Thank you for your kind words towards one of our drivers @Peter Barker, and your positive input towards our facebook page. Let me invite you to give our office a call and discuss in further depth, as it is apparent you are one to complain. Obviously, out of all the other road users you came across last week, which do not have sign writing or an active facebook page written across their back doors, we are here to vent your obvious road rage. To all of our actual thumbs up friends, as you would have seen early in our facebook history we sponsored some useful tips for sharing the road with courtesy and how to avoid accidents. After being in charge of a heavy vehicle on our highways for just under 20 years, (not just driving around the block every week in a 3 tonne flat tray). I have experienced this most frustrating of events every trip I have done and continue to do, as every single truck driver out there has (and in turn every road user). Now, unless you can actually hop in a friends truck as passenger and do a road trip, of lets say a little trip…….. at least 10 hours in one day, this will be extremely hard for you to understand. Imagine youre on the highway in your 100 km zone, the vehicle you are in has a top speed of 100km (which means it does not go over…….. 100km per hour). You have been following another motorist for at least half an hour, fluctuating their speed from 94 – 100km per hour, and all you would like to do is overtake so you can sit on your constant 100km per hour speed. Ok….. In a passenger vehicle it’s a no brainer, just put your foot down and overtake. You have the power to overtake in under 300metres and are not limited by speed, most times you will even be able to overtake without the use of a purpose built overtaking lane. Now only if it were that easy in a truck – most cases trucks will get a run up prior to an overtaking lane so there is momentum and enough time to get the job done. Unfortunately in most instances when this happens, they hit an overtaking lane and the other driver subconsciously puts their foot down and increases speed. Remembering the truck is only limited to 100km per hour, and have now only half overtaken the vehicle on the overtaking lane, but the car has now increased speed and the end of the left lane is getting closer. Everyone knows what is going on here, but no one wants to admit it. If the other motorist had been conscious of his speed previous and by now understanding that the truck wants to get past, he is using the passing lane for what it is designed for ………OVERTAKING!!! The signs at some overtaking lanes even say….. Let Overtaking Vehicles Pass! Doesn’t get much simpler. If only the truck could squeeze an extra 2 – 3 km’s per hour out, just to get past the vehicle so it doesn’t look as though they are being inconsiderate road users. But unfortunately, unlike all other vehicles out there, the trucks are LIMITED!! So to all those critics out there – next time you have to do a road trip, even a minuet 4 hour trip – imagine you are driving a heavy vehicle. You are limited to 100km per hour, and in addition you have no power because you are towing a fully loaded trailer. Moral of the story - - If you get overtaken it is for a reason (either youre too slow or not consistent with your speed) - If a vehicle is trying to overtake you, be a considerate and safe road user and assist by braking not accelerating! - Trucks are speed limited. - Overtaking lanes are designed for overtaking. Please- Lets educate. Go back through our Facebook Page and see the ATA Safety Videos - promoting safe road use.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:39:47 +0000
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