Tailgating truckers

[Dog Star]

I think we've all seen this footage of the Arclid tanker pushing a car along sideways at 60mph (well, 56, at any rate).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnETGNFb_6g

As I recall the truck driver simply could not see the car stuck to the front of his lorry.

Fair enough. So why then every single day do I see lorries on the motorway tailgating cars at speed in heavy traffic where the back of the car is closer than the width of the Clio in the video? They cannot possibly see the brake lights. I saw about five this morning (M62). What is wrong with these people? There's not even the excuse that the car is holding up the truck (that is no excuse either) - there's 3 lanes doing the same speed.

I couldn't give a toss about the line that "without truckers there'd be empty shops" etc - irrelevant. I just cannot understand the mentality of someone who will stick his 44 tonne truck a metre or two off the back of a tiny car.

[AtticusFinch]

It's all about maintaining momentum. They really don't want to slow down but havn't enough speed to overtake swiftly.

[4key]

AtticusFinch said:

It's all about maintaining momentum. They really don't want to slow down but havn't enough speed to overtake swiftly.

This, or if they move out to overtake the car at +1mph youll moan that they are holding you up, or the car driver will start accelerating away

[CoolHands]

punish them by slowing down to 50 then accelerate off

[4key]

CoolHands said:

punish them by slowing down to 50 then accelerate off

This a more common game than you can possibly imagine, or people drive along in their own little world going slower and slower and then wake up as a big truck gets half way past them and speed up.

Sitting in slow traffic you leave a couple of car lengths infront and people pull into it, just as they would if you was driving a car, so what would you like lorry driverd to do?

[anonymous-user]

The obvious thing to do would be to slow down?

[Corpulent Tosser]

4key said:

so what would you like lorry driverd to do?

Maintain a safe gap !

[philmots]

I always leave big gaps..

Cars will always fill them then slow down, its especially bad about a mile away from an exit. Every day car a car will cut into my 'safety zone' if you like and anchor on! I simply can't understand the mentality of car drivers who do it (I've noticed no specific category of person either).

In snow and ice the same things happen, all these stories about jack-knifed trucks? I'd suggest the majority are caused by a car driver doing something daft causing the truck driver to anchor on.. Bye bye.

[4key]

When driving your car in heavy traffic on a motorway how long is the gap you leave in front of you? If you answer large then you are in the minority, look around you. Why should a lorry be any different? To not be able to see the lights of the car infront it would probably have to be under 2 meters away, our blind spot is on the passenger side not the front, our veiw is also not reduced by the vehicle we are following (unless its another lorry)

[Dog Star]

Corpulent Tosser said:

Maintain a safe gap !

Looking at the replies on here I'd say we are in a minority.

[FreeLitres]

4key said:

CoolHands said:

punish them by slowing down to 50 then accelerate off

This a more common game than you can possibly imagine...

A bit like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2Uf9rcrOs

[Roadrunner23]

What I find scary is when you see a HGV about a foot apart from the one in front. I understand about maintaining speed/slip streaming but god forbid if the guy in front had to brake suddenly, game over for the trucker behind.
Talking from experience as well as I've attended quite a few incidents in the past in my job where the end result has not been pretty.

[anonymous-user]

4key said:

When driving your car in heavy traffic on a motorway how long is the gap you leave in front of you? If you answer large then you are in the minority, look around you. Why should a lorry be any different? To not be able to see the lights of the car infront it would probably have to be under 2 meters away, our blind spot is on the passenger side not the front, our veiw is also not reduced by the vehicle we are following (unless its another lorry)

Two mongs dont make a right.

Your view may not be reduced by tailgating but that doesn't mean you wouldn't plough into the back of another vehicle if the driver braked suddenly. What does 1-2 mph save you in all reality, 9/10's of sod all is my guess? In the main lorry drivers are far too impatient and rely on bullying people on the roads to make progress.

[4key]

In what way do you expect us to behave differently to everyone else on the road? You only consider it bullying because of the size of the vehicle, it is maintaining the same gaps and positions that all of the cars do doesnt it?

[LongLiveTazio]

philmots said:

I always leave big gaps..

Cars will always fill them then slow down, its especially bad about a mile away from an exit. Every day car a car will cut into my 'safety zone' if you like and anchor on! I simply can't understand the mentality of car drivers who do it (I've noticed no specific category of person either).

In snow and ice the same things happen, all these stories about jack-knifed trucks? I'd suggest the majority are caused by a car driver doing something daft causing the truck driver to anchor on.. Bye bye.

However, a higher standard of driving is expected from goods vehicles as they are professional drivers. I have twice seen HGVs move into lane 3 in roadworks above the posted limit in the past year and driving along the A34 regularly you are forced to drive above the speed limit in the 50 zone because they refuse to go lower than the limiter and decide to tailgate you. I've seen HGVs, including well-known hauliers, decide to use the hard shoulder instead of waiting in a queue of traffic and the last time Central Motorway Group hired a delimited HGV they caught far too many drivers on their phones for it to be anything other than a common - and arrogant - occurrence.

Yes there is lots of poor driving by car drivers and it is getting worse IMO but a lot of HGV drivers do themselves no favours and seem to rely on the fact that as there's no police about anymore they won't get pulled.

[4key]

Do you also expect a higher standard of driving from van, taxi and bus drivers? Motorcycle couriers?

[LongLiveTazio]

Yes, I do and it's a shame that the system for penalties for private hire vehicles is nowhere near as rigorous as for HGV drivers - after all, they are ferrying passengers about.

I know the previous post was very negative but I would like to balance it somewhat by saying that there are many HGV drivers who drive impeccably for very long hours for poor pay and do a lot of very altruistic things out of concern for other road users. It's just a shame that not all are like that.

[Alfanatic]

4key said:

In what way do you expect us to behave differently to everyone else on the road? You only consider it bullying because of the size of the vehicle, it is maintaining the same gaps and positions that all of the cars do doesnt it?

You haven't yet said anything that comes anywhere near justifying risking the life of some innocent person in the car in front just because there's a chance a car to the right might pull in front of you (which is allowed.)

Firstly, there's a massive difference between being rear ended by a 1.5 ton saloon with its own crumple zones and a 40 ton three meter high truck. Secondly, there's a massive difference in braking ability between year two vehicles, not that it matters because at 2m separation the driver isn't going to have time to brake anyway. Thirdly, no one here is saying that it's ok for cars to do it, in fact there are often threads moaning about tailgating. Lastly, if a truck, or a car, is tailgating me at two or three metres, all of the traffic that they are trying to deny access to lane 1 is going to get ahead of them anyway because it will be pulling in to the larger than normal gap I am leaving in front of me to protect myself from the tailgater.

[AreseV6]

4key said:

Do you also expect a higher standard of driving from van, taxi and bus drivers? Motorcycle couriers?

I expect exceptional standards their job is on the roads so there is is no excuse for poor standards or behaviour that is dangerous , I drive the M62 everyday and true to form everyday I see Trucks pulling out in an aggressive manner sitting inches off peoples bumpers and generally being dicks and it is a majority not a minority

[blueg33]

What I find especially irritating is HGV's nose to tail on the motorway not leaving enough space for other vehicles to get into lane 1 to take the next exit. You then have to squeeze in and slow to match the speed of the HGV's in the column and the HGV driver behind you gets irate.

I can understand him being annoyed, but if he and his fellows had left suitable spaces then this wouldn't occur.

It is a particular problem on the M5 at Junc 9 north bound and the M4 aty the Chievely junc. Its ok if you known the road and can pull in 2 miles before the junc but if you don't know the exit is coming until you get to the 1 mile sign then you are stuffed.