Interesting article

[eldog]

Were the lights green when the truck entered the crossing .. ?? A slow walker might not make it in time.

No mention of charges laid.

Slow walkers laying charges cause explosive event.

[pritch]

Have a look, a truck is crashing virtually everyday somewhere in New Zealand.

Doesnt anyone notice these things??

Nah. All effort is focussed on ensuring nobody exceeds the limit by 5kph. Priorities?

[toycollector10]

In December 1974 I rode through Levin and there was a huge sign with the road toll. Seven hundred and something...I've just read a recent AA magazine. It stated that of the current 300 plus dead, one hundred weren't wearing seat belts. Stupid people will sometimes die young. Buckle up people, make it click etc....

[husaberg]

Logging trucks, they be different to other trucks?

Notice usually triplicate?

Yes they have higher centers of gavity and they have loads that are hard to secure ie that can shift its also why they tend to roll over more (also applies to tankers and concrete trucks)

[caspernz]

Yes they have higher centers of gavity and they have loads that are hard to secure ie that can shift its also why they tend to roll over more (also aplies to tankers and concrete trucks)

Partly agree, the common factor in truck rollovers would be the "enthusiasm" with which the truck is operated though...

[robajs]

well.... I am a concrete truck driver and yes a higher center of gravity and what is considered to be a live load
makes for an interesting drive sometimes. and the end of year rush saw us working long days with an focus on getting everything done from management. but we still have to work within the law so there was zero pissing around!!! truck drivers in general are getting pushed to get more and more done so tiredness and inattention play a major part in truck accidents. this is no excuse but simply a fact of modern life.
I regularly see people paying more attention to drinking their coffee than to driving, and of course cell phones.
most drivers these days seem unaware of consequences of a crash , how much it can hurt/ maim them etc.
it happens to other people dosn't it ?
as motorcyclists we are vey aware how much a small lapse in judgement can hurt!

[caspernz]

well.... I am a concrete truck driver and yes a higher center of gravity and what is considered to be a live load
makes for an interesting drive sometimes. and the end of year rush saw us working long days with an focus on getting everything done from management. but we still have to work within the law so there was zero pissing around!!! truck drivers in general are getting pushed to get more and more done so tiredness and inattention play a major part in truck accidents. this is no excuse but simply a fact of modern life.
I regularly see people paying more attention to drinking their coffee than to driving, and of course cell phones.
most drivers these days seem unaware of consequences of a crash , how much it can hurt/ maim them etc.
it happens to other people dosn't it ?
as motorcyclists we are vey aware how much a small lapse in judgement can hurt!

All valid points. In some parts of the transport industry the focus goes on doing things right, rather than quickly. Needless to say that's where I've spent the past two decades, DG tankers. Not always perfect either I'll admit, but a damn sight better than some sections of the road transport game.

Personal responsibility comes into it as well. So when I've seen a certain truck being operated with "enthusiasm" repeatedly, then one morning find same truck rolled over into a paddock, with nobody but the steering wheel attendant to blame......and then having experienced this scenario repeatedly, what can I say? We all make mistakes, but when the margin for error is shaved wafer thin, one small hiccup and it's game over.

Generally a good motorcyclist tends to make a good truck driver, must be that situational awareness thing aye?

[GazzaH]

I've never made a good truck driver. What parts do I need?

[caspernz]

I've never made a good truck driver. What parts do I need?

A flexible imagination and negotiable morals are a good start

[WALRUS]

I wooden think so.

[pritch]

most drivers these days seem unaware of consequences of a crash , how much it can hurt/ maim them etc.

In his book "The Upper Half Of The Motorcycle" Bernt Spiegel discusses this. Motorised travel is a very recent development in the history of human beings and evolution has done nothing to prepare us for it.
Through evolution we have developed defences such as a fear of heights and an awareness that a fall is going to be painful. Nothing has prepared us for modern traffic, and many just do not associate their behaviour with risk.

The book is well worth a read if you're into reading.

[caspernz]

In his book "The Upper Half Of The Motorcycle" Bernt Spiegel discusses this.

Great book, bit heavy duty or brainy in parts, so not all bikers will be keen to read it...even if it's basically evolution (or lack thereof) explained in relation to moving at speed.

[rastuscat]

Motorised travel is a very recent development in the history of human beings and evolution has done nothing to prepare us for it..

I'm not so sure.

Evolution caused us to walk upright. Lucky, or handle bar reach would be tricky.

[Grumph]

About 100 years ago Fred Lanchester reckoned that the driver's eyeline should be the same height as if he was on foot so made his cars like that.

Obviously he'd never thought of SUV's or concrete trucks...But he had anticipated SUV drivers as he was effectively the father of the Automatic transmission.

Humans have evolved in that century - we're accustomed to looking down on others now from our vehicles - and using both feet to drive, even if we shouldn't.

I saw a sideline to that evolution today on the West Coast road - a rider using the highest apehangers I've seen since the '70's. Luckily that branch of evolution is self limiting...

[granstar]

I just love my barbacks...and edges of gutters.