Search found 1316 matches

by hexhome
18 Oct 2011, 7:54pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

Thanks thirdcrank and snibgo.

Now printed out and in the cab :D

I think that clears up a misconception perpetrated by ill informed police officers (quite rare in traffic I suspect). The only flaw is that the regulation relates specifically to Cathode Ray Tubes when modern apparatus will be Liquid Crystal Display. However, I can't believe that any court would worry about such a distinction.
by hexhome
18 Oct 2011, 4:05pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

They are not illegal but can only be used when the vehicle is not in use or is reversing. I agree, the law must be changed and the advent of longer lorries would be an ideal time to push for such a change. At the moment, the effort seems to be on trying to hold the tide back!
by hexhome
18 Oct 2011, 3:12pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

Of course the lorry driver doesn't have a chance of seeing the cyclist.


You are absolutely right. In your scenario, the lorry driver has no way of seeing a cyclist in that position. He is in effect around a corner. I would advocate a change in the law to allow blind spot cameras to be used. I have one but it is illegal to use the monitor whilst the vehicle is in motion (includes stationary at traffic lights, just as it would be if I used a phone).

It is important to reiterate that there is no more rear swing on this type of trailer than a conventional one, though the extra length from rear axle centre will normally cause more. Also, the wheels don't suddenly turn out in this scenario, they would already be turned. All this said, there is an increased risk from the 'extruding' wheel. The wise cyclist will already know that the rear of long vehicles swing out, but as you say, that wheel is invisible to the driver. If he could see it, it wouldn't be turned.

Trucks have differing characteristics and the only way to stay safe is for 'soft' road users to keep clear. I would like to see more use of cameras which look down the side of trailers and the law changed to make their use legal. I have been warned by the police for using such cameras.

All 'truckers' try and avoid the dreaded 'blind side reverse'( just found this rather amusing video which illustrates the issues - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCDNDNc ... re=related). This is where the trailer is turned the opposite side to the driving position so left handed in the UK. Currently, the only way to carry out this manoeuvre safely is to keep getting out and walking around or better still get someone to guide. The positioning of the vehicle would be the same in your scenario and we know that the driver will not be getting out to check before moving off. If he had a monitor to glance at before moving off, he would see that cyclist. Lets get the law changed on in cab monitors.
by hexhome
18 Oct 2011, 1:16pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

[quote][If a cyclist makes a mistake while they are "getting used to" the behaviour of the rear steer goods vehicles, they might not get an opportunity to learn from their mistake./quote]

Well yes, cycle versus truck is the scenario we all want to avoid. As a road user I would expect to have some understanding of the characteristics and behaviour of other road users. As an example, when I'm cycling, I would avoid the nearside of a large vehicle turning left. Many cyclist fail to do this. As the driver of that vehicle, it is my duty to be aware of the cyclist and to avoid an accident. The behaviour of rear steer trailers in this respect is greatly improved and as a result WILL SAVE LIVES! I can't stress that enough. The point is that the trailer moves less than expected not more. The rear of a right turning trailer moves left. The rear of a right turning steering trailer moves left less. As it also cuts in less it can only follow the track of the tractor.

If you check out the video at about 35 seconds in you will see cones laid out which are the current maximum legal turning circle for articulated vehicles. I can assure you that current maximum length trucks take up every millimetre of that circle already.

I'm now in an uncomfortable position of ending up defending something. It is only as a result of my knowledge of this area. I have no strong opinions either way about longer lorries. Just like the rest of us, I tense when cycling on a fast trunk road and hear one approaching from behind! I would love to be able to cycle on roads free from such dangers. I have to accept that it isn't going to happen. I would like to reduce the dangers by better training and understanding and campaigning for better road layouts. I don't view longer lorries as an increased risk but accept that others who may be more knowledgeable than me do. I believe that our energies may be better placed.
by hexhome
18 Oct 2011, 12:58pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

