Another horror story

[Nodzed]

I spend a lot of time on the motorways and unfortunately tail gating (my biggest hate) is the biggest problem IMO, worse when its big vans and HGVs, some of these so called "Professional Drivers" need their licenses taken away.

 

[ppavuk]

I spend a lot of time on the motorways and unfortunately tail gating (my biggest hate) is the biggest problem IMO, worse when its big vans and HGVs, some of these so called "Professional Drivers" need their licenses taken away.

I do drive a lot on motorways too, but I found this more harassing on B roads. On motorway there is at least spare lanes, so I can let the idiot to rush to his lamppost or bridge pillar... On B-roads it is a different story.

 

[t-tony]

This is the one I've just bought for the rear facing, as you can see a very cheap item. But the video is good, haven't tried the sound yet, will probably pick up hellish wind noise.so will probably turn sound off again. The only issue I'm having is stopping vibration, which seems worse at the rear of the car. Going to try it with the roof up in the morning and see how that affects it, and see if it's air turbulence that causes it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182178957625?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

My front facing camera sits up behind the mirror out of sight and is the same as this one. You can buy spare windscreen mounts and power cables for this one, so you can easily swap it between cars.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-0801...deo-DVR-8GB-/121604860748?hash=item1c5036eb4c

If your car doesn't have ignition fed cigarette lighter or 12v power sockets you will need to hard wire it into an ignition fed fuse using these items.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371654534534?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262473220341?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Using these you can have the camera on auto start up as soon as you turn on the ignition, and switch off automatically when you turn the car off.

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

Oh why my lord, what a silly driver to allow his tyre to get into such a terrible state of ill repair, one would have thought that a little more attention to the condition of his vehicle is paramount.

Or.......what a f***ing plank!

 

[ppavuk]

This is the one I've just bought for the rear facing, as you can see a very cheap...
Tony.

I did not realised how cheap they are now! Thanks mate, I've just ordered a pair. I am fine with wiring, done similar stuff many times before...

 

[Grumps]

I spend a lot of time on the motorways and unfortunately tail gating (my biggest hate) is the biggest problem IMO, worse when its big vans and HGVs, some of these so called "Professional Drivers" need their licenses taken away.

I am a hgv driver and train new drivers, I too can't stand tail gating. I stop the training if they don't take heed after the 3rd warning. Not all of us "professional drivers" drive like planks.

 

[ppavuk]

I am a hgv driver and train new drivers, I too can't stand tail gating. I stop the training if they don't take heed after the 3rd warning. Not all of us "professional drivers" drive like planks.

Hard to choose between like and agree!

 

[t-tony]

This was discussed last Wednesday night when I was on the naughty step. The instructor explained what he does, thus. The person tailgating you is an idiot, the best place to have an idiot is in front of you where can observe what he/she is doing. Using the two second rule, if you let them past you and drop back two more seconds, you add two seconds to your journey. IF you had to do this 20 times in a one hour journey, how much longer would it take you to get to your destination? No brainer really, isn't it!

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

I am a hgv driver and train new drivers, I too can't stand tail gating. I stop the training if they don't take heed after the 3rd warning. Not all of us "professional drivers" drive like planks.

I know that mate and the majority don't but some are lunatics. I didn't intend to tar all HGV/van drivers with the same brush, didn't mean to offend, apologies if I did.

 

[Grumps]

I know that mate and the majority don't but some are lunatics. I didn't intend to tar all HGV/van drivers with the same brush, didn't mean to offend, apologies if I did.

No offence taken mate. Just making my point, I agree some hgv drivers are complete twats, just not all of us.

 

[Nodzed]

No offence taken mate. Just making my point, I agree some hgv drivers are complete twats, just not all of us.

Agree that's why I said "some" No harm done then

 

[Grumps]

Agree that's why I said "some" No harm done then

Cause not.

 

[Redline]

This was discussed last Wednesday night when I was on the naughty step. The instructor explained what he does, thus. The person tailgating you is an idiot, the best place to have an idiot is in front of you where can observe what he/she is doing. Using the two second rule, if you let them past you and drop back two more seconds, you add two seconds to your journey. IF you had to do this 20 times in a one hour journey, how much longer would it take you to get to your destination? No brainer really, isn't it!

Tony.

