Understanding a Truckies problems

[towman]

Have a look at this vid. It explains a bit about blind spots etc. (9.4Mb)

video here

When I had control over the fleet, I used to take one to the local schools to educate the kids. I would love to bring one to a PH meet to let you lot climb all over it, but sadly I can`t persuade anyone to lend me one!

N.B. If the use of the word vee-hick-cool grates, dont watch ! It`s from the US.

message to mods - I posted here because this is where I spend most of my time, but if you think this is better on GG, feel free to move it

Steve

[joospeed]

well that's made me angrier than I was before with truckers! argh! .. blind spots on the drivers side? .. what's wrong with the driver looking down out of the window? .. laziness?
blind spot on the other side? .. what's wrong with the trucker keeping his wits about him and making a note of what's coming up behind him, and if it doesn't reappear in front of or back behind the blind spot it must *still* be *in* the blind spot, it's not rocket science! ..

I can understand the blind spot behind the whole outfit, so that could be avoide with driver awareness on the part of any car driver .. but to say that such a high% of incidents is down to bad car driving is ludicrous, when it's obvious more awareness from the trucker would sort most of that.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people blame other road users for their own inadequacies .. the general theme of that video appears to be *a trucker can't be bothered to follow the flow of traffic around his vehicooool, so car drivers make a trucker's life easier by doing their driving for them!

*note .. this post in no way condones bad car driving, or selfish car driver or trucker behaviour at all .. Joospeed wishes to promote good driving from all members of the road traffic fraternity, be alert, be safe out there ya' hear?*

lmfao.

editted cos i carnt spelel

>> Edited by joospeed on Tuesday 28th September 08:12

[cptsideways]

Absolutley brilliant !!!!!!!!


I too have an HGV Licence & I agree about 80% of the info in that video most UK drivers would be unaware of.


Info like that is 10 times more valuable than bloody safety cameras, this is rules of the road basics, thats not even covered in the highway code (from memory anyway)

I notice: Pass swiftly when passing trucks (so quicker is safer then you safety pratnerships out there!)

A few of the rules I use:
Never pull in from lane 3 to lane 2 until passed the truck in lane 1.

In roadworks & contraflows, never sit next to trucks as they wander, wait for the gap in front of the truck then get passed quickly, so it might be safer to go faster

[Streetcop]

Interesting film...

[philthy]

joospeed said:

well that's made me angrier than I was before with truckers! argh! .. blind spots on the drivers side? .. what's wrong with the driver looking down out of the window? .. laziness?

When would you like us to look out of the windscreen?

joospeed said:

it's obvious more awareness from the trucker would sort most of that.

Are we the only road users that have to be aware?

joospeed said:

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people blame other road users for their own inadequacies

joospeed said:

this post in no way condones bad car driving, or selfish car driver or trucker behaviour at all .. Joospeed wishes to promote good driving from all members of the road traffic fraternity

All members, no exclusions ?

joospeed said:

editted cos i carnt spelel

I put it to you that you can't drive that well either.

Joospeed, if a biker overtakes you, you don't see him and someone gets hurt, would you be happy to automatically take the blame ?
We all have to use the same roads. Slagging off other road users when you have no experience of the vehicle they are driving is just plain daft. I appreciate you are anti truck, as are many, but please try and understand we don't do it to piss you off.


Towman, bread and butter for you and me, but while attitudes like that prevail, people are going to get hurt.

Phil (professional driver, and lifesaver)

[cptsideways]

joospeed said:

well what's wrong with the trucker keeping his wits about him and making a note of what's coming up behind him, and if it doesn't reappear in front of or back behind the blind spot it must *still* be *in* the blind spot, it's not rocket science! ..

Until that car comes from Lane 3 into lane 2 into the truckers blidspot. Standard issue common error by drivers I'll see 100 times in one journey up the M6 every single trip.

In your scenario every truck driver should be watching all 3 lanes for the above scenario, you try it ! bet you'd fail within the first 5 mins alongwith everyone else meanwhile you have to still drive the thing!

>> Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 28th September 09:49

[einion yrth]

Seems kind of irrelevant to me whether or not yer truckie should 'keep his wits about him'. Little consolation to me or the missus if the inquest decides the truckie was at fault. Out of a spirit of self preservation I try to stay the fk out of anyone's blind spots.

[philthy]

einion yrth said:

Seems kind of irrelevant to me whether or not yer truckie should 'keep his wits about him'. Little consolation to me or the missus if the inquest decides the truckie was at fault. Out of a spirit of self preservation I try to stay the fk out of anyone's blind spots.

