Side swipe....

Ouch! bloody hybrid drivers ;)
 
Exactly what happened to me in Jan 2007...but in the dark and it was pouring rain.
Scary as hell.
 
wack61 said:
Never sit in the blind spot of a truck , I see people do it time after time , either behind or in front, he was there for ages
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True that. But why are there still blind spots? I've said it before, we have the technology, why are vehicles allowed on the road that can't see other vehicles?
 
It looks like the car was fish tailed, so would have been level too or just in front of window I cant tell on the phone if it was left hander or not. If not then the driver should have looked out as he was checking his mirrors, if is was LHD then there should have been a wide angle mirror pointing towards his wheel the same as RHD curb mirrors, looking for cyclists and pedestrians. I've not driven anything large for 25 years but we had them then. I guess he just didn't look, or was coming out anyway, as seems to be the God given right these days ;)
 
I'm always puzzled by people who go to overtake a vehicle, then back off to sit next to them. Travelling to Silverstone and back yesterday on the M25 and M1, I must have had at least 20 people do this. No reason for it, and they always seem to do it when I'm coming up behind a car that I need to overtake. If you don't intend to overtake, stay a safe distance behind me.
 
nilagin said:
Might be worth adding a NSFW tag to the thread for swearing.
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Done above video now :)
I do a hell of a lot of motorway miles and yep I agree with your "sit there" comment! It's Bloody annoying if not dangerous !
 
Kinell!!!!! :eek:

Can't blame the car driver in any way for that. She was overtaking at a reasonable speed & keeping her distance from the vehicles in front.

Presume the wagon driver stopped, Mike.
What was the outcome?
 
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Man, that is scary. I hope the lorry driver had the decency to stop.
 
nilagin said:
I'm always puzzled by people who go to overtake a vehicle, then back off to sit next to them. Travelling to Silverstone and back yesterday on the M25 and M1, I must have had at least 20 people do this. No reason for it, and they always seem to do it when I'm coming up behind a car that I need to overtake. If you don't intend to overtake, stay a safe distance behind me.
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THIS!

As I use cruise control whenever possible, I see a lot of drivers overtake me, then slow down in front of me causing me to take action.

It's the sense of getting ahead people seems to be obsessed with. Where's the polite queuing British way? People seems to become more aggressive as they get behind the wheels, wasting fuel just to get ahead of you at speeds exceed speed limit. Then (probably unknowingly) slow down below speed limit to block you.
 
I had that happen to me a few years ago, pulled on to a busy motorway trucks had for once moved over into middle lane, it was one of those junctions where the slip road became lane one to add to the two lanes. I came up on the inside of 3x HGV's I started to move up to move clear of them and it just pulled in and sent me off the motorway. learnt me a hard lesson that day.

Never sit around HGVs EVER, get clear, stay clear.

No fault of that drive but easily preventable, that driver was daudling along with the wagons as I know call it.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Scary. Dont see the car driver doing anything wrong.
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I don't see them doing anything wrong, but I do see something they could have done better. It's easy to be wise after the event but I always try to drive with space to the sides of me as well as in front (and hopefully behind).
 
OldCarlos said:
Kinell!!!!! :eek:

Can't blame the car driver in any way for that. She was overtaking at a reasonable speed & keeping her distance from the vehicles in front.

Presume the wagon driver stopped, Mike.
What was the outcome?
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Outcome was ok....8 police cars and a couple of ambulances as people who witnessed it thought they had been killed....basically driver over taking lorry, lorry started to drift and caught near side quarter panel...luckily both still alive...but the driver did lose his job and has been held accountable.
 
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wuyanxu said:
THIS!

As I use cruise control whenever possible, I see a lot of drivers overtake me, then slow down in front of me causing me to take action.

It's the sense of getting ahead people seems to be obsessed with. Where's the polite queuing British way? People seems to become more aggressive as they get behind the wheels, wasting fuel just to get ahead of you at speeds exceed speed limit. Then (probably unknowingly) slow down below speed limit to block you.
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I too use cruise control when ever possible, comes in handy with the amount of variable speed limits now on motorways (plenty of that on the way home yesterday and from what I could tell was actually causing congestion, not easing it).
I even get people who actually overtake me pull in and back off to below the speed I'm travelling at. What the hell is that all about? Then there are those who drive in lanes 2 and 3 whilst the lanes inside them are empty and no cars to overtake for a long way but refuse to pull over. Just like the tosser (oddly not in a BMW or Audi)who brake tested me yesterday because I had the nerve to flash him to move over and both lanes inside him were empty and nothing to overtake for quite away. I was doing 70 as I approached, kept my distance and cars were going past me at over 70mph. They just can't see they are the cause of the congestion, because other traffic can't get passed them without speeding or undertaking.
If only I was a copper at times like that, just to be able act as below.
Sweary.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5dL4DPm-DE
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Scary. Dont see the car driver doing anything wrong.
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Apart from no self preservation skills, blind spot driving causes crashes whether it be cars, vans or trucks, doesn't matter who's fault it is when you're spinning into a ditch, if you can reduce the chances of a crash get past don't sit there

