Yet another lorry accident !!!!!!
Discussion
Sorry if i don't reply straight away as i now have very limited internet access due to moving. Please bear with me. Hopefully i don't come over the wrong way but please consider that my piss is boiling as i write this.
A few weeks ago my parents where travelling along the M26 heading towards Dover. It's a dual carriage motorway and they where in the outside lane travelling along at 70mph. They where at the rear of a group of 4 cars overtaking a foreign lorry driver ( left hooker ).
Just as they where passing the lorry, the
er decides to pull out and hits my parents car, side swiping it and sending them spinning off the road. The road was slightly damp and somehow the old man managed to get the car onto the hard shoulder having been spun around and losing total control. How it didn't turn over and become a fatal was pure luck. Luckly the car was the only thing that was damaged ( written off )apart from various cuts, bruises and wip lash. They are still suffering flash backs now and made them both nervous of driving. He is 67 and has previously suffered 5 heart attacks. How he didn't have another is beyond me.
Firstly i would like to thank any drivers who totally ignored the situation for their ignorance and hope something like that never happens to them.
I digress......
Anyway the police have now sent a letter, which i will put up at a latter date, saying that no further action will be taken against any person involved. It say's that they wish to emphasise that this decision only relates to the manner of driving and any other offences may still be subjct to due consideration.
Well correct me if i'm wrong, is this not a case of undue care and attention on the foreign lorry drivers part or can they just pull out when and how they feel like it and to the consequences, knowing full well the police can't be arsed to pursue the matter as they are from another country. I'm sure that if a resident lorry driver had done the same thing then the decision to act would be completely different.
This case would not make my piss boil so much, had it not been the fact that the police found it fit to fine him £30 a few months ago for having a number plate with slightly incorrect spacing. He was made to feel like a criminal and totally belittled as the officer felt the urge to show off in front of a new female officer and show her his over welming powers of authority. Having never been in trouble with the law before a warning would have done FFS!!!!!!. Needless to say due to one plods actions and this case his respect for the police has been slightly tarnished somewhat.
What my point is how is it right that an incorrect number plate spacing is deemed a fineable offence, yet some idiot can ram somebdy off a road and nearly killing it's occupants is deemed and unworthy concern.
Any help in pursing this matter will gratefully be accepted. And yes i am still seriously considering taking this to the media as i know this is now a very commom occurance on our roads.
A few weeks ago my parents where travelling along the M26 heading towards Dover. It's a dual carriage motorway and they where in the outside lane travelling along at 70mph. They where at the rear of a group of 4 cars overtaking a foreign lorry driver ( left hooker ).
Just as they where passing the lorry, the
er decides to pull out and hits my parents car, side swiping it and sending them spinning off the road. The road was slightly damp and somehow the old man managed to get the car onto the hard shoulder having been spun around and losing total control. How it didn't turn over and become a fatal was pure luck. Luckly the car was the only thing that was damaged ( written off )apart from various cuts, bruises and wip lash. They are still suffering flash backs now and made them both nervous of driving. He is 67 and has previously suffered 5 heart attacks. How he didn't have another is beyond me.Firstly i would like to thank any drivers who totally ignored the situation for their ignorance and hope something like that never happens to them.
I digress......
Anyway the police have now sent a letter, which i will put up at a latter date, saying that no further action will be taken against any person involved. It say's that they wish to emphasise that this decision only relates to the manner of driving and any other offences may still be subjct to due consideration.
Well correct me if i'm wrong, is this not a case of undue care and attention on the foreign lorry drivers part or can they just pull out when and how they feel like it and
to the consequences, knowing full well the police can't be arsed to pursue the matter as they are from another country. I'm sure that if a resident lorry driver had done the same thing then the decision to act would be completely different.This case would not make my piss boil so much, had it not been the fact that the police found it fit to fine him £30 a few months ago for having a number plate with slightly incorrect spacing. He was made to feel like a criminal and totally belittled as the officer felt the urge to show off in front of a new female officer and show her his over welming powers of authority. Having never been in trouble with the law before a warning would have done FFS!!!!!!. Needless to say due to one plods actions and this case his respect for the police has been slightly tarnished somewhat.
What my point is how is it right that an incorrect number plate spacing is deemed a fineable offence, yet some idiot can ram somebdy off a road and nearly killing it's occupants is deemed and unworthy concern.
