On my recent trip to the Carnarvon region I noticed that there seemed a lot of big trucks that exceeded the truck speed limit of 100 kms.
I like to site on 100kms but had a number particularly on the Brand Highway trying to push me faster from behind and sitting on my tail.
Where possible I would find somewhere to pull off and let them pass, however with some they come up so close that to indicate well in advance and slow to pull off would be fatal. I had one nearly clean me up doing this which missed me I don't know how. I was prevented from pulling too far to the left by the number of guide sticks on this stretch and narrow gravel shoulders. Bloody scary!.
In that particular case this bloke was going so fast I could not take my hands off the wheel to use my two way to let him know I was looking for a pull off. I noticed on the side of the semi truck he had Bunnings written on it.
In retrospect I should have used the alternative tourist drive route of Indian Ocean Drive, my understanding is that trucks are banned from using this unless they are delivering to towns along this route. This is a lot longer but safer, except some of the places you may want to call into are on the other route. Quite often if I see trucks behind me in the distance I try to find a pull off well before they reach me and let them pass, rather than have them sitting on my tail.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 10:31:17 AM
dING said
10:36 AM May 21, 2014
Should never pull over to let em pass
Just hold a steady pace and they will
Sort out the when and how
Vic41 said
10:40 AM May 21, 2014
dING wrote:
Should never pull over to let em pass
Just hold a steady pace and they will
Sort out the when and how
This one particular bloke was that close to me (with nothing coming the other way) I reckon he would have nudged or pushed me if I had kept my pace, I wondered if he was asleep or something. Get your point though. Some of these truck are pretty aggressive and intimidating.
rockylizard said
10:53 AM May 21, 2014
Vic41 wrote:
On my recent trip to the Carnarvon region I noticed that there seemed a lot of big trucks that exceeded the truck speed limit of 100 kms.
~~~ Bloody scary!.
In that particular case this bloke was going so fast I could not take my hands off the wheel to use my two way to let him know I was looking for a pull off. ~~~
Gday..
It sure does get the heart rate up.
I do apologise if this is telling ya granny how to suck them thar eggs ... but as soon as you saw one in ya mirrors, get on the UHF then, before he rubbed the paint off ya bumper, and let him know you have seen him and that you will either slow at a safe place to let him pass, or you will pull over at a safe place when one presents itself. A two-way conversation with the driver usually provides a mutually agreeable and safe solution.
As you say, and experienced, it is too late to try to talk to em at 100kph wif em right up ya clacker.
cheers - John
Haji-Baba said
10:59 AM May 21, 2014
If that had been me followed so closely at the posted speed limit or as you pointed out 100km p. h.
for any truck or vehicle over 12 tonnes gross the incident would have probably finished in a different manner.
Enough said, I had it happen once north of Mackay and after a short discussion with the semi driver I never saw him again till Proserpine when I pulled up for fuel.
Have fun Haji-Baba.
exa41 said
11:02 AM May 21, 2014
there too bloody big to argue wif
Tomzys said
11:10 AM May 21, 2014
Get as .much information as you can.
Rego,make of semi any written ID on triuck pull over when safe to do so and either ring through to nearest Police Station or if going to town hand it all over to them I can assure you they will do all they can with wreckless drivers.
Have a safe journey ,
rockylizard said
11:17 AM May 21, 2014
Tomzys wrote:
Get as much information as you can. Rego, make of semi any written ID on truck pull over when safe to do so and either ring through to nearest Police Station or if going to town hand it all over to them I can assure you they will do all they can with reckless drivers. Have a safe journey ,
Gday...
OR - "as you saw one in ya mirrors, get on the UHF then, before he rubbed the paint off ya bumper, and let him know you have seen him and that you will either slow at a safe place to let him pass, or you will pull over at a safe place when one presents itself. A two-way conversation with the driver usually provides a mutually agreeable and safe solution."
