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Each year there are over 1,000 incidents of ’sideswiping’, when left-hand drive foreign lorries, with blind spots on their right-hand passenger side, move lane on motorways and fail to see another vehicle in the lane they are entering. Car drivers in particular are urged to be alert to the possibility of foreign lorries making such manoeuvres.This warning comes from the Freight Transport Association, one of a group of leading bodies participating in National Motorway Month, an initiative jointly promoted by the RAC Foundation, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Highways Agency, Amey, BEAR Scotland, RAC and Transport Scotland to encourage safer driving on our motorways. The campaign is running through the busy holiday month of August.
FTA says that the number of foreign vehicles operating on our roads has substantially increased in recent years, and one in seven of the heaviest vehicles in the UK at any one time is now a left-hand drive foreign vehicle – around 14,000 vehicles every day. The Association has been concerned at the operating standards of many foreign lorries and UK enforcement agencies have found increasing numbers carrying roadworthiness faults, being overloaded and with drivers exceeding their allowable hours at the wheel.
FTA’s Director of External Affairs, Geoff Dossetter said, ‘In general, lorries have a good safety record and are involved in far fewer accidents than cars on a mile for mile basis. However, the handling characteristics and the speeds of acceleration and braking are, of course, different from cars.
‘As such car drivers should always take care to allow plenty of space when in the vicinity of heavy lorries, and to be alert to their special needs, particularly at junctions and roundabouts.
‘On motorways there are special problems involving foreign vehicles and the driver’s visibility on his right hand side – the side where, in the UK, he will be overtaken by a car. Blind spots in this visibility often mean that when such a vehicle moves across the road from the inside lane, he fails to see another vehicle in the second, or middle, lane and the result is a sideways collision – sideswiping.
‘The message for car drivers must be to take special care when close by a foreign lorry and, after checking their own mirrors, be prepared to accelerate, decelerate or change lane quickly and safely if the need arises.’
Derek Turner, Highways Agency Director of Traffic Operations said, ‘When left-hand drive HGVs change lanes on our roads, the risk of sideswiping an overtaking vehicle is increased due to a passenger side blindspot. To try and reduce the number of these incidents on our roads, we worked with VOSA on a trial of fresnel lenses. These lenses are placed on the passenger side window of the HGV, giving the driver a greater view of overtaking vehicles.
‘During the winter of 2006/2007, 40,000 fresnel lenses were distributed to vehicles entering England across the Dover Straits. The early indicators are that these have a benefit in reducing sideswiping incidents. Results are being evaluated by the Department for Transport and will be announced later in the year. However, based on the early indicators, we are looking at distributing further lenses at other ports in England.’
Geoff Dossetter said, ‘Lorries are the safest vehicles and motorways are the safest roads. But we must all be aware of the potential dangers, particularly when different types of vehicles with different performance abilities are in close proximity to each other. Looking out for foreign number plates, whether on a car or a lorry, is good sense. And be prepared for the unexpected. Anybody who has driven abroad will appreciate the potential confusion of driving ‘on the wrong side of the road’. So it is with foreign drivers coming to the UK and we should watch out for their own confusion and steer clear.’
This guest post has been contributed by Michael Selfe, a member of the Royal Automobile Club Foundation’s Road User Campaign. The Campaign’s objective is to improve the quality of travel by road in the United Kingdom, especially on the country’s main roads. We will be publishing regular contributions by Campaign members who will share their personal views and thoughts about motoring.
When you are next driving on a motorway take an occasional glance at the hard shoulder [the strip of road beside the slow lane] and notice how many vehicles are parked on it. You will see very very few. Even if a vehicle has taken refuge and awaits recovery, there is often an unused patch of land nearby which could be made into a layby. Surely the answer to the problem of congestion on some of our motorways is staring us in the face?These hard shoulders are built as strongly as the road and could be used at peak times when congestion is severe. However, we must never forget that their primary purpose is to provide a safe haven for broken down vehicles, and access for the police and others to get to accidents. On the M42 South of Birmingham, a pilot is taking place which combines both roles: the hard shoulder is now used for traffic at peak times, while still providing a safe refuge in times of need. This is very sucessful but expensive with frequent gantries, constant monitoring, and construction of extensive laybys to provide safe refuge in case of breakdown when the hard shoulder is in use as a running lane. This trial could be extended, with safeguards such as always having a lower speed limit on the hard shoulder and inner lane when they are in use. And of course the hard shoulder only need be used to keep vehicles flowing at a reasonable speed when traffic is heavily congested or at a standstill. This in itself can can reduce pollution and cut accidents.
Opening the hard shoulder as a running lane does not prevent widening at a later date when funds are there.
This is a very new way of using the hard shoulder in the UK, though it has proved successful in other European countries and the M42 trial is going well.
As drivers what are your views ? Would you like to see the pilot extended to other parts of the UK motorway network?
