Vulnerability in 50mph zones
Discussion
911Spanker said:
wc98 said:
For me anyone in a car regularly getting passed by HGV's should have their licence revoked as it shows a lack of basic competence.
Licence revoked? We are talking 50 mph zones.Pull the other one.
Foreign (or domestic) HGV on the 56mph limiter not caring about fines, vs either a new driver who's scared to death of points because they can barely afford insurance, or one of us who's managed to tot-up 9 points and is behaving like Mother Teresa.
Both pretty common scenarios.
I've regularly had HGVs tailgate me through these sections, and I'm GPS'd to ~52 usually. My choices are move over, risk a fine or accept some t
t in charge of 40t of metal 6ft from my bumper.768 said:
I've never been passed by an HGV, not once. If it's happening regularly to someone there probably is an issue with their driving.
You have to, you know, actually go out and drive in 50mph roadworks to get overtaken in the first place. 
I've encountered many truckers, especially on Oirish plates, who love to speed through roadworks at speed when I', doing an indicated 55mph.
8IKERDAVE said:
I am not sure if anyone shares my huge sense of vulnerability when travelling on the increasing number of average 50mph zones on our motorways. I am a very confident driver and quite happy driving in heavily populated cities, flat out on the autobahn or in snow, fog, the dark, etc.
However, I absolutely HATE travelling along for mile after mile at 50mph next to a line of HGV's with another HGV 3 feet from my bumper. I get a sense of Claustrophobia (if that is the right way of describing it). It's always nice to know in any driving situation you can put your foot down and get the hell out of there if you need to but in these zones you're all stuck driving along at the same speed. I know half the people on there have pretty much switched off from driving, the HGV drivers are frustrated because they can't sit on their limiters and it's just a generally unpleasant experience. Add narrowed lanes to this and it is my absolute worst type of driving.
When I've asked passengers about this they generally don't seem phased by it but one of my close mates pretty much emphaised my fears by saying "I just whack the cruise control on and switch off till the nationals come up". I'm the opposite; constantly checking mirrors, blind spots and peoples behaviour.
Anyone else or should I just hand my license in
As a trucker the problem is trucks are calibrated perfectly so when we are doing 50 we are doing 50 GPS. You think you are doing 50 but are most likely doing 46/47. However, I absolutely HATE travelling along for mile after mile at 50mph next to a line of HGV's with another HGV 3 feet from my bumper. I get a sense of Claustrophobia (if that is the right way of describing it). It's always nice to know in any driving situation you can put your foot down and get the hell out of there if you need to but in these zones you're all stuck driving along at the same speed. I know half the people on there have pretty much switched off from driving, the HGV drivers are frustrated because they can't sit on their limiters and it's just a generally unpleasant experience. Add narrowed lanes to this and it is my absolute worst type of driving.
When I've asked passengers about this they generally don't seem phased by it but one of my close mates pretty much emphaised my fears by saying "I just whack the cruise control on and switch off till the nationals come up". I'm the opposite; constantly checking mirrors, blind spots and peoples behaviour.
Anyone else or should I just hand my license in
A50/A500 Stoke on trent is another one that is like this. I can be sitting in the outside lane throughout the whole stretch going towards the M6 because everyone is basically doing 45-46 in the inside lane.
London north circular another one that springs to mind.
Imo 50mph limits are the bain. They should make them 60mph and it would be a lot smoother and a lot less HGV's in the outside lane.
Also it is your choice to travel alongside a HGV. You can quite easily just ease off for a split second and give yourself room. When I am in a car I never sit alongside a HGV as I know firsthand how bad the blindspots can be.
Muddle238 said:
Doesn't matter whether your dash says they're doing 45, 50 or 120, that driver will be driving in accordance with the speedometer that is installed in their vehicle, not in accordance with whatever speed is displayed in your Scania. It's not the job of HGV drivers to usher along car drivers, who are driving at or around the speed limits in accordance to their own instrumentation.
If the HGV driver feels that a car ahead could squeak out a couple more MPH according to the HGV speedo, they should not use the size of their wagon to intimidate the car driver into speeding up. They should simply maintain a safe following distance, then pull out and overtake when able.
On a daily basis I see HGV drivers right up the arses of cars in front, despite congestion meaning there is nowhere for that car to go. Driving a large lorry carries high levels of responsibility, however it's a shame that some HGV drivers seem to deem outright size and weight as a bullying weapon against other road users.
Only yesterday I had an HGV up my chuff on the motorway, 50 on the gantries, I'm doing an indicated 53, in L1, with another lorry infront. Why the HGV behind couldn't just overtake, I have no idea. Instead riding my bumper was apparently the answer, with absolutely fk-all regard for what would happen to me or my rear seat passengers if his tailgating resulted in his cab overriding my car in the event of sudden braking. He was cleary too thick to consider the consequences, or too arrogant to think that it could happen to him.
