"professional" drivers
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Discussion

supermono

Original Poster:

7,464 posts

279 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
This morning on the M11 in heavy mist occasionally fog, I've noticed a new tactic taken by out highly trained professionals, the HGV drivers. No lights/sidelights.

Superb. I lost count of the number of them I saw (at the last second) on the opposite carriageway emerging from the mist with their little candles burning.

Perhaps the extra load on the alternator eats right into their profit margins...

SM

Fidgits

17,202 posts

260 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
they're saving the planet dont'cha know wink

Jasandjules

72,660 posts

260 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Are they driving on Foreign plates?

I have noticed a huuuge increase on the M25 of international lorries who don't use their mirrors quite enough for my liking, and who tailgate. They also don't want to pull over when you are on the slip road to let you out.

Saying that, I have noticed that UK coaches are going the same way, cutting me up a lot, and one overtook me when I was doing 70mph, I didn't know a coach could go that fast.

Zeeky

2,954 posts

243 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Should be limited to 62mph. Maybe it was downhill! (limited vehicles are limited to actual speed not indicated speed which may be significantly different at these kind of speeds).

Edited by Zeeky on Monday 11th June 20:31

Vipers

33,516 posts

259 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Dont know about foreign drivers and lights etc, but up here in Aberdeen, as soon as the sea mist comes in, I see loads of cars with their fog lights on, despite absolutely yards of visibility, and some with none whatsoever.

I see cars at dusk with no lights at all, and of course in the winter, cyclist with no lights.

Whilst lorry drivers may well be at fault, foreign ones as well, I think we have just as many plonkers ourselves who have absolutely no idea of when and when not to put lights, including fog lights on or off.

One big irritation is motorcyclists who insist on using FULL BEAM during the day, and sit behind you. I fully agree having their headlight on is paramount for their safety in as much as cart drivers will see them, but come on chaps, not FULL BEAM.





smile


Flat in Fifth

48,934 posts

282 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Actually I think car drivers are worst.

I was out and about for work on Spring Bank Holiday w/e during that spell of lousy weather we had, at times it was black as a witches you know.

I have NEVER EVER seen a more compelling case for compulsory daylight running lights.

Such heavy drivers as were out were lit up, it was car drivers who were the problem.

shuvitupya

3,340 posts

248 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually I think car drivers are worst.
Many newer cars, including mine, have auto activated lights that rely on a sensor to switch on the lights. Many times I have decided to manually use dipped headlamps before the sensor has kicked in.
I guess many people think, if it's not dark enough for the sensor to work the lights, then they don't need lights, including heavy rain on a motorway.

Vipers

33,516 posts

259 months

Tuesday 12th June 2007
quotequote all
shuvitupya said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually I think car drivers are worst.
Many newer cars, including mine, have auto activated lights that rely on a sensor to switch on the lights. Many times I have decided to manually use dipped headlamps before the sensor has kicked in.
I guess many people think, if it's not dark enough for the sensor to work the lights, then they don't need lights, including heavy rain on a motorway.
Great pity new cars dont have sensors for their fog lights, then when the sensors didnt kick in, coz the visibility wasnt bad enough, they wouldnt manually turn them on,.............

smile

Towie

14,938 posts

270 months

Tuesday 12th June 2007
quotequote all
supermono said:
This morning on the M11 in heavy mist occasionally fog, I've noticed a new tactic taken by out highly trained professionals, the HGV drivers. No lights/sidelights.

Superb. I lost count of the number of them I saw (at the last second) on the opposite carriageway emerging from the mist with their little candles burning.

Perhaps the extra load on the alternator eats right into their profit margins...

SM
Very good. Perhaps you should concentrate on what`s happening on your own carriageway? wink

We drive on sidelights because we hate you.

markmullen

15,877 posts

265 months

Tuesday 12th June 2007
quotequote all
shuvitupya said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually I think car drivers are worst.
Many newer cars, including mine, have auto activated lights that rely on a sensor to switch on the lights. Many times I have decided to manually use dipped headlamps before the sensor has kicked in.
I guess many people think, if it's not dark enough for the sensor to work the lights, then they don't need lights, including heavy rain on a motorway.
On some cars with auto headlights, such as my dad's Jag, when the auto wipers are activated for longer than a certain period then the auto headlights are switched on too, a cracking idea IMO.

I tend to run with dipped headlights all the time as there are too many arseholes out there who appear to be blind to a 17 foot long 2 tonne 7 series bearing down on them rolleyes

streaky

19,311 posts

280 months

Wednesday 13th June 2007
quotequote all
Vipers said:
shuvitupya said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually I think car drivers are worst.
Many newer cars, including mine, have auto activated lights that rely on a sensor to switch on the lights. Many times I have decided to manually use dipped headlamps before the sensor has kicked in.
I guess many people think, if it's not dark enough for the sensor to work the lights, then they don't need lights, including heavy rain on a motorway.
Great pity new cars dont have sensors for their fog lights, then when the sensors didnt kick in, coz the visibility wasnt bad enough, they wouldnt manually turn them on,.............

smile
I appreciate your point, but it's not just a visibility thing - Streaky

Vipers

33,516 posts

259 months

Wednesday 13th June 2007
quotequote all
streaky said:
Vipers said:
shuvitupya said:
Flat in Fifth said:
Actually I think car drivers are worst.
Many newer cars, including mine, have auto activated lights that rely on a sensor to switch on the lights. Many times I have decided to manually use dipped headlamps before the sensor has kicked in.
I guess many people think, if it's not dark enough for the sensor to work the lights, then they don't need lights, including heavy rain on a motorway.
Great pity new cars dont have sensors for their fog lights, then when the sensors didnt kick in, coz the visibility wasnt bad enough, they wouldnt manually turn them on,.............

smile
I appreciate your point, but it's not just a visibility thing - Streaky
Thanks, my point was though, that a lot of drivers put on rear and front fog lights when there is miles of visibility, and a) they dont need them on, and b) it is illegal to have them on.

I know this site has covered fog's before, but its so irritating being stuck behind a car in good visibility, when they have those 2 red searchlights blaring out behind them.

smile

justamin

189 posts

237 months

Wednesday 13th June 2007
quotequote all
As a Professional Driver I must say that we're are, in fact, a minority and therefore should be treated with more respect!

Everyone else is just an @r$ole! I have lost count of the number of drivers who have their rear fogs on in heavy rain, no lights on in fog, no indicators on roundabouts (tell me, do lorry drivers have to be psychic???) - ever tried to haul 20 tonnes of sand in an 8-wheeler out of a junction or roundabout?? Its nigh on impossible if some tt suddenly decided its his exit as you release the clutch!! - undercutting on motorways, MLM's, hitting the brakes when approaching a Gatso facing the OTHER direction!!!

I could go on.......but I think you get the point.