Why do some lorry drivers think keeping their momentum is more important than safety?

[Stratman]

They follow so closely to save fuel. In a bored moment I once picked up a hauliers trade magazine where fuel consumption was quoted to two decimal places, so I suspect every little helps.

I reckon they're slab fronted because there's a maximum length for unescorted vehicles. Any empty pointy bits at the front will reduce the load carrying capacity and hence revenue.

 

[davidjpowell]

I was watching a car pulling off the A1 today into a petrol station, which had a virtually non-existent deceleration ramp. Felt sorry for the chap as the lorry behind him was very aggressively stuck to his bumper.

Of the driving that I see on the motorway, by far the most intimidating vehicle is the LGV glued to the back bumper.

 

[flying haggis]

I was watching a car pulling off the A1 today into a petrol station, which had a virtually non-existent deceleration ramp. Felt sorry for the chap as the lorry behind him was very aggressively stuck to his bumper.

Of the driving that I see on the motorway, by far the most intimidating vehicle is the LGV glued to the back bumper.

I (as an LGV driver) agree that it can be intimidating to have a truck seemingly glued to your bumper but don't forget that we can see above your car and can in fact usually see at least six or seven cars ahead so if one of them brakes we are already slowing down long before you even see a brake light

 

[flying haggis]

Following on from Scott's comment above, what most LGV drivers seem to see most of the time is the back of the LGV a couple of feet in front of them. That's why they have to spend so long passing at a speed of 0.1 mph more - they're so stunned by the vista that suddenly opens up to them the shock locks their arms and they can no longer turn the steering wheel!

Seriously though, can any of those who are supporting lorry drivers tell us WHY they drive so close to the vehicle in front of them for such long distances. Is lorry driving such a lonely occupation that they're afraid of being too far from someone else? I know it's a fault of far too many car drivers too, but most of those aren't professional drivers - they're just idiots.

I don't know why some of my fellow truckers do seem to think they are immortal and do follow so close to the truck in front, I personally like to be able to see down the side of the vehicle in front so I tend to sit back and to the right of the lane.

 

[flying haggis]

They were once called the knights of the road but I now have another name for them.
Myself and most others understand the need to keep schedules but there is no excuse for a lorry doing 61mph overtaking another lorry doing 60mph and then spending the next 10miles trying to get past him. In the meantime blocking two lanes of the motorway and forcing all other traffic to go in the outside lane. It happens continually and is dangerous by forcing fast and slow moving traffic to use the one lane.
If you leave a safe gap it is just an excuse for a large lorry to jump in the gap and force you to slow down to his speed for the next half hour.
Rant over

Under Eu law trucks are limited to 90kph or 55mph (despite the highway code saying 60mph on a motorway) and some are set to even less. If a faster! truck approaches a slower truck you tend to creep slowly towards it and are then forced to travel at that speed or overtake. I assume that the majority of car drivers would not wish to be forced to sit behind a slightly slower car for miles and miles so why should we. Don't forget that the acceleration of a heavily laden truck is nowhere like the acceleration in your car, think of it more like being forced to travel all day in "limp home mode" And finally we are only allowed to drive for a limited time each day so being held up by slower traffic could mean the difference between getting home or having to spend the night sleeping in the cab.
Ok my rant over

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I've got to go against the grain here and say that I generally find the HGV drivers to show the most awareness for other road users, and I generally try and make their journey as easy as mine by letting them out of slip-roads etc when I can.

The kinetic energy in some of them will be massive so I can fully understand why they try and keep good momentum.

 

[flying haggis]

They follow so closely to save fuel. In a bored moment I once picked up a hauliers trade magazine where fuel consumption was quoted to two decimal places, so I suspect every little helps.

I reckon they're slab fronted because there's a maximum length for unescorted vehicles. Any empty pointy bits at the front will reduce the load carrying capacity and hence revenue.

we don't follow so closely to save fuel(most drivers don't pay for it anyway)
my 18T scania does about 11.5 to the gallon and I usually put about £170 in EVERY day.
trucks are indeed slab fronted because the bit that matters is the bit behind the cab for the load, the longer the better as more goods can be carried, within weight limits obviously.

Must be a new record for me 4 posts in on thread!!!!!

 

[fatdazza]

There are more bad car drivers than HGV drivers

Probably because there are many more car drivers than HGV drivers.

 

[ss201]

I (as an LGV driver) agree that it can be intimidating to have a truck seemingly glued to your bumper but don't forget that we can see above your car and can in fact usually see at least six or seven cars ahead so if one of them brakes we are already slowing down long before you even see a brake light.

Still no excuse for driving too close to the car in front. If I have to brake suddenly - are your reactions any better than mine?

 

[kalvin928]

just looking at their driving habits on the roadwork's on M25 on the stretch near Potters bar to A10.... they exceed the speed limit and drive up the **** of car driver sticking to the limit... worst is the lanes are so narrow that when a lorry overtakes another lorry; their mirrors nearly touch; wouldn't be as bad if the roadwork's were well designed; they are very poor with old guidelines still visible. Of course this is just my views/ observation

 

[Dieselman]

worst is the lanes are so narrow that when a lorry overtakes another lorry; their mirrors nearly touch;

Why does that bother you?

 

[tonyc280]

I used to travel the length and breadth of europe for my job and can honestly say there was not one journey done without a 40 footer pulling out on you or pulling out when your up along side. Saying that i used to drive a 7.5 tonner across europe too and found other road users to be totally unaware of your presence.