Me vs HGV (Was I 8n the wrong)? - Page 6

macafee2 · 18th June 2024, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogodon

Been following this and read all the responses.

Admit i was in the wrong and is not my usual standard of driving and entering motorways but would like to offer a little mitigation for my getting into the situation.

It's quite a short slip road and your view of traffic already on the carriageway as you come down is very limited due to very high, overgrown vegetation until the last few yards of the slip.

This wasn't helped by the fact I wasn't in the Micra but a very low slung MX5 type car.

The lorry driver could see my predicament but still appeared to have a "I don't have to let you in, so I'm not" attitude, the gap I had to (as some on here say) push into, was , although not huge, was, even smaller after I weighed up my options and acted, as the HGV seemed to be deliberately closing it to stop me getting in.

With regards to it getting on "the net" or ro police or his employer, his actions after, unless selectively edited, make him (or her) look as bad, if not worse than what I did.

Have you reported the problem of the high overgrown vegetation?

macafee2

MSS · 18th June 2024, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogodon

..........

The lorry driver could see my predicament but still appeared to have a "I don't have to let you in, so I'm not" attitude, the gap I had to (as some on here say) push into, was , although not huge, was, even smaller after I weighed up my options and acted, as the HGV seemed to be deliberately closing it to stop me getting in.

With regards to it getting on "the net" or ro police or his employer, his actions after, unless selectively edited, make him (or her) look as bad, if not worse than what I did.

Your story doesn't add up. Recognising that an HGV is a heavy vehicle with a lot of inertia, if you were able to observe the HGV closing the gap in a reaction to your presence and intention, the slip road could not have been as short as you say. You simply cannot know why the gap was reducing, if it was.

Despite what you say, you seem unable to take responsibility for the fact that your actions were the primary cause of the situation. Your last sentence above says it all really!

Accept responsibility for your actions like a man and move on!

Costa Fortuna · 18th June 2024, 12:05

The sheer weight and mass of a goods vehicle is very difficult to comprehend if you haven't driven one - basically they are slow lumbering beasts - they don't take kindly to being driven like an Aygo because you simply can't. I have always said that every car driver should go to an aerodrome and have 20 minutes in one.

Please do not expect them to do choppy-changey lane hopping or to stopping on a sixpence - talking of which don't nip into their braking space at junctions etc - we leave a safe distance from the vehicle in front as our braking cushion, not for car drivers to "nip in front".

I know I will speak for many but one of the fears we have is of people entering the live lane without due care - taxiing out at 37 mph etc.

All experienced and dedicated truck drivers will try and look out for errant car drivers and hopefully keep them out of trouble.

Mogodon · 18th June 2024, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave47

For the OP, refresh yourself with the "Highway"
why put yourself and other road users in danger,
please remember a HGV takes longer to stop and longer to pick up speed again, ialso t's better to concentrate on driving rather than "giving the finger"

I know.

With hindsight i regret that now,

I gave him the finger as I pulled off at the next junction,just to get him off my rear end, and to express what I thought of his dangerous driving to intimate and get revenge, i then immediately rejoined so as to be behind him.

I made a snap decision , albeit the wrong one with hindsight what came after it seems is that the red mist decended on the lorry driver which made a bad decision into a dangerous situation.

daveo138 · 18th June 2024, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue

What you should have done was to slow down and merge behind him. The Lorry driver has no obligation to move out of your way. It is your obligation to merge safely without causing any drivers on the main carriageway to have to manouvre to compensate for your actions. If it is not safe to merge then you do not force the issue and if you have to you stop.

Sorry but it is one of my pet peeves when people pull out of slip roads causing others to have to avoid them.

Does this advice apply in reverse? i.e. if an HGV is on the slip road and there are three or four cars on the main carriageway and there isn’t an HGV sized gap for him to pull in to, should the HGV stop?

Rogue · 18th June 2024, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogodon

I know.

With hindsight i regret that now,

I gave him the finger as I pulled off at the next junction,just to get him off my rear end, and to express what I thought of his dangerous driving to intimate and get revenge, i then immediately rejoined so as to be behind him.

