Ok, picture this, I'm dropping down a steep hill, fully freighted in my artic (approx 44t gross) I'm doing about 48MPH (under the limit!) and I see a car that looks about to pull out in front of me.........

I flash my headlights ( 6 high intensity headlamps 2 in the bumper, 4 on a "bullbar" above my windscreen height) what does the car driver do?  (considering I'm now about 250 yards away and have slowed to about 42mph)

Yup, he pulls out in front of me!

I manage to scare the pants out of a Merc 190e driver as I violently cut him up, missing the car ( a Nissan Micra) by about 4 inches!

The British Highway Code http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/07.shtml clearly states Quote:
 This is the standard I'm trained to and the standard I'm expected to follow ,and I know most truckers don't!

Was I wrong? I'm sure the Merc driver thought so!  (sorry mate!)

I'd like any thoughts / comment.

Paul



Thank the lord ABS was invented for Articulated Trucks!

Quote:



Ahh, but I WAS, trouble is, at speed, trucks slow,erm, slowly!   

Well Paul, I know what it says in the Highway Code but most ordinary motorists flash their lights to show they're giving way. Heck, being a polite sort of chap I generally do it myself several times every single day. As an ordinary motorist driving around town in your spare time I'm sure you must be aware of this.

Mind you, if a bleedin' great truck flashed his lights at me I would give it the benefit of the doubt.

LOL You weren't wrong but this is one of those strange situations. I've been around long enough now to know that you can't beat the system. If the rules say one thing & everyone does the opposite you can't fight it. Even the traffic cops around here know that & go with the flow. They do show a little sense now & again.

I'm not the one to be giving advice to a pro trucker but if you wanted to use your lights as a warning to a private motorist maybe leave them on longer. Use the horn as well for good measure. Those modern truck horns are usually loud enough to scare the sh*t out of anyone these days. Glad you're OK & nobody was hurt.

Ayup Paul ........ I'm on your side only difference is I wouldn't have even slowed.

The last time someone did that to me when fully laden ended up with a rather short back end to their vehicle, cars make a very good brake and I had nowhere else to go, apart from into oncomming traffic and that wasn't an option I was going to take. Certain death for somone innocent as opposed to the possibility of death for an eejit .... the eejit drew the short straw and got 28tonnes of Volvo parked on his (empty) back seat. Luckily for him he only sustained shock, scratches, brown trousers(literally) and a hefty insurance bill.... the police saw the funny side and just laughed at him.
I gained out of the whole thing .... 5 hours overtime whilst the radiator was fixed at the roadside... and the 10 or so drops where backloaded onto another truck 

The only thing I would suggest is next time don't flash the lights, although that's what the highway code states its open to interpretation as it isn't the letter of the law. The Micra driver interperated your flash as letting him out as most peeps do. Heres the question ....... Had it been another truck would you have flashed? Probably not... had it been another truck he PROBABLY wouldnt have pulled out flash or not thats the difference in training.

I think if an accident had happened you might have been seen as 70% to blame mearly because you flashed and this would be seen as contributing. The argument against is that the Micra driver misjudged your signal and should have waited for you to slow signifcantly. Its the same as someone going through a green traffic light and being hit by a red light jumper. The guy passing through the green light could, in theory, be prosecuted as a green light only gives you the right of way .... it doesn't mean its safe to cross.

I think the moral of this is next time DON'T flash just back off, then you can't be accused of misleading anyone should anything untoward happen.
The Law is an ass when it comes to motoring ... so don't give it a chance to make an ass of you.

Keep on trucking
cheers
eno

LOL Thanks for the reply's guys, I'm off for the rest of the week in Central London! - Oh brother! 

At least, the chances of hitting 48mph are non existant....

I've taken this up with my "Transport Manager" - a guy who's never driven a Truck (of any type!) in his life!

He told me I should have just rammed him!

My instinct told me to try to warn the silly bugger, and I'd hate to scratch the paintwork of my little beastie.....