Cheers - John
valnrob said
02:21 PM May 21, 2014
Some * truckers note the word SOME, are cowboys. Plain nasty and reckless. Want us caravaners out of their way. Swearing and cursing on their 2way at any one and everyone. We always try and let them pass when safe to do so. It is so lovely when you pull over and let one pass and get a thank you off a driver who also wishes you a great day and enoy your travels. We've had a few of these, and it reminds us there are some fantastic guys out there drivng their big rigs keeping the highway safe.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOU TRUCKERS.....THANKS.
cheers Val
Vic41 said
03:00 PM May 21, 2014
The main point I was making was that there seemed more than usual exceeding the truck speed limit which in WA is 100 kph.
I was doing 100 kph myself, but they were roaring up behind me and overtaking, so obviously speeding. I do understand that on the downhill stretches some like to speed up a bit to get over the next rise, however I am talking about flat stretches of road.
The one bloke that came right up behind me nearly kissing my backside must have been doing way over the speed limit I reckon, he came up behind me so fast he caught me by surprise and I thought he was going to run over the top of me, and when he did swing around me he nearly clipped me, although I had pulled as far to the left as possible onto the gravel shoulder to avoid it.
I've been driving for awhile and also have driven heavy trucks, so have some idea when someone is being a clown, and this bloke was and dangerously so at my expense, I thought I was a gonna for sure, needed an undie check after that experience....
Big Gorilla said
04:03 PM May 21, 2014
rockylizard wrote:
Gday..
It sure does get the heart rate up.
I do apologise if this is telling ya granny how to suck them thar eggs ... but as soon as you saw one in ya mirrors, get on the UHF then, before he rubbed the paint off ya bumper, and let him know you have seen him and that you will either slow at a safe place to let him pass, or you will pull over at a safe place when one presents itself. A two-way conversation with the driver usually provides a mutually agreeable and safe solution.
As you say, and experienced, it is too late to try to talk to em at 100kph wif em right up ya clacker.
cheers - John
Good advice. Exactly what I do as I sit on 95 to 100 kph which must p#@s off a few sitting behind me.
aussie_paul said
05:29 PM May 21, 2014
valnrob wrote:
Some * truckers note the word SOME, are cowboys. Plain nasty and reckless. Want us caravaners out of their way. Swearing and cursing on their 2way at any one and everyone. We always try and let them pass when safe to do so. It is so lovely when you pull over and let one pass and get a thank you off a driver who also wishes you a great day and enoy your travels. We've had a few of these, and it reminds us there are some fantastic guys out there drivng their big rigs keeping the highway safe. BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOU TRUCKERS.....THANKS.
cheers Val
Yes Val. Yesterday we were coming back to Ballarat from Apollo Bay via Lavers Hill to avoid the worst of the bends and twists on the Otway mountains. We ended up behind a logging truck who was keeping a reasonable pace. I was not in a hurry and followed him along. He then put his left indicator on and I thought he was going to turn off, but no, there was a place for pulling over and let us past. After a wave and a toot we continued to Gellibrand River and stopped for lunch. He tooted us as he went by a minute or so later. I have my UHF cb ready to install so must get onto it. It is unfortunate that there are cowboys in every sector pf humanity whether it be truckers or Genset users!!!
Aussie Paul.
kiwijims said
08:03 PM May 21, 2014
Tomzys wrote:
Get as .much information as you can. Rego,make of semi any written ID on triuck pull over when safe to do so and either ring through to nearest Police Station or if going to town hand it all over to them I can assure you they will do all they can with wreckless drivers. Have a safe journey ,
I agree with Tomzys Vic, even if you only have time to grab the rego number, jot it down as soon as the shakes have gone, then ring ahead to the nearest Cop Station.
I had a similar thing happen to me one day while going to a fire under emergency road conditions, being under E.M.R. means you are traveling with lights and siren operating, anyhow we were doing a good pace down a straight stretch of highway when we were overtaken by a old land cruiser, as soon as this clown had passed us he slowed down to a crawl, making me stand on the brakes, even after sounding the horn, he stayed on his slow speed for some distance, the outcome of this was, I grabbed the radio mike and radioed his rego number via the Fire station to the Police, I was told later the police response was so quick they probably had this guy behind bars before we had the fire under control. sometimes the cops can be handy.
