A question for HGV Drivers.

[Notts_Dave]

Heres a question for any HGV drivers on here.
We have a four lane stretch of motorway that last for about 20 miles or so near us. I regularly see HGVs crawling by each other in lane 3 thereby reducing the motorway to one lane. Does the law and/or Highway code allow them to use lane 1 and 2 only and therefore the ones i see are driving illegally in lane 3 of 4, or are they only barred from the outer lane irrespective of the number of lanes?

BTW this is not a "pop" at HGV drivers.

 

[Trig's]

HGV are NOT allowed in the outside lane of a motorway - if its a 3 lane then its just lane 1 & 2, its allowed in the 3rd lane of a 4 lane motorway.... but then should return back to lane 1...

Unless your a foreigner then it doesn't mattter as you can do what ever you like an give the poor british truckers a bad name

There was a rule a few years ago that also banned PSV or coaches from the outside lane but then that was just on a trial basis iirc.... Which obviously has ended...

 

[ukglyn]

Hi Dave, yep they can use the 3 lanes in this case as they are only restricted from the outside lane, I can imagine it is a PITA but having been on the other side of the fence also it is equally crap all being restricted to 56mph, which believe it or not does vary from wagon to wagon as to how they are governed.
Hope that answers it for you mate.

 

[ukglyn]

HGV are NOT allowed in the outside lane of a motorway - if its a 3 lane then its just lane 1 & 2, its allowed in the 3rd lane of a 4 lane motorway.... but then should return back to lane 1...

Unless your a foreigner then it doesn't mattter as you can do what ever you like an give the poor british truckers a bad name

There was a rule a few years ago that also banned PSV or coaches from the outside lane but then that was just on a trial basis iirc.... Which obviously has ended...

Nope Steve psv or coaches are still also banned from the outside lane, though coaches are restricted to 62mph instead of trucks 56 mph:shrug: go figure that one

 

[netbook1]

How easy is the HGV class one training and test? I was pondering about it.

 

[ukglyn]

How easy is the HGV class one training and test? I was pondering about it.

You need to do class 2 first if you dont already have it, but fairly straight forward with practise.

 

[cambsno]

How easy is the HGV class one training and test? I was pondering about it.

Well, I think you need to be able to stay within 2 feet of the vehicle in front for more than 3 miles for starters. Once you have masted that, you need to then be able to hold up more than 20 cars while you overtake lorry, taking 3 miles to do so!

 

[Oxford_Matt]

I pass so many HGV drivers on a local stretch of road by me and they are Texting, Some even reading paper on the steering wheel!!
I know car drivers do it but professional drivers should know better. It's nearly every other car you pass now the driver is texting, Mobile Facebook, or similar. Needs sorting out.

 

[straycat]

I pass so many HGV drivers on a local stretch of road by me and they are Texting, Some even reading paper on the steering wheel!!
I know car drivers do it but professional drivers should know better. It's nearly every other car you pass now the driver is texting, Mobile Facebook, or similar. Needs sorting out.

Agreed I phone the company if I see anyone on the dog in a works vehicle

 

[andy_fozzy]

Slightly O/T - but a question for van drivers.

Do they have their own version of the Highway Code?
Does it have blank pages so you can do what the hell you like, or does it simply say, "act like a complete dick"?

 

[Notts_Dave]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Cleared it up nicely.

 

[Ian D J]

 

[ukglyn]

Agreed I phone the company if I see anyone on the dog in a works vehicle

Hope you pull over to do that!

 

[straycat]

Hope you pull over to do that!

i NEVER use my phone while driving its dangerous and against the law

i have been a victim 3 times on my motorbike and put in hospital

 

[ukglyn]

i NEVER use my phone while driving its dangerous and against the law

i have been a victim 3 times on my motorbike and put in hospital

Fair comment mate, I was only jesting with you, & do agree it should be stamped down on very hard.

 

[straycat]

i was also rear ended by a woman texting who the police let of anyone between the vehicles[stopped at a red light] would have been dead.

the way the police again let a female driver of is another discussion.

 

[mattyg]

Slightly O/T - but a question for van drivers.

Do they have their own version of the Highway Code?
Does it have blank pages so you can do what the hell you like, or does it simply say, "act like a complete dick"?

Yep its completely different and is rewritten as and when we see fit.

Above is In jest.

However there is a difference between the bloke who owns a van and professional drivers trying to make a living.(Couriers etc)

Many people gripe about van drivers just pulling out (we call it making a gap)
etc.
But then moan and whinge when they dont get a delivery on time.





Extra points for working out what sort of business I own

 

[u8myufo]

Slightly O/T - but a question for van drivers.

Do they have their own version of the Highway Code?
Does it have blank pages so you can do what the hell you like, or does it simply say, "act like a complete dick"?

I do have my own handbook as I drive a long wheelbase Sprinter. a couple of extracts from it for you.

