Idiot in a Lorry BiB Advice?
Idiot in a Lorry BiB Advice?
Author
Discussion

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,235 posts

279 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
Coming back from VW today, on the M25 clockwise approaching J19 I was in the nearside lane, which was coming to an end.

I indicated right to move across into a gap, as I was half way into the lane a white lorry accelerated to within inches of the offside rear of the car so I pulled back across.

A gap opens up again in front of the lorry and again he deliberately accelerates, coming to within 3 feet of the bumper of the car in front.

I brake to try and get behind the lorry, but he slows too, as the gap increases I put my foot down and move across. He accelerates to close the gap, moving to his right, then back across towards me, trying to push me off the road. By this time I am at the end of the closing lane and approaching the hard shoulder. I had to brake sharply and fortunately another car let me rejoin from the hard shoulder (I think).

As I pass the lorry later to leave the M25 I look across and his passenger is laughing and waving at me

I have the VRN, time and location, can anything realistically be done?

Streetcop

5,907 posts

268 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
You can report the matter to the police, but it will be your word against Mr Bully/Arsehole in the HGV and his monkey mate...
outcome..no job in it for the police...hassle for you..

If you've got the company details, ring them direct and speak to the transport manager and complain.

Failing that, put it down to experience and don't let it crop up into your mind too often...the tosser and his bumchum aren't worth it..

Regards,

Gareth

2 Smokin Barrels

32,020 posts

265 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
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Must've been a pokey truck if you couldn't have monster accelerated him in your 220!!!

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,235 posts

279 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
Although I got past him ok, the gap wasn't huge so not safe enough to pull all the way in with him behaving like that.

The speed was probably only 40ish as peaople were slowing for queues between J20-J21.

There wasn't any signwriting on the van, though I will just check as I may have an image on my phone that my "passenger" took.

chris watton

22,547 posts

290 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
Streetcop said:
You can report the matter to the police, but it will be your word against Mr Bully/Arsehole in the HGV and his monkey mate...
outcome..no job in it for the police...hassle for you..

If you've got the company details, ring them direct and speak to the transport manager and complain.

Failing that, put it down to experience and don't let it crop up into your mind too often...the tosser and his bumchum aren't worth it..

Regards,

Gareth


I agree completely with that; a year ago we were travelling through Gloucester centre, and Chan (driving) stopped to let a car out of a junction, the van behind us beeped his horn and gesticulated furiously, when he pulled up alongside, he was f'ing and blinding at us, arms flailing out of the window like a psychotic lunatic , whilst we had 2 kids in the back seats who looked terrified!
Anyway, when we got home, Chan rang the number on the van (!!!) and asked to speak to the manager and told him what had happened. The manager was very apologetic and promised to have 'a word' with the driver. Later that day the manager rang back, and the van driver was forced to apologise for his actions, and was now put on a warning!

IOLAIRE

1,293 posts

268 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
Streetcop said:
You can report the matter to the police, but it will be your word against Mr Bully/Arsehole in the HGV and his monkey mate...
outcome..no job in it for the police...hassle for you..

If you've got the company details, ring them direct and speak to the transport manager and complain.

Failing that, put it down to experience and don't let it crop up into your mind too often...the tosser and his bumchum aren't worth it..

Regards,

Gareth


The thing is Gary,
it might have been a 7.5 tonner and the guy is driving it on an ordinary licence.
The sooner we change that the better, most of these people are grossly underpaid and undertrained and are simply not fit to be driving a commercial vehicle.

Streetcop

5,907 posts

268 months

Monday 21st February 2005
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IOLAIRE said:

The thing is Gary,
it might have been a 7.5 tonner and the guy is driving it on an ordinary licence.
The sooner we change that the better, most of these people are grossly underpaid and undertrained and are simply not fit to be driving a commercial vehicle.


Absolutely, there is always room for improvement and extra enforcement.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,235 posts

279 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
quotequote all
Any chance of finding out the company from the VRN?

