Lorrys overtaking each other on Dual Carriageways

[Deleted member 55947]

Very much the norm on the A1(M) in Yorks/Durham. Years ago I drove on an Autoroute to Calais and HGV's wern't allowed to pvertake unless they were doing less than 45KPH, always seemed like a good idea

 

[st13phil]

I think this applies more to A roads when there is the possibility of oncoming traffic.

It does - but it is equally applicable on a dual carriageway: it's plain good manners.

 

[leef44]

Truck drivers hate braking as it loses their momentum, uses more fuel and takes longer to reach their destination.

Doesn't make it right but it helps to understand rather than blindly blaming them.

I agree with this, I wouldn't blame them, they are only human after all and we all want to get to where we are going more quickly. Many are returning to their families after a long shift and we want all the goods which they are delivering. We also certainly do not want less good being produced and sent because this is important to the economy.

I once rented a small one with a rear load lifter and driving on the motorway for a mere hour was hard work due to trying to keep the momentum and feeling the immense drag once you were not near a vehicle in front. When there were no cars in sight behind, I tried an overtake on a larger lorry, only to find myself slowing down as I pulled out then returned back behind it with my tail behind my legs. I wouldn't have the stamina and endurance to be a lorry driver - respect!

 

[st13phil]

Truck drivers hate braking as it loses their momentum, uses more fuel and takes longer to reach their destination.

I agree to an extent, but modern trucks don't take nearly so long to regain speed as those of yore.

The problem is that the ignorant behaviour of the truck drivers who engage in "elephant racing" for mile after mile, holding up all faster moving traffic, will eventually cause enough head of steam to build up that they will be subjected to further regulation in the form of a prohibition on all HGV overtaking on congested sections of road which they will hate even more.

As an aside, and to lighten the tone somewhat, a friend of mine was in the TA years ago and used to regularly ride motorcycle escort for tank transporters which, in his words, was probably the most brain-numbing driving he ever had to undertake when on long motorway runs. So, in order to amuse themselves, the motorcycle escort riders at the front of the tank transporter would slow down on the approach to an uphill section, counting the downshifts of the tractor unit behind them. Once the driver behind was down to second (or in extreme cases first) gear, they would speed off and leave the driver behind to work hard building up speed again on the climb up the hill

He did say that you had to be very careful where you parked the escort motorcycles at the next ref's stop though, because the transporter drivers had a habit of "accidentally" running over them if they were left in the open...

 

[Chrishazle]

Bruce's comment about the M26 is so correct - whether you're going to or from the M25. A further annoyance is the impatient halfwit who, seeing the inside lane empty as people are queueing behind the truck in the outside lane, decides it's a good idea to whizz up the inside then try to force his way into the outside lane - which is when I close right up on the car in front and try to park the impatient sod behind the truck!!

 

[CLSMark]

As some of you may know, I do a lot of motorway driving, as well as a fair bit of A-road (DC) driving..

Now normally all is well, on the a-roads, happily moving along in the right hand lane.. Until, oh know, both lanes are now blocked? With queues forming?? What could it possibly be?

Oh yes, a lorry has decided to overtake another, this procedure should last a short 5 minutes.... I guess we will all just wait??

Is it just me that gets annoyed by this.... on the A34 to combat this on the uphill section lorries are NOT allowed to use the right hand lane, in peak times (IIRC 8am-6pm) now this has really helped and means these kinds of jams no longer occur in this area...

I wonder if this is a concept that should be followed through in other areas too?

and, Hi Mark, don't take this personally [emoji1]

Cheers,
Abs

I’m touched by the name check

As DrFeelgood has stated it’s all about momentum, if I’m behind a truck going slightly slower than me and I’m on the limiter, I have 2 choices. Either run into the back of him and kill myself, or slow down slightly, and if I brake or lift my foot on a slight gradient, the truck will slow down to about 45mph, and the poor bugger behind me will have to jump on his brakes. So, we have to pass.

