Trucks on motorway

GarIT · 28-05-2012 9:44pm #1

Am I right in thinking that trucks are only allowed in the left lane on a motorway? I heard it a few times but I see trucks out of the left more often than they are in it.

L1011 · 28-05-2012 9:45pm

GarIT wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that trucks are only allowed in the left lane on a motorway? I heard it a few times but I see trucks out of the left more often than they are in it.

Left or middle if there is one; when the limit is higher than 80km/h. If its 80 or below they can go in any lane.

Irish truck drivers do generally obey this, not always. UK registered drivers would appear to be the worst at obeying it from my observation. I've Trafficwatched a truck driver who took NINE KILOMETRES on the M9 to complete an (illegal) overtaking manoeuvre but never heard anything back on it.

timogen · 28-05-2012 9:47pm

GarIT wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that trucks are only allowed in the left lane on a motorway? I heard it a few times but I see trucks out of the left more often than they are in it.

They are not allowed in the right lane as in far right as in lane three or as some would call it the fast lane of a three lane motorway. I'd be question the people you heard it from.

MugMugs · 28-05-2012 9:48pm

Interestingly I saw a polish truck pulled for this on the M1 recently by a black Superb.

L1011 · 28-05-2012 9:51pm

timogen wrote: »

They are not allowed in the right lane as in far right as in lane three or as some would call it the fast lane of a three lane motorway. I'd be question the people you heard it from.

Question them because they're right?

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/si/0182.html#zzsi182y1997a33

"( d ) drive a vehicle of a class for which an ordinary speed limit of not more than 50 mph is prescribed by regulations under section 44 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 in the traffic lane nearest the right hand edge of a carriageway having more than one traffic lane"

but43r · 28-05-2012 10:07pm

MYOB wrote: »

Question them because they're right?

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/si/0182.html#zzsi182y1997a33

"( d ) drive a vehicle of a class for which an ordinary speed limit of not more than 50 mph is prescribed by regulations under section 44 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 in the traffic lane nearest the right hand edge of a carriageway having more than one traffic lane"

You missed a bit there:

"( d ) drive a vehicle of a class for which an ordinary speed limit of not more than 50 mph is prescribed by regulations under section 44 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 in the traffic lane nearest the right hand edge of a carriageway having more than one traffic lane except where it is necessary to proceed in that lane due to an obstruction or because another lane or lanes is or are for the time being closed to traffic."

Surely a vehicle that is doing less than 50mph in the left lane would be an obstruction?

On another note - why are the laws still in MPH? Ireland switched to KM/H years ago...

L1011 · 28-05-2012 10:11pm

but43r wrote: »

Surely a vehicle that is doing less than 50mph in the left lane would be an obstruction?

No. A vehicle stopped is an obstruction, a vehicle moving is not.

HGVs are not allowed in the outer lane on 2 lane motorways and drivers *do* get fined for doing so.

Buses are now, as their limit is now 100km/h on motorways. At the time of writing there, they were not.

but43r wrote: »

On another note - why are the laws still in MPH? Ireland switched to KM/H years ago...

It would have been updated by a later SI to change that to 80km/h, the web view does not show the unified texts.

dar83 · 28-05-2012 10:14pm

Funny situation happened this morning at the beginning of the M50 at the Airport end. Truck joining the M50 from the N32 so naturally started in the overtaking lane... Common sense would dictate that he'd try moving left as soon as possible, which he sure enough tried to do. Unfortunately the general driving public being idiots, we're unhappy with his accelerating progress in the 'fast' lane so a steady stream of them decide to undertake him to make the progress they so urgently needed.
Left the poor guy indicating and attempting twice to move left before being forced to abort both times due to their idiocy, until someone with a bit of cop on held back a bit for him.

but43r · 28-05-2012 10:22pm

MYOB wrote: »

No. A vehicle stopped is an obstruction, a vehicle moving is not.

