Safe Speed Forums

Always find a good indication is look /feel of HGV- clean / lights clean/working ---does it indicate a good bit before (on Mway) and wait for response - (i'm a sucker for those --always let them out car/van)
---in short is the driving that i'd expect from a professional experienced driver or some kid fresh from the "school of truck driving"
Thats from being in a car with Son in law - Army HGV /crane op at 18 ,who considers a transit a mini vehicle ( Scanny probably does too )

Perfectly apt reply as it is the T/C,s who have the ultimate sanction to let you drive or not as the case may be, your living lies in their hands & judgement!!!!!!!!

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"There But For The Grace of God Go I"

"He Who Ain,t Made Mistakes Ain,t Made Anything"

Spannernut

far more true than most people realise. every time we get penalised for a motoring offence goes on a permanent record with the TC. its quite a scary thought really. this person is sitting earning £90k deciding who is and isnt responsible enough to drive a truck or operate one and this decision is made AFTER the courts have dealt with you

if all truck drivers were aware of this fact, it is possible that the standards would go up. from what i have seen, most are ignorant to the fact (along with changes to the regulations as they are not exactly well published) so when they get caught doing something illegal, most dont know that their livlihood is on the line after their fine. if they did know then they would presumably behave themselves and act in a more professional manner

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

Speaking as someone whos mate passed his Cat C a month ago I know he said that his driving instructor had specifically told him about the speed limits for NSL on duel carigways and the difference between those when there is a central reservation or no central reservation present.

I've been fortunate enough to hold my C+E licence since 1984 and 'touch wood' have had 23 years of accident free trucking. I'm one of the very rare breed who stick to the limits these days (40/50/60[56]). I've had more than my fare share of following queues on single carriageways and see many frustrated drivers of all types of vehicle take stupid risks almost daily.

The thing is, with experience you can tell the ones behind who will take the risks and be ready to take whatever action is necessary when they decide its OK to overtake.

I don't suffer from the guilt feelings because it wasn't me who set the rules. I don't sympathise with the impatient idiots who take risks overtaking because many of them don't know the rules when they really should.

The 40 limit needs revision because it was set in stone when trucks didn't have ABS and needed a strong right foot and a prayer to stop at all. The days when brake fade going down hill fully laden was a reality.

Well done about your thread regarding "speed limits" as I have said in past threads "we don,t make the laws" we just comply with them.

Like you I just whenever possible stick to them as even if I don,t agree with them the wrong way to get them changed is to break them as it is "your livelihood" that is at stake and when you get caught and fined the boss will just say as our boss says "I don,t tell you to speed" (and if you get a ban) tough luck mate go find another job!

He / she has a business to run so why the hell do drivers run bent then complain when they get caught that the T/C,s have them up for breaking the rules.

There are cowboys in all professions but they don,t risk losing their licence and livelihood on a daily basis so why do it ?

No matter how good a driver / employee you are you are "NOT INDISPENSABLE" no matter what the inconvenience to your boss someone will take your place.

Even if you don,t agree with the laws the wrong way to try to get them changed is to break them so don,t complain when you get caught as you are the one responsible for your actions and Like you I have no sympathy for the idiots that break the law and then cry when they get caught.

Remember "prisons are full of innocent people" cos it is you as the driver (not the company) if involved in an accident has to stand in front of the beak and plead to keep your licence and more importantly "YOUR LIVELIHOOOD"

We all make mistakes that is a fact of life but we are also all responsible for our own actions / inactions and must take the consequences of such actions

What would these cowboys do in the days of 40mph on the dual carriageways in the old days when wagons could do up to 65 / 70 mph when the only limit was the pump governor or the "foolish" antics of the driver!

To Err is human

Ad Infinitum

_________________
"There But For The Grace of God Go I"

"He Who Ain,t Made Mistakes Ain,t Made Anything"

Spannernut