Don't Undertake HGV's

[BentMikey]

A friend of mine was recently knocked off but luckily escaped injury doing this. She was in a cycle lane execution zone

I've corrected that for you - sorry, but that's what a lorry driver called them on movingtargetzine.

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, most HGV drivers are great and well above the average driver in skill and patience, but there are still plenty fcukwit ones about. I'm forever reading about how cyclists shouldn't undertake HGVs, and that's certainly valid, but it ignores the HGV drivers that left hook cyclists, for example, and it's happened to me, as to Leoc's friend above.

 

[Twiggy]

I was discussing tyre pressure with a friend who drives HGVs, and she was shocked at how high the pressure is in bicycle tyres is, compared to car tyres and HGV tyres.

Generally I treat HGVs with utmost care at all times, and always give them plenty of room and warning about what I'm going to do.

If I pass one I pass as far away as I can safely manage, to try and avoid being in their blindspots. (and never pass on the left)

 

[Night Train]

It is good advice and it applies to cars and motorbikes too. In a big truck it can be easy to lose sight of a car or two in the blind spot. This is especially a problem for an artic if the tractor has stopped on a curve in the road and the mirrors can no longer look down the side of the trailer. Many road users don't realise that in some situations a large truck will turn left from the right hand lane and vice versa.

Stopping right in front of a truck is also going to put you in a blind spot though some modern trucks have a front bumper view mirror. I friend used to drive a bonneted heavy haulage truck and he could loose three cars in the front blind spot when stopping in traffic. He had to count them as they dissapeared from sight when stopping and then count them pulling away again before he would move off in case he ran over one.

 

[BentMikey]

I friend used to drive a bonneted heavy haulage truck and he could loose three cars in the front blind spot when stopping in traffic. He had to count them as they dissapeared from sight when stopping and then count them pulling away again before he would move off in case he ran over one.

Crikey, I've not come across a lorry that has that big a blind spot yet - one car I could understand. With all the lorries I've seen, it's been easy to see the driver's face from a half car in front.

 

[Origamist]

Part of the problem is the use of the word "blindspot" - it's not a spot at all; there are numerous, shifting zones of road space that a HGV driver can't see.

 

[gavintc]

Mea culpa, I have sinned. I know it is dangerous and stupidly allowed myself to do it. I was in the inside lane keeping pace with a truck in the outside lane on Argyle St in Glasgow. I was level with his back wheels doing about 20-25 mph. I must have been in a blind spot because he started to come in then stopped quickly when he saw me. I shot through the closing gap and then spotted that his left indicator was on. Daft I know and I felt such a fool when I realised what I had done.

 

[02GF74]

and buses too.