Yes the one I’m overtaking could ease off a touch, but if he does that he’ll slow down ridiculously quick, see above

Stop being a tart and put up with it!!!


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[Deleted member 6183]

It's a curious one, I wonder how many complainers have also had a whine about other drivers hindering their use of cruise control?

 

[CLSMark]

It's a curious one, I wonder how many complainers have also had a whine about other drivers hindering their use of cruise control?

Yup, one in the same.

Maybe it’s time for a “Self important lane” to be added on


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[Wolfie1]

This is exactly the nonesense that is average speed cameras, its a 50 zone and the truck is driving at 47mph you go past it doing 50 mph and its pure nerve racking especially when its raining and your blinded by spray for quite a while its dangerous. Personally i like to accelerate when overtaking so im in the blind spot, getting sprayed on etc for a short a time as possible

 

[CLSMark]

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My daily life.


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[Dryce]

Truck drivers hate braking as it loses their momentum, uses more fuel and takes longer to reach their destination.

Doesn't make it right but it helps to understand rather than blindly blaming them.

My observation is that on 2 lane roads and 3 lane roads this is a major cause of impedance to outer lane flow (on a 3 lane with traffic it creates a moving chicane into which cars and vans get funneled and slowed). And it's pretty obvious that a truck in lane 2 not able to expedite overtake a truck in lane 1 has gained nothing or almost nothing in momentum. The impact on traffic flow for other drivers is disproportionately high

I'm not particularly keen on 'smart' motorways that turn the hard shoulder into a lane - but I think that having having a 4 lane motorway with trucks banned from lane 3 and 4 actually works significantly better for all road users when there are a lot of HGVs.

 

[rockits]

Are HGV's banned from lanes 3 & 4 of a 4 lane motorway? If not they need to be as that is pretty ridiculous situation of gumming 3 lanes up.

 

[Dryce]

Are HGV's banned from lanes 3 & 4 of a 4 lane motorway? If not they need to be as that is pretty ridiculous situation of gumming 3 lanes up.

Only from the outside lane of a motorway with 3 or more lanes. But IME in practice they don't tend to use lane 3 either on a 4 lane when there is decent flow.

 

[Alex]

I find those 'forever lane 2' drivers that go 2mph faster than the lorries in lane 1 much more annoying. At least lorries always return back to lane 1.

 

[rf065]

My observation is that on 2 lane roads and 3 lane roads this is a major cause of impedance to outer lane flow (on a 3 lane with traffic it creates a moving chicane into which cars and vans get funneled and slowed). And it's pretty obvious that a truck in lane 2 not able to expedite overtake a truck in lane 1 has gained nothing or almost nothing in momentum. The impact on traffic flow for other drivers is disproportionately high.

If lorry drivers are not willing to solve this problem by accommodating each others overtakes for the benefit of ALL m/way users, then a law banning overtaking is the only solution. It really is in their own interest to sort this out.

Russ

 

[CLSMark]

If lorry drivers are not willing to solve this problem by accommodating each others overtakes for the benefit of ALL m/way users, then a law banning overtaking is the only solution. It really is in their own interest to sort this out.

Russ

What problem?


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[Deleted member 37751]

I’m not generally the reactionary type but HGV drivers, in my experience, are the most aggressive vehicles on the road due to their size and I think they pull this overtaking trick on purpose; “I’m doing 60mph so every other mug can too”, the amount of time this happens on the A1 is ridiculous.

On the whole though it doesn’t bother me too much, if someone’s life is that sad that they derive pleasure from holding people up then they’ve got bigger issues to contend with, I simply sit there leaving a decent gap in front and then press on once they’ve moved over.

 

[rf065]

What problem?


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Says it all, doesn't it?

Russ

 

[rockits]

Road trains for all HGV's would make much more sense for them, us & all. They would take up much less space & cause far less issue also using much less fuel also getting there in better travel times. Win win win win.

 

[CLSMark]

Says it all, doesn't it?

Russ

That the problem is you? Yes


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