HGVs are not allowed in the outer lane on 2 lane motorways and drivers *do* get fined for doing so.

Buses are now, as their limit is now 100km/h on motorways. At the time of writing there, they were not.

It would have been updated by a later SI to change that to 80km/h, the web view does not show the unified texts.

Sooo, if someone was doing 70 KM/H in the left lane no HGV would be aloud to overtake it legally?

Ultimate trolls dream :pac:

kona · 28-05-2012 10:27pm

I drive the M7 every week, and as soon as you get to junction 14 all the way to clondalkin, trucks do be taking the piss, you can see the driver pulling out his calender just before he begins his manouvre, then you get the domino effect and it leads to doing a fair distance at 100Km/hr. Very annoying :mad:

but43r · 28-05-2012 10:32pm

kona wrote: »

I drive the M7 every week, and as soon as you get to junction 14 all the way to clondalkin, trucks do be taking the piss, you can see the driver pulling out his calender just before he begins his manouvre, then you get the domino effect and it leads to doing a fair distance at 100Km/hr. Very annoying :mad:

It is, but even more annoying are the drivers in the left late doing less than 100 KM/H.

Btw, I also hate the lorries driving in right lane but if I was a lorry driver I would also be doing it - no way I would be stuck behind some idiot doing less than 80 KM/H

corktina · 28-05-2012 10:33pm

MYOB wrote: »

No. A vehicle stopped is an obstruction, a vehicle moving is not.

.

ah yes, thanks for that. It's useful to have a Barrister on the forum isnt it.

L1011 · 28-05-2012 10:34pm

corktina wrote: »

ah yes, thanks for that. It's useful to have a Barrister on the forum isnt it.

No need to be pointlessly sarcastic.

but43r · 28-05-2012 10:37pm

MYOB wrote: »

No. A vehicle stopped is an obstruction, a vehicle moving is not.

HGVs are not allowed in the outer lane on 2 lane motorways and drivers *do* get fined for doing so.

Buses are now, as their limit is now 100km/h on motorways. At the time of writing there, they were not.

It would have been updated by a later SI to change that to 80km/h, the web view does not show the unified texts.

Just looked up CitizensInformation out of interest and speed limit for trucks on Motorway is 90 km/h (50 odd MPH).

80 KM/H (50 MPH) speed limit for trucks is for Dual Carriageways thus the legislation that you quoted earlier only applies to Dual Carriageways...

L1011 · 28-05-2012 10:43pm

but43r wrote: »

Just looked up CitizensInformation out of interest and speed limit for trucks on Motorway is 90 km/h (50 odd MPH).

80 KM/H (50 MPH) speed limit for trucks is for Dual Carriageways thus the legislation that you quoted earlier only applies to Dual Carriageways...

In that case, it was corrected to 90km/h.

The legislation was written to apply to HGVs and definitely still does.

but43r · 28-05-2012 10:56pm

MYOB wrote: »

In that case, it was corrected to 90km/h.

The legislation was written to apply to HGVs and definitely still does.

Any chance you could link that peace of legislation?

but43r · 28-05-2012 11:01pm

Found it:

www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/si/0074.html

MYOB, you're actually right. Still, slow moving vehicle in left hand lane of the motorway could be interpreted as an obstruction imo.

L1011 · 28-05-2012 11:06pm

Beat me to it by moments.

Was changed to 80km/h by the transitional provision of metriciation and changed to 90 when the limit was changed to 90 this year.

volvoman480 · 28-05-2012 11:16pm

As a truck driver myself, I can honestly say that I frequently move to the right hand lane to pass slower moving vehicles. I do this as quickly as possible, I also check to make sure that no other cars are close by, not solely that I don't hit them but also to ensure that I'm not delaying anyone by driving in the right hand lane. I know what it's like to be stuck behind something travelling slowly.. What amazes me is how many cars are travelling at less the 90kph on our motorways. I'm aware that the 120kph is a limit, not a target. However I'm always surprised by the amount times I am able to overtake cars. Any time I have travelled in a car on a motorway (which thankfully isn't very often) I've maintained a steady 115-120kph. I shouldn't be able to pass anything on the M8/M7/M50/M1 route I travel.

