Bloody tankers - AGAIN

[hydridmatt]

After my incident with a United Utilities Truck a few weeks back, I had another (and virtually identical) hairy incident. This time the company involved was Tate Fuels.

I immediately phoned the company who agreed to speak to the driver. I then followed up with another phone call today - you can probably tell from the tone of my letter how impressed I was with their initial response.

To Lance Murphy,
Further to our phone call today, here is the link to the footage of your driver’s reckless and dangerous overtake on the A5102 (Woodford Road). As I made clear in my first phone call on the 30th, I had to take action to avoid being hit, as the truck swung in from the poorly-judged and badly-placed overtake. Having spoken to you earlier, I am very worried by the driver’s inability to remember this – it suggests it is commonplace in his workday. I would appreciate your thoughts on this, and your answer about what action you intend to take against the driver responsible. In the interim, the footage will remain on the internet to be viewed by anyone.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d548AeMzssE

Cheers,

They say these things happen in three's - let's hope not, eh?

 

[magnatom]

Very poor overtake.

One suggestion I would make is, to never phone the company. Always make it official from the start, i.e. e-mail or letter. That was there is a audit trail of what has been said and done.

Certainly not a criticism of you, but I'd consider taking a stronger position on the road at and just before the pinch points. That would at least discourage these idiots.

 

[downfader]

Have left a reply on youtube but will repost the gist here. Might be worth having a little word with the friendly traffic bobby, and contacting H&S about the company if you havent already done so.

 

[hydridmatt]

Magnatom - you are very right: both tanker incidents could have been averted had I taken stronger road position. I always thought of myself as a decent cyclist; these incidents (and subsequent viewings and comments about the videos) is making me realise how much I still have to learn...

 

[hackbike 666]

Awful overtake.Im not so sure about the professional driver bit.

Another option I always do is check behind.I don't rely on lorry drivers or anybody else to be sensible.I don't like pinch points because I know something like that is going to happen.

 

[Bollo]

Magger's comments about road position are probably correct but don't beat yourself up about it - a poor overtake is a poor overtake. End of.

If you do take a stronger position, make sure you look back very frequently (and for that bit of road, I'd probably be looking back more than forward) as it's useful to know what's happening. I believe rear-ender accidents are extremely rare, but you don't want any nasty surprises, even if it's a p1ssed-off trucker sounding his horn.

****or what hackers has just said****

 

[hackbike 666]

No probs...I just didn't want to come across as a patronising know all.In situations where it gets dodgy I even stop (if safe to do so) or go up the pavement (and stop) if I have to.

 

[BentMikey]

Oh come on Lee. How does that excuse the HGV driver?

 

[BentMikey]

Now I know my own social skills are atrocious, but you might have put something about the driver in your post, because as it is you come across as blaming the OP and excusing the HGV driver by omission.

 

[magnatom]

hydridmatt,

Don't beat yourself up about it. You made a minor error in best practice, the tanker made a major error and endangered you. Rest assured that I have, and still do ride below the standards of best practice, from time to time (some would say all the time!). I can also say with total confidence that every poster on here makes mistakes from time to time, even the 'perfect' Lee. What matters, and what makes an average cyclist a good cyclist, is the willingness to admit mistakes and learn from them.

Of course, you also have to think for yourself (I'm sure you do! ). By that, I mean don't take what you read here to be Gospel. Read what I and others have to say and then make your own mind up. Just be sure to remain open minded, even, on occasion, to some of the things Lee writes!

Good luck with the complaint!

 

[hackbike 666]

The tanker driver seemed to know what he was aiming for.

 

[magnatom]

I'm by no means perfect on a bike as I have broken the law numerous times and displayed ignorance of the highway code when it comes to zebra crossings. However one thing that I do have is awareness and good positioning. Granted, ok these things do happen but the OP should look at his position on the road and not be so submissive, if he had been only a foot out more and looked over his shoulder at the start of his vid then the tanker driver would have thought twice before overtaking.

I'll have to take your word on position and awareness. The real problem is the way you right your posts. It always reads as though your are condeming the person outright. That only serves to wind folk up. You have plenty to offer Lee, if only you could soften your approach a little.

 

[BentMikey]

OTOH there's also an element of knowing Lee better, he's only been around here for quite a while now. I know it's easy to misinterpret Lee's posts, but he's also got a lot of good sense when you see past the confrontational or other issues with the post.

 

[Crankarm]

'Twas a bit close . A few more looks might have been in order on this occasion. If this is the closet pass you've had in two years then I think you are pretty lucky.

 

[catalan chris]

I'm sure Harry Hill could find a way of resolving this!!

Seriously - we actually do have consensus here:-

1> Lorry driver was reckless and endangered an innocent road users life
[to be condemned without qualification]

2> some useful advice: correct road positioning can significantly improve your safety and enhance your presence on the road*

*Some personal observations:-
a) I believe i cycle the correct line (eg: 2-3 ft from kerb on a fairly wide A road) and I've had numerous close shaves of artics overtaking and cutting back in too soon and nearly side swiping me (without pinch-points) - ie: taking a good line clearly doesn't guaratee respect from other road users!;
I took my teenage daughter out cycling around relatively quiet roads last summer where I rode behind and spent most of the time encouraging her not to hug the kerb. I realised for some it takes confidence and experience. She felt she was doing the traffic a favour by keeping close to the kerb.