Close call rant - Oceania Bus reg#2003

[The Stranger:Me]

Don't pick on KatMan, he serves a purpose in this society of bikers.

Oh yeah, he sure does.

[The Stranger:Me]

And it is obvious here that some people will not accept the fact the vehicles have blind spots. Even cars have blindspots, which is why you are supposed to turn your head to check. That is not possible with a truck, simple as that.

Not being a truck driver myself, perhaps you would care to explain please why it is not possible to turn your head?

[Bend-it]

not being a truck driver myself, perhaps you would care to explain please why it is not possible to turn your head?

+1

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[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Sorry, but as truck driver, you are the total stupid FUCKTARD here. Have a look at your own actions and take care of yourself on the road.

If you are stupid enough to cruise along next to a truck or bus where you are behind the driver, and just stay there not speeding up or slowing down, then it doesnt matter what the road rules say, YOU WILL DIE!

Drive/ride defensively you moron.

Experienced people wouldnt have put themselves in the situation where this was a possible scenerio in the first place.

The question is, why were you in lane two if there was nothing in lane one? Stay as far left at all times...there is a reason for that rule.

We posted at the same time, but yes your right.

My hope now is that anyone who has read this, when next out on the highway will see a truck/bus and think "hey that fuckwit newby might be driving that truck, and might not see me even though he has mirrors, so i will either follow behind, or get in front, or be anywhere else other than right next to those 25ton of steel so that even if he does move, i wont get hit!

Its not that difficult.

And it is obvious here that some people will not accept the fact the vehicles have blind spots. Even cars have blindspots, which is why you are supposed to turn your head to check. That is not possible with a truck, simple as that.

As for saying if you cant be sure nothing is in your blindspot then dont change lanes, that is rediculas as your argument against not ever passing a large vehicle.


Cheers

Fookin ek, These so called profesional drivers realy are out there to kill us!!!

Cant see so will pull out anyway! Its your fault if we hit you! Ive driven more K's than you so I'm a better driver! I can drive in what ever lane I want because I'm a big fat blind truckie!
Its your resposibility to stay out of my way!

I bet you've witnessed loads of accidents eh! Unless they've happend in your blind spot.

Mate you have a shocking attitude towards other road users!? And your a biker too :slap:

[Big Dave]

Not being a truck driver myself, perhaps you would care to explain please why it is not possible to turn your head?

The cargo blocks the view.

[Bend-it]

on the right? where's the driver sitting? Can't reach the window where his elbow's hanging out and he's chucking ciggie butts out of?

In that case, it would be an overloaded vehicle...

[Bass]

Not being a truck driver myself, perhaps you would care to explain please why it is not possible to turn your head?

You can turn your head but it doesn't do you any good. It's not so bad in a bus, but in a truck, the load is typically a lot wider than the cab and so obscures your rearward view.

See if you can arrange to sit in the driver's seat of a B-train sometime and check it out. You will immediately see what I mean.

Years ago I drove a 9 tonne van on town-delivery for a holiday job.
The driving public just don't understand. Remember that in a vehicle of this type there is no way to see what is immediately close behind you.
I would get the van angled across the road at about 45 degrees so that I could back down a right-of-way. I quickly learned that I had to get out of the truck and take a look because about 20% of the time, some little old lady was stopped right under the tailgate.
It's really easy to make life difficult for a heavy vehicle driver in a metropolitan area. You don't have to be deliberate about it - all that is required is that you don't understand what they are trying to achieve. I think this explains why so many bus drivers are really agressive about their driving.

As before, it does not justify or excuse it however.

[Patrick]

Fookin ek, These so called profesional drivers realy are out there to kill us!!!

Cant see so will pull out anyway! Its your fault if we hit you! Ive driven more K's than you so I'm a better driver! I can drive in what ever lane I want because I'm a big fat blind truckie!
Its your resposibility to stay out of my way!

I bet you've witnessed loads of accidents eh! Unless they've happend in your blind spot.

Mate you have a shocking attitude towards other road users!? And your a biker too :slap:

They were shite calls, and I can see how these were interpreted. Might be wrong here, but I got the impression he launched into print without much of a thought. Lucky that doesn't happen in KB ay?

You can turn your head but it doesn't do you any good. It's not so bad in a bus, but in a truck, the load is typically a lot wider than the cab and so obscures your rearward view.

Fair call, but then the mirrors do their part further back along the truck. A head turn will show ya what is next to you, such as a motorbike MBB passing along, in your blind spot, perhaps?????