My question to you is why didn't you remove yourself from that situation being stuck between two HGV's or is it simply because "I am right and am preparred to be sandwiched" to prove it?If the HGV driver feels that a car ahead could squeak out a couple more MPH according to the HGV speedo, they should not use the size of their wagon to intimidate the car driver into speeding up. They should simply maintain a safe following distance, then pull out and overtake when able.
On a daily basis I see HGV drivers right up the arses of cars in front, despite congestion meaning there is nowhere for that car to go. Driving a large lorry carries high levels of responsibility, however it's a shame that some HGV drivers seem to deem outright size and weight as a bullying weapon against other road users.
Only yesterday I had an HGV up my chuff on the motorway, 50 on the gantries, I'm doing an indicated 53, in L1, with another lorry infront. Why the HGV behind couldn't just overtake, I have no idea. Instead riding my bumper was apparently the answer, with absolutely f
k-all regard for what would happen to me or my rear seat passengers if his tailgating resulted in his cab overriding my car in the event of sudden braking. He was cleary too thick to consider the consequences, or too arrogant to think that it could happen to him. Yes there are a lot of bad HGV drivers as there are bad car drivers but you should always think defensively of yourself rather than get grumpy about other road users. It is how we are taught to drive. Being the submissive person is not a bad thing and everyone would be better for it imo. You will get a lot less stressed also.
I can quite often be coming up to a slip road with a lorry infront of my lorry. I maintain my safe braking distance but can always guarantee a car will squeeze in at the last moment to get off the slip. If the lorry infront has to brake suddenly I have nowhere to go but squash the inconsiderite motorist. A lot seem to have little value for their life these days. I am fine knowing I have camera's recording everything I do to prove my innocence. Of course once that car has squeezed in I stick the exhaust brake on and slow her down to give safe braking distance but in that half a second or so they are in the hands of the gods.
Edited by BricktopST205 on Friday 3rd May 10:46
I regularly see fender bender aftermaths in these 50/40 average speed zones and seeing how my journeys on UK motorways seem to take a lot longer these days than in the past due to snarl ups caused by accidents I wonder if accidents are well up but due to the low speed nature, injuries/fatalities are low.
A lot of people seem to have a problem being able to have any sort of attention span these days so stuck in mind numbing 20s/40s/50s doesn't bode well.
A lot of people seem to have a problem being able to have any sort of attention span these days so stuck in mind numbing 20s/40s/50s doesn't bode well.
768 said:
I've never been passed by an HGV, not once. If it's happening regularly to someone there probably is an issue with their driving.
I was recently in a 50mph zone doing 56 on my cruise with a polite distance from the car in front doing the same, with all lanes to my left full and moving slower. It didn’t stop a foreign plated hgv driving an inch off my bumper in lane 3 until I managed to find a desperate gap and pull into l2. He then forced his way through all of lane fking 3. Other than seeing crashes on the motorway, that’s the most shocking thing I have ever experienced.
768 said:
I've never been passed by an HGV, not once. If it's happening regularly to someone there probably is an issue with their driving.
I pass far more cars than other hgv’s on motorways these days, NSL sections not 50mph roadwork bits. Car drivers and just on the go slow these days. Leaves other car drivers who want to drive at 70 down to one lane use. BricktopST205 said:
My question to you is why didn't you remove yourself from that situation being stuck between two HGV's or is it simply because "I am right and am preparred to be sandwiched" to prove it?
Where would I go? I'm already in L1 of a motorway. If another driver wants to go quicker, the onus is on them to pull out and overtake when safe to do so, not for me to pull out into L2 to facilitate them undertaking me. Edited by BricktopST205 on Friday 3rd May 10:46
I don't want to be sandwiched, nor do I want to make an unnecessary lane change to facilitate the inevitable positioning of an HGV coming up my inside and then sitting alongside, as he gets blocked by the vehicle I was originally following. The HGV is free to pull out into L2 and overtake to carry on with his day. Deliberately choosing not to overtake and instead sit on my bumper is a dick move.
The sheer fact that you have thousands of vehicles in all three lanes all travelling at around the same speed means you can't easily take yourself out of the situation.
Ease off and everyone behind you bunches up even more and another lorry takes the place of the one you are trying to avoid.
I can travel the country and quite often I'm surrounded by the same vehicles mile after mile. There's no escape, unless you speed but then you'll very quickly get trapped by someone sticking to the posted limit.
I feel that for many in this situation that they feel safe, due to the lack of different velocities. No awareness that you are in a thin metal box travelling at 50mph.
Ease off and everyone behind you bunches up even more and another lorry takes the place of the one you are trying to avoid.
I can travel the country and quite often I'm surrounded by the same vehicles mile after mile. There's no escape, unless you speed but then you'll very quickly get trapped by someone sticking to the posted limit.
I feel that for many in this situation that they feel safe, due to the lack of different velocities. No awareness that you are in a thin metal box travelling at 50mph.