I did 70,000 mile plus a year on britain's motorways for 20 years, I've seen dozens of blind spot near misses where somebody indicates and pulls out without checking causing the car in the blind spot to take evasive action, luckily no contact but you never know what the consequences of all that braking and swerving are 1/2 a mile back when the motorway stops
 
nilagin said:
, comes in handy with the amount of variable speed limits now on motorways (plenty of that on the way home yesterday and from what I could tell was actually causing congestion, not easing it).
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I'm guessing part of that was M1 J12-J10 I've seen those on At 3am and set at 50 mph. no reason whatsoever, apart from the chance of adding to the government coffers ;)
 
I watched the video again just now and you can see the car driver slows right down just as they enter the blind spot just to the front of the cab and actually hovers in the blind spot, absolutely nuts.

I then suspect the truck started to pull out even to set him self up for an overtake rather than wandered out of lane.

looking at it again that was an accident waiting to happen through very poor driving awareness.
 
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wack61 said:
where somebody indicates and pulls out without checking
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indicating seems to make drivers (both heavy and light vehicles) think that they are a. Invincible b. Any nearby traffic will evaporate. Unfortunatly manners and courtesy seem to be a thing of the past
 
As a truck driver, I get this every day. Car drivers just don't realise that you can't sit there and expect to be seen, it's impossible.

It's all very well saying well lorries should be fitted with mirrors so you can see them down there, but they aren't, so other drivers must show some sense and get past a lorry quickly when over taking and not just sit there.
 
TCR4x4 said:
It's all very well saying well lorries should be fitted with mirrors so you can see them down there, but they aren't,
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As I noted above they were 25 years ago so what's changed? I also saw lorries driven. in London will have to fitted with more mirrors than a mod's Lambretta
 
I have to admit this does seem like something that truck companies could do to improve very easily, why not a blind spot camera fitted to a small screen in the cab?
you already have this tech in certain cars? All in all this will accident will end up costing the trucks insurers a huge amount of money maybe even 50k when its all settled. All for £500 worth of kit.

We all share roads that are getting busier day by day, we all need to improve.

When I had my similar accident the trucks insurers admitted liability almost on the roadside because they knew about this issues with the wagons vision or lack of.

Having a blind spot on such a large vehicle is not an excuse when such technology is off the shelf.
 
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Cobra said:
I'm guessing part of that was M1 J12-J10 I've seen those on At 3am and set at 50 mph. no reason whatsoever, apart from the chance of adding to the government coffers ;)
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The first was junction 14 I think, turned out either a car had broken down or an accident, couple of police cars attended, but all on opposite carriageway, traffic slowed to stop start for a second, move 10yds and repeat etc., a lot of the time got up to 20mph at the scene, once the rubber neckers had their fill straight back up to 70, then down to 50 again for the next junction.
One thing that struck me as a failing on these variable speed limits, just as we were about to pass under a gantry ( on a stretch where it was possible to travel at the limit they were notifying, but you can imagine all four lanes will be fairly full) , the speed limit changed from 40 to 50mph, now all the cars in front were still doing 40 and will be unaware of a speed change until the next gantry. Doesn't help with congestion either as you end up with braking again and it concertinas back again as others further back will come upon the 50 not having seen 40 change and have no idea why everyone is suddenly driving so much slower.
 
Mr Bump said:
I have to admit this does seem like something that truck companies could do to improve very easily, why not a blind spot camera fitted to a small screen in the cab?
you already have this tech in certain cars? All in all this will accident will end up costing the trucks insurers a huge amount of money maybe even 50k when its all settled. All for £500 worth of kit.

We all share roads that are getting busier day by day, we all need to improve.

When I had my similar accident the trucks insurers admitted liability almost on the roadside because they knew about this issues with the wagons vision or lack of.

Having a blind spot on such a large vehicle is not an excuse when such technology is off the shelf.
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I've not driven a truck but I can imagine there are a lot more blind spots on a truck than there is in a car. If you had a screen for each blind spot on a lorry it would be like a television programme directors control room.
 
I am surprised at how many people are pointing the finger at the car driver.

The car overtook the lorry at a reasonably speed difference, and when they couldn't get into the outside lane immediately to pass the lorry in the middle lane in front, eased slightly to not get to close to the lorry in front.

the lorry, (as should any vehicle on a multi-lane carriageway) must be aware of exactly what vehicles are either alongside or approaching on the rear lane, to not be aware is far more negligent than slowing alongside a lorry due to traffic.

EDIT
what would be negligent is pulling into the blind spot from the outside lane, but overtaking from a distance holding the lane - no way should a lorry driver be unaware there is someone alongside.
 
