"Hero" driver deliberately jack-knifed vehicle to avoid hitting cyclists, writing off £2 million supercar cargo

Farningham on the 23rd Aug 2023, recorded winds of 8m/s . .  not enough of a wind to blow over a truck like that.
Someone's telling porkiepies I think

8m/s is 17.9mph.

What was the recorded gust speed?

Most weather reports only give the constant wind speed and not the gust speed - unless you look for it.

Currently, where I am, the wind speed is 9mph (4m/s), gusting to 17mph (7.6m/s).

Gust speed can be significantly greater, and more of a risk.

Oldfatgit wrote:

8m/s is 17.9mph. What was the recorded gust speed? Most weather reports only give the constant wind speed and not the gust speed - unless you look for it. Currently, where I am, the wind speed is 9mph (4m/s), gusting to 17mph (7.6m/s). Gust speed can be significantly greater, and more of a risk.

Stu's misread the figures there, the wind speed for Farningham that day was max 9mph, not metres per second. All respect OFG but don't you think your natural sympathy for a fellow HGV driver is leading you to make a few too many allowances here? The guy has jackknifed his truck at (allegedly) 35 mph in a light breeze, isn't there at least grounds for suspicionthat driver error is in play here? When you say the police must have been happy with the speed or they would have had his tachometer examined, why were they happy with the speed? Did they just take the driver's word for it?

I'm not a HGV driver any more.
Too many reasons, so little time and frustration at this phones keypad ...

It's not that I am overly sympathetic to the driver ... I just refuse to make shit up about a person to suit an agenda.

Especially when that person is not able to defend himself.

There is a mantra on this site that truck drivers should ride bikes to see what it's like - many do.
However ... boulders are being thrown here by people with absolutely no experience of driving a vehicle that large.
Maybe cyclists should spend time driving trucks - might make some of us better cyclists (not aspersions on anyone on this thread as you could be my neighbour for all I know about you).

Was the tachograph examined - I would be highly surprised if it wasn't.
In the old days, it had to go back to the cop shop and be enlarged on a photocopier... now if a paper chart the officer could just do that using their phone, or if digital read the device.

*pedant mode*
Tachograph, not tachometer.
*end pedant mode*

In the absence of any contradictory information such as in cab video (which would have been reviewed at the scene by plod, and certainly back at the office) or 3rd party evidence, we only have the drivers story and the rest of this thread is just speculation and bollocks 😀

All fair points and I'm sure it could be the case that the driver is not at fault at all - but to an outsider it does feel as though he's been given a free pass for his explanation to be taken as fact without challenge. Maybe that's just the DM's desire to play up the "hero saves cyclists" angle and not actually try any proper journalism.

Tachograph, noted!

I'm not really bothered about how it happened, clearly the vehicle was less than stable, and it ended up out of control in the hands of a competent driver by all accounts.

That it should be discussed in a form of "these things happen" rather than "what can we do to stop these situations in future?" is my gripe.

It's not so different from little old lady getting a free pass for driving through cyclist because the sun was in her eyes - shrug, these things happen.

High winds can make a tractor unit and trailer unstable. Once the wind starts to sway the trailer, inertia takes over and the effect multiplies, hence why you see so many jacknifed trucks on the motorways over high routes in strong winds, and also why large exposed bridges close to high sided vehicles in high winds. 

Just thought I would put your assumptions to bed.

You're welcome.

I am not making assumptions - I am saying it is bizarre to accept unstable vehicles on the road.

The choice is either driver incompetence or vehicle not fit for purpose. Neither is acceptable.

Is the HSE to be involved? I doubt it.

IanMSpencer wrote:

I am not making assumptions - I am saying it is bizarre to accept unstable vehicles on the road. The choice is either driver incompetence or vehicle not fit for purpose. Neither is acceptable. Is the HSE to be involved? I doubt it.

will there be any critical investigation at all by any statutory agency? I doubt it - our roads are a massive blind spot. The episode is being framed as and written-off as a lucky escape.

David9694 wrote:

will there be any critical investigation at all by any statutory agency? I doubt it - our roads are a massive blind spot. The episode is being framed as and written-off as a lucky escape.

Still waiting for the Road Safety Investigation Branch to take up their duty, like the MAIB, RAIB, AAIB ...

Perhaps we'll get that right after the review of road law?  If Labour gets in next look forward to their potential replacements harranging them about it as they come towards the end of their time in government (actually don't; clearly this is last on any party's priority list).

HSE have no involvement in this kind of accident.
It falls to the police and VOSA as they have the remit for the roads.

I think Ian's point is that in Industry, the HSE will investigate and then push for changes that mitigate it being a reccurring event, just like would happen if it was an Aircraft incident. The Police and VOSA may investigate and come to a conclusion but nothing is put in place to stop a reoccurrance

Over the years, many things have been put in to place to help prevent and reduce accidents - from automatic tachographs to load sensing tag axels; from being able to sleep in day cabs to needing sleeper cabs to over weekending in hotels /b&b as opposed to cabs; to reduction in drivers hours.
Vehicle design has changed; most modern curtain or box vehicles now have a sloping front roof section to assist with aerodynamics; long gone are the days of the Eton Twin Splitter and the need for double-declutching ... in fact most modern trucks are either semi or fully auto (many new drivers wouldn't have a clue with a four over four hi-low split).

However ... there is only so much you can do.

A typical curtainsider is 15ft tall and 45 ft long and will carry 24 double stacked standard 1 tonne pallets.
The actual freight space is around 10ft x 45ft, meaning the curtains have an area of 450ft2.
It's mounted on bed 8.7ft wide.
This width is dictated by the Construction and Use Regulations.

Much time, money and effort has been spent over the last 40 years trying to reduce sail effect ... but its not possible to do.

Steps are already taken to reduce risk of blow over ... High bridges get closed. Exposed Sections of roadway get closed.
But only when it is perceived to be a risk to the general public.
There is nothing that can be done about sudden storms / localised high wind burst..
Ask Micheal Fish 😆

Do you really think that drivers enjoy the fact that they can be blown over?

Very succinctly put.

Imagine working in a B&Q where it was expected that every now and again the shelves would collapse, risking injuring customers, and it was quite likely that stock fell off the shelves on a regular basis. It would be closed down, but our roads are that B&Q. "But our shelves don't break any government regulations." 

I have a heavy combination licence, Australian equivalent of articulated lorry and a former traffic policeman; losing control of a heavy vehicle going down a steep hill should be investigated as driver error, unless there was a vehicle fault like a tyre blowout and then the vehicle should be checked for roadworthy condition. As most heavy vehicles have dash cams and telematics, it makes it much easier to investigate truck accidents than back in the day where police had to rely on driver and witness evidence.