Would anyone here care to explain to me, after looking at the OP's video, just what their reason is for thinking his speed genuinely excessive, rather than a bit press-on but well contained?
He slowed and stopped absolutely without drama.
There was no contact or even anything that looked as if it might end in contact. No tyre squeal, no evasive steering movement, not even a really close approach to the lorry which had come out a bit suddenly (although certainly not in the abrupt, violent manner of a lorry bearing down at unstoppable speed on a line of stationary cars, just late and rudely it seemed to me). But never mind that. The OP didn't hit the lorry or look as if he was going to. He stopped in an unflustered and dignified manner, perhaps feeling mildly annoyed as you would.
I can't stand all this po-faced carp. I must be getting old.
Edited by Lud on 14/11/2008 at 22:43
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There are so many factors at play that even with an eagle-eyed, overhead, infra-red, X-ray 3D view of everything, it's impossible to get the whole picture! Sadly, it's in situations like this that one tiny slip ends up in a multiple pile up, and being "in the right" is scant consolation when the crunch comes!
Things to think about:
Foreign lorry (question: why not provide enormous fluorescent "LHD" stickers fto plaster on rear of HGVs at port of entry; likewise for RHD lorries crossing the channel)
Momentum of 40 ton lorry as opposed to a 1 ton car: in extremis, the lorry is obviously going to change lanes rather than try to stop dead. i.e. always assume a lorry is about to do just that and leave room accordingly. As a previous post pointed out, what exactly was right in front of the lorry at that moment (and what speed was it doing?) No, I couldn't tell, either!!
Forget the courteous "after you!" or "thank you" flash - this really only happens in Britain: on the continent it is much more common to "go for it":driver wants to move - driver moves. A headlamp flash on the continent means "I'm coming through!" but there is no equivalent sign in Britain. At least, not one that everyone recognises. A continental lorry driver is not used to the idea of mirror-signal - wait for it - courteous "after you" from the driver behind - pulls out: If Janos needs to change lanes he will change lanes and that's that!
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I hope I am never in front of you!
Are you sure that the tone of that comment is going to be helpful?
The OP did something which I have never seen before on the backroom: he posted a video of his own driving and asked for comments. That's quite a brave thing to do, exposing himself to that sort of scrutiny, and I think it's only fair to assume that he asked in good faith for a friendly assessment, hoping to learn from the responses. It seems only fair that responses should show the same good faith, assuming that he is genuinely looking for any room for improvement in his technique.
Some of the responses say he did fine, while others (including mine) say he would be better to drive more defensively. I hope he'll take all the responses on board ... but if some of the responses seem snippy, I don't think that it's going to encourage him to ask again. I happen to agree with your assessment, but I think that the phrasing may come across as a bit harsher than would be helpful.
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I could easily be going po-faced but I still think that if you shoot down the outside of a line of standing or slow moving traffic towards a junction, you may find yourself having to deal with one of those things that happens in a line of traffic like someone deciding to change lanes.
Since OP seems to know the road and junction well and was confident traffic in n/s lane would stay there, I'm not sure how he was going to benefit from his speed since there would be little or no traffic in front of him at the light anyway.
Also: why was OP filming his journey?
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Also: why was OP filming his journey?
Because he's a spy. But don't say that I told you ;-)
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.. when coming off the M57:
TheDub: can you be specific about the junction? It looks like you were heading South on the M57?
Also: why was OP filming his journey?
Optimist: It looks like TheDub likes to film action from the car!
Watch:
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk2ASniGgtw&feature=channel
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LgpHyyR6Q3g&feature=channel
{Links made non-clickable, Rob}
Edited by rtj70 on 15/11/2008 at 00:00
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{Links made non-clickable, Rob}
Eh? Why so?
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=33...4
"Posting of video clips
Clickable links to video clips may be posted, but please use your common sense.
If the clip redirects to a site where the content also contains adult related, or other material that could be deemed offensive, then PLEASE use your discretion and make the clip non clickable and include a disclaimer in your post informing so. "
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jbif, I had my reasons and err'd on the side of caution - learning still. If I was wrong I will sort it.
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jbif I had my reasons and err'd on the side of caution - learning still. If I was wrong I will sort it.
rtj70:
Quite OK by me, I was asking just to make sure I had not misunderstood the site rules. I know it used to be the rule in the past that clickable video links were forbidden, full stop.
