get hit, and it hurts?
I suppose as this was a bin wagon, the driver could have asked for assistance from one of his colleagues? This may be the "careless" bit?
I've noticed this with Lollipop (man) in my case. When I was a nipper you had to wait with the lollipop lady until the road was clear before she let you cross. Now they just stick the lollipop out and stride out and make you stop?! No wonder kids think they can cross when they like.The poster that suggested it is middle aged females that tend to be guilty of this, is spot on. Why they do it, I have no idea? The same sort of mentality that supposes it won't hurt when you get hit by a car or crushed by a lorry because you're wearing a hi-vis vest?
Children seem to be taught that it is their "right" to walk into the road at any time, as they are pedestrians. I wonder if they are surprised when they get hit, and it hurts?
I suppose as this was a bin wagon, the driver could have asked for assistance from one of his colleagues? This may be the "careless" bit?
Yesterday I had to do a 3-point turn in a double decker in the middle of a housing estate (part of the route, 3 buses an hour turn around there), and I was shocked to see a woman (mid-40's at a guess) walk from behind the 'decker as I reversed around the corner of the junction.
I called her over and asked her not to walk behind large vehicles when they are reversing, as it was highly unlikely that the driver wouldn't see her or notice her presence until he hit an unexpected and loud, high-pitched speed bump. Her response? 'Why should I not walk behind a reversing vehicle? It's not as though it can hurt me is it?'
I called her over and asked her not to walk behind large vehicles when they are reversing, as it was highly unlikely that the driver wouldn't see her or notice her presence until he hit an unexpected and loud, high-pitched speed bump. Her response? 'Why should I not walk behind a reversing vehicle? It's not as though it can hurt me is it?'
rewc said:
An elderly lady pedestrian was killed by a refuse lorry in Wimborne town square when she stepped in front of a stationary refuse truck. The driver could not see her due to high dashboard and moved off. i believe that a a result of the accident the local refuse trucks now have mirrrors that allow the driver to see the front of the vehicle.
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1655945.0/?s...
Most trucks have these fitted as standard as well. This is a big problem in towns and cities where trucks are stopped. Pedestrians assume they are safe, and duck under your line of vision. The simple fact is, most folk don't know how large vehicles operate, and let's be honest it's not their problem. Common sense goes a long way, but it is currently out of fashion. It's my job to make sure that it is clear to move off/reverse, as I said, it is part of HGV driving. Most HGV/bus drivers take their driving very seriously, and generally, we get it right. Some don't of course, and on occasions as well, simple pedestrian stupidity/ignorance steer fate.http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1655945.0/?s...
Any cyclists in the house?
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