You make some very good points and I will try and address each one according to my knowledge and experience as an HGV driver with experience of these types of vehicle and as a cyclist.
It has to be born in mind that large goods vehicles are a fact of modern life in the UK. It makes very little difference whether a vehicle is 5 or 50 tonnes, cyclist versus HGV rarely has a positive outcome.
Just as it is pointless for vehicle drivers to complain about the presence of cyclists on the highway, it is pointless to complain about HGVs. We have to find a way of co-existing safely.
There is to be a trial period of 10 years for the introduction of longer goods vehicles. Applicants may apply for a Vehicle Special Order to operate semi trailers of either 1 metre longer than current regs. or 2.05 metres longer. There will be a maximum of 900 VSOs issued for each category. The trial is due to start January 2012. With regard to the safety of rear wheel steering, the systems are already in use on UK roads. I believe that the current testing is to ensure that the vehicle meets the specific regulations regarding turning circles etc.
Your urban driving scenario is a very common one. Whilst vehicle length has some bearing, in reality it is a separate issue. It is one which I can discuss, but will only summarise for the moment. Driver training, road design, vehicle design can only go so far in preventing human error. Most HGV drivers in this scenario would give a right signal indication to the vehicle behind and expect the vehicle behind to respond. If they don’t then the driver must be prepared and able to slow to the speed of the cyclist until safe to overtake. We know that sadly this doesn’t always happen this way, fortunately, it usually does. Incidentally, you mention side clearance when overtaking. Most enlightened drivers will give as much as possible, but the figure suggested in training is 1 metre. Given that trucks are 0.5 metres wider than cars, the majority do the best they can without prejudice to safety. You ask ‘If the road surface has problems on the inside, where is the space for the cyclist to move?’ Assuming that the cyclist has positioned his/herself about 1 metre from the curb, there is at least 4 times the width of the vehicle to manoeuvre. Of course cycles are much less stable than other vehicles and the obstruction may be too large to avoid. The answer then must be to stop! It’s a situation outside of everyone’s control; we all must be prepared to stop when that happens.
52 seconds in. The view of the trailer is excellent and as a driver I would be happy with the information that I can see. It is an improvement on non rear steer trailers. The most important areas are 1. the inside trailer axle, 2. ahead of the axle and 3. the opposite corner (which wouldn’t be visible on anything other than a flatbed). The corner which you cannot see is far less important as it would be moving away from any possible collision. In any case, the driver unlike the camera can move his head slightly to bring it into view. Also there is a wide angle mirror fitted which does cover this area. 4:12 seconds in; maybe it would be better and certainly a common scenario. The driver would simply have waited for the car to clear the junction until he could safely carry out the turn! Often, drivers and even occasionally cyclists will stop short of a junction in order to allow a large vehicle to turn.
Costing; there should be no delay of other traffic or modification of the road system needed. This is the reason for the trials and for the rear steering system. Of course there is huge need for improvements to our road system particularly with a view towards improving the safety of non motorised road users, but this is a separate issue.
Joining motorways is much easier in an HGV than a car! HGV drivers are aware of the legalities of the give way line at the end of the slip road (unlike many car drivers). They tend to move out in order to allow joining traffic safe access. However this topic has no place in a cycling forum!
I do seem to have gone to a lot of effort to defend something but that is not my intention. We are all road users and we all want to defend our own corners. A better way would be to understand the needs and issues affecting all road users and to use that knowledge to improve road safety. The issues raised appear to be more aimed at trucks in general than longer vehicles and a not unreasonable dislike of trucks. The only way to reduce the volume of goods vehicles on our roads is to only buy local produce and stop using supermarkets and mail order. As an interesting aside, in the 80s I used to deliver Raleigh cycles in an articulated truck to shops in mainly urban areas. Now you wouldn’t want to have that stopped would you?
by hexhome
17 Oct 2011, 11:08pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

The FTA themselves are referring to the 18.55 metre length articulated vehicles, ie. single trailer/tractor combinations rather than the 18.75 metre rigid with trailer combinations which are currently allowed. There have been tests of 25 metre 'Road Trains' (an articulated vehicle towing a second trailer) which have been proposed for many years for trunking operations. In my view, they are and always will be too impracticable for use in the EU. In any case, they would definitely be unsuitable for use in an urban environment (ie. most of the UK). Whilst the overall vehicle length is increasing, the maximum turning circle allowed is not. This is why rear steering systems are necessary.

I'm not sure exactly of the point that you are trying to make? I have no wish to argue with your reasoning and apart from driving an HGV, have no personal interest in longer vehicles. There does however seem to be a great deal of alarmist disinformation about and I would like to counter some of this with facts.

I believe that the active steering system you refer to is currently undertaking road testing in Northern Ireland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj9B1JmD ... re=related
Trailer rear steering systems are common on UK roads already. I was driving such a system (passive) in 1994. It had some problems, most notably that it would have to be locked before a reverse could be undertaken, but the benefit was that I could safely manoeuvre an over length trailer within an urban environment. There is remarkably little 'cut in'. This has safety benefits for all road users.

