Safe Speed Forums

The following was posted by a collegue of mine from the PDA(Professional Drivers Association.




The Road Safety Officer

Hello

I am writing to you and other relevant organizations about a particular road safety issue that has been causing me concern over the past few years namely the late exiting from motorways by many car drivers.

A typical example of this is an incident that took place last week.
I drive a 44 tonne lorry and was coast bound on the M20 passing junction 7 at Maidstone. The road was fairly busy but in no way congested although a queue was forming on the exit slip road. About 200 yards before the slip road and motorway separate two cars passed me at high speed before pulling in front of me aiming for a gap in the queue on the slip road. The first car made it into the gap but there wasn’t room for the second who braked heavily in front of me. As luck would have it I was lightly loaded that day and having also anticipated the actions of the two cars I was able to slow up sufficiently so as not to ram the second car. I also flashed my headlights and blew my horn to warn the driver of my presence as obviously he’d forgotten, or didn’t care, that I was behind him. The thanks I had for saving his life was a one-fingered salute as he forced his way into the exit lane with inches to spare before the end of it.

Incidents like this happen at nearly every exit where five or six cars will pull into a lorry’s braking area and then slow down to leave the motorway. You may have noticed that many lorries now pull into lane 2 as they pass the mile marker for the exit, I do as soon as one car has pulled into my braking area. This is not to be awkward or *sausages*-minded but to ensure I have a safe braking distance in front of me as I pass the exit.

Car’s that pulls in front of me do so at their own risk as all I can do is slow down as best I can. I will not veer into another lane as this could cause me to tip over onto an innocent vehicle.

Is it possible to get the message across to car drivers that it is far safer to exit the motorway from behind a lorry than it is in front of it? Also they should prepare to leave the motorway much sooner, the mile marker is the place they should start planning their exit strategy i.e. slowing down to the speed of the rest of the traffic and filtering safely to the left.

I write this as a lorry driver with thirty-five year experience and as a member of the Professional Drivers Association (www.pda-uk.org). I’ve no particular axe to grind about motorist; we all have to survive on the same bit of crowded road. I just wish they could see their actions from the cab of a lorry





It has been sent to:

ROSPA

I.A.M.

Sue Nicholson at the RAC Foundation

The AA

What car magazine.

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If anyone can think of some other likely recipients I'll gladly send them a copy as well.

Brake has been suggested.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.