Lorry man- morally wrong, or morally right?

[Benbay001]

Driving earlier, on the other side of the road a learner driver pulled out, straight in front of a lorry, causing the lorry to slow (50 mph speed limit, despite the law, the lorry looked to be doing 50 mph) followed shortly by a very loud honk by the lorry, which lasted a good 10 seconds, and was so loud i could hear long before i passed and long after. Anyway, the lorry didnt have to brake that hard (i couldnt see any signs of it braking hard, hmm).
By all means, if it was any other driver i would have probably shaken my first at the ****, but i totally disagree with doing so at a learner. Anyone else agree? (knowing pistonheads, im sure i will be the only one with this view)

However, the driving instructor needs a slap for letting them pull out.

[Swordman]

It's tough love. gonna happen sooner or later. Personally I wouldn't, but I can understand why they would honk.

[OMNIO]

The learner will probably look a bit longer next time.

[StottyZr]

I hate to see things like this. I always give a learner drive space and time and if I'm in a rush I'd briskly pass them. What's the point in scaring somebody and kicking their confidence when they're most likely already stting themselves?

[Patrick Bateman]

I remember how it was as a learner so always give them plenty of space/time/understanding.

[Benbay001]

Glad im not the only one of the opinion. It seemed a bit tough. Plus, the horn was propa loud, aftermarket? maybe he enjoys its use a bit too much?

[zcacogp]

StottyZr said:

I hate to see things like this. I always give a learner drive space and time and if I'm in a rush I'd briskly pass them. What's the point in scaring somebody and kicking their confidence when they're most likely already stting themselves?

This. Everyone was a learner once. Knocking their confidence before they have passed their test is not kind.

Lorry driver sounds like a tt TBH. Bigger vehicle and needs the world to know it. Doesn't remove the requirement to drive cautiously and courteously.


Oli.

[geeksandlies]

I got beeped as a learner waiting for traffic to clear at a roundabout, there was a gap but not one I could have got into, unluckily for the guy who beeped me the plod were behind him and pulled him straight over!

We all have to learn, part of learning to drive is dealing with twonks like the guy in the lorry, so yes harsh, but a necessary evil lesson I feel!

[tyranical]

Yeh give learners a bit of time to pull out etc but if they do something that its dangerous and could cause a serious accident (like pulling out infront of a fking lorry) then they need a good honking to know how serious it could potentially have been.

My theory is if we scare them enough they will be scarred for life, won't want to pass their test and this will ultimately reduce congestion on our roads.

You should all join in and help me in my cause.

[Benbay001]

So, was the instructor in the wrong? Or should he have stopped the car before the learner managed to pull out?

[TX1]

Oh well cannot say I feel for the lorry as we have all experienced the lorry's pulling out to overtake on a dual carriageway and the car on the outside lane having to brake hard.
Same on roundabouts they pull out knowing very well that the vehicle coming is going to be on top of them before they complete their maneuver.

[redgriff500]

OMNIO said:

The learner will probably look a bit longer next time.

THIS.

If you can't drive safely, learn off the road until you can.

[philmots]

TX1 said:

Same on roundabouts they pull out knowing very well that the vehicle coming is going to be on top of them before they complete their maneuver.

They could always sit there and wait an hour or two for rush hour to finish. With you sat behind, waiting...

[Nickyboy]

I would have done the same, sure we were all learners once but a simple mistake like that could have dire consequences.

The difference between aftermarket air horns and standard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJi0WFPQZrY

[Jamz3k]

If the lorry driver had the slow down, then the Learner driver shouldn't have pulled out infront of him.

The the lorry driver just gave the learner a very valuable lesson.

My instructor always told me to reach the speed of the road as progressively as possible as to not slow others up, I personally have always thought this was very good advice as I'm sick sore and tired of people pulling out infront of me then dawdling along at their own pace.

[McSam]

As people have said, the learner should not have pulled out and nor should their instructor have let them, but the lorry driver doesn't need to read the riot act over it, the instructor can do that, that's what they're there for - all the lorry driver needs do is give a quick double-flash or brief honk to make sure the instructor knows about the error. Not leaning on the horn for an extended
"fk youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" blast, no.

[Jasandjules]

FFS it's a learner. They will make mistakes. They have to learn, but that doesn't mean by tooting or flashing at them when they do err.....

[Blakewater]

The learner made a mistake, that's part of the learning process. It could have been worse, but it wasn't. That was no excuse for the lorry driver to be a bully. The most likely result would have been to panic the learner into making more mistakes and creating more danger. The lorry driver should have seen the driving school car at the juncion and slowed in anticipation of the learner pulling out.

[traffman]

If the learner buggers up , i allways stare at the teacher as he / she is the one telling them what to do.

As for the enjoyable honking from said lorry well ......have you ever tried to haul up an artic, humongous lorry?

[pwrc]

My instructor was ace, the only time I got beeped at he gave them the finger and told me to carry on. With the memories still pretty fresh I can tell you it's not fun, we do make mistakes and it doesn't help when other road users act like they never stalled or pulled out on someone.

He also told me about the time a girl he was teaching kept stalling at a junction. Mr van man behind her starts getting heavy on the horn so he turns off the car, gets out and has a nice little chat with the bugger. She didn't stall after that. legendary instructor