Any help in pursing this matter will gratefully be accepted. And yes i am still seriously considering taking this to the media as i know this is now a very commom occurance on our roads.
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Monday 31st December 13:47
Have to say this is something I've considered and it doesn't seem right, not that I've got any time for non standard plates.
My force does not routinely follow up minor accidents where there has been no allegation of poor driving or document offences, there just aren't the resources. So you can end up with points/ban/fine etc under preventative based legislation (excess speed/due care etc) but if you go the whole hog and have an accident it is possible to get away scot free except for a higher insurance premium.
I suppose one of the problems is that nearly everyone involved in a collision has a vested interest in the form of their no claims so try to make their driving seem beyond reproach and exagerate other's mistakes.
Happy New Year to all.
Sheriff
My force does not routinely follow up minor accidents where there has been no allegation of poor driving or document offences, there just aren't the resources. So you can end up with points/ban/fine etc under preventative based legislation (excess speed/due care etc) but if you go the whole hog and have an accident it is possible to get away scot free except for a higher insurance premium.
I suppose one of the problems is that nearly everyone involved in a collision has a vested interest in the form of their no claims so try to make their driving seem beyond reproach and exagerate other's mistakes.
Happy New Year to all.
Sheriff
Sorry to hear of your parents nightmare.
The same thing happened to me last August on exiting Dover town centre.Hungarian lorry decided to move from nearside without any signal, and swiped me at 35mph, lifting car onto two wheels, managed to keep control and pulled in front of lorry, who had slowed to a stop.The only English the driver could say-over and over was "you call police".I didnt knowing as you do it would be a waste of time, and the damage was a dented rear wheel arch, and paint off and a marked alloy.Insurance excess+++, so I paid for repairs £280.
Living in our third world country as you know,means that our wonderful taxpayer funded DFT knows that there have been thousands of incidents of this type over some years, But have done Nothing to control the EU drivers as they entered the UK.and could not ensure that a European directive was advised for ALL LH lorries to have Rightside mirrors angled to look down at rightside.
NOW!!! when so many accidents have taken place, 40,000 mirrors as described have recently been sent to dock entry points to be given Free to EU drivers,paid for by you.
The same thing happened to me last August on exiting Dover town centre.Hungarian lorry decided to move from nearside without any signal, and swiped me at 35mph, lifting car onto two wheels, managed to keep control and pulled in front of lorry, who had slowed to a stop.The only English the driver could say-over and over was "you call police".I didnt knowing as you do it would be a waste of time, and the damage was a dented rear wheel arch, and paint off and a marked alloy.Insurance excess+++, so I paid for repairs £280.
Living in our third world country as you know,means that our wonderful taxpayer funded DFT knows that there have been thousands of incidents of this type over some years, But have done Nothing to control the EU drivers as they entered the UK.and could not ensure that a European directive was advised for ALL LH lorries to have Rightside mirrors angled to look down at rightside.
NOW!!! when so many accidents have taken place, 40,000 mirrors as described have recently been sent to dock entry points to be given Free to EU drivers,paid for by you.
Did the lorry driver stop? Otherwise what are the chances of the Police finding him? Theres no CCTV on that stetch of road so unless a witness took a number and phoned police with it what do they do? Check every lorry at Ramsgate, Sheerness, Eurotunnel, Dover for damage corresponding to the paintwork on the parents car?
A similar thing happened to me a few years and the police never managed to trace the lorry concerned. They knew he pulled out on me as witnesses told them, but it was dark and the witnesses didn;t get the number.
Can't really blame the police, or at least not those we come across. They are following orders and doing their best.
The blame for speed cameras etc lies higher up the chain, and in particular at the ballot box.
A similar thing happened to me a few years and the police never managed to trace the lorry concerned. They knew he pulled out on me as witnesses told them, but it was dark and the witnesses didn;t get the number.
Can't really blame the police, or at least not those we come across. They are following orders and doing their best.
The blame for speed cameras etc lies higher up the chain, and in particular at the ballot box.
Reason no. 1 for never spending longer than is absolutely necessary on the outside of a LHD truck.
I hang back and wait until I can accelerate past and I never understand why some folks sit on the outside of a truck if there is another option.
As I understand it the diver has very limited chance of seeing a car in that position (hence the old "if you can't see me..."
.
Glad your folks are OK.
I hang back and wait until I can accelerate past and I never understand why some folks sit on the outside of a truck if there is another option.