K.J.
briche said
09:30 PM May 21, 2014
Hi vic41, we had a nasty experience like that lst year on our way through the Newall Highway coming into Parks. As we came over the top of a hill leading into the town this double B came up behind us and just pushed and pushed until he was knocking on the back of the van. We had nowhere to go so we just had to wear it until we got into the town. I actually reported him to the local law of the town and his comments were just take his rego number and company and report him.
when I raised the question about his driving style and he just said " try and keep out of their way" easy to say not always easy to do. I know one thing for sure I won't on the Newall anymore.
i will say one thing before I go, not all truckies are bad drivers. In the main most are good and they work with you to get past but unfortunately there are always cowboys.
bruche
neilnruth said
10:12 PM May 21, 2014
Hi briche - or is it 'bruche' now? Hope you're still enjoying your travels.
Gerty Dancer said
11:04 PM May 21, 2014
We were tail-gated near the Otways in Victoria, and it was getting really scary as it was raining. I was reaching for the radio to ask politely if he'd "get off our tail so we could slow down and move over for him to pass", when he suddenly slowed and turned off. Whew!
Now we use the radio more, most truckies are great, hasn't happened since.
Briche, I reported a driver for tail-gating once, (I'd been driving a very small car and was absolutely terrified), not to the police but to the company who's name was on his truck. They have a "Safe driving on display" logo on their trucks... hope he got a proper telling-off!
Vic41 said
11:31 PM May 21, 2014
Thanks for the tips, unfortunately I didn't have time to get his number, too busy trying not to run off the road altogether on the gravel and watching out for guide posts etc, he just zoomed past me into the distance and was long gone by the time I recovered enough to get back on the road properly, it was either try to get off the road a bit or wear his truck.
milo said
12:51 AM May 22, 2014
wonder if those dash camera's are worth getting?
I remember being tailgated in our motor home a few times, then only to have to over take the same truck going up the hill, then him doing it again later, rinse and repeat.. bloody annoying but I just kept smiling as we passed each other every time
oldbobsbus said
05:36 AM May 22, 2014
milo wrote:
wonder if those dash camera's are worth getting?
I remember being tailgated in our motor home a few times, then only to have to over take the same truck going up the hill, then him doing it again later, rinse and repeat.. bloody annoying but I just kept smiling as we passed each other every time
We had a B double giving us a hard time last year when we were coming down from Atherton to the coast, and really abusing us for passing him even though we were doing 100+k,
I called him back and told him to smile he was on candid camera, it was amazing how fast he backed off..
Another time one was tail gating us and abusing us so next big hill I just slowed right down till we were almost stopped and then left him to climb the hill in low gear, I called him up and asked if his rubber band had broken... he kept his distance from then on ..
sandsmere said
06:11 AM May 22, 2014
The main thing is talk to the truckies. We tow the van at 90-95khp, Talk to the truckies all the time and have not had one problem in almost
two and half years on the road full time. Talk is the operative word.
_wombat_ said
07:32 AM May 22, 2014
talk with truckies is the best way, I always say "when you are ready to pass go for it, you know the road better than I do and you are working I am on holiday"
most are great guys but there are a few, best option is camera on front and rear.
jules47 said
08:26 AM May 22, 2014
Wombats way is a good way - we talk to the truckies on the radio, and say we will pull over if we can, or we will back off when they come out to pass - just lifting your foot drops your speed by 5k, and the trucks are past in no time - most give a flick flack of the blinkers to say thanks, or say thanks on the radio.
Only had a couple of incidents with trucks -nothing serious though, just rudeness.
Dougwe said
08:32 AM May 22, 2014
I agree with wombat, for a change
I always call up the truck driver as soon as he appears in my mirror and ask them if they want to pass and let me know when ready and I will pull over when safe or slow down if they want or let me know what they would prefer me to do. I have been lucky I think as have always struck friendly drivers and they all have different ways they like to do things. I also have always got a thanks or flash of the indicators. As I said just lucky I spose.
