"Their theory is that, as the SPECS read the front number plate, any NIP generated by the SPECS will be ploppling onto the doormat of their "victim" because the rig is too close to the vehicle in front for the cameras to get a proper fix on the lorry plate. "
Perhaps that would suggest that the correct course of action is not to phone the company later, but to dial 999 at that point. Evenif they can't do anything then, would help enormously in defending any ticket you get I would think...
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Further to your conversation of specs and speed limits through road works, was travelling in my vehicle (artic) today on M25 car park, I was passing a lorry and a coach so travelling in centre lane, bearing in mind we are banned from using outside lane in a truck normally and definately in road works as a 6'6" width limit. I had my speed limiter set to 50MPH so still have to use throttle to speed up, got caught behind a driver in a black peugeot who was driving up and down between 45MPH and 48MPH, so as I was traveling behind him I was also altering my driving speed. Obviously the guy behind me in the articulated truck was getting pretty pee'd off at this, so after approx 2 miles of this (peugeot would not move left even when he had the room to do so) the driver of not just any truck, this was an M&S truck (although still 8'4" wide) went around the outside of my vehicle (I was back beside the coach by now) and when he got past me found he didn't have room to pull in front of me safely and also found the reason my speed was fluctuating so badly. so to combat this he sped past the first car (which had sensed what was going on and actually sped up!!) and indicated left to pull back to the middle lane. The peugeot however wasn't going to let him in, by which time I had pulled back quite a way. Anyhow just along this stretch the carriageway splits, two lanes on our side for any vehicle and a contraflow lane for vehicles under 6'6".
Just at the moment the truck was going to be forced into the contraflow lane he wildly moved left into the middle lane, the peugeot at this time had nowhere to go as a truck inside him, so did the next best thing and slowed drastically. the truck pulled in just missing the cones as he did so.
Two things, the peugeot driver could have moved out of my way allowing me to pass safely at 50MPH and totally averting the whole episode, alternatively having caused this drivers unreasonable and extremely dangerous actions in the first place he could have just pulled back and avoided narrowly dicing with death.
I also noted the trucks number plate on the rear of the trailer, wrote it down when safe to do so at next stop. As I overtook him later on though (his 56 MPH obviously slower than mine, probably due to tyre wear) also took a not of the different number plate on the rear of his tractor unit!! He was driving a mercedes Axor, which on the front have a tow hook hidden by a folding panel which holds the number plate. Now I didn't actually notice if it was up or had 'fallen down' due to weak hinge (common fault on these), but would guess the latter, which is why he was blatantly driving so dangerously, even if someone reported the number on the trailer it wouldn't matter as wasn't his truck!! they would also clear the driver of the correct vehicle as he would probably be able to prove he was going another route, ie a different store. speeding tickets non applicable as no number plate visible as it had' fallen down over rough ground'
If I find where to send the email his boss will be receiving the message along with both registrations. Drivers like that give the rest of us a bad name.
Edited by GetRidOfBrussels on 08/05/2010 at 23:41
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Well, as long as they're being productive, then that's OK! Heaven forbid that capitalism should be in any way impeded.
Do these morons think how they would feel if someone did it to them, or are they just the vacuous tattooed hardmen types that litter our town centres on their nights off, dripping their excess testosterone all over soulless theme pubs?
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To update the thread, I received a reply to my email from the company's 'National Operations Manager' a couple of days ago.
He stated that they had been able to identify the vehicle and driver concerned from the details I gave, and that the driver is to be interviewed regarding the matter.
However, he also says that as there are no independent witnesses, any action taken will depend on what the driver's response is, which I suppose is to be expected, after all it's my word against his.
I am assured that they do take this type of "rare'"complaint very seriously and that such complaints are always dealt with in the appropriate manner.
I can't really expect much more, I have had an apology for the "discomfort and distress caused" and hopefully the driver will at the least have to suffer the inconvenience of being hauled into the office for his trouble.
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Some people/companies take it seriously, I always used to. One complaint I received from a motorist was about one of my drivers tailgating them, I interviewed the driver he admitted it and said "she should have gone faster" and took it as a bit of a joke, he soon sobered up when I informed him that he obviously needed further training and as a result I would be going out with him on his runs for next 2 days. Now for a driver who does 90 drops a day this was seriously going to mess up his routine and all the little "perks" of the job that they enjoy by being out on their own all day. Needless to say I never got another complaint about his driving ;o)
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I think I'd be tempted to reply to the transport manager stating that in future I wouldn't waste his time but would instead report it to the police. I doubt they'd be able to take any real action but at least the transport manager may take more interest in what his drivers are doing.
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Xantia HDi.
Buy a Citroen and get to know the local GSF staff better...
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but wouldinstead report it to the police.
Why bother? the Police will do very little - far better to report it to the Area Traffic Commisioner, They have much better powers then the Police.