As I understand it the diver has very limited chance of seeing a car in that position (hence the old "if you can't see me..."
.Glad your folks are OK.
Piglet said:
Reason no. 1 for never spending longer than is absolutely necessary on the outside of a LHD truck.
I hang back and wait until I can accelerate past and I never understand why some folks sit on the outside of a truck if there is another option.
As I understand it the diver has very limited chance of seeing a car in that position (hence the old "if you can't see me...".
Glad your folks are OK.
I hang back and wait until I can accelerate past and I never understand why some folks sit on the outside of a truck if there is another option.
As I understand it the diver has very limited chance of seeing a car in that position (hence the old "if you can't see me..."
.Glad your folks are OK.
And look at the driver in his mirror to see if he has clocked you.Left hooker trucks are a definite case for minimising TED.
mechsympathy said:
I witnessed (and stopped for) a similar incident on the M4 a while ago. BiB attended and we gave our details etc. The car driver's insurance co got in touch but we heard nothing from the police. I imagine because there is little they can do if the lorry driver is foreign.
I was hit by a foreign truck year before last, though fortunately not on the motorway. The non-English-speaking driver requested I call the police so I did. They got his details and I was lucky enough to have a witness who was prepared to see the whole thing through. Both the truck driver and I were breathalysed and cautioned. Sure, it was careless on his part, but as far as I understood from the police at the time, accidents involving left hookers are well-documented and there isn't anything they can realistically do apart from let the insurance deal with it.It took over a year, but I did get my money back despite numerous cockups from Direct Line (but that's another story
). Westy Pre-Lit said:
A few weeks ago my parents where travelling along the M26 heading towards Dover. It's a dual carriage motorway and they where in the outside lane travelling along at 70mph. They where at the rear of a group of 4 cars overtaking a foreign lorry driver ( left hooker ).
The chances are the truck pulled out for a reason, could your dad have anticipated that he would need to pull out? he will know next time.Westy Pre-Lit said:
Just as they where passing the lorry, the driver decides to pull out and hits my parents car, side swiping it and sending them spinning off the road. The road was slightly damp and somehow the old man managed to get the car onto the hard shoulder having been spun around and losing total control. How it didn't turn over and become a fatal was pure luck. Luckly the car was the only thing that was damaged ( written off )apart from various cuts, bruises and wip lash. They are still suffering flash backs now and made them both nervous of driving. He is 67 and has previously suffered 5 heart attacks. How he didn't have another is beyond me.
5 heart attacks and still driving (at 70mph), lets just hope he doesn't have one at the wheel or someone else will be on here complaining about unfit people still driving.I hope your mum and dad get over it soon, sorry to hear it, but left hand drive trucks should be avoided at all times.
slowly slowly says"Lefthand trucks should be avoided at all times"Great!!How do you tell coming up behind a lorry--its LHD unless you see the number plate or non english writing on the back--Remember!!!!! you are paying Attention to Driving conditions---NOT scanning livery on fcuking lorries!.
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Have to say this is something I've considered and it doesn't seem right, not that I've got any time for non standard plates.
My force does not routinely follow up minor accidents where there has been no allegation of poor driving or document offences, there just aren't the resources. So you can end up with points/ban/fine etc under preventative based legislation (excess speed/due care etc) but if you go the whole hog and have an accident it is possible to get away scot free except for a higher insurance premium.
I suppose one of the problems is that nearly everyone involved in a collision has a vested interest in the form of their no claims so try to make their driving seem beyond reproach and exagerate other's mistakes.
Happy New Year to all.
Sheriff
Probably because if a collision has resulted, there will be a financial penalty & hopefully some learning will take place from it. Is further penalty needed to press home the point ?My force does not routinely follow up minor accidents where there has been no allegation of poor driving or document offences, there just aren't the resources. So you can end up with points/ban/fine etc under preventative based legislation (excess speed/due care etc) but if you go the whole hog and have an accident it is possible to get away scot free except for a higher insurance premium.
I suppose one of the problems is that nearly everyone involved in a collision has a vested interest in the form of their no claims so try to make their driving seem beyond reproach and exagerate other's mistakes.
Happy New Year to all.
