Longer lorries on UK roads

[Lutin]

Longer lorries to be allowed on Britain's roads

The government has approved the use of longer lorries on British roads, saying it will make businesses more efficient and cut emissions.

It comes despite one campaign group warning the move could put pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

Longer lorries can carry more goods in fewer trips but have a larger tail swing, meaning their rear end covers a greater area when turning. They also have extended blind spots.

But ministers insist they are safe.

Lorries up to 18.55m long - which is about 2.05m longer than the standard size - have been trialled since 2011 and there are already around 3,000 in use.

However, from 31 May any business in England, Scotland and Wales will be permitted to use them.

We'll just have to see how this pans out, I suppose.

[JackyJoll]

Mercy’s sakes alive!

[Horse]

What could possibly go wrong?

At least they're not going to be heavier. Oh, that's next.

[cheb]

Change, we fear it.

[Noggin]

Surely half the problem is that cyclists/peds/motorists don't understand the geometrics (is that the right word) of a longer vehicle turning?

I was taught by my SDad when I was a kid cos he drove lorries and so explained the reason he took up so much space before each turn - then explained that what I couldn't see was how much space the back end was taking up as we drove through/around the junction.

NOT riding up the inside of a lorry on the right side of a junction with a left hand indicator was a lesson on the first day of CBT


I know you can't teach every pedestrian (although I don't think they are at so much risk!), but I don't understand why some cyclists don't work this out? Surely they can see it even if they haven't been taught it?

[Supermofo]

As a new driver, driving up the inside of an artic on a roundabout was one of those 'Oh, won't do that again' lessons. Luckily I didn't end up squashed, but it was close!

[v8-powered]

As a new driver, driving up the inside of an artic on a roundabout was one of those 'Oh, won't do that again' lessons. Luckily I didn't end up squashed, but it was close!

I did it as a new full bike licence holder - bike written off quickly! Never did it again, still haunts me 30 years later!

[Jody]

As a new driver, driving up the inside of an artic on a roundabout was one of those 'Oh, won't do that again' lessons. Luckily I didn't end up squashed, but it was close!

I did it as a new full bike licence holder - bike written off quickly! Never did it again, still haunts me 30 years later!

How did the insurance company view the accident?

[v8-powered]

As a new driver, driving up the inside of an artic on a roundabout was one of those 'Oh, won't do that again' lessons. Luckily I didn't end up squashed, but it was close!

I did it as a new full bike licence holder - bike written off quickly! Never did it again, still haunts me 30 years later!

How did the insurance company view the accident?

Knock for knock - said I shouldn't have filtered but lorry driver shouldn't have squared off his entrance to roundabout.
His lorry had a bust mudguard, I had a mangled CBR400RR...

[Skub]

Surely half the problem is that cyclists/peds/motorists don't understand the geometrics (is that the right word) of a longer vehicle turning?

I was taught by my SDad when I was a kid cos he drove lorries and so explained the reason he took up so much space before each turn - then explained that what I couldn't see was how much space the back end was taking up as we drove through/around the junction.

NOT riding up the inside of a lorry on the right side of a junction with a left hand indicator was a lesson on the first day of CBT


I know you can't teach every pedestrian (although I don't think they are at so much risk!), but I don't understand why some cyclists don't work this out? Surely they can see it even if they haven't been taught it?

Drivers are programmed to imagine they are always in the right and the lorries are wrong to be encroaching on their lane/space. It's like the mindset of some bikers. What will you do if a car pulls out on you at a junction...well that'll be the car driver's fault then,won't it. Dead right they are.

[The Spin Doctor]

Drivers are programmed to imagine they are always in the right and the lorries are wrong to be encroaching on their lane/space. It's like the mindset of some bikers. What will you do if a car pulls out on you at a junction...well that'll be the car driver's fault then,won't it. Dead right they are.

There was a ranty rant on-bike vid of some 'advanced' rider out with his mates skimming the centre line "to get the best view around the bend" when the lead rider had to take some fruity evasive action to avoid an HGV which appeared around the left-hander.