_wombat_ said
08:34 AM May 22, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
I agree with wombat, for a change
I always call up the truck driver as soon as he appears in my mirror and ask them if they want to pass and let me know when ready and I will pull over when safe or slow down if they want or let me know what they would prefer me to do. I have been lucky I think as have always struck friendly drivers and they all have different ways they like to do things. I also have always got a thanks or flash of the indicators. As I said just lucky I spose.
that is the second time you have agreed with me, you need to take your meds
Tomzys said
06:27 PM Jun 4, 2014
This is unbelievable one truck company fined 1.25million in speading fines clocked up by their drivers in a frame time of 18 months. All these fines were clocked up on the Hume High way with some truckies doing over 140ks .this is just reckless and inconsiderate to all road users. I hope the courts keep the sting up we may end up with safer highways to travel on.
Vic41 said
05:00 AM Jun 6, 2014
Tomzys wrote:
This is unbelievable one truck company fined 1.25million in speading fines clocked up by their drivers in a frame time of 18 months. All these fines were clocked up on the Hume High way with some truckies doing over 140ks .this is just reckless and inconsiderate to all road users. I hope the courts keep the sting up we may end up with safer highways to travel on.
Just shows there are cowboys out the Tomzys, like the subject says it is about speeding truckies (those exceeding their legal limit) not about those doing their speed limit and overtaking slower vehicles. They are out their and putting all of our lives at risk.
Vic41 said
07:48 PM Jun 6, 2014
I had an email today from the trucking company about one of their truck drivers who nearly wiped me off, they thanked me for advising them and informed me they had investigated and he is no longer working for them.
They also told me that if any of their other trucks come to notice to please inform them, they would be very interested.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Friday 6th of June 2014 07:48:42 PM
neilnruth said
10:34 PM Jun 6, 2014
We could understand the truck behind us getting frustrated the other day. We were travelling down M1 south of Sydney (without our caravan) and were following a car and van which often did as low as 65kph - and they had no towing mirrors!! When we got a chance we overtook - and so did the truck. Webet he was grateful for the overtaking lanes. We certainly were. We thought it was illegal to tow without clear vision of what was behind you.
johnq said
04:18 PM Jun 7, 2014
jules47 wrote:
Wombats way is a good way - we talk to the truckies on the radio, and say we will pull over if we can, or we will back off when they come out to pass - just lifting your foot drops your speed by 5k, and the trucks are past in no time - most give a flick flack of the blinkers to say thanks, or say thanks on the radio.
Only had a couple of incidents with trucks -nothing serious though, just rudeness.
Lifting the foot on the gas pedal while a truck is passing a van/trailer could result in a trailer sway with a possible nasty result. Maybe keep same speed with a poofteenth* of extra pedal that doesn't result in acceleration but keeps the rig stable.
*poofteenth, as in so slight as to be almost imperceptible
Luckily I wasn't towing anything and as a rule do take my foot off when they are level and passing me. I also use my two way if I get the opportunity to do so.
However this goon had no need to pass me as I was doing HIS legal speed limit. May I ad that if he had been he would not have come up behind me as rapidly as he did either, which was unexpected. We were on a flat stretch so he was not speeding up to get over the next hill, just a plain cowboy (he is not alone, some RV drivers are too) and thankfully they are in general the exception.
On my recent trip to the Carnarvon region I noticed that there seemed a lot of big trucks that exceeded the truck speed limit of 100 kms.
I like to site on 100kms but had a number particularly on the Brand Highway trying to push me faster from behind and sitting on my tail.
Where possible I would find somewhere to pull off and let them pass, however with some they come up so close that to indicate well in advance and slow to pull off would be fatal. I had one nearly clean me up doing this which missed me I don't know how. I was prevented from pulling too far to the left by the number of guide sticks on this stretch and narrow gravel shoulders. Bloody scary!.
In that particular case this bloke was going so fast I could not take my hands off the wheel to use my two way to let him know I was looking for a pull off. I noticed on the side of the semi truck he had Bunnings written on it.