Vehicle dimensions have been increasing for as long as I can remember. When I started driving HGVs, the maximum was 32 tonnes on 4 axles and a trailer length of 40 feet. It is now 44 tonnes on 6 axles and 45 feet. Are there fewer trucks as a result - of course not. Only our economy will control those numbers. The rise of the supermarkets has led to the volume of goods traffic on our roads. The UKs logistics system is based on a system of live stock control. When you buy something, it is picked at a distribution warehouse and loaded on to a lorry for stock replenishment. Supermarkets carry little if any stock. Lorries stop - shops empty almost instantly. Personally, I think that the system is terrible, but that's a whole different argument!

I can state with some confidence though that trucks are much safer than they were and this progression continues. There are many reasons for this including better engineering, more organised law enforcement by VOSA and improved driver training.

One of the biggest challenges to the haulage industry, is the lack of HGV drivers. To drive these vehicles requires 3 separate driving tests, 2 with a senior examiner of about 1 and a 1/2 hours each and a week in the classroom. Pay and hours are extremely poor (supermarkets again) and few would be drivers can afford the £4-5000 cost. I know of large logistic companies who are employing Polish speaking managers to counter this skills shortage.

To conclude, I have no wish to dissuade anyone from protest about the DOT proposals. I'm not convinced that such protest will prevent longer lorries. I am however convinced that informed consultation would ensure that concerns from ourselves as cyclists and other road users would be taken into account and acted upon. An example of this is already in action, all lorries registered after 2000 (see note) are fitted with a mirror to cover anything in the blind spot immediately in front. With more informed consultation, maybe this could have been put in place before the advent of ASLs.

[i][i]The new EU directive to retrofit all vehicles first registered after January 1 2000. The regulation stipulates that all vehicles over 3.5 tons need to be fitted with new wide angle (class IV) and kerb mirrors (class V), that meet with the new legislation, by the 31 march 2009, this is in addition to the front view mirror introduced in January 2007. The new directive improves the driver’s visibility of pedestrians or cyclists when the vehicle is making left turn (right hand drive vehicles) or right turn (left hand drive vehicles).[/i][/i]
by hexhome
17 Oct 2011, 5:23pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

Active and passive rear steer has been in use for some years now. I have driven vehicles of this size with it fitted. There is much less 'cut in' on corners and better visability.
They do take some getting used to but in my opinion are a step forward in safety.
by hexhome
16 Oct 2011, 7:50pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Longer Lorries Campaign
Replies: 51
Views: 7063

Re: Longer Lorries Campaign

As a lorry driver and cyclist (Brompton lives in the cab), I was delighted to be presented with a new truck complete with 4 extra blind spot mirrors and rear facing wide angle cameras. This delight was somewhat marred when informed by the police that use of the cameras (well to be precise the dash mounted monitor) was illegal whilst the vehicle is in motion. I have checked and they appear to be correct, any monitor must be behind the driver!!!! The cameras give a 'mirror' image and work in exactly the same manner as another mirror. This legislation was obviously aimed at preventing idiots from watching DVDs whilst driving but clearly has an unfortunate effect for HGVs.
by hexhome
5 Oct 2011, 11:31pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: what jacket?
Replies: 26
Views: 3046

Re: what jacket?

I bought one of these http://www.sportsdirect.com/muddyfox-cycling-jacket-mens-635041?colcode=63504190
Its OK but not very breatheable, I get soaked after 10 miles. I think that you will have to pay a lot of money for a really efficient breathable sports garment.
by hexhome
1 Oct 2010, 11:39am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cycling is amongst the most dangerous ways to travel
Replies: 26
Views: 2260

Re: Cycling is amongst the most dangerous ways to travel

All of which could be argued to be statistically safe.
by hexhome
1 Oct 2010, 10:35am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cycling is amongst the most dangerous ways to travel
Replies: 26
Views: 2260

Cycling is amongst the most dangerous ways to travel

According to episode 20 series 4 of Helicopter Heroes, cycling is dangerous!
This program, broadcast this morning, showed the result of a car/cycle collision
and stated that whilst green, cycling was amongst the most dangerous ways to
travel.

You may wish to judge this yourself, after all, such a prestigious organisation
would not make such ridiculous statements. See
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v1rv3 at time 12.29.

For my part I've complained to Ofcom. You may consider a similar action?