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?

This thread is about road works speed restrictions!

The op mentioned 3 different scenarios.

Conversation evolves.

And even on a 3 or 4 lane motorway, if lane 1 is so crowded with lorries that you feel intimidated then move to lane 2. Keep to the left doesn’t mean squeeze in dangerously between two lorries. Drive where you feel safest. The lorries are always going to endeavour to drive at the maximum permissible speed. If that’s a 50 zone they will drive at 50. If you feel intimidated and can’t match the speed then get out the way.

Theyve got a point, how does that excuse terrible driving?

If you feel that intimidated by lorries and you drive in the middle lane, you aren't safe to drive on a motorway.

Simple.

If you can't match, or indeed drive faster, than a a HGV, you shouldn't be on a motorway.

It’s because their speedometers are more accurate and in cars they’re a few mphs slow/not reliable. If you’re intimidated by lorries, you shouldn’t be on the motorway.

Is it too much to ask for them to obey the law? Bearing in mind that you can do a lot of damage with 44 tonnes.

I've been going down the A55 at an indicated 70 and been overtaken by some of the Irish lorries. They've worked out that it's cheaper to pay the fine if the police check their tacho than it would be to miss out on that one extra load they can fit in.

There is NO place on the roads for bullying and intimidating behaviour.

Speedometers varying by a few mph isn't justification for driving too close to the car in front. And at risk of sounding like my dad, it's a limit not a target. Driving a few mph below a temporary limit is perfectly allowable, and may be advisable depending on the conditions.

This

What relevance does crap toilet facilities have when discussing dangerous driving and bullying/aggressive behaviour??

If they have company livery on the vehicle, report them to their employer. They are safer in an accident, you are not. They are supposed to be professional drivers. Also lorries are subject to lower speed limits on some roads but yet cruise along at the permitted speed for a car/another vehicle.

Absolutely.
If they hate their job so much that they have to resort to dangerous driving/aggression/bullying to get through their day, maybe they should try a different job.

I agree OP. So many shit lorry drivers out there - and yes, car drivers too before anyone starts frothing. I always send my dashcam footage off to the police to let them deal with it. Fuck em. Drive properly in your killing machine, or don't drive it at all.

On the fence here.

I agree that being tailgated by a lorry is bloody scary - and it shouldn't happen, as if they had a brake failure the vehicle in front would be toast!

However, my understanding is that their speedometer/tacho is calibrated and they have an accurate idea of what speed they are actually going at. They are also speed limited to 56 MPH and I would imagine that they don't want to slow down unless they absolutely have to, due to the energy it takes to get the heavy load back up to speed again. The chances are that if they are "speeding" in a 50, then they aren't speeding - as cars don't have the calibration that they have. I tend to keep up with them on that basis!

I also choose to stay out of their way! And still feel very cross if they are up my arse when they can see that there is no way of me moving out of the way.

Their job is to drive and to make progress. Some of them are arseholes but a lot of them are just trying to get from A to B as swiftly and safely as possible. It's a tough one.

If you're that intimidated by other road users, maybe driving isn't for you.

Correction: if you are intimidating other road users, driving is not for you.

It does not matter what speed the vehicle in front is doing. The vehicle behind it should be far enough back to leave the safe stopping distance at that speed, and if they want to go faster they can wait until they can overtake safely.

It doesn't matter how slowly someone is driving. There is never any excuse for tailgating. Never.

Agree completely. Tailgating is illegal for a reason and nobody - let alone professional drivers - should be doing it.

I see that too and agree it's very annoying. Often it''s hard to get back to the left lane for your exit as everyone is blocking the lanes and seem to be carefully spaced out to ensure they don't pass anyone on their left.

That isn't what this thread is about though and annoying as it is, I would take it over a massive vehicle being inches from the back of me and appearing to be increasing is speed while I have no space in front of me without tailgating myself and nowhere to go to on the right either.

Good for you. What a great person you clearly are. I don't use cruise control and use the speedometer in my car. I appreciate it runs a little low but I don't know by how much exactly because it varies depending on which machines I go by so when in the left hand lane I go by the speed shown. I don't think there is anything wrong with that and I never hog middle or outer lanes. I don't care if I piss someone off by being in the lefthand lane doing 48 when it's 50. I don't think that's a massive deal and it doesn't excuse dangerous driving. I don't see it as comparable to someone who drives a steady 40 through 60-30 zones, for example, which I never do. Even that doesn't excuse dangerous tailgating though.

Did you read what I wrote?

Rubbish. There's no excuse for tailgating and dangerous driving.

Yeah I have to wonder. So many people will get to a 50mph average zone and do a little bit less than 50 according to their speedo 'just in case', which means they are probably doing more like 45 in reality. Then take into account that even average speed cameras will give you a little bit of leeway, and it all adds up to a lot of car drivers being a PITA from truckers' (and everybody else's) point of view. That doesn't excuse tailgating of course, unless you're one of those people who stays in the outside lane doing exactly the same speed as the car/truck in the left lane because 'you're doing the limit', in which case it should be legal to ram you off the road and then claim off you for any damage done to my own car's front bumper.