A good sensible safe driver
My sincerest regards
Phil

[joospeed]

philthy said:

joospeed said: well that's made me angrier than I was before with truckers! argh! .. blind spots on the drivers side? .. what's wrong with the driver looking down out of the window? .. laziness? When would you like us to look out of the windscreen? joo says : you should be looking all around all the time.. joospeed said: it's obvious more awareness from the trucker would sort most of that. Are we the only road users that have to be aware? joo says : er, no .. all road users should be aware of what's going on at all times! joospeed said: It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people blame other road users for their own inadequacies Joo says : back at ya! joospeed said: this post in no way condones bad car driving, or selfish car driver or trucker behaviour at all .. Joospeed wishes to promote good driving from all members of the road traffic fraternity All members, no exclusions ? Joo says : yup. joospeed said: editted cos i carnt spelel I put it to you that you can't drive that well either. joo says : fair comment! Joospeed, if a biker overtakes you, you don't see him and someone gets hurt, would you be happy to automatically take the blame ? Joo says: only if i was at fault! We all have to use the same roads. Slagging off other road users when you have no experience of the vehicle they are driving is just plain daft. joo says : it's not daft to promote good driving from *everyone* .. I appreciate you are anti truck, as are many, but please try and understand we don't do it to piss you off. Joo says: not anti-truck, just anti bad driving. Towman, bread and butter for you and me, but while attitudes like that prevail, people are going to get hurt. Phil (professional driver, and lifesaver)

[towman]

Oh well - some people are interested in anothers point of view and some just dont want to listen! Have you ever sat in a moving truck joospeed? And I mean a full size one, not a puddle jumping rental?

joospeed said:

what's wrong with the driver looking down out of the window?

Have a look at the next truck you pass, in many cases the drivers seating position is either level with, or behind the door pillar

joospeed said:

what's wrong with the trucker keeping his wits about him and making a note of what's coming up behind him

Easier said than done in heavy traffic.

joospeed said:

I can understand the blind spot behind the whole outfit

good - it might save your life one day

joospeed said:

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people blame other road users for their own inadequacies

Does it matter who is to blame if you are in hospital (or worse)

joospeed said:

car drivers make a trucker's life easier by doing their driving for them!

Why not? - the road is there to share


I posted this thread in response to a couple of others related to the number of accidents involving lane changes by LHD trucks. If people understand the reasons for this, perhaps they can avoid getting hurt.

I am certainly not trying to say who is right and who is wrong, just providing a little education.

Incidently joospeed, as you drive a Tiv, you are even more at risk, as the lower the car, the greater the blindspot.

Steve

[joospeed]

towman said:

Oh well - some people are interested in anothers point of view and some just dont want to listen! Have you ever sat in a moving truck joospeed? And I mean a full size one, not a puddle jumping rental? joospeed said: what's wrong with the driver looking down out of the window? Have a look at the next truck you pass, in many cases the drivers seating position is either level with, or behind the door pillar Joo says : well what's wrong with moving your body position? .. I sit level with the rear of my roof when in the car .. i lean forward to check over my shoulder at junctions / overtaking / etc.. joospeed said: what's wrong with the trucker keeping his wits about him and making a note of what's coming up behind him Easier said than done in heavy traffic. Joo says : many things are easier said than done .. doesn't excuse not paying attention.. joospeed said: I can understand the blind spot behind the whole outfit good - it might save your life one day joo says : agreed. joospeed said: It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people blame other road users for their own inadequacies Does it matter who is to blame if you are in hospital (or worse) Joo says : of course it does, what a stooopid thing to say! joospeed said: car drivers make a trucker's life easier by doing their driving for them! Why not? - the road is there to share Joo says : it is hence the need for more co-operation *on all sides* I posted this thread in response to a couple of others related to the number of accidents involving lane changes by LHD trucks. If people understand the reasons for this, perhaps they can avoid getting hurt. Joo says : this infers than unless that heppens we're gonna get hurt? I can see that point, but it smacks of *threat or promise* .. ie get out of my way or I'm gonna hurt you? .. maybe badly phrased, I hope so ..! I am certainly not trying to say who is right and who is wrong, just providing a little education. Joo says : yup, me too Incidently joospeed, as you drive a Tiv, you are even more at risk, as the lower the car, the greater the blindspot. Joo says : indeed, and that is why I try at all times to give numpties a wide berth, whatever they may be driving ... Steve

[Heebee]

Thanks Towman, an interesting video!