In retrospect I should have used the alternative tourist drive route of Indian Ocean Drive, my understanding is that trucks are banned from using this unless they are delivering to towns along this route. This is a lot longer but safer, except some of the places you may want to call into are on the other route. Quite often if I see trucks behind me in the distance I try to find a pull off well before they reach me and let them pass, rather than have them sitting on my tail.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 10:31:17 AM
Just hold a steady pace and they will
Sort out the when and how
This one particular bloke was that close to me (with nothing coming the other way) I reckon he would have nudged or pushed me if I had kept my pace, I wondered if he was asleep or something. Get your point though. Some of these truck are pretty aggressive and intimidating.
Gday..
It sure does get the heart rate up.
I do apologise if this is telling ya granny how to suck them thar eggs ... but as soon as you saw one in ya mirrors, get on the UHF then, before he rubbed the paint off ya bumper, and let him know you have seen him and that you will either slow at a safe place to let him pass, or you will pull over at a safe place when one presents itself. A two-way conversation with the driver usually provides a mutually agreeable and safe solution.
As you say, and experienced, it is too late to try to talk to em at 100kph wif em right up ya clacker.
cheers - John
If that had been me followed so closely at the posted speed limit or as you pointed out 100km p. h.
for any truck or vehicle over 12 tonnes gross the incident would have probably finished in a different manner.
Enough said, I had it happen once north of Mackay and after a short discussion with the semi driver I never saw him again till Proserpine when I pulled up for fuel.
Have fun Haji-Baba.
Gday...
OR - "as you saw one in ya mirrors, get on the UHF then, before he rubbed the paint off ya bumper, and let him know you have seen him and that you will either slow at a safe place to let him pass, or you will pull over at a safe place when one presents itself. A two-way conversation with the driver usually provides a mutually agreeable and safe solution."
Cheers - John
BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOU TRUCKERS.....THANKS.
cheers Val
The main point I was making was that there seemed more than usual exceeding the truck speed limit which in WA is 100 kph.
I was doing 100 kph myself, but they were roaring up behind me and overtaking, so obviously speeding. I do understand that on the downhill stretches some like to speed up a bit to get over the next rise, however I am talking about flat stretches of road.
The one bloke that came right up behind me nearly kissing my backside must have been doing way over the speed limit I reckon, he came up behind me so fast he caught me by surprise and I thought he was going to run over the top of me, and when he did swing around me he nearly clipped me, although I had pulled as far to the left as possible onto the gravel shoulder to avoid it.
I've been driving for awhile and also have driven heavy trucks, so have some idea when someone is being a clown, and this bloke was and dangerously so at my expense, I thought I was a gonna for sure, needed an undie check after that experience....
Good advice. Exactly what I do as I sit on 95 to 100 kph which must p#@s off a few sitting behind me.
Yes Val. Yesterday we were coming back to Ballarat from Apollo Bay via Lavers Hill to avoid the worst of the bends and twists on the Otway mountains. We ended up behind a logging truck who was keeping a reasonable pace. I was not in a hurry and followed him along. He then put his left indicator on and I thought he was going to turn off, but no, there was a place for pulling over and let us past. After a wave and a toot we continued to Gellibrand River and stopped for lunch. He tooted us as he went by a minute or so later. I have my UHF cb ready to install so must get onto it. It is unfortunate that there are cowboys in every sector pf humanity whether it be truckers or Genset users!!!
Aussie Paul.
I agree with Tomzys Vic, even if you only have time to grab the rego number, jot it down as soon as the shakes have gone, then ring ahead to the nearest Cop Station.
I had a similar thing happen to me one day while going to a fire under emergency road conditions, being under E.M.R. means you are traveling with lights and siren operating, anyhow we were doing a good pace down a straight stretch of highway when we were overtaken by a old land cruiser, as soon as this clown had passed us he slowed down to a crawl, making me stand on the brakes, even after sounding the horn, he stayed on his slow speed for some distance, the outcome of this was, I grabbed the radio mike and radioed his rego number via the Fire station to the Police, I was told later the police response was so quick they probably had this guy behind bars before we had the fire under control. sometimes the cops can be handy.