dr.fuzzenstein · 28-05-2012 11:27pm

volvoman480 wrote: »

As a truck driver myself, I can honestly say that I frequently move to the right hand lane to pass slower moving vehicles. I do this as quickly as possible, I also check to make sure that no other cars are close by, not solely that I don't hit them but also to ensure that I'm not delaying anyone by driving in the right hand lane. I know what it's like to be stuck behind something travelling slowly.. What amazes me is how many cars are travelling at less the 90kph on our motorways. I'm aware that the 120kph is a limit, not a target. However I'm always surprised by the amount times I am able to overtake cars. Any time I have travelled in a car on a motorway (which thankfully isn't very often) I've maintained a steady 115-120kph. I shouldn't be able to pass anything on the M8/M7/M50/M1 route I travel.

Totally agree, I have often seen trucks overtake grannies in Micras doing 70-80 km/h, no one should be forced to endure that.
Not a truck driver myself, but I totally sympathise.

volvoman480 · 28-05-2012 11:34pm

but43r wrote: »

Found it:

www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/si/0074.html

MYOB, you're actually right. Still, slow moving vehicle in left hand lane of the motorway could be interpreted as an obstruction imo.

What is the case with a vehicle joining the carriageway from a merging lane. Am I entitled to pull to the right as I should or should I just squash the ba5tard for not flooring it and getting the hell out of my way??:D

28-05-2012 11:47pm

dar83 wrote: »

Funny situation happened this morning at the beginning of the M50 at the Airport end. Truck joining the M50 from the N32 so naturally started in the overtaking lane... Common sense would dictate that he'd try moving left as soon as possible, which he sure enough tried to do. Unfortunately the general driving public being idiots, we're unhappy with his accelerating progress in the 'fast' lane so a steady stream of them decide to undertake him to make the progress they so urgently needed.
Left the poor guy indicating and attempting twice to move left before being forced to abort both times due to their idiocy, until someone with a bit of cop on held back a bit for him.

I don't get this.

Why would a truck 'naturally start in the overtaking lane' when joining a motorway?

kona · 29-05-2012 12:30am

salonfire wrote: »

I don't get this.

Why would a truck 'naturally start in the overtaking lane' when joining a motorway?

Its the way the N32 merges onto the M50.

CiniO · 29-05-2012 1:19am

MYOB wrote: »

Beat me to it by moments.

Was changed to 80km/h by the transitional provision of metriciation and changed to 90 when the limit was changed to 90 this year.

So now speed limit for trucks on motorway is 90km/h?
Could anyone please provide a link to appropriate regulations?

EDIT:
Allright, I found it:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/si/0075.html

4. The Road Traffic (Ordinary Speed Limits — Buses, Heavy Goods Vehicles, Etc.) Regulations ( S.I. No. 546 of 2008 ) are amended by substituting for Regulation 4 the following:

“ 4.(a) The ordinary speed limit prescribed for a Category N2 or N3 vehicle and a combination of a Category N2 or N3 vehicle when drawing a Category O3 or O4 trailer and when driven on—

(i) a motorway, is 90 kilometres per hour, or

(ii) any other public road, is 80 kilometres per hour.

(b) the ordinary speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour is prescribed in respect of all public roads for a combination of a mechanically propelled vehicle drawing another vehicle except for any combination of vehicles to which paragraph (a) refers.”

So it looks like that from 1 April trucks can do 90km/h on the motorway.

But it's bit ridiculous, that any other vehicle than truck while towing a trailer, is still limited to 80km/h on motorway.
So generally all vans with trailers or cars with trailers, as well as buses with trailers are limited to 80km/h.
What's the point in allowing trucks to do 90km/h and prohibiting them from overtaking on 2 lane motorways, if sooner or later they are going to meet a vehicle with trailer doing it's maximum 80km/h and will be stock behind it.

