Cycling Accidents And Lorrys

[Wester]

Why are there so many accidents involving cyclists and Lorrys could somebody please explain this strage senario ?

 

[ianrauk]

Mainly 2 reasons quite simply
1: Idiot cyclists who filter up the inside of turning lorries
2: Idiot Lorry drivers who do not check their mirrors enough

 

[Rhythm Thief]

"Lorries" ...


Ian's got it about right.

 

[summerdays]

Also the outcome of any cyclist/lorry collision is likely to be more severe.

 

[Night Train]

I am less quick to blame the lorry driver in many cases. Even with all the mirrors and good observation the driver could still be watching a hazard on the other side at the time a cyclist rides up the inside.

It should be down to all road users to be defensive and not put themselves in positions of increased risk and anticipate the actions, good, bad or otherwise, of all other road users.
It's a self preservation thing, like riding in primary at a pinch point and stopping at red traffic lights.

 

[Beebo]

Also the outcome of any cyclist/lorry collision is likely to be more severe.

+1 This has got to be a big factor. If you get left hooked by a car you will hopefully slide over the bonnet and suffer a few broken bones, but if you suffer a similar left hook from a lorry you may get sucked under the wheels with a more serious outcome.

Also unlike cars, longer vehicles have to cut the apex of corners to get round many of our junctions, which traps and squeezes unwary cyclists.

I tend to hang back from lorries and buses; I am always amazed by the people who don't. Driving a lorry around central London must be very stressful even without cyclists buzzing around you.

 

[downfader]

http://crapwalthamforest.blogspot.com/2011/06/transport-for-london-wont-answer.html

Ties in nicely (or rather not) with the above.

 

[numbnuts]

there trucks not lorries

 

[Judderz]

I've seen bad lorry drivers....I've seen bad cyclists.....sometimes both can be at fault.

Couple of weekends ago, I was driving a 7 1/2 tonne wagon (I do this as a Saturday job).....and whilst I was passing a cyclist and passing wide, plus watching my passenger mirror as I passed him, a pedestrian (old man) decided he was going to run in front of me with his dog (about 20metres ahead).....because I wasn't fully focused on the ahead danger as I was more focused on the cyclist I was passing, when I looked ahead, saw the old man, braked hard, swerved a little, sounded my horn......only for the old man to give me two fingers......nice man

 

[Mad at urage]

I am less quick to blame the lorry driver in many cases. Even with all the mirrors and good observation the driver could still be watching a hazard on the other side at the time a cyclist rides up the inside.

It should be down to all road users to be defensive and not put themselves in positions of increased risk and anticipate the actions, good, bad or otherwise, of all other road users.
It's a self preservation thing, like riding in primary at a pinch point and stopping at red traffic lights.

I just wish all lorry / truck* drivers were as competent in checking their mirrors and caring about me being still alongside their trailer when they are overtaking me, as most are.

It's the difference between most and all that causes many cyclist deaths around lorries/truck* I'm afraid. Add to that the numpties that think commuting is a video game with a reset button ...


*'Si Signor there they go, forty lorries in a row / Them's not lorries, them is trucks, full of cows'n'ens'n'ducks

Edit - it helps if I get the joke right

 

[Rhythm Thief]

*'Si Signor there they go, forty lorries in a row / Them's not lorries, them is trucks, full of cows'n'ens'n'ducks

People may - but probably won't - be interested to learn that the word "truck" is derived from the Latin word "trocchus" meaning "wheeled vehicle". Not to be confused, incidentally, with the phrase "I have no truck with that theory", where the word comes from the French "trocquer", meaning "trade". No one knows the etymology of the word "lorry".

 

[sabian92]

there trucks not lorries

It's also "They're" if you're going to be picking fault...

And in the UK, it's lorry. Truck is US term.

 

[Mad at urage]

It's also "They're" if you're going to be picking fault...

And in the UK, it's lorry. Truck is US term.

No it ain't!

People may - but probably won't - be interested to learn that the word "truck" is derived from the Latin word "trocchus" meaning "wheeled vehicle". Not to be confused, incidentally, with the phrase "I have no truck with that theory", where the word comes from the French "trocquer", meaning "trade". No one knows the etymology of the word "lorry".

Many older UK words are still preserved in the languages of our colonies and I resent being told not to use them simply because some redneck uses them too!

Fitcha !

 

[downfader]

People may - but probably won't - be interested to learn that the word "truck" is derived from the Latin word "trocchus" meaning "wheeled vehicle". Not to be confused, incidentally, with the phrase "I have no truck with that theory", where the word comes from the French "trocquer", meaning "trade". No one knows the etymology of the word "lorry".

"Lorry" was created in the 18th century by Lady Cilla Black. She used to drive the ophans to the zoo and said of it as "lorry, lorry fun!!"

Honest.

 

[Adasta]

I think lorry is first attested word referring to a motor vehicle carrying a heavy load.