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nilagin said:
I've not driven a truck but I can imagine there are a lot more blind spots on a truck than there is in a car. If you had a screen for each blind spot on a lorry it would be like a television programme directors control room.
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I agree but when trucks are driving in certain conditions some of the blind spots are more important than others, I town it seems the left hand blind spot for cyclists etc.
However I take on board what you say, but it is still an area that needs urgent attention. I would rather see a bit more tech in the cab for truckers to deal with than dead people.
 
nilagin said:
The first was junction 14 I think
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I really don't know what it is about J15-J14 there seems to be a hell of a lot of accidents there ! thats why I use the A5 when heading home :D
 
archangel said:
Outcome was ok....8 police cars and a couple of ambulances as people who witnessed it thought they had been killed....basically driver over taking lorry, lorry started to drift and caught near side quarter panel...luckily both still alive...but the driver did lose his job and has been held accountable.
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Phew glad to hear it and shows that a dash cam could also help.
 
nilagin said:
I've not driven a truck but I can imagine there are a lot more blind spots on a truck than there is in a car. If you had a screen for each blind spot on a lorry it would be like a television programme directors control room.
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Maybe so. But it really does seem baffling that in 2015 (when we have self parking cars, rear view cameras, built in LIDAR systems that stop you getting too close to other vehicles and are getting close to self driving cars) that we allow vehicles on the road that simply cannot see large chunks of the road.

It may be "impossible" or "uneconomic" but legislation would make this possible very quickly.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Maybe so. But it really does seem baffling that in 2015 (when we have self parking cars, rear view cameras, built in LIDAR systems that stop you getting too close to other vehicles and are getting close to self driving cars) that we allow vehicles on the road that simply cannot see large chunks of the road.

It may be "impossible" or "uneconomic" but legislation would make this possible very quickly.
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How many times have you seen the signs on the back of lorries. "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you". It is about self preservation. Make allowances for other drivers and never presume they won't do the unexpected. The only thing that may have prevented this is proximity sensors much like parking sensors. But with those you are travelling much slower and can work on a shorter distance. Travelling at 50 mph plus, it would need to work over a greater range for time to react. At such a range the sensors would be going off everytime a car overtook.
 
nilagin said:
How many times have you seen the signs on the back of lorries. "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you".
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Lots of times. And I follow them of course (even though I'm not totally convinced about the physics). But it's not acceptable for me to paint my windscreen black and put a sign on that says "look out". People would be wise to follow that advice, but they would be wiser to look at other solutions.

nilagin said:
The only thing that may have prevented this is proximity sensors much like parking sensors.
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Well, so would a side pointing camera, heads up display and driver that checked it before manoeuvring. And that's just using tech that exists right now. Lorry design needs to look at this.
 
I don't think the finger is being wagged as more tutted.

I would have been very aware of just passing that wagon as she only just passed it a zero miles an hour and it must have been looming in her passenger side mirror.

When I watch the video again I see a more foolish style of driving and that's mixing it up with wagons.

like a small dingy going down the solent with the liners
 
Mr Bump said:
When I watch the video again I see a more foolish style of driving and that's mixing it up with wagons.

like a small dingy going down the solent with the liners
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Exactly, when I was leaning / training it was always drummed in that you over took as fast and wide as (legally) possibly and then return to the left as soon as possible. As this was known as the danger zone. It applies equally to motorways as any other road too
 
Cobra said:
Exactly, when I was leaning / training it was always drummed in that you over took as fast and wide as (legally) possibly and then return to the left as soon as possible. As this was known as the danger zone. It applies equally to motorways as any other road too
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You'd fail your test today fella ;)
 
I live in Huddersfield but currently work in Erskine so Hire a house up there as well.
When I am driving up and down the M74 in the big "nowhere" as I call it where even Smooth FM on the radia doesn't work.

I will go past trucks that are in the inside lane all lined up and I will use the far outside lane and leave a whole lane spare, that's how little confidence I have in HGV drivers since my accident.
 
HGV shouldn't be able to overtake then this type of thing wouldn't happen. Its ridiculous they are all limited to 56mph so you will have one overtaking the another who may have a heavier load that might be doing 50mph, or worse 54mph than we have the joy of watching them spend 10 minutes over taking the other at 3mph faster. They pull out with little warning endangering other motorist for what to save them 5 minutes? Thay all have to take taco breaks anyway its pointless and dangerous.
 
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rjbell said:
HGV shouldn't be able to overtake then this type of thing wouldn't happen. Its ridiculous they are all limited to 56mph so you will have one overtaking the another who may have a heavier load that might be doing 50mph, or worse 54mph than we have the joy of watching them spend 10 minutes over taking the other at 3mph faster. They pull out with little warning endangering other motorist for what to save them 5 minutes? Thay all have to take taco breaks anyway its pointless and dangerous.
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That's a fairly ridiculous statement.. So I shouldn't be able to over take a tesco lorry which is limited to 50mph, when my lorry can do 56 mph?

I'm sure when you are driving your car, you'd stay behind someone doing 50 on a motorway wouldn't you.

I've also never pulled out with little warning endangering other motorists.
Yes we have to have Tacho breaks, which means those few overtakes we do can mean the difference between having enough time to go home for the night, or spend the night in a layby.
 
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