The video had a commentary about how the HGV was "well over the centre line" and shouldn't have been there. The tractor's wheels were in the lane, but because of the sharp bend, the trailer wheels weren't following the same line.

[Skub]

There was a ranty rant on-bike vid of some 'advanced' rider out with his mates skimming the centre line "to get the best view around the bend" when the lead rider had to take some fruity evasive action to avoid an HGV which appeared around the left-hander.

The video had a commentary about how the HGV was "well over the centre line" and shouldn't have been there. The tractor's wheels were in the lane, but because of the sharp bend, the trailer wheels weren't following the same line.

A few years ago while 'making progress' and hanging off on a right hander,I narrowly missed being batted on the head by one of those huge campervan mirrors (I lifted up and the frame hit my back just below my neck) The van was on his side of the road,but his mirror wasn't. No one's fault but my own and I was happy to take some bruising as a lesson.

[Noggin]

There was a ranty rant on-bike vid of some 'advanced' rider out with his mates skimming the centre line "to get the best view around the bend" when the lead rider had to take some fruity evasive action to avoid an HGV which appeared around the left-hander.

The video had a commentary about how the HGV was "well over the centre line" and shouldn't have been there. The tractor's wheels were in the lane, but because of the sharp bend, the trailer wheels weren't following the same line.

A few years ago while 'making progress' and hanging off on a right hander,I narrowly missed being batted on the head by one of those huge campervan mirrors (I lifted up and the frame hit my back just below my neck) The van was on his side of the road,but his mirror wasn't. No one's fault but my own and I was happy to take some bruising as a lesson.

I had the opposite experience - not long after I'd taken my test (ok, a couple of years probably!) I almost beheaded a biker whose bike was on his side of the road, but his head was over the white line. I had one of those Vauxhall Mantas with a huge long bonnet - still don't know how I didn't decapitate him

That stayed with me when I learnt to ride a bike!!!

[The Spin Doctor]

A few years ago while 'making progress' and hanging off on a right hander,I narrowly missed being batted on the head by one of those huge campervan mirrors (I lifted up and the frame hit my back just below my neck) The van was on his side of the road,but his mirror wasn't. No one's fault but my own and I was happy to take some bruising as a lesson.

Ouch...

Good reason for keeping well to the left on a right-hander! Glad that one didn't end badly.

I learned that when I nearly headbutted a police car being Barry Sheene on my 125 just outside Maidstone.

[Cousin Jack]

What could possibly go wrong?

At least they're not going to be heavier. Oh, that's next.

I think it is here already, at keast for fuel tankers.

[The Spin Doctor]

Don't worry... the Torygiraffe tells us that since EVs are 20% heavier than ordinary cars, all the bridges are on the verge of collapse anyway. They'll never get them out the depots.

[Horse]

Torygiraffe tells us that since EVs are 20% heavier than ordinary cars, all the bridges are on the verge of collapse anyway.

Concerns, too, about EV loading in multistorey car parks.

[Mussels]

Torygiraffe tells us that since EVs are 20% heavier than ordinary cars, all the bridges are on the verge of collapse anyway.

Concerns, too, about EV loading in multistorey car parks.

I've read that as well but if a multi storey was built 50 years ago then cars are already much heavier than they were then, so why only get worried about it now?

[Horse]

Torygiraffe tells us that since EVs are 20% heavier than ordinary cars, all the bridges are on the verge of collapse anyway.

Concerns, too, about EV loading in multistorey car parks.

I've read that as well but if a multi storey was built 50 years ago then cars are already much heavier than they were then, so why only get worried about it now?

Dunno. Cars bigger, change in styling to [bigger] SUV, perhaps adding EV batteries is a final straw?

Or perhaps it's anti-EV scaremongering?

[Rockburner]

Torygiraffe tells us that since EVs are 20% heavier than ordinary cars, all the bridges are on the verge of collapse anyway.

Concerns, too, about EV loading in multistorey car parks.

I've read that as well but if a multi storey was built 50 years ago then cars are already much heavier than they were then, so why only get worried about it now?

On that note, a multi-story car park in New York collapsed last month. In the photos there wasn't a single "normal" car, it was chock full of SUVs.