Originally Posted by
Burnzybubbles
i was giving people room that was coming onto the motorway, i couldn't go forward, i couldn't go into the middle lane, so i had to slow down and let them in, then to have the bloke in his lorry behind me get annoyed because HE was too close and didn't give himself the proper braking distance, if you remember wot you was taught in your driving lesson then you should always give yourself the correct gap, yes i bent the rules slightly and was closer than 2 second's but i am not the one complaining that i nearly went into the back of someone, i have never gone into the back of someone, and i don't tailgate, i no how stupid it is, but if your a competent enough driver then you can judge this distance and still keep within a safe limit, any good driver will tell you this.
fact is the 2 second rule was put to use in the 70's or something like that, newer car's are capable of stopping in a much shorter distance, and like my car with bigger brakes than intended, can stop even quicker, so if i was 2 second's apart i would probably stop a good 70yrd's behind the lorry if it was to slam his anchors on and so was i
My last contribution to this thread - I promise!!!
A) Traffic joining the motorway has to give way. I'd be fucked off if you slowed in front of me to allow someone on when we have priority. It is one of the most basic rules of the road, not that far down the list from drive on the left. If we all start adapting the basic rules we'll find it hard or impossible to go anywhere.
B) Even if 30-40 feet was an exaggeration of how close you were, I promise you will be astounded at how long it will take you to stop. Cars HAVE hugely improved since the Highway Code stopping distances were introduced, but the basic human element hasn't. The thinking time happens while you are travelling at maximum speed and before any deceleration due to applying brakes. I did an Ultimate car Control course with work before Christmas, in brand new high-performance cars on a runway (which has more friction than a road) and it was an eye-opener for me. Even when you know you will be told to brake suddenly but don't know when, there is a frightening amount of ground covered before anything actually happens.
And as a sales rep I cover about 40k a year and have done for maybe 20 years or more so, no, I don't always keep to the posted limit, I do have some points on my licence, I do have some bad habits, and I've had some minor bumps, but I'm very aware of my own and other people's driving and always have an escape route subconsciously in mind. From what you describe, you have put yourself in a horrifyingly dangerous situation.
As for lorry drivers needing to be aware that they are "driving a seriously lethal weapon", I think you will find most of them are VERY aware of this. Remember, they needed to pass a special test to drive their vehicle, pass a regular medical, and now sit exams to show professional competence. Unlike us, who can pass our car test in a Fiesta 1.1 then hare off in a Cosworth!
A little gun might be less dangerous than a big gun, but it can still kill someone...