Sheriff
Where no collision has taken place but the behaviour was inappropriate, there is the risk that a simple warning won't be taken seriously enough to promote a change of behaviour. They associate no adverse outcome with the unacceptable behaviour & as a result may be more likely to continue with it.
vonhosen said:
Probably because if a collision has resulted, there will be a financial penalty & hopefully some learning will take place from it. Is further penalty needed to press home the point ?
Where no collision has taken place but the behaviour was inappropriate, there is the risk that a simple warning won't be taken seriously enough to promote a change of behaviour. They associate no adverse outcome with the unacceptable behaviour & as a result may be more likely to continue with it.
Um, I don't think the lorry driver in this case will be that bothered about the 'outcome'...Where no collision has taken place but the behaviour was inappropriate, there is the risk that a simple warning won't be taken seriously enough to promote a change of behaviour. They associate no adverse outcome with the unacceptable behaviour & as a result may be more likely to continue with it.
I'd prefer the police to deal with folks using 40 tonnes of metal actually running over my 1 tonne vehicle rather than book huge numbers of people for behaviour that someone sitting at a very quiet desk has reasoned with statistics that it might be 0.01% more dangerous...
paranha said:
slowly slowly says"Lefthand trucks should be avoided at all times"Great!!How do you tell coming up behind a lorry--its LHD unless you see the number plate or non english writing on the back--Remember!!!!! you are paying Attention to Driving conditions---NOT scanning livery on fcuking lorries!.
isnt the fact its not a UK lorry part of the driving conditions? its no different to approaching a car & spotting an L-plate so your more cautious incase the learner isnt really 'up to speed' with driving yet.
paranha said:
Sorry to hear of your parents nightmare.
The same thing happened to me last August on exiting Dover town centre.Hungarian lorry decided to move from nearside without any signal, and swiped me at 35mph, lifting car onto two wheels, managed to keep control and pulled in front of lorry, who had slowed to a stop.The only English the driver could say-over and over was "you call police".I didnt knowing as you do it would be a waste of time, and the damage was a dented rear wheel arch, and paint off and a marked alloy.Insurance excess+++, so I paid for repairs £280.
Living in our third world country as you know,means that our wonderful taxpayer funded DFT knows that there have been thousands of incidents of this type over some years, But have done Nothing to control the EU drivers as they entered the UK.and could not ensure that a European directive was advised for ALL LH lorries to have Rightside mirrors angled to look down at rightside.
NOW!!! when so many accidents have taken place, 40,000 mirrors as described have recently been sent to dock entry points to be given Free to EU drivers,paid for by you.
And what really winds me up is the last sentence, The same thing happened to me last August on exiting Dover town centre.Hungarian lorry decided to move from nearside without any signal, and swiped me at 35mph, lifting car onto two wheels, managed to keep control and pulled in front of lorry, who had slowed to a stop.The only English the driver could say-over and over was "you call police".I didnt knowing as you do it would be a waste of time, and the damage was a dented rear wheel arch, and paint off and a marked alloy.Insurance excess+++, so I paid for repairs £280.
Living in our third world country as you know,means that our wonderful taxpayer funded DFT knows that there have been thousands of incidents of this type over some years, But have done Nothing to control the EU drivers as they entered the UK.and could not ensure that a European directive was advised for ALL LH lorries to have Rightside mirrors angled to look down at rightside.
NOW!!! when so many accidents have taken place, 40,000 mirrors as described have recently been sent to dock entry points to be given Free to EU drivers,paid for by you.
Dead easy to solve you either have or buy a fresnel lens on entry to uk plc,
Otherwise the vehicle is parked up (£30-£50 an hour standing?) until one is fitted or send the truck/driver and load straight back on the next ferry.
Of course that would probably be against eu free competition laws, but have a guess how our french compatriots would deal with the problem
Sorry to hear.
We have a few left hooker sprinters. Long story but legal. I am acutely aware when overtaking and have extra mirrors to use. I check and recheck the blind spot. Even with the extra mirrors its surprising what can lurk there. I would hate to have to drive something as long as one of them HGV's.
With regards signage, we have a few labeled up and cannot say there is any difference in attitude from drivers to those without.
We have a few left hooker sprinters. Long story but legal. I am acutely aware when overtaking and have extra mirrors to use. I check and recheck the blind spot. Even with the extra mirrors its surprising what can lurk there. I would hate to have to drive something as long as one of them HGV's.
With regards signage, we have a few labeled up and cannot say there is any difference in attitude from drivers to those without.
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