1. When travelling along a road and I spot somebody struggling to pull out of a turning I ease off the throttle and flash them out, my vehicle is still travelling along. Your average numbnuts car driver thinks it is better to get within ten feet of the car wanting to pull out and then hit the brakes to stop dead in the road

2. When on the motorway on the inside lane I will at some point come up to the vehicle in front, giving plenty of time to indicate to pull out I notice your average car driver coming up at a speed in the middle lane. Just as it is past the back of the van it hangs there at a constant speed to mine usualy the driver has a gormless look on his/her face. FFS give people some idea what you are going to do next if you see someone wanting to pull out.

3. Coming down a dual carriageway approacing a roundabout, I am on the nearside lane, mr bloody average late for work or a meeting comes tearing down on the outside of me. Cuts in in front of me and hits his brakes hard to stop. Well " CongratuF...inglations! " you managed to gain one place in the queue without considering the fact that the van behind has about a ton and a half of goods onboard and has to try and stop on a sixpence One day when I am in the wrong mood I shall take one of them out completely

Lastly Andy over the next few weeks if you travel around a lot, just count how many accidents and holdups are caused by White vans and how many are caused by cars, I rest my case

 

[donut]

this is one i get quite a bit, a lesson on how ( not ) to join a motorway , i do swear a lot so not for young ears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0NrOgXrCbA

 

[Oxford_Matt]

Typical example of a van/ lorry driver!! Never wrong!! Fact there are probably 1 White van to every hundred plus cars makes that a poor judgement.
One day you might wipe one out?? That's clever. Might be a innocent family making a genuine mistake. Tut tut.

 

[WP-UK]

I have nothing against lorry drivers, everyone makes mistakes at some points.. today I was travelling back from Bournemouth and on a two lane stretch of motorway one lorry decided to over take the lorry in front, taking about 2 mins to do so, causing a tailback in the inside lane and then pulled in front of the other lorry at what I thought was too close and preceded at the same speed.. what was the point? :shrug:

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

Momentum is a huge part of fuel consumption in trucking.
The way that trucker probably see it is I only have so much money for fuel, every gram counts, if I break or slow down Ill lose huge amounts of momentum.. waay more than the average car driver realises and I’ll have to drink fuel heavily £££££ to get back up to speed again.

what would you do?

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

this is one i get quite a bit, a lesson on how ( not ) to join a motorway , i do swear a lot so not for young ears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0NrOgXrCbA

A bit! funny!


Yeah mate, its like they think they're driving down the local high street ...dum, te, dum ...OMG a truck, where did that come from!?!
:bang:

 

[SpikeK6]

I have said for many years that once you have passed your test you should not be allowed on a motorway till you have passed another test to say you know how to drive at speed and what happens if you do not like link above.

spike

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

Is it pretty much the same test now as it was with a quarter of the traffic travelling at half the speed.

 

[Trig's]

This is quite true - it happened to my dad many moons ago before the side impact bars came in to force... A very low sports car went under the petrol tanker he was driving as the dick head couldn't be bothered to slow down or speed up to take the exit slip road off....

 

[Trig's]

Well, I think you need to be able to stay within 2 feet of the vehicle in front for more than 3 miles for starters. Once you have masted that, you need to then be able to hold up more than 20 cars while you overtake lorry, taking 3 miles to do so!

I do this - BEHIND ANOTHER LORRY as he will brake if he needs to... I have trust in my fellow truckers :razz:

Yep its completely different and is rewritten as and when we see fit.

Above is In jest.

However there is a difference between the bloke who owns a van and professional drivers trying to make a living.(Couriers etc)

Many people gripe about van drivers just pulling out (we call it making a gap)
etc.
But then moan and whinge when they dont get a delivery on time.

Car drivers soon moan about petrol prices - then expect truckers to do something about it...

99% of the good come by van & trucks that pc, laptop or even your camera got delivered to you by a container ship from abroad
, then by a TRUCK and then prob by a VAN to your front door!!!!!

I have nothing against lorry drivers, everyone makes mistakes at some points.. today I was travelling back from Bournemouth and on a two lane stretch of motorway one lorry decided to over take the lorry in front, taking about 2 mins to do so, causing a tailback in the inside lane and then pulled in front of the other lorry at what I thought was too close and preceded at the same speed.. what was the point? :shrug:

Once he's pulled out from behind he's came out of the slip stream of the trucker in front - tis a bit like hitting a brick wall... Hence the sudden slow down..

Momentum is a huge part of fuel consumption in trucking.
The way that trucker probably see it is I only have so much money for fuel, every gram counts, if I break or slow down Ill lose huge amounts of momentum.. waay more than the average car driver realises and I’ll have to drink fuel heavily £££££ to get back up to speed again.

what would you do?

:nono: Dont ask a silly car driver - they just want to get into that outside lan ASAP from the "on slip" road

I have said for many years that once you have passed your test you should not be allowed on a motorway till you have passed another test to say you know how to drive at speed and what happens if you do not like link above.

