No harm done but ...

[marinyork]

If it isn't wide and there isn't a diving line, that's the whole point.

Technically I think it is his fault, however it does not matter if you are right or not, you could have slowed even more and stupidity on the other side would still claw it back and be enough to injure you, which makes it hard to be too careful - you can't really factor in for other peoples' stupidity.

 

[Willow]

I didn't mean that to sound as callous as it sounds. Presumably the life insurance would pay up and your family would be devasted regardless. I really just meant that we have to make sure that we keep ourselves safe not rely on the drivers. In a car doubtless the same thing would have happened but you would have a cage around you to protect. It sure is a pain to slow the pace down when you are riding with the wind so to speak but remember you are precious cargo. As are your wife and family when you have them with you in the car or are cycling en famillie.

 

[col]

..it would to my life assurance provider, my wife and my kid.

i think th ecrux of the issue I am trying to get at here is wheter or not a vehicles width can determine wether of not it is/was deemed to be on th ewrong side of the road. He was blocking the entire road in both directions, so was he on th eright side or the wrong side of the road legally? I believe he was on the wrong side of the road, he should not be driving a truck that wide on roads that do not have the width to support that kind of vehicle. I suspect however that in this car culture of ours the law will back the fat lard arse trucky and crucify the cyclist.

it was scary and I am lucky to be alive, or not seriously injured I feel. I just wanted to know how th elaw would treat such an incident had it been worse thats all.

When i took my test in a bus,on the build up to it and out on the road when narrow lanes came up,we were told we needed to use all of the road,but to go veeery slowly if its a blind bend or we were unsure of what was coming,its the size of the vehicle,and its doing nothing wrong,the only thing that could be seen as wrong is if it was going too fast,but then that goes for all vehicles,so it seems your answer is your both wrong if you were going too fast,or you were by knowing it to be dangerous and carried on without slowing enough,the same would apply to him.

 

[marinyork]

A bus is different though, it has a get out clause written in the highway code for you guys.

Besides the highway code and countryside code seem pretty clear to me that it is mostly the driver's fault.

 

[yello]

I reckon just about everyone ignores that advice about driving only as fast as enables you to stop in the distance you can see. There's a certain amount of blind faith we all have on the roads. I mean, you can't KNOW that someone hasn't dug a trench across the road, or dropped a load of bricks around that next bend... you just assume they haven't. Tell me you don't drive the same way and I'll raise a Roger Moore style eyebrow!

Sometimes, hopefully rarely, you'll get caught out. Take a deep breath, count yourself lucky and chalk it up to experience.

 

[fossyant]

Col's here....don't expect any mercy BTFB..... you made it, so all fine..... that's country lanes though..... you have to 'expect' stuff on the wrong side of the road - the 'joys' of finding quiet lanes.....

 

[marinyork]

Talking of bends, it reminds me of the car shaped hole in a wall I saw in the Peak District a while back that went down very steeply after that. I reckon they could have left it like that and put a sign there instead.

 

[col]

Col's here....don't expect any mercy BTFB..... you made it, so all fine..... that's country lanes though..... you have to 'expect' stuff on the wrong side of the road - the 'joys' of finding quiet lanes.....

Why the remark?I answered his question as best i could,with the info i had?

 

[col]

A bus is different though, it has a get out clause written in the highway code for you guys.

Besides the highway code and countryside code seem pretty clear to me that it is mostly the driver's fault.

Which clause?im not familiar with it.For us guys?,i dont drive them now.

 

[marinyork]

The give way to buses in the highway code which has changed slightly but is currently...

223

Buses, coaches and trams. Give priority to these vehicles when you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from stops. Look out for people getting off a bus or tram and crossing the road.

I know but I can still call you a bus driver, surely .

 

[Mr Pig]

I reckon everyone ignores that advice about driving only as fast as enables you to stop in the distance you can see.

I don't, it's pretty stupid. I drive of country roads often and I often drive fast on them. However you must regulate your speed according to the conditions. There are lots of crashes on country roads because people don't do this.

Of course it is legal for a truck to drive on a narrow road, unless there is a sign telling him otherwise. Such roads often vary in width, is he supposed to use psychic powers before joining the road to tell that it narrows ahead? The correct way to drive on them is to drive to the conditions, and that in this case means driving within what you can see to be clear. If you fly round a blind bend and crash into something in the way it's your own fault.

 

[col]

The give way to buses in the highway code which has changed slightly but is currently...



I know but I can still call you a bus driver, surely .

No you maint And that doesnt apply to dangerous driving.

 

[yello]

I don't

 

[Gerry Attrick]

The Highway Code states somewhere within, that you should never drive (or ride?) so fast that you can't stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. On reading the tale I can only conclude that fault could be apportioned 50/50, although the difference in approaching speeds may well be taken into account.

Having said that, I'm relieved and glad that you survived the encounter unscathed BTFB.

 

[snorri]

I believe he was on the wrong side of the road, he should not be driving a truck that wide on roads that do not have the width to support that kind of vehicle.

How can a vehicle be on the wrong side of the road on a single carriageway road? The lorry was as entitled to be on the road as you the cyclist. You must be prepared to accept a large portion of the blame for this incident.
Just think yourself lucky and try to avoid getting in to that sort of situation again.