I've always tried to stay out of truck blindspots, and give them plenty of room on roundabouts, etc. However, I hadn't realised quite how bad the driver's side blindspot is! Extra mirrors can help the truck driver, I guess, perhaps these should be compulsory.

However, it's a lot easier to be safe if you're aware of the difficulty faced by the truckers. I'm going to sit a bit further back on the 'rolling traffic jams' of the M1 in future: I think I used to sit in a visible place, but now I'm going to make doubly sure.

This to me seems to be the opposite of that stupid 'Now you see him' bike advert: if you're the squashy one, look after yourself and don't do stupid things!

[towman]

joospeed said:

a lot of stuff

towman said:

another load of stuff

joospeed said:

even more stuff

I give up!

[towman]

towman said:

Does it matter who is to blame if you are in hospital (or worse)

joospeed said:

of course it does, what a stooopid thing to say!

What - you fancy a bit of compo?!

Dead is dead mate - best bet is to avoid it for as long as possible (at least until you get to the dribbling stage)

edited for spelling



>> Edited by towman on Tuesday 28th September 14:45

[rude girl]

What's your problem towman? He hasn't said anything that bad. To be fair, some of your posts do come across a bit 'well I know it all and you don't, and you're the one who gets squished so do as I say'

One of my Dad's mates was a trucker and I said to him (years ago) that people weren't fair to trucks because they couldn't see cars, and he said that was tosh and it just meant they weren't looking. Before you say it, no I haven't driven a truck but he had.

I do think that car drivers are inconsiderate to truckers, but not in the way you say (on which I think Joolz has some good points). The same mate of Dad's told me how many gear changes a truck has to make if they lose momentum, and it p1sses me off hugely to see a truck in lane 1 indicating out but waiting for some ar$e tootling by in lane 2 when lane 3 is clear. Arrrrrgh! They then have to build up momentum again and end up holding traffic up behind them!

Most truckers seem to spot me when I flash to let them out, even if I'm alongside them when they start to indicate, so there must be some visibility. That doesn't excuse the ones who pull out on you whether or not you've got a space to go to (am I getting old, or are there more of those nowadays?). Particularly irks me when you eventually pass them and they're looking anywhere but the road.

I personally think that truckers are some of the best drivers on motorways at least, but all this 'truckers good cars bad' stuff doesn't do you many favours.

[towman]

rude girl said:

What's your problem towman? He hasn't said anything that bad. To be fair, some of your posts do come across a bit 'well I know it all and you don't

OMG - I`m turning into Streetcop!

Lets just say that i am aware of the problems driving a truck because I do it for a living.

As I said before, this was posted following other threads along the lines of "why did the truck pull out - couldn`t he see me?"

Considering that most of this type of accident occurs in heavy traffic, that is when observation is difficult. You must have seen for yourself how many people swap lanes?

I`m really not trying to do "Truckers Good, Cars Bad" - sorry if its coming across like that.

The point I`m trying to make is that every fact you know about someone elses POV is another tool in your arsenal of self preservation.

Steve


>> Edited by towman on Tuesday 28th September 15:19

[Flat in Fifth]

Actually it doesn't do anyone any harm to see things from other driver's perspective.

Should anyone ever get to the education, education, education bit it wouldn't do any harm for people to have the opportunity to see life on the other side of the fence.

eg car drivers from perspective of truckers, bikers, cyclists, bus drivers to name a few opportunities. Goodness knows what it would cost but surely an interesting experiment.

Another that wouldn't go amiss is to take a few drivers of large and high powered vehicles and put them in Granny's 1.0 Micra or similar. Just to sit on the receiving end of the "get out of my way you heap of....." experience doled out too often.

[towman]

Flat in Fifth said:

car drivers from perspective of truckers................ Goodness knows what it would cost but surely an interesting experiment.

Costs nothing if you watch the vid. Admitedly it is slanted towards the truckies, but then that is the whole point.

[IOLAIRE]

towman said:

Flat in Fifth said: car drivers from perspective of truckers................ Goodness knows what it would cost but surely an interesting experiment. Costs nothing if you watch the vid. Admitedly it is slanted towards the truckies, but then that is the whole point.

I said on one of my posts last week that if everyone sat the Class 1 HGV and motorcycle tests you would dramatically decrease the accident rate; mind you on hindsight you would probably put 70% of drivers off the road, because they wouldn't have the ability to pass, (hmm, this is beginning to sound like a good idea).
Remember all truckers were car licence holders first.