All car drivers should get in to a truck on a lesson an then see just how awkward they can be & esp where the "blind spots" are - which they seem to sit at (after speeding up once that indicator comes on) then wonder why they get hit "accidently" I hasten to add...

I got a little camera to video idiots on the road - which would have come in handy today, so once I've chardge it I will post some footage of these so called "I have the right of way" car drivers...

Thats my over now...

 

[Yardbent]

me taxi sitting on side street waiting to pull out /across into main road

car approaching signalling to turn into my side street

why the F*** do they go all the way round me to turn....:shrug:

a quick flash would allow me to pull out/across and they would be free to turn into side-street

sorry to say it's usually a women in a 4x4 going to pickup from the nursery
:bonk::bonk::bonk:

dont even talk about middle-lane huggers...also sorry to say it's worse up here than done south IMO........:shrug:

 

[WP-UK]

Momentum is a huge part of fuel consumption in trucking.
The way that trucker probably see it is I only have so much money for fuel, every gram counts, if I break or slow down Ill lose huge amounts of momentum.. waay more than the average car driver realises and I’ll have to drink fuel heavily £££££ to get back up to speed again.

what would you do?

Once he's pulled out from behind he's came out of the slip stream of the trucker in front - tis a bit like hitting a brick wall... Hence the sudden slow down..

Now I have a better understanding why this may have happened I apologise and retract my anger

 

[Yardbent]

@Steve
''All car drivers should get in to a truck on a lesson an then see just how awkward they can be & esp where the "blind spots" are''

true...I never realised the speed differentials in my company car till i bought a LWB Land Rover

opened my eyes to traffic ''flow''

 

[WP-UK]

sorry to say it's usually a women in a 4x4 going to pickup from the nursery
:bonk::bonk::bonk:

Don't get me started

 

[Trig's]

for WP-UK

 

[cambsno]

Momentum is a huge part of fuel consumption in trucking.
The way that trucker probably see it is I only have so much money for fuel, every gram counts, if I break or slow down Ill lose huge amounts of momentum.. waay more than the average car driver realises and I’ll have to drink fuel heavily £££££ to get back up to speed again.

what would you do?

So thats more important than driving dangerously and badly?

 

[WP-UK]

for WP-UK

 

[Marc]

With all the Canon v Nikon, PC v Mac and all the other little wars, I'd completely forgotten about cars v lorries. Can we please keep it calm and refrain from the sweeping generalisations and knee jerk postings, on both sides.

Thank you.

this is one i get quite a bit, a lesson on how ( not ) to join a motorway , i do swear a lot so not for young ears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0NrOgXrCbA

You're a rubbish trucker Andy! How could you not slow down to let that car on, he only ad a tiny gap there! :nuts:

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

So thats more important than driving dangerously and badly?

. They aren't driving dangerously to me. ..those that expect them to behave for there own use of the road are.

The real danger being caused by the impatient high speed car drivers breaking hard into an inevitable shunt and ripple effect, which often goes to produce absolute stand still further down a packed carriageway...cccrashhh!

----

Good driving is all about trust and understanding . if you can trust me to do the right thing and I can trust you then we'll all get to where we're going without incident.

Its those that break that trust that endanger the rest of us.

 

[Forbiddenbiker]

for WP-UK

I'll have one. Nice one WP-UK

 

[Trig's]

. They aren't driving dangerously to me. ..those that expect them to behave for there own use of the road are.

The real danger being caused by the impatient high speed car drivers breaking hard into an inevitable shunt and ripple effect, which often goes to produce absolute stand still further down a packed carriageway...cccrashhh!

----

Good driving is all about trust and understanding . if you can trust me to do the right thing and I can trust you then we'll all get to where we're going without incident.

Its those that break that trust that endanger the rest of us.

:hug2:

 

[rssmrry]

I understand that when lorries overtake one another they lose the slipstream as they move out, but the point is this isn't a surprise (to me or the truckers) so why do they do it? ****es me off no end. Spent long enough sitting in the roadworks when they were building the damned M80 upgrade. Now after all the hassle and delays I'm barely going faster than when they were working on it.

If it's all about economy surely you're not gaining any real time by overtaking at 1mph faster and you're losing the fuel consumption.

I should mention that I'm generally sympathetic toward lorry drivers, giving them plenty of space at junctions and the like allowing them to be on their way (same for buses) due to their tight time schedule. But the rolling roadblock stuff just gets to me. I'd like a shot of driving a lorry, but due to the time pressures of the job and my crazy need to keep a clean license it's something I'd never be able to do.

 

[AdHoc]

I especially like it when lorries overtake on the m26. those that know the 2 lane super highway will be very familiar with that problem area. The A30 is also good for experimenting with weightloads and aerodynamics.

Lorry drivers should assume that car drivers will be in the way - moving much faster or generally not expecting the lorries to do what they do - that way there wouldnt be any problems for either lorry or car.