Exactly why I turned off and allowed him to get in front of me Tony.
It's fine in theory but when you're on a busy single carriageway road it's more often than not impossible to let them pass.
If I'd been in the LR. I would have just eased off and either he hits you or overtakes. If he runs into the back He'd then have to explain the two foot gouge in the front of his van from my tow bar and bike carrier.
In the Zed your far more exposed - not an option. He then went on to bully someone in a VW polo or similar.
Time for more dash cams too.

 

[Redline]

No offence taken mate. Just making my point, I agree some hgv drivers are complete twats, just not all of us.

The majority are safe enough, some large proportion are indeed fantastic, but surely the public have a right to expect that all professional drivers adopt professional standards and that firms impose and monitor those standards. Those drivers who don't want to play should no longer have a profession - there's plenty to take their place - simples!

For an MD, somebody with your companies name on their vehicle are an ambassador for your firm. Allow them to represent you badly, you should expect to hurt your reputation and also financially.
We, the public, shouldn't have to complain or be accused of lying when you do - that is generally what happens. Unfortunately, satellite telemetry doesn't show driving like this. Grrr.
Am sure Bridgestone don't want nor need thousands of drivers boycotting them going elsewhere because of a van driver. That's the only sanction in this case. Miffed I'd didn't have video though.

 

[t-tony]

Exactly why I turned off and allowed him to get in front of me Tony.
It's fine in theory but when you're on a busy single carriageway road it's more often than not impossible to let them pass.
If I'd been in the LR. I would have just eased off and either he hits you or overtakes. If he runs into the back He'd then have to explain the two foot gouge in the front of his van from my tow bar and bike carrier.
In the Zed your far more exposed - not an option. He then went on to bully someone in a VW polo or similar.
Time for more dash cams too.

I do agree Ian, but what the instructor was trying to get across to us lot was that the other option is to put your foot down to leave the idiot behind, and, most of us could do that. But then you open yourself up to the prospect of speeding again which defeats the object of the course. I sometimes get the boy racer's in their Fiestas and Corsas climbing all over the back of my car and I just slow down till they p*** off past and I enjoy the rest of my ride home.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

Update - I left a message with Bridgestone UK this morning.
A short while ago I got a call from the transport manager of Kingsway Tyres. The UK MD asked him to investigate.

The bad news for the driver is that their vans are equipped with GPS telemetry and cameras. While he didn't have the camera available, the telemetry data showed the driver doing 64 in a 50 limit. He's already in bother. The camera data is being retrieved for analysis.
I think a driver might be up for some retraining at least. The transport manager was not a happy bunny.....

 

[ppavuk]

Update - I left a message with Bridgestone UK this morning.
A short while ago I got a call from the transport manager of Kingsway Tyres. The UK MD asked him to investigate.

The bad news for the driver is that their vans are equipped with GPS telemetry and cameras. While he didn't have the camera available, the telemetry data showed the driver doing 64 in a 50 limit. He's already in bother. The camera data is being retrieved for analysis.
I think a driver might be up for some retraining at least. The transport manager was not a happy bunny.....

Excellent! Btw, how stupid one must be to behave like this in controlled car with cam and GPS recorders!

 

[Redline]

Excellent! Btw, how stupid one must be to behave like this in controlled car with cam and GPS recorders!

Yup - Dumb and dumber! Bang to rights! Probably wouldn't expect it coming back at him, especially so quickly and from head office too

If he keeps his job he's going to be very closely scrutinised for some time I bet.
If he doesn't - There's plenty more out there that will do his job I'm sure....

 

[ppavuk]

Yup - Dumb and dumber! Bang to rights! Probably wouldn't expect it coming back at him, especially so quickly and from head office too

If he keeps his job he's going to be very closely scrutinised for some time I bet.
If he doesn't - There's plenty more out there that will do his job I'm sure....

That would be good lesson. Hopefully guy is smart enough to learn lessons!

 

[jonco]

Good result - he deserves it . You are probably already alert to it but take care to conceal/restrict any contact details when complaining.

I had an incident a few years ago where a similar idiot in a works car (with logo - IT company) severely tailgated me on a motorway and then cut me and several others up as we slowed on slip road and he repeatedly re-joined carriage way and cut back in. I was incensed and tried to ring company number when I got home but they had left so I emailed them. Received a grovelling apology from MD and assurance individual would be dealt with.

A number of days later I received a suspicious email with a reference to speeding and dangerous driving and an attachment which fortunately I didn't open. The other half was working for local constabulary at the time so she asked their IT Fraud people to have a look at it and attachment had virus implanted. They couldn't justify looking further but I made the MD aware of the amazing co-incidence.