Tailgating lorries - I dont want to be another statistic!

[GrasB]

The issue with 'just get out of their way' is a simple one HOW?! Even at 15mph a lorry right up on your back wheel means you end having to throw the bike into a sharp corner, usually over the dusty section of the road that potentially puts you on the deck infront of an HGV... great idea that one.

I'm gifted with a turn of speed which allows me to develop a big enough gap to dive down a side road, safely. Unfortunatly most riders don't have a sprint that makes the grade in that respect.

 

[4F]

I think the answer is obvious, let them past and then draft them

 

[kedab]

have to agree with those posts saying, 'pull over and let 'em pass' - i do it on a stretch that i know will cause a mahoosive queue if i get a big ol' beast of a machine behind me. i let them know i've clocked them and then, utilising universal sign language, give them an idea of where i plan on getting oot of their way. no need to get dead about your rights to be on the same piece of road

 

[Crankarm]

The issue with 'just get out of their way' is a simple one HOW?! Even at 15mph a lorry right up on your back wheel means you end having to throw the bike into a sharp corner, usually over the dusty section of the road that potentially puts you on the deck infront of an HGV... great idea that one.

I'm gifted with a turn of speed which allows me to develop a big enough gap to dive down a side road, safely. Unfortunatly most riders don't have a sprint that makes the grade in that respect.

You reckon you are fairly respectable sprinter ....... what give Chris Hoy/Mark Cavendish a run for your money ?

 

[classic33]

The common answer of "pull over & let them past" I'll agree with. But only do so if its safe for you to do so. If the vehicle is so close, then any avoiding action you may decide to take will rely on the driver of the vehicle realising what you are doing and then having to react to that action.
Let them pass, when you feel its safe for them to get past you.

 

[akb]

Could you possibly pull over and let the lorry pass; in a junction, bus stop, drive etc? I'd rather a tailgater be in front than behind me.

I get this on my commute; long uphill drag section, I may be doing max 10mph with a big queue of traffic behind me. There are a couple of drive ways that I pull into to allow motorists to pass. Most give a wave / hoot / light flash of thanks.

 

[Matthew_T]

Could you possibly pull over and let the lorry pass; in a junction, bus stop, drive etc? I'd rather a tailgater be in front than behind me.

There wasnt really anywhere to pull in. There was a junction coming up where I turn left but didnt want the lorry as close to me when I made the turn. I wasnt exactly going slow either, I was doing about 17mph.

 

[kedab]

There wasnt really anywhere to pull in. There was a junction coming up where I turn left but didnt want the lorry as close to me when I made the turn. I wasnt exactly going slow either, I was doing about 17mph.

then that's definitely a situation in which you can't simply 'pull over'. at 17mph, as has been said, you're only going to put yourself in more danger trying to hang a sharp turn. at that sort of speed the tailgating is pure impatience. i doubt you'd get any sort of thanks even if you did. i wouldn't get shirty about it, just make eye contact, keep checking your shoulder and you'll be out of the way when you're out of the way.

 

[Matthew_T]

then that's definitely a situation in which you can't simply 'pull over'. at 17mph, as has been said, you're only going to put yourself in more danger trying to hang a sharp turn. at that sort of speed the tailgating is pure impatience. i doubt you'd get any sort of thanks even if you did. i wouldn't get shirty about it, just make eye contact, keep checking your shoulder and you'll be out of the way when you're out of the way.

I do tend to speed up if someone is behind me anyway. I normally do it through pinch points just to show the driver that I dont intend to keep them behind any longer than is necessary. I tends to work and I often get thanked.
Tailgating still scares the jelly out of me though. Purely for the fact that if I have to stop suddenly, I will have nowhere to go. If someone pulls out infront of me, I can often swerve or stop abruptly.

Thats the thing actually, bike brakes are a hell of a lot better than car brakes at normal speeds. At 20mph, it takes me about 3m to emergency stop. In a car, you have the reaction time which is longer than that anyway.

 

[kedab]

I do tend to speed up if someone is behind me anyway. I normally do it through pinch points just to show the driver that I dont intend to keep them behind any longer than is necessary. I tends to work and I often get thanked.
Tailgating still scares the jelly out of me though. Purely for the fact that if I have to stop suddenly, I will have nowhere to go. If someone pulls out infront of me, I can often swerve or stop abruptly.

Thats the thing actually, bike brakes are a hell of a lot better than car brakes at normal speeds. At 20mph, it takes me about 3m to emergency stop. In a car, you have the reaction time which is longer than that anyway.

just enjoy your ride fella - idiots are idiots and you'll either drive yourself mental worrying about them or have a whoopsie because you're worrying about them.

 

[classic33]

There are two types of vehicle that I'll go out of my way to get out off the way for. First is fitted with flashing blue lights, second will have flashing green lights.
I will not depart from the road as quick for any other vehicle. Mainly because I do not want to be in need of either of the two types of vehicles I mentioned.
Take your time & let them past when you feel it is safe for them to pass you, not when they want to pass you.

 

[buggi]

the worst thing you can do is keep looking back. the way i see it, you have two choices. carry on or turn off.

1. carry on... to do this you need to just basically get into the habit of ignoring the lorry. they are bound to pull in close before overtaking, to make their overtaking distance shorter. you may not like it, but if you're gonna choose this course of action, you just have to trust that as he's seen you, he is well capable of handling his lorry, if he's tailgating you, although it seems scary, he is only doing your speed (say 15mph?) and lorries do actually have amazing brakes, and by constantly looking back at him you are more likely to crash yourself, causing the pile up, and thus end up under his wheel because you weren't looking where you were going. so stop looking back and concentrate on your own job of riding your bike.

2. turn off. to do this doesn't mean you need to suddenly slow down at all. look ahead for a convenient spot. when you see it. hold you right hand out behind, palm towards the driver, while taking a quick glance behind at the driver (thus giving him an indication to back off). then, turn your hand up into a thumbs up position (to thank him in advance) and return your right hand to the handlebars, and then immediately indicate that you are turning left. the lorry driver will use his intellect and know you are going to slow down and allow him to pass. the other signal you could do is the highway code signal for slowing down (can never remember it myself but i'm sure it's a circular motion with your right arm).

that's how i would handle it.

personally, i find HGV drivers the most considerate when overtaking, but i don't live in London, so i could have a distorted view. bus drivers however... now they are nutters! (except for Johnsons coaches who i actually wrote to once to thank them for their consideration!)

 

[summerdays]

I think it can depend on the road - there is one locally that I frequently go along in the car with 50 mph sections. Its well used by lorries and has some tight bends and the edge of the road is just a built up hedge. I do see cyclists on that stretch but I wouldn't want to do so myself because of the type of road, poor road surface, the traffic speed (which doesn't stick to the speed limits especially the sports car that overtook us at who knows what speed this morning), and the lack of spaces I could pull over into.

 

[GrasB]

You reckon you are fairly respectable sprinter ....... what give Chris Hoy/Mark Cavendish a run for your money ?

I'm up above the 8w/kg marker (or 650w) for 1 min while seated, most commuters will struggle to hold that out of the saddle for 10s or so. My instantaneous is about double that, that means over 5s I can develop a large enough gap to break, settle & turn a lowish speed.

As for your question I'm might be good enough to gap them while they respond... before ripping my legs off in no uncertain terms! My 10s maximal is a little north of 1kW... Cav can do something like 1650w over 5s iirc.

 

[jarlrmai]

You have some power man, must be nice.