Any BiB care to e-mail me, muncher@muncher.org.uk

philthy

4,697 posts

270 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
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What streetcop said !
Although it does sometimes pain me to see car drivers arsing around, then getting the mobile for the "how's my driving" number on the back.
I had someone phone my boss a couple of years ago. My boss politely explained that he thought the accusations highly unlikely, at which point the bloke starts effing and blinding. Threatening to "pay a visit" would have been a lot easier if he'd stopped me, and we could have "discussed" it face to face.

Phil

MilnerR

8,273 posts

288 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
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If that behaviour carries on he'll hopefully do it in front of a BiB car.
I had some tit in a 7.5 ton truck nearly run over me at a round about (knowing which lane was which wasn't his strong point). I beeped at him (wrong thing to do). He then preceeded to speed up, slow right down and weave about in the road. Eventually, he put his near side indicator on and waved me past. I crept out a little way only to be faced with a scannia artic coming in the opposite direction If i'd trusted him and gone i'd have been a statistic....

towman

14,938 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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Unfortunately, MoPs only see a "Lorry". They cannot tell a 7.5 tonner from an LGV. Any muppet over a certain age (can`t be bothered to look it up) can drive a 7.5. Many of us have spent the best part of £1000 to get a vocational licence.


OK Gary...Pop Quiz, Hotshot:
Easy way to tell a 7.5 from an 10 tonner without getting too close?

kevinday

13,834 posts

310 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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towman said:
OK Gary...Pop Quiz, Hotshot:
Easy way to tell a 7.5 from an 10 tonner without getting too close?


Yep, the 7.5 tonner is being driven badly the 10 tonner is being driven well

Seriously though, maybe wheel size?

winnebago nut

168 posts

288 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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If it ain't moving count the wheel nuts, A 7.5 tonner has 6 and a 10 tonner has 8. Unless of course the 10 tonner has been downrated . Atb Derek.

>> Edited by winnebago nut on Wednesday 23 February 10:31

towman

14,938 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
winnebago nut said:
If it ain't moving count the wheel nuts, A 7.5 tonner has 6 and a 10 tonner has 8. Unless of course the 10 tonner has been downrated . Atb Derek.


deeen

6,408 posts

275 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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"Oi, You just cut me up! Now pull over so I can count yer wheel nuts"

Streetcop

5,907 posts

268 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
never knew the wheel nut theory...thanks..

Is it across the board true...? ie: all 7.5 t v 10 t

kevinday

13,834 posts

310 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
deeen said:
"Oi, You just cut me up! Now pull over so I can count yer wheel nuts"



More like, "Oi, You just cut me up! Now pull over so I can count yer nuts with the toe of my boot"

>> Edited by kevinday on Wednesday 23 February 15:13

towman

14,938 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
Streetcop said:
never knew the wheel nut theory...thanks..

Is it across the board true...? ie: all 7.5 t v 10 t


Yep. The more nuts, the heavier the axle. Check it out while on patrol! Don`t forget about the downplating (snigger) though. If you are not sure what that is - you can tax a heavy truck and have it plated(snigger again) at the lighter weight. This is for wagons where a light load is always carried. Plant hire is a good example.

And if you are wondering why - 10t trucks are much cheaper to buy than 7.5s.

nightmare

5,279 posts

314 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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anything slightly more useful when doing 70mph? my driving aint exactly great at the best of times and I reckon counting wheelnuts on the move would be a recipe for disaster!

i still think I give the most room to anything with 'self hire' or 'accident repair centre courtesy car' written on it!

birdbrain

1,564 posts

269 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
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The companies aren't always interested but it's worth a try. I was actually punched and knocked to the ground by a lorry driver that hit my car and then tried to drive off without stopping. The BiB interviewed him but refused to prosecute as I didn't have any visible injuries and none of the witnesses would make a statement (they didn't want to get involved). I wrote a letter to the company complaining and they wrote back saying they would "discuss" the incident with the driver and that was it.