HGV's and overtaking on Motorways and DC's

AugustusMaximus

Am I right in think that HGVs are banned from using the overtaking lane on two lane motorways and DC's ?

Considering vehicles travelling below 50kph can use DC's, what is a HGV driver to do if he is being held up unnecessarily by a slow driver ?

CharlieCroker

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Am I right in think that HGVs are banned from using the overtaking lane on two lane motorways and DC's ?

Considering vehicles travelling below 50kph can use DC's, what is a HGV driver to do if he is being held up unnecessarily by a slow driver ?

it's illegal for them to overtake on a motorway.
not sure about a DC though.

Snakeblood

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Am I right in think that HGVs are banned from using the overtaking lane on two lane motorways and DC's ?

Considering vehicles travelling below 50kph can use DC's, what is a HGV driver to do if he is being held up unnecessarily by a slow driver ?

From what I can tell, they overtake.

Tazzle

I was driving on a piece of the new motorway between Dublin & Cork and was stuck been behind two artics overtaking for a good 5/10 minutes. I couldn't understand it at all, they were both doing about 80kph side by side. When one was finally finished overtaking he just pulled back in and kept the same speed. Is it just a case of being too lazy to take off cruise control? Bizarre.

T-Maxx

Tazzle wrote: »

I was driving on a piece of the new motorway between Dublin & Cork and was stuck been behind two artics overtaking for a good 5/10 minutes. I couldn't understand it at all, they were both doing about 80kph side by side. When one was finally finished overtaking he just pulled back in and kept the same speed. Is it just a case of being too lazy to take off cruise control? Bizarre.

This has me stumped as well. Wish these idiots would look in their rear view mirrors and see what they're causing behind them.

Don't know if it's illegal for them to overtake though - can't see why it would TBH.

Wishbone Ash

On a motorway, it's illegal for them to use the right (or right most) lane but only if the motorway had a speed limit exceeding 80kph. Under 80kph, they can use any lane.

No restrictions on a dual carriageway. If there were how would the truck make a right turn or enter a roundabout on the right lane?

Scottie99

In the rest of Europe HGV's are allowed to use the overtaking lane i.e 2/2,2/3.
Also the speed limits are 90kmh. Why is Ireland always different?

If he travels to Cork, after passing Naas he can't use the outside/overtaking lane. After passing through Abbeyleix he is now on a single carriageway and can overtake. Doesn't make sense!

return guide

dutchcat wrote: »

they are not allowed in the third lane........they are also limited to 80 kmh

The one I was behind today was not limited, 110 kph on the N3 in Cavan.

245

dutchcat wrote: »

they are not allowed in the third lane........they are also limited to 80 kmh

HAH! 80 kmh for artics just doesn't happen on Irish roads. I passed three yesterday on the N7 southbound (one weaving) and all drivers were on mobiles at the time.

Its also worth noting that drivers of lighter vehicles with trailers seem to be in complete ignorance of speed limits that apply when towing a trailer and the consequence of the blowout of a trailer tyre under load.

While personal responsibility on the part of the driver has something to do with it, the apparent complete lack of enforcement by gardai doesn't help. Invisibility might describe it more accurately. Where is this much vaunted traffic corps?

While I'm ranting, the professional standards of artic drivers seems to have dropped considerably in recent years. They used to be among the best and most courteous drivers on the road.

Our man in Havana

This is known as Elephant Racing in the UK. Totally annoying but in merry old Ireland it is ok. "Ah sure it will be alright."

guil

245 wrote: »

While I'm ranting, the professional standards of artic drivers seems to have dropped considerably in recent years. They used to be among the best and most courteous drivers on the road.

this prob wont go down to well but there's not many irish drivers anymore, i was lucky to get a job

seclachi

I dont have a problem with hgvs in general overtaking when they are fast enough for the job, but what pisses me off is when they overtake each other really slowly. Take for instance your on the motorway doing 120, as you approach them one artic decides to over take the other, there both doing like 100. Artic in the rear goes up to 105, and the guy in front decides to have some fun and go to 103. Meanwhile your sitting behind them like a muppet waiting for them to overtake each other at walking speed. Why cant the guy in the rear just take advantage of the slipstream of the guy in front (at a safe distance of course).

I have heard some nasty trucker storys too, a friends GFs focus was totaled when a lorry driver rammed the back of her and kept going terminator style for a few seconds before he decided to stop. I think the guy was from eastern europe.

Seth Brundle

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

On a motorway, it's illegal for them to use the right (or right most) lane but only if the motorway had a speed limit exceeding 80kph. Under 80kph, they can use any lane.

No restrictions on a dual carriageway. If there were how would the truck make a right turn or enter a roundabout on the right lane?

I was under the belief that this only applied on motorways with 3 or more carriageways.

L1011

kbannon wrote: »

I was under the belief that this only applied on motorways with 3 or more carriageways.

3 carriageways? Inbound, outbound and quantum?

On 3 lane motorways they're allowed overtake but not in the outermost lane.

Seth Brundle

ok - I meant 3 or more lanes smartypants

Biro

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Am I right in think that HGVs are banned from using the overtaking lane on two lane motorways and DC's ?

Considering vehicles travelling below 50kph can use DC's, what is a HGV driver to do if he is being held up unnecessarily by a slow driver ?

I think its a stupid rule too. And they're allowed to overtake again once the dual carrigeway ends. Madness.

Biro

Tazzle wrote: »

I was driving on a piece of the new motorway between Dublin & Cork and was stuck been behind two artics overtaking for a good 5/10 minutes. I couldn't understand it at all, they were both doing about 80kph side by side. When one was finally finished overtaking he just pulled back in and kept the same speed. Is it just a case of being too lazy to take off cruise control? Bizarre.

Nothing to do with cruise control. The trucks are limited to 80kph. Couldn't go any quicker. He was probably hoping the other guy would ease back 3 or 4 kph.

Cookie_Monster

A similar rule was implemented in the Emirates a few years back where trucks are only allowed use the inside most lanes of the motorways. Apparently accident and death rates droppped quite a bit. It's ridgedly enforced too, overtaking or speeding gets your licence taken away.

testicle

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

A similar rule was implemented in the Emirates a few years back where trucks are only allowed use the inside most lanes of the motorways. Apparently accident and death rates droppped quite a bit. It's ridgedly enforced too, overtaking or speeding gets your licence taken away.

Or your hand chopped off.

Slidey

Biro wrote: »

Nothing to do with cruise control. The trucks are limited to 80kph. Couldn't go any quicker. He was probably hoping the other guy would ease back 3 or 4 kph.

Trucks speed limiter are actually set to 90k.

Their speed limit is 80k.
*
Often times one will attempt to over take the other because he has a marginally different calibration on the tachograph.

This can be done by having the tacho calibrated with low profile tyres and going back to standard tyres after.

A lot of the older speedlimiters can be by-passed fairly easily by pulling the fuse. This normally has knock on effects to other systems on the trucks.

The newest digital Tacho in the Scanias can be turned completely off with just a magnet
*

Between the *'s is illegal.

Noopti

seclachi wrote: »

I think the guy was from eastern europe.

How is that relevant?

Anyway, I usually encounter the old HGV overtaking HGV at least once a week, and I don't drive that much. Very annoying.

Tazzle

Biro wrote: »

Nothing to do with cruise control. The trucks are limited to 80kph. Couldn't go any quicker. He was probably hoping the other guy would ease back 3 or 4 kph.

It's a mind blowing experience. A complete void of common sense.