Left turning lorries -Write to your MP

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XRHYSX

A Big Bad Lorry Driver
I think all posts should have proper spelling and punctuation...
bite me
 

noodle

Active Member
Location
northern monkey
maybe relevant up here in the sticks ive seen the same sticker now on two vehicles one a jewsons sort of van and the other an hgv

both had stickers telling the cyclist to overtake them rather than undertake. i would have got pictures but taking them while negotiating the m58/m6 interchange and the m6 southbound/a580 junction would perhaps have been a bad idea
again not strictly related but some companies do try maybe emailing them and asking for the scheme to be rolled out concerning bikes?
http://www.dhlukfoundation.org/programmes/trucks-child-safety/
 

noodle

Active Member
Location
northern monkey
I think all posts should have proper spelling and punctuation...

id agree but until stupid touch screen things have them wher i can find them and im writing something worthwhile maybe quoting something from anna karina learn to read comprehensive styleeee
 

noodle

Active Member
Location
northern monkey
But lorries have quite a big blind spot right in front of them - if the driver didn't see you arrive in front of the lorry, he/she may not see you if the area is right next to the stop line.

Solid kerb stones - unless the bike lanes are really wide, this is likely to prevent one cyclist overtaking a slower one, which will result in the cycle lane not being used (as many are not at present, but at least at the moment you can move in and out of them as traffic requires).
ok many new wagons are fitted with two devices to afford some protection to vulnerable people
the mirror fitted over the windscreen and not as often but quite a lot now have proximity radar systems which bleep in the cab informing the driver of anything in that area
 

noodle

Active Member
Location
northern monkey
Interesting to note that on another thread a lorry turning left across a bus lane was defended by members of this forum simply because the " victims" would have been m/cyclists and not cyclists [on that occasion anyway]. However more to the point "victim" blaming is garbage, you make yourself a victim or you take control of your life, accept reality and become a survivor. Too many have the "OH it was somebody else's fault" idea, it aint a perfect world. Keep yourself safe.

very true. im about to make untold enemies here
i do the safety elf stuff in work and one of the things is called a risk assessment. stay with me ok and hear me out

we use a likelihood v severity multiplier
the likelihood works as 1-5 with 1 being very unlikely to 5 being really you didnt seriously think it wouldnt happen did you
and the severity is again 1-5 with 1 being very minor bruising cut needing a plaster and a kiss. 2 is muscle strain or minor injury requiring further treatment with no loss of time (pop to walk in or a and e just to be safe). 3 is broken bone non permanent injurys etc but which require 3 days or more off, or treatment within A&E etc. 4 is a life changing injury loss of eye limb etc and five is a fatalty
typing all that ive forgotten what i was going to say

victim blaming to a degree is part and parcel of judging risk quite often the victims have put themselves in a position where the outcome has become more likely and/or increased the severity of the risk
they do this unthinkingly and willingly now im not wanting to say every cyclists accident is their own fault as that would be ludicrous but maybe just maybe if cyclists were less concerned with (said in a clarkson voice as it fits these types:laugh:) well ive the right to be here so this is where im going to be much like the idiots who trundle along the motorway at 40mph saying (to the blue rinsed or national socialist passenger) im perfectly entitled to do this or its a maximum speed not a target..... and maybe look around weigh up the risks they take doing things like stopping in front of hgvs on the green bits just because they can, then maybe just maybe there will be less accidents.

all said as someone who drives and bikes and thinks about what he is doing
on the thinking about what im doing her you go one junction in morcambe while sitting in traffic waiting to turn left several bikes under took me yes i was aware of them ut they were fairly shifting so i decided to do something they wouldnt like but would ensure i wouldnt do something they would like a hell of a lot less i pulled into the curb as i a got nearer the junction. its a left turn on a left hand bend so not a great sight line either over the shoulder or in the mirrors
happily no more bikes came past but i bet so many of the ones mentioned above would complain at a driver blocking them not thinking the driver in this case was making sure he didnt put anyone under his wheels
 

noodle

Active Member
Location
northern monkey
I see cyclists willingly putting themselves in danger every evening rush hour, these are (IMO) mainly commuter types rather than cycling enthusiasts, they are never going to see or seek out safety information on a cycling forum or in a magazine, or perhaps, anywhere. Maybe a simple flyer should go out with every bike and helmet sold, clearly detailing the dangers of junctions/lorries.