Kinda stupid IMHO.

CiniO · 29-05-2012 1:22am

MYOB wrote: »

Buses are now, as their limit is now 100km/h on motorways. At the time of writing there, they were not.

Buses are not prohibited from using right hand lane since their limit on motorways changed from 80km/h to 100km/h which was AFAIR in April 2009.

But no matter what, RSA keeps publishing information that they are prohibited from using right hand lane on motorways. It's worded in their ROTR from 2010, and it's in their leaflet about motorway driving from 2012.

corktina · 29-05-2012 8:39am

imo only people who never break the law themselves can criticise truckers for using the right hand lane.Thats more or less none of us.

on th other hand I saw a truck overtake a car yesterday uphill over a solid line approaching a junction. Now THAT I'd object to.

dr.fuzzenstein · 29-05-2012 9:05am

corktina wrote: »

imo only people who never break the law themselves can criticise truckers for using the right hand lane.Thats more or less none of us.

on th other hand I saw a truck overtake a car yesterday uphill over a solid line approaching a junction. Now THAT I'd object to.

They say that if you sit in a cellar all day with your fingers in your ears and your eyes closed, it might just be possible not do commit a crime and even then you might possibly be guilty of loitering.

Max Power1 · 29-05-2012 9:13am

volvoman480 wrote: »

As a truck driver myself, I can honestly say that I frequently move to the right hand lane to pass slower moving vehicles. I do this as quickly as possible, I also check to make sure that no other cars are close by, not solely that I don't hit them but also to ensure that I'm not delaying anyone by driving in the right hand lane. I know what it's like to be stuck behind something travelling slowly.. What amazes me is how many cars are travelling at less the 90kph on our motorways. I'm aware that the 120kph is a limit, not a target. However I'm always surprised by the amount times I am able to overtake cars. Any time I have travelled in a car on a motorway (which thankfully isn't very often) I've maintained a steady 115-120kph. I shouldn't be able to pass anything on the M8/M7/M50/M1 route I travel.

If theres a car doing 80 then thats fine (assuming its not against the relevant law)
My issue is the trucks that overtake other trucks and do so for miles
:mad:

Cuddlesworth · 29-05-2012 9:24am

I've noticed recently on the m50/m4 that quite a lot of cars doing 70-80kph accelerate to match pace with trucks when being overtaken, then slow down when the driver gives up and pulls back in behind them. I feel sorry for the truck drivers.

dr.fuzzenstein · 29-05-2012 11:14am

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

I've noticed recently on the m50/m4 that quite a lot of cars doing 70-80kph accelerate to match pace with trucks when being overtaken, then slow down when the driver gives up and pulls back in behind them. I feel sorry for the truck drivers.

Anyone who does that should just be shot by the roadside by armed Gardai.
There is no reason for doing that other than being a cnut.
The truck should just start pulling in on top of them, nothing will get them hitting the brakes faster than 40 tons of artic looming over them

And it's not just truckers who overtake for miles. Some car drivers pull alongside a truck and then overtake going exactly 0.0015 km/h faster than the vehicle they're overtaking.
Why bother?

the culture of deference · 29-05-2012 11:46am

volvoman480 wrote: »

As a truck driver myself, I can honestly say that I frequently move to the right hand lane to pass slower moving vehicles. I do this as quickly as possible, I also check to make sure that no other cars are close by, not solely that I don't hit them but also to ensure that I'm not delaying anyone by driving in the right hand lane. I know what it's like to be stuck behind something travelling slowly.. What amazes me is how many cars are travelling at less the 90kph on our motorways. I'm aware that the 120kph is a limit, not a target. However I'm always surprised by the amount times I am able to overtake cars. Any time I have travelled in a car on a motorway (which thankfully isn't very often) I've maintained a steady 115-120kph. I shouldn't be able to pass anything on the M8/M7/M50/M1 route I travel.

