Having read the first post a while ago, I thought I'd not read on too far, because the most important point was made right up there at #1.
JohnboyC said:
My condolances go out to the family of five killed when their car just burst into flames......
That said however, this has been a most interesting read - and certainly a mixed-bag.
So...
1) I wholeheartedly agree that the incident on the M6 was a tragic waste of life, and I feel deep sympathy for the family which has lost so much.
2) I also agree that there is a considerable problem (the figures speak for themselves) with the safety of HGVs in traffic.
i) There was one crucial part in (2) above - 'in traffic' - I would agree that there are still dangerous HGV (drivers) around even in places where there is nobody else, but I think (as mentioned above) there is a problem with general attitudes on the roads. If we wiped everyone's 'reputation' slate clean and started again - every road user should consider every other, for convenience and safety, and the simple fact is that a considerably larger vehicle should probably warrant that bit more. They aren't as manouverable, they aren't as easy to stop, and they aren't as easy to see around.
ii) I don't think it's fair to tar all HGV drivers with the same brush (I'm not putting the flame-suit on because I'm not saying that's what anyone in particular is suggesting) - again there is a lot of truth in what's been said about the fact there are a percentage of HGV drivers who aren't fit to be behind the wheel, and equally there is a percentage (probably higher) of car drivers who let the rest down. Just the same as there are some good car drivers though, there are plenty of good HGV drivers.
..Andy, I'm not arguing - merely making a point - I see where you're coming from, but if you are tempted to reiterate your comparison with pilots I'll refer you to the stories (one recent) about pilots intoxicated at the yoke. At the end of the day we all hope people are good at what they're paid to do - but in any job you'll find a number who aren't so hot - it's not fair to tear-down the rest of a kind because of a comparatively small number.
3) I agree that there is a pretty undeniable problem with foreign vehicles and drivers on our roads - I would argue that this probably accounts for a big chunk of HGV incidents which have incompetence or irresponsibility at their root.
i) I'll make another note though... I'm not going to make a sweeping generalisation about Miklos the <insert eastern european country here> truck driver, and how he's consumed so much hooch in his cab he's asleep at the helm of a 20 year old rig, laden with three times its SWL and a quarer of its rated tyre tread and pressure; on which every component (save for those which used to keep the mirror (singular) attached) is held to the one adjacent by iron-oxide alone. See (2ii) above - there are good and bad everywhere.
ii) I DO think, that changes have to be made to tackle the bad foreign apples urgently - making LOTS of blind-spot mirrors compulsory, checking of lights and signals on arrival in the UK, and enforcing UK working-time regulations are all easily possible. I can't see the first two costing a fortune to implement either, the last might be more costly - but only if you enforced a system of tachograph use even for foreign drivers - which I think is a good idea. OK, it would mean some foreign rigs would need them fitted, and there would be administration - but it wouldn't impede trade or logistics and bring the EU to its knees, and maybe that would be one change which wouldn't inconvenience the responsible foreign drivers while having a positive effect on smartening-up the shabby ones.
iii) related to (i) - The shabbier contingent of UK HGV drivers should be sorted out just as much - this probably comes down to VOSA being given more battenburg Galaxies and the dayglo wombles turning their attention away from coning-off two lanes of a motorway to retreive a napkin when three Police traffic cars have already turned-up to do it. I don't think there would be a dramatic re-think of law governing drivers and vehicles required - just better enforcement of what's there.
4) I have to say in summary, from my own observations (I haven't carried-out a controlled study, but on average I spend very little over an hour of every working day outside of my car) there are some shocking HGVs and drivers on our roads, from here, there, everywhere. At the same time some of the HGV drivers on our roads are the best examples of gentlemen (and I guess ladies), indeed, knights of the road. To the bad ones, shame on you - I hope the law catches you. To the good - a salute, I'm appreciative of the courtesy you offer and the service you provide.
5) On the issue of the two Royal Mail artics straddling lanes...
If there were three (or any number I guess) lanes of
moving traffic in front of them - that's shocking, and certainly something which shouldn't be happening. If however, there was standing traffic ahead, perhaps with three lanes merging into two, or even one. Fair play to them. I can see quattrojames' utopian-vision of how queues for a merge would work - it'd be great if people started to join the open lanes close to the blockage, but with enough time so that everyone approaching the queue only has to slow to the speed of the slowest vehicle in front. The fact is though, that there are an IMMENSE number of idiots on UK roads who don't appreciate the idea of merging in time. They think the best plan is to tear down the outside of a merging-queue, right up to the cones, and then push in. The fact then is that they've stopped to try to get in, the traffic behind them pulling the same stunt has stopped - trying to get in; and the other lane or two which were merging nicely, have also had to stop to let the others in. Even when that standing traffic gets moving again, there is a 'slowdown' filtering back down all the lanes of traffic right to the end of the queue. So, if the Royal Mail drivers were trying to prevent antics of that sort, fair play - I'd not think any less of them - in fact, on occassion my own blood has boiled enough to make me do exactly the same in a Golf.
Anyway, that's my tuppence... Well, that's probably about £20 worth, but still...
Regards,
Rob.
Sounds like an entire family wiped out. 