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I did consider reporting it to VOSA as you suggest TU, but I have previous experience of them doing nothing about a dangerous defect on a bus, which I know is a different type of matter, but nevertheless still makes me feel like I'd be wasting my time.
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VOSA and the TC's are two very different depts, although they are linked - VOSA carry out the inspection work etc but the Traffic Commissioners do the public inquiry's, they are the ones worth reporting bus/truck rogue operators to as they have powers that VOSA do not. Thier addresses are on the VOSA site - although in the new year all admin is supposed to be centralised at Leeds (Joy oh Joy!!!!)
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As an artic driver,if I had to report every misdemeanour by a car driver,I would have a full time job.
Here's a true story......
Yesterday,whilst travelling eastbound,along the M62,a friend of mine was following a car,at a safe distance,and when passing a junction,the car promptly stopped,and proceeded to REVERSE BACK ALONG THE CARRIAGEWAY.
The idiot had missed his junction,and decided he wasn't going to go to the next one and turn round to come back,oh no,he was going to cause as much mayhem as possible.If it wasn't for the fact that my mate was able to stop safely,then it could have been VERY nasty,and you could have been reading about it in todays papers.
The only reason incidents and drivers like this never get reported,is because there is no name and phone number on the side of the car,unlike trucks,for people to compalin to,and the police usually can't be bothered to do anything.(See 2nd story below.)
Whilst I can't condone the actions of the truck driver in the original opener,as has been said,Let he without sin.........
2nd story.
Friday 22nd September,at about 12.30pm,I exited the M1 at J42,and was going around the top of the intersection,indicating to go towards the M62 eastbound,towards my final destination.I was towing a friends caravan,and as we passed the entry slip for the M1 northbound,a car clipped the back of the caravan,in his haste to go down the entry slip,and drove off? I pulled over on the top of the intersection,and had a look at the damage.Fortunately,he had only moved one of the rubber strips,but a witness had seen what he had done,and promptly supplied me with his details,and the offenders details as well.
I then rung the police,and all I got was a crime report number,as they were very busy!!!!!
Now correct me if I'm wrong,but does this not constitute a hit and run?
Now my point is,if this was one of the thousands of HGV drivers this country has,people would be quick to castigate him,and the police would be on the case straight away,but becasue it was car,then it nothing was done.
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I would phone the transport manager or e-mail, not write, you dont want an oik (not a comment on the majority of HGV drivers who are pros) loosing his job and seeking retribution.
I have done this once before in similar circimstances, never heard the outcome though felt better getting it off my chest. I have also indicated to (IMO) errant truck drivers with the thumb in ear - little finger by mouth phone symbol, perhaps more constructive than shaking coffee beans or showing them that I can count to one or two, whether they got the message though I dont know.
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As an artic driver,if I had to report every misdemeanour by a car driver,I would have a full time job.
Well put, Quinny,
I only recently obtained my LGV licence and as such have limited road experience of driving the big stuff. But one thing has struck me is, that as you are driving at a restricted motorway speed of (55-60mph) you are left with ample time to observe the cretinous behaviour of the average motorist. Unfortunately the average and I do mean "average" motorist, seems to treat the LGV with the same disdain afforded to learners, thus making the roads an unsafe place. But then sees fit to blame the LGV and then get all sanctimonious about it.
Being new to driving LGV's the one thing that strikes you, having spent an age driving cars, is the much slower pace and that is what the aforementioned average motorist fails to comprehend. That and the space you actually need to manouvre. I am already sick of idiots who think it is acceptable to undercut me on the left as I move out to the right to give myself enough room to complete a left turn. Now who exactly do I report those people to?
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Whilst I agree with the main contents of your post Dave E, you appear to be giving the impression that all LGV drivers are consummate professionals who permanently suffer at the hands of ignorant motorists. A bit one sided that.
As a vocational licence holder myself (PCV 14 years) I think I'm reasonably experienced enough to know the difference between good and bad driving.
As I say, I agree that many car drivers do not appreciate the room an LGV needs on the road, but what you need to take into account is that most of these drivers have never driven anything bigger than a car and cannot comprehend the logistics of driving an LGV.
I used to suffer similar problems driving buses and coaches, it's no good saying who do I report them to though.
A lot of LGV drivers (and PCV drivers for that matter) behave as cretinously as the car drivers, changing lanes without warning or indication etc, there is no excuse for it and as vocational licence holders, in my opinion, they should take more time and effort to try and drive correctly.
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very well said.......... in other words those that know better should compensate for those that don't
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further to the last.......... a bit like motorcyclists if you've got any sense
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Motorcyclists aren't without their horredousley bad eggs as well - seems worse now that it did in the old days....:-(
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of course, no one set of drivers can claim the moral high ground........
and as for the getting worse, you're right...but sadly no light at the end of the tunnel........ prisons full again, no more being built, less and less traffic cops..
... all been said before of course
as a slight aside, i actually met someone the other day who says he'd seen the light at the end of the tunnel, but sadly he claims it was someone else turning up with a torch to give him more work
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