K.J.
Hi vic41, we had a nasty experience like that lst year on our way through the Newall Highway coming into Parks. As we came over the top of a hill leading into the town this double B came up behind us and just pushed and pushed until he was knocking on the back of the van. We had nowhere to go so we just had to wear it until we got into the town. I actually reported him to the local law of the town and his comments were just take his rego number and company and report him.
when I raised the question about his driving style and he just said " try and keep out of their way" easy to say not always easy to do. I know one thing for sure I won't on the Newall anymore.
i will say one thing before I go, not all truckies are bad drivers. In the main most are good and they work with you to get past but unfortunately there are always cowboys.
bruche
Now we use the radio more, most truckies are great, hasn't happened since.
Briche, I reported a driver for tail-gating once, (I'd been driving a very small car and was absolutely terrified), not to the police but to the company who's name was on his truck. They have a "Safe driving on display" logo on their trucks... hope he got a proper telling-off!
Thanks for the tips, unfortunately I didn't have time to get his number, too busy trying not to run off the road altogether on the gravel and watching out for guide posts etc, he just zoomed past me into the distance and was long gone by the time I recovered enough to get back on the road properly, it was either try to get off the road a bit or wear his truck.
wonder if those dash camera's are worth getting?
I remember being tailgated in our motor home a few times, then only to have to over take
the same truck going up the hill, then him doing it again later, rinse and repeat..
bloody annoying but I just kept smiling as we passed each other every time
We had a B double giving us a hard time last year when we were coming down from Atherton to the coast, and really abusing us for passing him even though we were doing 100+k,
I called him back and told him to smile he was on candid camera, it was amazing how fast he backed off..
Another time one was tail gating us and abusing us so next big hill I just slowed right down till we were almost stopped and then left him to climb the hill in low gear, I called him up and asked if his rubber band had broken... he kept his distance from then on ..
The main thing is talk to the truckies. We tow the van at 90-95khp, Talk to the truckies all the time and have not had one problem in almost
two and half years on the road full time. Talk is the operative word.
talk with truckies is the best way, I always say "when you are ready to pass go for it, you know the road better than I do and you are working I am on holiday"
most are great guys but there are a few, best option is camera on front and rear.
Only had a couple of incidents with trucks -nothing serious though, just rudeness.
I agree with wombat, for a change
I always call up the truck driver as soon as he appears in my mirror and ask them if they want to pass and let me know when ready and I will pull over when safe or slow down if they want or let me know what they would prefer me to do. I have been lucky I think as have always struck friendly drivers and they all have different ways they like to do things. I also have always got a thanks or flash of the indicators. As I said just lucky I spose.
that is the second time you have agreed with me, you need to take your meds
Just shows there are cowboys out the Tomzys, like the subject says it is about speeding truckies (those exceeding their legal limit) not about those doing their speed limit and overtaking slower vehicles. They are out their and putting all of our lives at risk.
I had an email today from the trucking company about one of their truck drivers who nearly wiped me off, they thanked me for advising them and informed me they had investigated and he is no longer working for them.
They also told me that if any of their other trucks come to notice to please inform them, they would be very interested.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Friday 6th of June 2014 07:48:42 PM
Lifting the foot on the gas pedal while a truck is passing a van/trailer could result in a trailer sway with a possible nasty result. Maybe keep same speed with a poofteenth* of extra pedal that doesn't result in acceleration but keeps the rig stable.
*poofteenth, as in so slight as to be almost imperceptible
http://upperiscope.com.au/miscellaneous/slang&meanings.html
Luckily I wasn't towing anything and as a rule do take my foot off when they are level and passing me. I also use my two way if I get the opportunity to do so.
However this goon had no need to pass me as I was doing HIS legal speed limit. May I ad that if he had been he would not have come up behind me as rapidly as he did either, which was unexpected. We were on a flat stretch so he was not speeding up to get over the next hill, just a plain cowboy (he is not alone, some RV drivers are too) and thankfully they are in general the exception.