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Original poster

To report dangerous driving to company

38 replies

xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 09:18

I was driving to work on the motorway on the left lane. All of a suden HGV started changing lanes, if I didn't brake he would drive into my car. I wasn't in his blind spot, he was overtaking me (there was 50mph limit and no possibility for me to switch to middle lane). I'm still shocked. I had many weird and dangerous situations, but this is the worst. I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light. What do I do now? Do I email company? Report somewhere else? I'm wondering if they treat such reports seriously or just say "'we're really sorry blah blah blah" and this driver won't get any consequences. Unfortunately I didn't have dashcam (my husband is buying one just now).

OP posts:
MeatballHead · 23/02/2023 09:19

Yes, I'd report it, I'd not mince my words either
Hope you are not too shaken up @xogossipgirlxo

BodenCardiganNot · 23/02/2023 09:21

Definitely report it.

Loics · 23/02/2023 09:28

All HGVs (or at least the vast majority) will have cameras so they could review the footage. If you want the honest answer, IME no, most companies won't take any notice of your complaint.

Loics · 23/02/2023 09:30

Not experience of complaining I hasten to add! Experience of HGV driving and general knowledge of the industry.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 09:37

Loics · 23/02/2023 09:28

All HGVs (or at least the vast majority) will have cameras so they could review the footage. If you want the honest answer, IME no, most companies won't take any notice of your complaint.

What do I do then? Just ignore it? My husband works in logistics and they take driving complaints quite seriously. It's quite depressing really, today it was me, tomorrow this driver will be dangerous to someone else.

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fUNNYfACE36 · 23/02/2023 10:46

They take zero notice of complaints

fUNNYfACE36 · 23/02/2023 10:50

You also need to remember with long vehicles it takes longer to change lanes and you need to be careful you don't speed up and close the gap he was going to pull into.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:06

fUNNYfACE36 · 23/02/2023 10:50

You also need to remember with long vehicles it takes longer to change lanes and you need to be careful you don't speed up and close the gap he was going to pull into.

I wasn't. I know it' s hard for them to change lanes, so I never speed up. I'm quite polite driver, to be honest and always try to think two steps ahead. I won't say this driver did this deliberately (why would you want to kill someone), but it's scary and I'm extra emotional now since I'm pregnant. It's just that he saw me perfectly in the mirrors, or should have (not sure if he looked properly). He was around half-length of his vehicle when he started driving into my lane. I don't know why he changed lanes too as HGVs were allowed in the middle lane and left lane was busy.

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Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:07

Not very consoling that they don't take notice of complaints 😥

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GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 23/02/2023 11:10

I would say yes, report it to the company.

But bear in mind that without a witness, and without dash cam footage, they won't have to do anything.

Glad you are safe but get that dash cam installed.

cstaff · 23/02/2023 11:18

I would definitely report it if you have the details. You may not hear anything back but at the very least that driver will hopefully be put on notice to drive safely.

This happened a lady I used to work with. She had her niece and nephew in the car and the truck / lorry changed lanes and crushed her little Micra (I think). The kids were ok - physically anyway but her back has never been the same and all because this eejit, who I presume knows the risks involved in changing lanes in a large vehicle didn't give a f__k.

Loics · 23/02/2023 11:23

xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 09:37

What do I do then? Just ignore it? My husband works in logistics and they take driving complaints quite seriously. It's quite depressing really, today it was me, tomorrow this driver will be dangerous to someone else.

Show quote history

I'm not saying this applies to you, but a lot of the time, when a car driver is complaining about something an HGV driver has apparently done incorrectly, the car has been driving unsafely or inconsiderately. More often than not, it's the case.
For example, yoi say you were roughly halfway down his vehicle - you could still have been in his blind spot, depending on your position in the lane. That's not you being unsafe, but you may not know how much area is covered by blind spots. If it happens again and you're worried, best thing to do is keep sounding your horn if you think they haven't seen you, even if you are in a blind spot, it should let the driver know something isn't right and most will stop the manoeuvre until they can check it's safe.
If you want to complain you can do, it's just very likely they won't bother, especially with no evidence of any wrongdoing.

Sirzy · 23/02/2023 11:26

Companies do look into things but often with the dashcam footage they can see the driver wasn’t at fault.

if you where halfway down the side of the lorry then there is every chance you where in his blind spot.

BeetleyCarapace · 23/02/2023 11:27

I’ve reported a few things like this. In general I’ve had good responses. I would do it. What have you lost? A few moments writing an email or calling a number.

BeetleyCarapace · 23/02/2023 11:29

I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light

I think technically this is illegal, isn’t it? Is it not the same as using a phone while driving?

Glittertwins · 23/02/2023 11:32

I have reported a van driver for this a few years back, nearly took out my car at speed when I had the DCs in it too. The company actually got back to me - the guy was fired. It turns out that the was a long list of complaints about him and this was final straw.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:38

BeetleyCarapace · 23/02/2023 11:29

I remembered his reg plate number and company name, wrote it down on the first possible red light

I think technically this is illegal, isn’t it? Is it not the same as using a phone while driving?

Is it legal to wipe your nose on the red light?

OP posts:
Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:39

Sirzy · 23/02/2023 11:26

Companies do look into things but often with the dashcam footage they can see the driver wasn’t at fault.

if you where halfway down the side of the lorry then there is every chance you where in his blind spot.

He was overtaking me, so he knew I was there. It's not like I jumped into his blind spot out of nowhere.

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Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:40

Thanks everyone for replies. I will send an email, maybe they will something, maybe they won't, but at least I know I made them aware.

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Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:40

*will do something

OP posts:
GettingStuffed · 23/02/2023 11:44

Report, the company will probably remind all drivers to ensure they drive safely. For the actual driver the company will no doubt deal with it in regards to their disciplinary procedures.

yo were lucky the next victim may not.

Original poster
xogossipgirlxo · 23/02/2023 11:46

GettingStuffed · 23/02/2023 11:44

Report, the company will probably remind all drivers to ensure they drive safely. For the actual driver the company will no doubt deal with it in regards to their disciplinary procedures.

yo were lucky the next victim may not.

"yo were lucky the next victim may not."

This is exactly my worry!

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Usernameusavailable · 23/02/2023 11:52

Complain and do a freedom of information request to see how many other complaints there’s been. It will tell you if they are just ignoring them and in that case the press or industry watchdog

Courtorder · 23/02/2023 11:52

I’d report it. I remember when DH was driving us on a motorway on one occasion a truck (like a building site type vehicle) tried to pull into our lane and almost hit us before pulling back into the left lane when DH beeped. He then repeatedly swerved towards us causing us to have to move into the third lane. At that point, he drove straight from the left lane to the third lane and pulled in front of us and slammed on his brakes. It went on and on for ages. I was pregnant and we had DS in the car too, I ended up calling 101.

Courtorder · 23/02/2023 11:55

Usernameusavailable · 23/02/2023 11:52

Complain and do a freedom of information request to see how many other complaints there’s been. It will tell you if they are just ignoring them and in that case the press or industry watchdog

You can’t do a FOIR for a company and there’s almost certainly not going to be a watchdog with this within their remit.