;-) Having to apply common sense makes it difficult! :-(
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>> I hope I am never in front of you! Are you sure that the tone of that comment is going to be helpful?
Yep, quite sure. The OP was going at quite a pace, had I been in a car in front of him waiting at the junction I would be really wondering whether the OP was actually intending to stop/slow down in time! I would be looking for a way out at that point, working on the assumption that he was not going to stop in time.
He may well know what he is doing, great, good for him, driving is also about letting others know what you are doing, approaching junctions at speed is not good practice, any number of things can happen, and in this case did.
I would have anticipated the truck doing something like he did had I been in the OP shoes, the OP was driving on the assumption that everyone knew what he was going to do, and that everything around him was going to remain in the status quo, it didn't, driving by its very nature is dynamic, the OP seems to have failed to realise this imho.
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Edit:
Looking at the other 2 videos that jbif posted that are by the OP I feel even more happy with my remarks. Both the videos are shot in the wet, and at night, if you look at the rev counter and the speedo needle it would suggest that the car is going far in excess on the speed limit for the road in normal conditions, let alone the dark and wet. I am no motoring prude, far from it, but I do take a bit of exception at boy racers, which it seems very much like the OP is (imho).
he asked for feedback on his video, I gave it, part of that feedback is about the standard of his driving, which to my mind is very poor.
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I'd hope you are never in front of me R75 Spending too much time looking in your mirrors at what's happening behind you than looking what's in front... :-)
I don't believe his speed was *that* great, brisk but not reckless. He's already said that he consciously kept his speed up in anticipation of the lights changing - presumably if there had been a car sat there he wouldn't have been going quite so quick.
In the scheme of things, this is not a Big Deal. Just one of those things. I wouldn't have even remembered it had happened, if it happened to me, let alone bothered the collective brains of the backroom by posting about it.
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I'd hope you are never in front of me R75 Spending too much time looking in your mirrors at what's happening behind you than looking what's in front... :-)
I make no apologies for knowing what is going on all around me, and that means using my mirrors and also turning my head. On more then one occasion in my driving career I have managed to avoid being rear ended by seeing that the car behind was not going to stop in time and also by leaving myself enough room in front that I was able to turn into the lane next to me which has given the car behind an extra car length to stop in. It's called being aware!! ;o)
I don't believe his speed was *that* great brisk but not reckless. He's already said that he consciously kept his speed up in anticipation of the lights changing - presumably if there had been a car sat there he wouldn't have been going quite so quick.
It's not the speed, it's inappropriate speed, and coming into a blind junction like that justs seems like asking for trouble.
In the scheme of things this is not a Big Deal. Just one of those things. I wouldn't have even remembered it had happened if it happened to me let alone bothered the collective brains of the backroom by posting about it.
I agree, but the OP seems to think it is!
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I make no apologies for knowing what is going on all around me, and ... given the car behind an extra car length to stop in. It's called being aware!! ;o)
Ditto.
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Its a good reminder to all of us to be extra careful when approaching a truck, especially foreign ones, they do drive differently to our own chaps and girls who arn't perfect by a long chalk. Some of them will just choose a space and go for it.
Another couple of little things to look out for on motorways when there are many HGV's about, my own opinion of many years on the job.
If the trailer has no rear number plate assume the driver is equally conscientious of their driving practices, some don't fit the rear plate so they don't get caught by the camera's, so worth keeping an extra eye on.
Also if the HGV driver is wearing a hi vis whilst actually driving assume the worst and plan for any eventuality, i have no idea why but chaps that do wear them continually are very likely to do the daftest things.
And a truck with clean mirrors and windows is more likely to have a responsible and careful driver at the helm.
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Also if the HGV driver is wearing a hi vis whilst actually driving assume the worst and plan for any eventuality i have no idea why but chaps that do wear them continually are very likely to do the daftest things.
Hmm, must remember to take mine off then when I drive a truck, was not aware it effected my driving style!!!! ;o)
And a truck with clean mirrors and windows is more likely to have a responsible and careful driver at the helm.
Ahh, that's ok then, seems like one cancels out the other, so I can leave the hi viz on and remain average!
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