I don't have a problem with trucks overtaking slower vehicles, it becomes a problem when it's 2 trucks going head to head, one is doing 86-88 kmh and the other one is doing 88-89 kmh . (I have a truck license)

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Anyone who does that should just be shot by the roadside by armed Gardai.
There is no reason for doing that other than being a cnut.
The truck should just start pulling in on top of them, nothing will get them hitting the brakes faster than 40 tons of artic looming over them

And it's not just truckers who overtake for miles. Some car drivers pull alongside a truck and then overtake going exactly 0.0015 km/h faster than the vehicle they're overtaking.
Why bother?

I have seen this on the N4.

I watched a LWB van overtake on the hard shoulder to pass 2 trucks.

dr.fuzzenstein · 29-05-2012 11:47am

the culture of deference wrote: »

I watched a LWB van overtake on the hard shoulder to pass 2 trucks.

Wow, that's just beyond insane.

the culture of deference · 29-05-2012 11:48am

OSI wrote: »

Only going to become more common when the likes of the Nissan Leaf and Renault Flatulence ZE start becoming more common on the road and their drivers have to do 80KM/H just to make it as far as Cork from Dublin.

Renault Flatulence ZE silent but deadly.

L1011 · 29-05-2012 5:59pm

CiniO wrote: »

Buses are not prohibited from using right hand lane since their limit on motorways changed from 80km/h to 100km/h which was AFAIR in April 2009.

But no matter what, RSA keeps publishing information that they are prohibited from using right hand lane on motorways. It's worded in their ROTR from 2010, and it's in their leaflet about motorway driving from 2012.

Yet another case of the ROTR not reflecting the actual law.

Cassidy28 · 29-05-2012 7:02pm

I watched a LWB van overtake on the hard shoulder to pass 2 trucks.[/QUOTE]

This happens a lot on the M1 especially from the Boyne Bridge northbound, if there are two trucks taking up the two lanes, vans, cars, motorbikes overtake in the hard shoulder, and travelling at 100/120KPH.

kona · 29-05-2012 7:08pm

Well, Today I saw the Truck drivers side of things, I was behind some ****ing self righteous gob****e who merged onto the motorway at......40KMPH and proceeded to take a longer run to get to 120 than a fully loaded 747. All while a truck was in the slow lane, I would have been boxed in and out of slip road, but the truck driver let me out and away from the retard. ( thanks you Truck driver!) How am I likely to be paying more insurance than this geriatric female clown??

Berty · 29-05-2012 8:56pm

As a sales rep I drive a lot and see trucks obeying and disobeying rules day in and day out but I have to tell myself "It is not my job to police the roads" and other people need to remember this as well.

Trucks do overtake often doing 1 km/h faster than the other truck but this can be due to anything. Heavier load and approaching a hill when starting the manouever. It doesn't bother me because I know that once he does move back in(or she for the haters out there) then I will just go back to my original speed and still get to my destination in a quick time compared to the early 2000's.

Bus's. That 100kmh is a new one on me because I was wondering how their speed limiter were breaching the 80km/h limit but again see point 1, not my job to police the roads.

I assumed that trucks were allowed to overtake in the right lane of a Motorway if it were a 2 lane motorway and only banned from the 3rd(outer lane) of a Motorway such as the M50. I have never seen a C+ license using the 3rd lane of the M50 except on the M1 Interchange as mentioned already.

CiniO · 29-05-2012 10:11pm

Beer Baron wrote: »

Bus's. That 100kmh is a new one on me because I was wondering how their speed limiter were breaching the 80km/h limit but again see point 1, not my job to police the roads.

Since speed limiters were introduced for buses, the limit set was 100km/h.
However motorway speed limit for buses indeed was 80km/h until 2009 when it changed to 100km/h.

