Clown driving a truck on the M1

Dustin_80 · 15-05-2011, 08:39 AM

I was driving down the on ramp from smith street onto the M1 Gold Coast.

An unbroken line separates the entrance lane from the highway for many hundreds of meters. Naturally I wasn't prepared to cross until the line became unbroken. Although I was indicating I'd be merging as soon as it was safe and legal to do so.

When it was safe and legal I began to merge and to my great frustration the semi behind me attempted to merge onto the highway at the same time as me even though he was still at the unbroken line. And he was doing it very aggressively ie. driving very fast in an obvious attempt to cut me off and prevent me from merging.

I did complete the merge however and in typical moronic fashion he started tailgaiting me. And in such a way it could only have been deliberate.

Clowns like this have a great ability for giving all truck drivers a bad reputation.
How does someone so unprofessional even have a job?

Ben73 · 15-05-2011, 08:56 AM

I only drove on the m1 a few times. But half the drivers were idiots. Trucks and cars.
Everyone was in a rush changing lanes constantly passing on the left.
All normally behaviors it seams.

Road Games · 15-05-2011, 10:14 AM

Meh ... you have the ability to read the situation before hand by looking in your mirrors either speed up or slow down.

Sorry Dustin but you sound like one of these people who do 110 in the right lane because someone is doing 108 in the left lane and it isn't safe or legal in your eyes to exceed the speed limit?

I am well aware of the stretch you are reporting about and i have crossed that unbroken line many times..why?
Because there either was a break in traffic and it was safe to do so and i have 4 lanes to choose from OR there is a truck merging from the qaurry and i dont prefer to cop whatever MAY fall from his truck or i dont want to hold him up from merging at speed..

Definately not worthy of a thread on here ...

whiteELXR6 · 15-05-2011, 10:43 AM

If the truck has caught up with you on an entry ramp to a freeway your not going fast enough simple as that. I am not familiar with the road you are speaking of but if it is 100k's then i suggest 80 probably isn't a safe speed to merge at? If the truck has caught up with you on the entry ramp there is something wrong...

vibe_xr6 · 15-05-2011, 10:56 AM

reminds me of a truck thursday night who expected me to run a red light for him because it was raining and he didnt think he could have pulled up in time

**DJR-351** · 15-05-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteELXR6

If the truck has caught up with you on an entry ramp to a freeway your not going fast enough simple as that. I am not familiar with the road you are speaking of but if it is 100k's then i suggest 80 probably isn't a safe speed to merge at? If the truck has caught up with you on the entry ramp there is something wrong...

So the truck was not speeding...??? and you also know the OP was not sitting on the correct speed limit...???

Sorry but your statement makes no sence at all....

Tribal · 15-05-2011, 11:01 AM

Common sense should really prevail here, 20+ tonne truck versus a car. If he's driving aggressively and wants get through, slow down and let him go - you'll only ever come off second best if an error of judgement occurs, and in the long run you aren't going to be that inconvenienced.

Dags557 · 15-05-2011, 11:04 AM

Lets just remember that trucks are much bigger and some people will just ignore them in merging situations and hope they'll back off to get in.
It's the old, "I cant let a truck get in front of me" scenario.
So truckies will cross unbroken white lines to fit in properly, because it's a case of it's safer than battling with a car that's half way down the semi but still thinks the semi should back off.
As for tailgating you he may have just been trying to maintain his speed, because as you should know when a truck has to back off it takes a long time to get up again.
Just think of how much you get frustrated when someone is going slower than you or when they slow down for no real reason and then multiply that by 1000 if you're a truckie, because the effect changes everything.
That's not to say this guy/girl wasn't a cowboy, and doesn't deserve your criticism, but just keep it in mind next time it happens.

Dags557 · 15-05-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR-351

So the truck was not speeding...??? and you also know the OP was not sitting on the correct speed limit...???

Sorry but your statement makes no sence at all....

Actually it makes perfect sense.
When merging it's a requirement that you're traveling at the same speed as the traffic to be merged with, obviously.
The truck will have his/her foot buried in that throttle to be sure they're doing the merging speed, and if the truck managed to catch the car, since cars have a throttle response 1000 times better than any truck, loaded or empty, then clearly the car was just dawdling, and wasn't thinking about how his actions were affecting those behind him.
And just to clarify, even though I dont know the road at all, being from WA, what I do know is that even with the 600/650hp in some of the new trucks today getting to 100kph on an onramp (loaded) is a touch and go thing.

**DJR-351** · 15-05-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dags557

Actually it makes perfect sense.
When merging it's a requirement that you're traveling at the same speed as the traffic to be merged with, obviously. No BrainerThe truck will have his/her foot buried in that throttle to be sure they're doing the merging speed, and if the truck managed to catch the car, since cars have a throttle response 1000 times better than any truck, loaded or empty, then clearly the car was just dawdling, and wasn't thinking about how his actions were affecting those behind him.
And just to clarify, even though I dont know the road at all, being from WA, what I do know is that even with the 600/650hp in some of the new trucks today getting to 100kph on an onramp (loaded) is a touch and go thing.

Like the poster i quoted you are making assupmtions on a situation in an area you don't know, or i for that matter....
The point is there is NO mention of actual speeds mentioned in the OP, but plenty of assumtions in the replys....
Also i do know of plenty of on ramps where a truck can maintain or exceed the speed limit, just depends on the length of the ramp AND the length of the unbroken white line....Gateway onto the Bruce Hwy going North is a perfect example....

cobbadan · 15-05-2011, 12:21 PM

I see cars doing the exact same thing everyday. All over brisbane.
One of my pet hates.
Wherever there's a merging lane, there's always gonna be some idiot behind you who thinks that its the perfect overtaking opportunity.
Doesn't matter what speed your doing.

irish2 · 15-05-2011, 01:00 PM

I have never had a problem merging as long as I was keeping pace with the traffic already on the road I am merging onto. I do however see many people attempt to enter 100k/h zones at 60km/h. It makes it hard to merge for everyone following.

Trevor 57 · 15-05-2011, 01:07 PM

Truck bash - move on, nothing to see here

nstg8a · 15-05-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dags557

As for tailgating you he may have just been trying to maintain his speed, because as you should know when a truck has to back off it takes a long time to get up again.

thats the dumbest excuse for tailgating ever...

simple fact is, you must leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front to stop safely if something happens.

can you imagine a truck driver standing up in court defending himself in a manslaughter case saying 'i had to tailgate, it was either that or slow down. i had no choice'

**DJM83** · 15-05-2011, 01:20 PM

Slow news day eh?