Muddle238 said:
Where would I go? I'm already in L1 of a motorway. If another driver wants to go quicker, the onus is on them to pull out and overtake when safe to do so, not for me to pull out into L2 to facilitate them undertaking me.
I don't want to be sandwiched, nor do I want to make an unnecessary lane change to facilitate the inevitable positioning of an HGV coming up my inside and then sitting alongside, as he gets blocked by the vehicle I was originally following. The HGV is free to pull out into L2 and overtake to carry on with his day. Deliberately choosing not to overtake and instead sit on my bumper is a dick move.
100% and I am sure he is a bad driver as it is something I would never do as my licence is my livelyhood but if you want to stay and sit there that is 100% your choice too so why grumble about it? I don't want to be sandwiched, nor do I want to make an unnecessary lane change to facilitate the inevitable positioning of an HGV coming up my inside and then sitting alongside, as he gets blocked by the vehicle I was originally following. The HGV is free to pull out into L2 and overtake to carry on with his day. Deliberately choosing not to overtake and instead sit on my bumper is a dick move.
You just said he can move into lane 2 to over take so why do you not do the same to just get away from him? It is far safer being next to a lorry on his good side than having him up your arse.
911Spanker said:
I think most lorry drivers love the 50mph zones..
They love driving like tts 2ft from the car in front.
No one should be bullied - they will just have to be patient.
There was one chap I saw this week taking his big lorry into lane 3 which was width restricted to 6ft 6in while the other lanes were clear/moving at 50mph through the average cameras!They love driving like t
ts 2ft from the car in front.No one should be bullied - they will just have to be patient.
Causing everyone in lane 2 to have to take avoiding action, and missing the concrete barrier on the right by inches - I was actually expecting him to hit it and flip over.
There are a couple of 50mph sections I travel regularly where the lorries like to go through at least 10%+2mph over the 50 limit - gambling it's set higher. I've seen the same lorries do it, so maybe it is or they have a different driver because the last one received points.
Edited by Whataguy on Friday 3rd May 15:57
Whataguy said:
There was one chap I saw this week taking his big lorry into lane 3 which was width restricted to 6ft 6in while the other lanes were clear/moving at 50mph through the average cameras!
Causing everyone in lane 2 to have to take avoiding action, and missing the concrete barrier on the right by inches - I was actually expecting him to hit it and flip over.
There are a couple of 50mph sections I travel regularly where the lorries like to go through at least 10%+2mph over the 50 limit - gambling it's set higher. I've seen the same lorries do it, so maybe it is or they have a different driver because the last one received points.
That is impossible unless running bent as lorries are limited to 56mph so 10% +2mph is 57mph unless they are running down a hill or stuck on worn tyres when having their tacho's calibrated Causing everyone in lane 2 to have to take avoiding action, and missing the concrete barrier on the right by inches - I was actually expecting him to hit it and flip over.
There are a couple of 50mph sections I travel regularly where the lorries like to go through at least 10%+2mph over the 50 limit - gambling it's set higher. I've seen the same lorries do it, so maybe it is or they have a different driver because the last one received points.
Edited by Whataguy on Friday 3rd May 15:57
. BricktopST205 said:
That is impossible unless running bent as lorries are limited to 56mph so 10% +2mph is 57mph unless they are running down a hill or stuck on worn tyres when having their tacho's calibrated .
The ones I've seen are over that, both down hill - one slightly downhill and the other fairly steep. A road dual carriageway.. I'm at a genuine gps calibrated 50mph that's kept on the hill with adaptive cruise and they are disappearing at least 10mph over me.
It's pretty pointless - they pull onto the 50mph average sections at around 60 and swerve from lane to lane tailgating cars... only to be at the same 60mph when all the cars they were trying to intimidate just sail past at 70mph when it ends one or two miles later. It's not endless 50mph sections like some motorways, only a few miles long each.
JagLover said:
Randy Winkman said:
What are dangerous, the roadworks or the 50mph limits? If it's the latter, would the roadworks be safer with the normal 70mph limit?
It is more the distance they can go on for. Why do roadworks need to be 15 miles long as they were in the M4 example?. It is that which creates the danger. Slowing down for a mile or two isn't much of an issue.
Randy Winkman said:
JagLover said:
Randy Winkman said:
What are dangerous, the roadworks or the 50mph limits? If it's the latter, would the roadworks be safer with the normal 70mph limit?
It is more the distance they can go on for. Why do roadworks need to be 15 miles long as they were in the M4 example?. It is that which creates the danger. Slowing down for a mile or two isn't much of an issue.
In the 15 -20 miles travelled I saw absolutely zero activity in the roadworks so we are being put at completely unecessary risk. Why they can't work on 2 mile sections at once I don't know (well I do - it will be the cost).
Germany is different, you enter roadworks there for a few miles and theres a hive of constant activity. Through the section in 5 minutes and you're off again. No frustration, danger minimised and everyone is on their merry way!
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