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Should HGV drivers be fined when they get stuck
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 10 Sep 2015
An MP is calling for 'Gormless' lorry drivers to be fined when they get stuck after blindly following their satnav.
Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Somerset, speaking in the House of Commons, said lanes were all too often clogged up by lorries that had become stuck after blindly following satnav directions with damage frequently caused.
Should fines be issued to drivers caught out in these cases or is it the responsibility of the haulage companies to equip them with HGV specific systems?
Or is there already sufficient legislation in place to cater for this, surely careless and inconsiderate driving covers much of this?
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 Posted by AliOnHols on Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:23 pm |
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I don't think that it is as easy as that.
Dispite what we say about using your eyes and ears, I belive that SatNav manufactureres should have a duty of care to provide a device fit for pupose. If they sell a SatNav developed (and sold with the usual premium price don't forget) for the haulage industry and it sends a driver on an inappropriate route then, yes, they should be held to account in my opinion.
Additionally, Road signage. If this has been positioned badly, is just non-existant or has shrubbery obscuring it, local government should be accountable also.
However, If the lorry driver is using an ordinary car pnd, with outdated maps and has ignored all relevant road signage, sad to say but *You're Nicked*.
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| Posted by fruit on Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:07 am |
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Considering the number of HGV movements today there are not that many incidents (reported at least) so is it such a problem? Unless it's parked outside your front door of course.
Re. signage... when I were a boy every junction had a finger post listing several destinations on each finger -although many around here simply said Byroad.
Now most of those finger posts are gone and we have signs that are easy to read but often list only what Highways have decided is the single most important destination and it's impossible to navigate without a map or satnav unless one has local knowledge.
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| Posted by pillboxman on Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:36 am |
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After I retired from full time employment I had a part time job in Comet. I would love a £ for every time an HGV driver purchased an ordinary PND rather than fork out for the HGV version (and thats just the drivers who admitted it!).
Yes, the dedicated HGV PND was more expensive, that's because the extra cost of dedicated mapping versus the potential market.
I am afraid that I believe that these drivers should be fined, you should always have the right tools for the job, if you do not then you are responsible for the consequences.
John
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| Posted by peak1 on Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:36 pm |
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Not just lorry drivers but drivers of other vehicles, including cars, should be fined as well.
Near were I live there is a ford that has flashing orange lights on the approach, depth marker and big signs warning that there is a ford and to turn around unless you are sure that your vehicle can make it across.
Despite all this, several times a year, the local fire brigade, water rescue unit, etc are called out to rescue someone who has tried to cross when the river is at least 3 feet deep and the car is then washed downstream!
I think all drivers should be fined and made to pay the cost of their rescue if they decide to ignore the signs and then have an accident and need rescuing.
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| Posted by Snudge on Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:54 pm |
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The sign 'No wide vehicles' and 'Very narrow road' is a bit vague isn't it?
Lorry drivers are not stupid and know the width of their vehicle so how about the sign saying what width vehicles can be accommodated?
No I'm not a lorry driver!
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| Posted by K13ehr on Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:57 pm |
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I didn't think it was that big a problem, but I suppose some areas will have what look like feasible short cuts, and even the best sat navs will use them.
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| Posted by pillboxman on Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:11 pm |
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On many occasions, OK, slight exaggeration, make that occasionally I ignore PND instructions because of road signs or simply because I do not like the look of the road.
What surprises me is that no PND manufacturer has come up with a slightly pissed off (sorry) voice saying "well, if you are going to ignore me then there is not much use in me continuing" (Note to PND manufacturers, I am happy to negotiate very reasonable terms if you want to use my idea)
John
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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:17 pm |
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Yes but it seems, according to me and others, Garmins seem to occasionally favour narrow roads and actually take you off the main road, down a narrow lane then back to the same main road for no apparent reason.
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| Posted by pillboxman on Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:43 am |
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Definitely Rob Brydon; he should do a satnav voice, I would actually pay money for that :-)
John
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| Posted by alix776 on Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:50 pm |
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The issue is that many narrow roads aren't signed in rural areas or just outside urban areas that many be unsuitable for hgvs.
Many HGV satnavs still sometimes route down these roads. I think the mp in question like many other just hasn't a clue. Usually many drivers are sent to areas and destinations they don't know we'll or know at all so all they have to rely on is ether a map or sketchy directions from the office
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
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