PS I like railings, very convenient for holding on to. :smile:
quite true the worst two cases i have seen though are the more professional types
place called skelmersdale dont google it you will never get the time back and time is precious spend it doing something useful like delinting the tumble dryer
has lots of very big 'roundabouts' one in an area called pimbo is a big 2 mile circuit round a few factorys (walkers crisps being one which always smells of popcorn) anyway one day few years back coming round one of the bends (sorry its a one way system 40mph dual carriageway) and im confronted by sit (sounds like) loads of lycra clad roadies going the wrong way. now in fairness i had clocked something odd was going on seeing Marshall cars on the corners and slip way from the motorway exit and had thought it was a run of some kind. Now what would be the sensible option there a road with very high hgv traffic using both lanes to turn right and left into various industrial premises
all i got was abuse, get out of the way k head. result call to lancs constabulary who in fairness came out and stopped it within 20 minutes
just for one second imagine two laden hgvs coming round the corner towards the walkers factory one in the right hand lane the other in the left head on into those on bikes
not aimed at you any of this
oh one other thing ive read tonight someone on here calling for the motorist to be placed at fault automatically hmm yes great idea when an organised event cant even follow one way signs. this was not posted in that forum as well it wouldnt have been right to do so
 

howard2107

Well-Known Member
Location
Leeds
What ever happened to the Cycling proficiency test that i did at school more than 40 years ago. It is my humble opinion that all road users should be assessed as being safe to be on it. If you are not aware of the potential actions of other road users, then you are a risk not just to yourself, but everyone else.
 

Origamist

Legendary Member
What ever happened to the Cycling proficiency test that i did at school more than 40 years ago. It is my humble opinion that all road users should be assessed as being safe to be on it. If you are not aware of the potential actions of other road users, then you are a risk not just to yourself, but everyone else.

It continues under the banner of Bikeability training.
 
What ever happened to the Cycling proficiency test that i did at school more than 40 years ago. It is my humble opinion that all road users should be assessed as being safe to be on it. If you are not aware of the potential actions of other road users, then you are a risk not just to yourself, but everyone else.

There is no evidence that cycle training makes cyclists safer. Rash or illegal actions by cyclists is NOT what is causing injuries and fatalities. Usually it is driver behaviour, speeding, distracted, drunk or drugged.
 

Licramite

Über Member
Location
wiltshire
Of course cyclists don't help themselves much, - I always work on the principle, if a cyclist and a lorry have a dispute the cyclist looses - so the lorry always wins - hench, don't pull up alongside lorries at junctions and if the they pull up next to you, stay put till they have pulled away
Always let the lorry go first.
I don't cycle in towns much but the cyclists I encounter think they are totally invunerable and cars/lorries will get out of their way, or at least try and avoid them, i don't have such faith.

a little later at getting were I'm going is better than a being Late - as in the late Dent arther Dent -
 
Great advice. Maybe this could be coupled with lorry drivers looking where they are going and chucking in prison thisr that don't bother or have illegal vehicles or talking in their phone or fiddle with tacometers or drive under the influence...,

Sounds fair to me.
 

Licramite

Über Member
Location
wiltshire
Don't forget the tractor drivers do all the above (fortunately at about 20mph)
The art of driving/cycling is anticipation, thats why I give way to everything, I anticipate everyone else on the road actually wants to kill me.

but I did have the satisfaction of seeing a car transporter parked through a few trees jacknifed in a feild just off the 303 coming back from stourhead, perfectly straight road, just a long down hill slope.
 
I don;t think many here say that cyclists shouldn't be careful, I just think the onus of responsibility is the one driving the huge dangerous vehicle.

If I decided to practice chainsaw juggling on the high-street and struggled to see where I'm going, I'd expect the restrictions are on me rather than expecting everyone else to stay out of my way and wear protective clothing.
 

Licramite

Über Member
Location
wiltshire
I don;t think many here say that cyclists shouldn't be careful, I just think the onus of responsibility is the one driving the huge dangerous vehicle.

If I decided to practice chainsaw juggling on the high-street and struggled to see where I'm going, I'd expect the restrictions are on me rather than expecting everyone else to stay out of my way and wear protective clothing.

we shall put that on your tombstone.
 
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