Was this lorry driver BU?

[Abingdon]

I have just got home and am still a little shaken up so excuse me if I forget some of the details here.

I was driving home from work and on a steep hill, heading downhill. At the bottom of the hill is a set of traffic lights, and a 4-way box junction.

I was waiting quite far back in the queue near the top of the hill, waiting for the traffic lights to go green. They did, and traffic started moving forwards so we all accelerated towards the junction. As I approached the junction the lights started to change. I could probably have made it across just in time before they turned red, but I could see that my exit on the other side of the box junction was not clear so I decided to stop at the lights. Admittedly, I did stop fairly sharpish, but it wasn't overly violent. It's not like it was an emergency stop, just a bit more sudden than I would have liked.

As I stopped I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a lorry hurtling towards me! There was still a fair bit of space between us but he was still going way too fast, I have no idea whether he had even seen me stop or not by this point.

Anyway, the lorry driver must have slammed hard on the breaks because he did manage to stop RIGHT behind my car. Having seen him coming at me so fast I did also move forward over the lines to try to give him more space.
The lorry did not ever touch my car, but as he came to a stop I heard the most almighty crash, which turned out to be the goods he was carrying. At this point, the driver gets out of the cab approaches my window and starts screaming and swearing at me, calling me names, saying I'm stupid and shouldn't be driving etc etc. It was absolutely terrifying. He is at least twice my age and probably about 4 times my size and he was being extremely intimidating. I did wind down my window a little to try to talk to him but I couldn't get a word in over his tirade.

While he was yelling, the lights turned green and the line of traffic behind us starting honking their horns and getting impatient. So I then carried on driving, went over the box junction and pulled over in the bus lay-by a little up the road. The lorry driver RAN back to his lorry and followed me. I guess he thought I was trying to drive off completely or something?

Once we were both in the lay-by he started demanding my insurance information saying he would "make sure I didn't get away with this". I was so shocked at the whole situation that I gave my details to him, and eventually got his from him. But this whole situation took about 40mins, with him yelling at me the entire time.

So I guess what I'm asking is who was in the wrong here? My understanding is that had he gone into the back of me he would have been at fault anyway, so I'm not sure how he can be so adamant that I am to blame? Also, the fact that our vehicles never even made contact makes me think I was really stupid to exchange details with him. Did I do the right thing?
He kept talking about the expensive cargo he had, and I'm now worried he is going to try to claim that from my insurance somehow? I can't afford for my premiums to go up, especially when I'm almost sure this wasn't my fault.

I haven't called my insurance yet but will do when I've calmed down. In the meantime, can some one please tell me whether I'm in the wrong or not? I want to be fully prepared when I talk to the insurance company.

You have done nothing wrong. He probably wasn't paying attention and clearly was going too fast. His insurance company will tell him this when he calls them.

He was a bully!

Rules say to leave safe breaking distance,he didn't, his fault.

If his cargo was fragile he should drive to avoid sudden braking. I have a horse lorry and drive very carefully to avoid that situation.

There was no impact, what do you think he's trying to claim for?

You halted at the amber light because your exit wasn't clear. You were in the right. It seems that he didn't see you, would have chanced an amber light and gone through on red. His fault entirely.

You could call the police to ask their advice, perhaps there will be cameras that will have picked up the altercation and perhaps the will want to speak to this driver who left his vehicle to come and shout at you.

I'm not surprised you feel shaky, I would too. I drive hundreds of miles in a week and have never experienced anything as aggressive as what you describe.

He is totally in the wrong. He was driving too fast, you have to be driving at a speed to be able to stop unexpectedly. I would hesitate to contact your insurance company in case they count it against you but I'm not an expert in this area.

If his cargo broke from simply having to break sharply then he was insecurely loaded and will get a bollockinb for that alone.

If you have his company name then please report him.

If you have his details I'd report it to 101 before you speak to your insurance company.

YWNBU at all.

100% he was in the wrong. When driving you are supposed to read the road ahead not just the car in front. He should have been aware that there was no room for you to proceed through the box junction and that certainly means there would not have been room for him. Do you know what company he was driving for? If so make a complaint.

