AIBU to expect lorry drivers to respect speed limits and distance?

[pinotnow]

At least three or four times over the last few months I have had the unpleasant experience of driving through 50 mph zones on the motorway where works are taking place and there is an average speed check in operation only to have massive lorries coming up way too close and me having to change lanes to get out of their way. On all occasions I have been driving to the speed limit the same speed as everyone else and have been in the left lane and forced to move over to the overtaking lane - not sure why the lorries can't do that.

This morning I gave ds a lift into town to catch a train at 5am. Going home on the 30mph ring road with speed cameras, which does have 2 lanes going each way, the same thing happened. I was in the left lane doing 30 (maybe more like 28 as I know the speedometer isn't 100%) and suddenly a massive lorry is behind me way too close. I changed into the righthand lane and it went off in front - must have been doing at least 35mph, which is his problem.

I get that on fast roads if the speed limit goes down suddenly they can take a while to adjust their speed (I think) but on 30mph road in a built up area surely this shouldn't be happening. I'm sick of having the choice to be rear-ended by a massive lorry, change lanes when it's not necessarily safe, or get a speeding fine and points (which I have never had).

I've been driving 20 years and I'm sure this is happening more and more now. AIBU to think if your job is driving you should be better at it?

And how the fuck does that excuse shit driving?

I'm not giving a proper response to rudeness like that.

We don’t have any sort of trailer or caravan but will always flash a lorry in when it’s safe for them to do so too. Although it’s rare a lorry will be going past us. My husband does it when we are behind a lorry and he can see it’s safe for them to pull back across. I personally think that’s really rude, and potentially unsafe. I think it’s for the person in the left lane to signal that they are clear of you.

Of course you are supposed to stay as far left as possible though. Only use the outer lanes when actually overtaking.

I really hope your sarcasm just didn’t come across, otherwise you’re one of the idiots ok the road hogging the third/middle lane when you shouldn’t be.

I'm not hogging the middle lane. I'm overtaking. That's why I called it the overtaking lane. I literally said If the left hand lane is clear of course I drop back into it. I would like to know these motorways that have all these clear lanes btw. All my motorway driving, the lanes are full (M1, M25, M40).

I'm referring to car drivers who stay in the right hand lane the whole journey - of course it will be congested with HGVs.

So OP you're moving out of the left lane (i.e. lane 1) into lane 2 to allow a HGV to undertake you? Yeah I wouldn't be doing that. Unless there are temporary signs forbidding HGV's to use anything other than lane 1 they can overtake me in the regular way. Can't say it's happened to me but if they did tailgate me, my rear-facing dashcam will be recording it and I would be submitting it to Operation Snap. They can and will prosecute if they're driving dangerously. There are only so many times that can do this before they're out of a job on points tot-up. I know in my car that when my speedo says 53, I'm actually doing 50 so I set my cruise control to that.

On all occasions I have been driving to the speed limit the same speed as everyone else and have been in the left lane and forced to move over to the overtaking lane

No. This is on you. You can't be forced right. You're in the left lane, stay there.

I always assume lorries that appear to be speeding in a 50, especially with average speed cameras are actually doing 50, by their tacograph. Whereas my speedo will be showing 50 but I'm actually doing 47 or whatever.

I wouldn't speed up for them, I don't want a ticket, and I certainly wouldn't be moving over to let them undertake!

I do the speedlimit according to my speedo, leave a bigger gap in front and hope no one pulls into it, and try to ignore them tailgating as best I can.

Why are you moving over enabling the lorry to undertake you. Stick in your lane and let the lorry driver sort himself out.

Mind, if you're doing 28 in a 30 limit, when the road and conditions are clear, you are driving too slow

I don't agree that complaining about dangerous driving means you don't appreciate the vital service hgv drivers provide. Just because you're doing an important job it doesn't mean you get a free pass to put people's lives in danger.

I find it annoying too OP.

seems like for the last few years every single time I have been on the M1 in whatever direction there are roadworks and 50mph limits

I just let them over take me then overtake them again later down the road. I’d rather not get points cos a lorry drivers in a hurry

Showing your ignorance there......they have to overtake slowly, they can't just drop a gear and speed up!

This is the worst advice ever.
If you do this you're an idiot and the one causing accidents.

I drive on the m62 a lot which carries a lot of HGV traffic and the small gaps many of the drivers leave is scary. There are many car drivers who do it too so it isn't just lorries, but like you say you'd hope that someone who is a professional driver and in a vehicle capable of doing so much damage would know better.
The frustrating thing is if I try and leave a sensible stopping distance, someone will just fill it!

I drive on the motorway nearly every day to go to work and the biggest issue I see is people tootling along in the middle and 3rd lane ( on a 4 lane section ) and not moving over

I will flash you out of the way, you should move over if you have chance and I am talking about 8pm at night or 7am in a morning! No excuse for it! Move back in your lane and if you can't cope with motorway driving stay off it

I expect this is more about your fear of “massive lorries” and your perception they are too close rather than actually being too close. When u r in the 50 average speed zone are you actually driving at 50? Do you use your cruise control? Or are you driving at a few mph below it? If so you will be pissing off anyone behind you. I regularly drive though these zones on the M6. All the Lorries do 50 and if they need to overtake they do so. Therefore I suspect its your own fears of being too close to “massive lorries” that is the real issue. For what it’s worth I don’t consider lorries massive. They are lorry sized and I’m not intimidated by them.

What a ridiculous answer.

If you're driving that slow on a motorway that a HGV has to overtake you, you are the issue!

It’s not the worse advice ever at all it is common sense. 50mph average speed zones are put in place in roadworks often in conjunction with narrow lanes to restrict vehicles speeds. One lane is often closed
off completely for use by the workers, leaving two lanes. Let the trucks have the inside one(s) and stay out of their way in the outside lane in your car. I do it daily on the M6.

Still doesn't excuse their highly dangerous bullying of being inches from your rear end where they've not got the slightest chance of stopping in an emergency situation.

Until the trucks are also in the right hand lane bullying their way through the roadworks. That happened to me recently and it was scary - no where to get out of their way as lorries in the left hand lane nose to tail, and some huge monstrosity in my mirror driving way too close. I eventually got into the left land so he could pass. Inevitably, a couple of minutes after the end of the speed restriction, I passed him so he achieved nothing by bullying people out of his way.

This happens to me all the time and it is extremely annoying. But funnily enough, it only ever happens when I'm driving my little old runabout Fiesta. It does not happen when I'm driving our van or DH's large estate car, even though I would be going at the same speed whichever vehicle I'm driving.

Don't let them intimidate you.

Not talking about roadworks
I'm talking about a 3 or 4 lane motorway

If the lorry is speeding, that's the issue.
Speed limits are reduced during roadworks for safety reasons, though some regular drivers clock whether there are cameras or not, and if there aren't they ignore the limits. It doesn't make it safe.

Why can't lorry drivers actually abide by the law and drive properly? They'd still get the goods delivered in most cases. The vast majority of lorry drivers don't drive like lunatics. There is NO excuse for dangerous driving.