Foreign lorries hitting cars on UK motorways
Discussion
My car journey to work includes some M25 and at least once a week I see an eastern european lorry on the hard shoulder with a dented car - and if I see 1 in the 1/2 hour I'm on there for 3 junctions, there must be a lot over all the hours/junctions/motorways.
The question is - is it more difficult to see cars from a LHD truck than a RHD?
If the visibility is as good from either side of the cab then it must be down the lack of care of the drivers or driving on the other side of the road; if so, is it common in Europe for UK drivers to take the front end off cars when changing lanes?
(I know that car drivers are sometimes responsible by hiding in the blindspots, but it's rare that I've seen UK trucks having the accidents)
The question is - is it more difficult to see cars from a LHD truck than a RHD?
If the visibility is as good from either side of the cab then it must be down the lack of care of the drivers or driving on the other side of the road; if so, is it common in Europe for UK drivers to take the front end off cars when changing lanes?
(I know that car drivers are sometimes responsible by hiding in the blindspots, but it's rare that I've seen UK trucks having the accidents)
The question is - is it more difficult to see cars from a LHD truck than a RHD?
The answer is yes if referring to cars on the right hand side
On RHD the big blindspot in on the left and in most circumstances when moving left there is nothing likely to be there
On LHD the big blindspot is on the right and as most need to move right to pass etc then the likelyhood is that something might be there
The mirrors can easily see the back three quarters of the trailer but anything forward of that can be unseen
Advice to car drivers is to NEVER hang around in that blind spot - either be back of it or in front of the cab
If that area cannot be passed very smartly then wait until you can
As RHD trucks from the UK often have foreign plates then that cannot be used to determine what side the driver is but there is a sure way to do so -
Look for the DOWN MIRROR in the top middle of the cab door - if you can see that then the driver is on the opposite side as those mirrors are only on the non driver side
The answer is yes if referring to cars on the right hand side
On RHD the big blindspot in on the left and in most circumstances when moving left there is nothing likely to be there
On LHD the big blindspot is on the right and as most need to move right to pass etc then the likelyhood is that something might be there
The mirrors can easily see the back three quarters of the trailer but anything forward of that can be unseen
Advice to car drivers is to NEVER hang around in that blind spot - either be back of it or in front of the cab
If that area cannot be passed very smartly then wait until you can
As RHD trucks from the UK often have foreign plates then that cannot be used to determine what side the driver is but there is a sure way to do so -
Look for the DOWN MIRROR in the top middle of the cab door - if you can see that then the driver is on the opposite side as those mirrors are only on the non driver side
Edited by R0G on Friday 1st June 15:59
lazyitus said:
I see this type of accident a lot.
I understand the reasons why it happens but I'm mystified as to why somebody hasn't invented some type of better/bigger offside mirror for trucks or even a small TV in the cab relaying pictures of the blind side. It can't be that hard, can it?
They have - a FRESNEL mirror - at one point they were being given out free to left hand drives as they entered the UKI understand the reasons why it happens but I'm mystified as to why somebody hasn't invented some type of better/bigger offside mirror for trucks or even a small TV in the cab relaying pictures of the blind side. It can't be that hard, can it?
banksey said:
I have Foreign lorries pull out on me all the time at mini-roundabouts... usually when I'm half way round too!
FRESNEL mirror would not help that situationWhat happens there is that the massive amount of mirrors on the right combined with the screen pillar makes a huge blind spot which hides the approaching car from the driver
Way to avoid that - make sure you can see the face of the lorry driver
R0G said:
banksey said:
I have Foreign lorries pull out on me all the time at mini-roundabouts... usually when I'm half way round too!
FRESNEL mirror would not help that situationWhat happens there is that the massive amount of mirrors on the right combined with the screen pillar makes a huge blind spot which hides the approaching car from the driver
Way to avoid that - make sure you can see the face of the lorry driver
GC8 said:
If the drivers were interested enough then they could adjust their scene view mirror to cover the blind spot.
Further to that, foreign lorries shouldnt be allowed to run here without at least five mirrors, with the same rule applying to RHD lorries abroad.
First point - if you try and do that with th scene view it loses out on other important viewsFurther to that, foreign lorries shouldnt be allowed to run here without at least five mirrors, with the same rule applying to RHD lorries abroad.
Second point - the more the mirrors the bigger a blind spot they cause
The only solution that does work is a mini cam but the law states that a driver must not be able to see an active screen whislt driving forwards !!!
Conversely, I wouldnt dream of driving without my camera turned on.
You cant possibly be suggesting that a rear view mirror and a smaller wide angle mirror on each side is too much, or that it creates a dangerous 'blind spot'? Anyway, we both know that nothing emerges from outer space in these blind spots, and that careful observation is the key.
With regards to the scene view / kerb view mirror: yes using it to view the offside area will mean that it cant be used whilst manoeveuring, but that is easily rectified by getting out of the cab and moving it - hardly a big deal.
You cant possibly be suggesting that a rear view mirror and a smaller wide angle mirror on each side is too much, or that it creates a dangerous 'blind spot'? Anyway, we both know that nothing emerges from outer space in these blind spots, and that careful observation is the key.
With regards to the scene view / kerb view mirror: yes using it to view the offside area will mean that it cant be used whilst manoeveuring, but that is easily rectified by getting out of the cab and moving it - hardly a big deal.
"Look for the DOWN MIRROR in the top middle of the cab door - if you can see that then the driver is on the opposite side as those mirrors are only on the non driver side"
Ahh, that's interesting. I've been looking for down mirrors on my way to work!
I always do make sure I stay behind or get past quickly, but I'm sure lots of people don't take any notice of lorries (or anything else on the road!).
Ahh, that's interesting. I've been looking for down mirrors on my way to work!
I always do make sure I stay behind or get past quickly, but I'm sure lots of people don't take any notice of lorries (or anything else on the road!).
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