Truckers overtaking, but sloooowly.
Discussion
I fully understand how tricky and frustrating it must be when trucks are governed to a set speed how hard it must be to overtake. But.
I was travelling on the A50 today from Stoke to the M1 and was in P3 behind a truck 'overtaking' a slower one. The difference in speed between the two trucks was patently down to the difference in the calibration of their restrictors.
It took nearly 2 miles(!!!!) for the faster of the trucks to get past. Behind me was a queue of cars stretching further than I could see.
Why, oh why, didn't the truck being overtaken just lift off the gas for a couple of seconds to let the other truck pass him and get back into the N/S lane.
Two seconds onto his journey time, loads less stress for him, the overtaker and the at least 50 cars stacked up behind them both!
By the way, I was loads early for my appointment, and was driving at 70mph. Flippin 'eck! It was so hard work keeping out of folks way as they made reasonable progress. It's so much easier to drive at 80 85 than 65 -70, and safer toO.
I was travelling on the A50 today from Stoke to the M1 and was in P3 behind a truck 'overtaking' a slower one. The difference in speed between the two trucks was patently down to the difference in the calibration of their restrictors.
It took nearly 2 miles(!!!!) for the faster of the trucks to get past. Behind me was a queue of cars stretching further than I could see.
Why, oh why, didn't the truck being overtaken just lift off the gas for a couple of seconds to let the other truck pass him and get back into the N/S lane.
Two seconds onto his journey time, loads less stress for him, the overtaker and the at least 50 cars stacked up behind them both!
By the way, I was loads early for my appointment, and was driving at 70mph. Flippin 'eck! It was so hard work keeping out of folks way as they made reasonable progress. It's so much easier to drive at 80 85 than 65 -70, and safer toO.
I've noticed that. Slower is scary 
Perhaps this is why numpties exist. They always stick to 70 because it's the law and it will keep them safe... The thinking must be if 70 is this scary, then 80 must be worse.
They have yet to realise that there is always a little turbulence on take off
Perhaps this is why numpties exist. They always stick to 70 because it's the law and it will keep them safe... The thinking must be if 70 is this scary, then 80 must be worse.
They have yet to realise that there is always a little turbulence on take off
Got to agree with you andygo. Not too long ago, there were 2 trucks in front of me, absolutely side by side for several miles on the A3M (two lane), even though they were flashed/beeped/sworn at by the tailback of drivers behind them.
As it happened, the emergency lane was used by several drivers....(not by me)
Only after this, the overtaking (!) trucker eventually got the hint, backed off and pulled in.
As it happened, the emergency lane was used by several drivers....(not by me)
Only after this, the overtaking (!) trucker eventually got the hint, backed off and pulled in.
this is one of the main reasons I loathe truckers... I know it's not right to tar them all with the same brush but the disrespect they show to all other road users they're holding up is beyond belief .. a plague of a quadzillion dung beetles on any trucker guilty of this crime, it's just plain selfish IMO.
I got stuck behind a queue of traffic on the A43 dual carriageway caused by a truck doing 0.00000001MPH faster that the one it was trying to overtake.
This sought of anti-social motoring behaviour should be banned.
The trucker may get to his destination 30 seconds faster..........but only after pissing off a lot of motorists that need to get from A to B without these tossers of HGV drivers on the roads.
This sought of anti-social motoring behaviour should be banned.
The trucker may get to his destination 30 seconds faster..........but only after pissing off a lot of motorists that need to get from A to B without these tossers of HGV drivers on the roads.
joospeed said:
this is one of the main reasons I loathe truckers... I know it's not right to tar them all with the same brush but the disrespect they show to all other road users they're holding up is beyond belief .. a plague of a quadzillion dung beetles on any trucker guilty of this crime, it's just plain selfish IMO.
Absolutely right joospeed, I'm a truck driver, and a car driver, and a biker. It drives me nuts as well when this happens. If I get someone crawling past me, I usually lift for a few seconds, then flash him back in so we don't hold people up. The solution of course is to remove speed limiters, but then that will never happen till the powers that be pull thier heads out of their arses.
Sorry to be a pain, just trying to do my job under stupid legislation.
Phil
Yep...this is one of my pet hates too..
Happened yesterday on the way back from the coast.....
Effectively a rolling road block for about 3 miles....
I'm quite a fan of truckers,the majority of the time, but there is a tosser element that spoils things and negates the 'knights of the road' title.
Towman..over to you mate..
Street
Happened yesterday on the way back from the coast.....
Effectively a rolling road block for about 3 miles....
I'm quite a fan of truckers,the majority of the time, but there is a tosser element that spoils things and negates the 'knights of the road' title.
Towman..over to you mate..
Street
philthy said:
this is one of the main reasons I loathe truckers... I know it's not right to tar them all with the same brush but the disrespect they show to all other road users they're holding up is beyond belief .. a plague of a quadzillion dung beetles on any trucker guilty of this crime, it's just plain selfish IMO.
Absolutely right joospeed, I'm a truck driver, and a car driver, and a biker. It drives me nuts as well when this happens. If I get someone crawling past me, I usually lift for a few seconds, then flash him back in so we don't hold people up. The solution of course is to remove speed limiters, but then that will never happen till the powers that be pull thier heads out of their arses.
Sorry to be a pain, just trying to do my job under stupid legislation.