I assumed that trucks were allowed to overtake in the right lane of a Motorway if it were a 2 lane motorway and only banned from the 3rd(outer lane)[/QUOTE]

They are banned from using most right lane no matter if motorway has 2, 3, or 10 lanes.

the culture of deference · 31-05-2012 5:48pm

Was on the N4 today. I Overtook 2 trucks doing 120kmh. Had a volvo about 300 meters behind me catching me fast. 2nd truck pulled straight out in front of him. It took about 3 kms before the trucks cleared each other.

Mycroft H · 31-05-2012 5:53pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

Was on the N4 today. I Overtook 2 trucks doing 120kmh. Had a volvo about 300 meters behind me catching me fast. 2nd truck pulled straight out in front of him. It took about 3 kms before the trucks cleared each other.

Trucks doing 120km/h? Your speedometer is well off

slimjimmc · 31-05-2012 6:31pm

BX 19 wrote: »

Trucks doing 120km/h? Your speedometer is well off

I understood 120km/h was his speed not the speed the trucks were doing.

the culture of deference · 31-05-2012 7:19pm

BX 19 wrote: »

Trucks doing 120km/h? Your speedometer is well off

slimjimmc wrote: »

I understood 120km/h was his speed not the speed the trucks were doing.

Yeah my speed. I reckon the volvo was above 140km. When he caught up to me again he disappeared quickly.

CiniO · 31-05-2012 7:59pm

So often people write about those flying trucks, but I must say that I've never seen a truck doing more than 90km/h.
Maybe I'm just unlucky that I never meet the faster ones.

guil · 31-05-2012 8:07pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

Yeah my speed. I reckon the volvo was above 140km. When he caught up to me again he disappeared quickly.

i dont think it would be geared high enough to do 140kmph
the one i drive does between 1600-1800 at 90kmph and would need to do 2700rpm to get to 140, the redline starts at 2200

the culture of deference · 31-05-2012 11:38pm

guil wrote: »

i dont think it would be geared high enough to do 140kmph
the one i drive does between 1600-1800 at 90kmph and would need to do 2700rpm to get to 140, the redline starts at 2200

The volvo was a car. . The 2nd truck pulled straight into the OT lane straight in front of the volvo car. Both The trucks were doing about 90kmh for the next 3 or 4 kms side by side.

bigroad · 01-06-2012 1:25am

guil wrote: »

i dont think it would be geared high enough to do 140kmph
the one i drive does between 1600-1800 at 90kmph and would need to do 2700rpm to get to 140, the redline starts at 2200

Well the one i drive shows 1000rpm at 80kmh so at 2000rpm it will do 160kmh thats not at the red line.A good hill would be handy to get that far.

-Corkie- · 01-06-2012 4:48am

guil wrote: »

i dont think it would be geared high enough to do 140kmph
the one i drive does between 1600-1800 at 90kmph and would need to do 2700rpm to get to 140, the redline starts at 2200

A 143 would not be far off it in its hay day...:P

Cookie_Monster · 01-06-2012 4:58am

bigroad wrote: »

Well the one i drive shows 1000rpm at 80kmh so at 2000rpm it will do 160kmh thats not at the red line.A good hill would be handy to get that far.

rpm and speed don't quite correlate like that...

padd b1975 · 01-06-2012 7:21am

-Corkie- wrote: »

A 143 would not be far off it in its hay day...:P

With every fuse pulled out of the thing!

CiniO · 01-06-2012 6:38pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

rpm and speed don't quite correlate like that...

:eek::eek::eek::eek:
No?

So how do they correlate?

wonski · 01-06-2012 8:10pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

The volvo was a car. . The 2nd truck pulled straight into the OT lane straight in front of the volvo car. Both The trucks were doing about 90kmh for the next 3 or 4 kms side by side.

For some reason it was clear to me, but let the big boys figure it out...

Trucks on motorway

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