Artic turning right

[Nimby]

Artic on a straight NSL single-lane road, followed by four or five cars, then me, all doing about 50mph and with appropriate gaps.

He signals right, moves into a right-turn lane and stops at the junction as there's oncoming traffic. Other cars in front of me pass on his near-side, but just as I'm about a car-length behind he starts off and the left-hand corner of his trailer swings several feet into my lane and I very nearly hit him.

Maybe he was positioned oddly or had an unusual trailer geometry but I've never been aware that the rear corner of a trailer could move that far the opposite way to the turn. (I know the front overhang will).

Not sure what I should have done. If I had hit him I suspect I would have been to blame, but who would stop with an empty lane in front of you "just in case" when other cars had already gone past?

[wst]

Normally trailers that will swing out like that would have a sign on them to tell you about the risk, fwiw.

[adsvx220]

Always give HGV's space!!! They have a massive overhangs so if its a tight bend the trailer will just turn on the spot and the overhang will take up quite a bit of road.

[Higgs boson]

Generally known as tail swing.

http://www.ratzilla.com/bus/tail_swing.htm

[tvrgit]

Nimby said:

Maybe he was positioned oddly or had an unusual trailer geometry but I've never been aware that the rear corner of a trailer could move that far the opposite way to the turn. (I know the front overhang will).

Any articulated trailer can, depending on the tightness of the turn. An artic on a full lock turn can almost pivot around the centre of the rear wheels, so that the outside wheel will be going forwards, so the inside wheel might be stationary or even going backwards momentarily on really tight turns. That pushes the back end of the trailer out, if there's an overhang.

As said above - give HGVs plenty space!

[BOBTEE]

They all do that sir! Buses are the same, well anything with a long overhang will do what you describe.

At least you know now, for next time

[vonhosen]

Nimby said:

Not sure what I should have done.

adsvx220 said:

Always give HGV's space!!!

[T1pper]

Tail swing !!

[M4cruiser]

Some lorries have rear wheel steering as well, and the rears steer in the opposite direction to the fronts, so even more swinging out.

[ModernAndy]

would be an interesting case if there was an accident and you were in the inside lane and his trailer hit you from another lane but just use it as a learning experience. Expect the unexpected, etc.

[wolves_wanderer]

Nimby said:

Not sure what I should have done. If I had hit him I suspect I would have been to blame, but who would stop with an empty lane in front of you "just in case" when other cars had already gone past?

I would and I suspect in future you will. It's all experience