Phil
a very sensible approach .. good driving is thinking about other road users not just yourself. good reply
It's just the way society is going more and more. It's the "I'm alright Jack" approach. Think about it : Lorry one overtakes lorry two and holds everyone else up. Does it cause a problem for lorry one ? No. That's your answer, he's okay, so why should he care about anyone else on the road ?
andygo said:
It took nearly 2 miles(!!!!) for the faster of the trucks to get past
Thats just over two minutes then!
streetcop said:
Effectively a rolling road block for about 3 miles
Thats three minutes then!
Highway Code said:
If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass
Legal then (note the word necessary)
Highway Code said:
Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.
Highway Code said:
Never sound your horn aggressively
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not legal then!
Highway Code said:
You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by signs
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not legal then!
There you have it - a couple of law abiding truckers have held up a bunch of impatient car drivers. A slight delay of 2-3 minutes leads to anarchy! And as you are such a bunch of criminals, you can easily exceed the limit for the next two miles to make up for lost time.
For those of you who haven`t been paying attention, I`ll repeat the reason why this sort of behaviour occurs:
On a Motorway, most truckies run with the cruise control set flat out to the limiter (still 4mph less than the speed limit).
An unladen truck will generally climb a hill at max speed, but will not "overrun" the limiter on a downhill section.
A fully freighted truck may be slower uphill (many are not due to powerful engines), but will gain speed on the downhill.
Many trucks are on timetabled deliveries. The natural reaction is to run as fast as possible where you can, saving vital minutes if you are held up by an accident etc ahead. Incidently, most hold ups at accident sites are not caused by the accident, more by w@nkers in cars slowing down to rubberneck
It is not pleasant staring at the back of a truck for mile after mile after mile. Therefore, if the opportunity arises, a driver will go for the overtake.
The driver of the "overtaken" vehicle is unlikely to lift, as he will have to take his foot off the dash, and may lose his place in the book he is reading.
The driver of the overtaking vehicle will also not lift off, especially if he has built up a big score for the annual "catch a beemer sweepstake".
Lots of talk in this thread about "consideration for other road users" - well how about a bit of consideration from you guys for the problems we face.
Next time this happens to you, stay back, chill out and make up the time when you are past. And if you still want to complain, write to the government. It is their b*llsh*t rules that started the problem.
Off to get measured for body armour
Steve
edited cos I screwed up th quote brackets!
>> Edited by towman on Saturday 4th September 21:05
towman said:
A fully freighted truck may be slower uphill (many are not due to powerful engines), but will gain speed on the downhill.
So truckers deliberately attempt to overtake going uphill to cause maximum delays to faster traffic wanting to get past. That is exactly the situation that I witnessed on the A43.
It's just pointless for a truck to overtake another uphill with a speed difference of 0.00001 MPH.
Had this on the M1 two weeks ago, was held for 10 miles, YES! ten bloody miles by a truck who was overtaking at 0.00001 mph than the one in lane one. I'm towing and wanted to get by and settle down back in lane 1, can't use lane 3 due to trailer. But guess what, said pratt hgv driver in front did!! I and everyone else was treated to 5 further miles of a wall of HGV's right across the carriageway, each one at 0.00001 mph more than the other.
I have to agree with you though Philthy, truckers are the victim I think of a silly law. Restricting HGV's to 60 mph is silly. I did ask Towman what he thought of a 70 mph limit for trucks, (a genuine question). But he chose not to answer, I'd be interested in views from truckers. Do you think that 70 mph is OK for HGV's, only reason I'm asking is that I'm in favour, but don't have any knowledge of driving one, so answers from anyone who knows! please? Is 70 mph a problem in one of these things?
>> Edited by 8Pack on Sunday 5th September 01:48
I have to agree with you though Philthy, truckers are the victim I think of a silly law. Restricting HGV's to 60 mph is silly. I did ask Towman what he thought of a 70 mph limit for trucks, (a genuine question). But he chose not to answer, I'd be interested in views from truckers. Do you think that 70 mph is OK for HGV's, only reason I'm asking is that I'm in favour, but don't have any knowledge of driving one, so answers from anyone who knows! please? Is 70 mph a problem in one of these things?
>> Edited by 8Pack on Sunday 5th September 01:48
ledfoot said:
A fully freighted truck may be slower uphill (many are not due to powerful engines), but will gain speed on the downhill.
So truckers deliberately attempt to overtake going uphill to cause maximum delays to faster traffic wanting to get past.
You missed the point. Truck 1 (Heavy) will slow as it goes uphill. Truck 2 (Unladen) will overtake on said hill. If overtake is not completed by the top of the hill, speed differential is lost.
Steve
It's fine once in a while but there are thousands of trucks doing this, but I see your point to some extent.
One thing I've noticed, in your arguments you very often say your job is difficult, certain aspects are unpleasant or take too much effort. That just about covers every working joe but we don't always impinge our disquiet on others, maybe a career change is the answer here. We are all being f**ked over by govt rules and taxes.
how do you sound a horn aggressively btw? always wondered that one, insistently maybe, I suppose if you put on a scarey face that might do
One thing I've noticed, in your arguments you very often say your job is difficult, certain aspects are unpleasant or take too much effort. That just about covers every working joe but we don't always impinge our disquiet on others, maybe a career change is the answer here. We are all being f**ked over by govt rules and taxes.
how do you sound a horn aggressively btw? always wondered that one, insistently maybe, I suppose if you put on a scarey face that might do
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