I made a snap decision , albeit the wrong one with hindsight what came after it seems is that the red mist decended on the lorry driver which made a bad decision into a dangerous situation.

I am still at a loss to why, once you had cut the HGV up, that you then drove slower than the restricted speed of the HGV (56Mph)? Surely you would have continued to accelerate up to the limit (presumably 70mph on a dual carriageway) so there could not have been any issue of the HGV driver 'tailgating' you or did you deliberatly slow to inconvenience the HGV to show your displeasure that he did not get out of your way?

SD1too · 18th June 2024, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogodon

It's quite a short slip road and your view of traffic already on the carriageway as you come down is very limited due to very high, overgrown vegetation ...

That's a good point which adds the Highways Agency to the list of people on trial.
There are two roundabouts near me where fencing has been erected in the central reservation on the approach to the give way lines deliberately to prevent drivers from assessing traffic on the roundabout without coming to a stop. What do members think of that?

Simon

Rogue · 18th June 2024, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveo138

Does this advice apply in reverse? i.e. if an HGV is on the slip road and there are three or four cars on the main carriageway and there isn’t an HGV sized gap for him to pull in to, should the HGV stop?

If the drivers were unable or unwilling to move to the next lane then yes he absolutely would have to stop. To suggest otherwise would be to suggest the driver would be willing to drive into the side of vehicles on the main carriageway. Any driver doing so should be and i believe would be prosecuted for dangerous driving at a minimum.

Joining traffic on a slip road has no right of way over vehicles already on the main carriagway. I would like to add that if conditions permit it is courteous for any driver on the main carriageway to move over to allow vehicles out but in this instance the OP has already stated the HGV was being overtaken at the time so could not move over.

Mogodon · 18th June 2024, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue

I am still at a loss to why, once you had cut the HGV up, that you then drove slower than the restricted speed of the HGV (56Mph)? Surely you would have continued to accelerate up to the limit (presumably 70mph on a dual carriageway) so there could not have been any issue of the HGV driver 'tailgating' you or did you deliberatly slow to inconvenience the HGV to show your displeasure that he did not get out of your way?

I was unable to speed up as traffic was bunching in all 3 lanes due to 3 lorries all overtaking at the same time (tut tut, lorry in lane 3) effectively creating a 56mph rolling road block so I was stuck in lane 1 with him behind me, 6 inches off my rear end flashing his lights and leaning on the horn till I managed to swoop off at the next junction to get away from him.

Honestly, it was like some deranged loony behind me, think film Duel !!!!!

macafee2 · 18th June 2024, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveo138

Does this advice apply in reverse? i.e. if an HGV is on the slip road and there are three or four cars on the main carriageway and there isn’t an HGV sized gap for him to pull in to, should the HGV stop?

yes. The driver probably wont like it and may be upset but
alas they should give way to traffic on the main carriageway.
If they don't and despite a comment to say there is no must rule, in the Highway code about giving way to traffic on the main carriageway, if they hit a vehicle or are spotted barging in by the police, they may well be held at fault

macafee2

18th June 2024, 12:05	#53
Costa Fortuna Avid contributor Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: POOLE Posts: 138 Thanks: 24 Thanked 44 Times in 27 Posts	The sheer weight and mass of a goods vehicle is very difficult to comprehend if you haven't driven one - basically they are slow lumbering beasts - they don't take kindly to being driven like an Aygo because you simply can't. I have always said that every car driver should go to an aerodrome and have 20 minutes in one. Please do not expect them to do choppy-changey lane hopping or to stopping on a sixpence - talking of which don't nip into their braking space at junctions etc - we leave a safe distance from the vehicle in front as our braking cushion, not for car drivers to "nip in front". I know I will speak for many but one of the fears we have is of people entering the live lane without due care - taxiing out at 37 mph etc. All experienced and dedicated truck drivers will try and look out for errant car drivers and hopefully keep them out of trouble.