[Bass]

Fair call, but then the mirrors do their part further back along the truck. A head turn will show ya what is next to you, such as a motorbike MBB passing along, in your blind spot, perhaps?????

There's still a bit of a blind spot where, if you are far enough forward and far enough away from the truck, that the mirror doesn't pick you up (same as a car), but you can still be far enough back so that the load hides you from a head turn too (unlike a car).

You will have seen quite a few trucks around with a small convex (wide angle) mirror usually mounted just below the flat one. This helps, but doesn't totally cure the problem.

As Newby pointed out, it's worse to the left because the head-turn view is even more restricted.

These signs on the back of trucks "if you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you" are a bit misleading. You have to be able to see the driver's face in his mirror to be sure that you can be seen. That doesn't guarantee that you will be however.

[Drogen Omen]

oh by the way Would be nice for some of you Auckland rush hour riders to acknowledge thanks to me when I move over in my lane far enough so you can split past me with out going into the other lane...which most of you seem to do...which is illegal i must point out...

Lane splitting i not illegal, it is frowned upon. Australia is the only country that has made it illegal... but they are Ausies... enough said.

[madbikeboy]

Since we're on the mirror and blind spot discussion, can I point out that I could see him in his mirror. I watched him look across, then when I blipped the Scoot, he turned again to look at me - he looked at me, his head stopping for a moment looking directly to where I was, and then he looked forward again.

Now, I'm just a humble biker, but assuming the laws of physics are still the same - if I can see him, and light waves passing in straight lines, then surely he could see me?

Now, my brain has a reasonably fast processor, and despite the decline of of my boyish good looks into the pre-middle age spread, I saw all of this in detail, while still having enough brain power left to work out my options in terms of possible escape plans (brake, swerve, gas, is it clear in any of those directions), and then to execute said escape.

I've read newby's self righteous bullshit, and I understand the limitation of sight and mirrors for a Semi/18 wheeler/container truck - but his assumptions based on his experience (or lack thereof) are wrong in this case.

[Bass]

Since we're on the mirror and blind spot discussion, can I point out that I could see him in his mirror. I watched him look across, then when I blipped the Scoot, he turned again to look at me - he looked at me, his head stopping for a moment looking directly to where I was, and then he looked forward again.

Now, I'm just a humble biker, but assuming the laws of physics are still the same - if I can see him, and light waves passing in straight lines, then surely he could see me?


I've read newby's self righteous bullshit, and I understand the limitation of sight and mirrors for a Semi/18 wheeler/container truck - but his assumptions based on his experience (or lack thereof) are wrong in this case.

You said all this right at the start and in the physics bit, you are of course quite correct. However, no-one (including Newby) has said that the "blind spot discussion" applied in your case, only that it's another good reason not to linger alongside heavy vehicles, which as has also been pointed out, did not apply in your case either (i.e. not lingering).

[Badjelly]

Sorry, but as truck driver, you are the total stupid FUCKTARD here. Have a look at your own actions and take care of yourself on the road.

If you are stupid enough to cruise along next to a truck or bus where you are behind the driver, and just stay there not speeding up or slowing down, then it doesnt matter what the road rules say, YOU WILL DIE!

Drive/ride defensively you moron.

However, no-one (including Newby) has said that the "blind spot discussion" applied in your case,...

Possibly Madbikeboy felt the words, "you are the total stupid FUCKTARD here" implied some degree of fault on his part. Can't think why.

Seriously, Newby's original post was unnecessarily rude and misdirected. End of story as far as I'm concerned.

[The Stranger:Me]

There's still a bit of a blind spot where, if you are far enough forward and far enough away from the truck, that the mirror doesn't pick you up (same as a car), but you can still be far enough back so that the load hides you from a head turn too (unlike a car).

You will have seen quite a few trucks around with a small convex (wide angle) mirror usually mounted just below the flat one. This helps, but doesn't totally cure the problem.

Yes, it's not at all hard to imagine that a wide load would obscure the view to one degree or another and still leave a blind spot. I was sincerely hoping that this wasn't going to be the excuse put forward for not even trying to minimise the size of a blind spot.
I would imagine you would get at least 90 degrees minimum view and in many cases a lot more.
Whilst the "if I you can't see me in the mirror I can't see you" is a good reminder to other motorists, it should not be an excuse for not even trying to look, as would very often appear to be the case.

[madbikeboy]

Possibly Madbikeboy felt the words, "you are the total stupid FUCKTARD here" implied some degree of fault on his part. Can't think why.

Seriously, Newby's original post was unnecessarily rude and misdirected. End of story as far as I'm concerned.

Yes, and totally agree.