He hasn't a leg to srand on, he is just throwing his weightaround because he is in the wrong and will get a bollicking. He didnt leave enoughspace and wasn't paying attentuon.

So do you have his company name and his name? I’d be tempted to call his company and explain how badly he was driving as he left no stopping distance when driving a lorry that he KNEW had delicate cargo inside, and not only that he then proceeded to berate and intimidate you.

I should have added... "it" being his OTT, aggressive, threatening behaviour.

Have you considered calling 101 and asking if this is reportable as a road-rage incident?
I would also consider reporting this to the CEO of the haulage company he works for. Presuming the driver is not the CEO, of course.

There was no impact so you are not at all. He was going too fast.

Not at fault

He was wrong to be aggressive with you. I expect he was pretty shaken up - lorries, especially heavily loaded ones, have a much longer stopping distance than the average family car, so he probably thought he was about to have a horrendous accident and maybe even kill someone.

However, I do wonder if he may have been speeding - I am guessing you were in a 30 zone - and I may be wrong, but my understanding is that, when one vehicle does rear-end another one, the police will always look first at the driver behind, and will look at whether they were going too fast, were too close to the vehicle in front or were not paying attention - any of which would make them culpable.

As far as I am aware, you were not in the wrong to stop short of the box junction, as your exit from it was not clear - though if you had seen him barrelling down the road behind you, you might have been better off going into the box, and not stopping suddenly in front of him. Not that that changes the fact that he should have been driving at a sensible speed that would allow him to stop if necessary.

This sounds horrible and frightening for you and I can understand how you must be feeling but I can assure you that you did absolutely nothing wrong here. He clearly wasn't concentrating. You were completely right to stop when you did. He didn't even make contact with your car and if he tries to claim on your insurance he won't have a leg to stand on.

Lorry driver get a lot of uneducated hate....however in this case ERRRRRR HELLO. He's totally in the wrong, vile, and a bad driving arrogant bully.

I think I might have dated him once 😂

Seriously though hope you are ok. That awful.

The stopping distance was his responsibility you were not in the wrong one bit

You're not supposed to squeeze through amber lights just in time before they go red - amber means stop.
You stopped and were absolutely right to do so.

Oh and make a complaint with his employer

Glad you’re ok! What an arse. Unfortunately I’ve had a fair few crashes myself- all of which were my fault. The ruling is, if you go up the back of someone it’s your fault. Therefore him slamming on (not paying attention) and barely missing you is completely his fault, if he would’ve hit you, you would’ve had a case on your hands whereby you’d have been getting a payout and he’d have probably gotten the sack.
He’s probably angry at the fact that he hadn’t secured his load correctly and it’s strewn all over a road so took it out on you, again not your fault.
Have a sweet cup of tea and watch some crap telly.

From your account he was driving without due care and attention so I wouldn’t worry he is being an arse. Might be worth asking 101 if there is CCTV available in case he attempts a claim for the damaged goods but not necessarily needed.

I deal with insurance claims and he is at fault as he should leave enough space to do an emergency stop. You have nothing to worry about

You did nothing wrong.

This man broke the law by shouting and screaming at you putting into a state of fear and alarm. Christ, he's done a number of you if he's made you question who is in the wrong here.

Yy to reporting him to his employers. However, I would also report to the police.

You poor thing.

Oh, and I slammed on the brakes at an amber light during my driving test and at the end when I was told I had passed I asked the examiner about the amber light (and almost putting her through the windscreen) and she said she would have failed me if I hadn't stopped. So there.

DP is a professional driver and he says,

1). It's his responsibility as a large goods vehicle to leave enough space and anticipate the actions of other road users. If you had had to stop for an emergency vehicle coming through the junction it would have had a similar outcome.
2) It is his SOLE responsibility to ensure his load is safe and secure. It should not move even in an emergency stop situation.
3). There was no contact of vehicles so there cannot be an insurance claim.
4) You gave her details through intimidation.
5) DP says he wouldn't bother contacting your insurance if he was you ( or if this had happened to me) but he would be phoning the company he was driving for and reporting him.