General Chat

JoyLousie, I don't know about the truly rural roads but in built-up areas in WA you are usually flashed by oncoming traffic to warn you of a speed camera on your side of the road.

I used to flash in the UK, but not over here.

With the exception of Tasmania, I haven't driven in any other Oz State

OH does that too. I don't.

I just ain't a flasher! ;-) :-D

Flashing a lorry by is when a lorry overtakes you , because he can't see if his trailer is completely past, you flash when it is, so that he can safely pull in.

Flashing a lorry by is when a lorry overtakes you , because he can't see if his trailer is completely past, you flash when it is, so that he can safely pull in.

One thing I never do is flash! :-D

My OH still does so but I stopped when I lived in Oz and it meant the complete opposite to what it does on British roads so I always use a nice open-handed hand gesture to beckon people to go.

We usually get a lot of tourists visit here in the summertime and I have seen a couple of near misses when the flash is misinterpreted. Also, it is not too unusual to see the traffic come to a sudden halt as some tourist goes the wrong way around a roundabout as well.

Allan, does flashing in WA have the same interpretation as where we lived? And I mean that in a totally innocent way! :-D

I've often been up hill in a boat - and down.

RTR - you did say 'eventually'.
So probably not as soon as you then go on to speculate.
Tesla claims production by 2021 is planned - oh - and it would have an 'autopilot'.

Then there's the problem with compatible charging areas - negated by Musk who said he would be " installing a global network of "Megachargers" that would be solar-powered and would be able to recharge a truck's batteries in 30 minutes to a capacity to travel 400 miles (640 km).To accomplish this, it will likely have an output level over one megawatt.

However: "Independent analysis indicated that an electric semi might be feasible for short- or medium-range hauling, but would not be for long-range hauling, as the weight of the batteries required would take up too much of the weight allowed by law. One estimate for the battery weight, at 11,800 kg, was estimated to account for one third of the payload, and would increase the capital cost of the truck to about double that of an equivalent diesel."

Ignorance is blissful, RTR? Whereas speculation - what is that?

As for your boat - I know someone with webbed fingers who can't swim.

The first flight was for a few hundred meters.

Ignorance is blissful but change happens all the same.
Sometimes there are phases of disruptive change often followed by up to a century of much the same thing and incremental change. People tend to hang on to old and familiar ways but it is to no avail.

Tesla already have long distance hgv on test. DAF are interesting as an early adopter.

My boat has a diesel engine but I would not expect it to go up hill.

Yet another way I led OH astray. I took him in a transport cafe!

Recharging every 31 miles? Long-haul journeys will take a long time!
As for electric lorries having more torque - pure porky.

Which has more torque electric or diesel?
"Diesel engines produce torque in about the same way, except due to having a higher compression ratio, and because the fuel stores more energy than gas, diesel engines often produce greater torque. As EVs don't require fuel, they don't produce torque through combustion."

Hmmm,,,


"pull up at the next greasy spoon take away, for a bacon sarnie...."

Er where's the charging lead mate?

I knew Rolo would be able to enlighten me!

It is all about momentum Sharon.

A car, even a large one, or an ancient mini, has pretty good pickup/acceleration compared to any truck 7 tons and up. Thus for the car quickly slowing down and then picking up speed again is easy.

A truck going at, say, 5 mph more than the one in front has two choices.

One, safest, is to just accept the situation until the next downhill and overtake. However the fron truck will have more momentum and use the downgradient to prevent the following truck to overtake. Hence the slow overtaking tactic. Diesel engines are very much prone to this problem 'cos diesel is designed for running at as constant a speed as poss. and pickup is terrible with HGVs.

If HGV drivers did not do this they can lose a lot of time in a shift especially in hilly areas. Then being late has a knock on effect on stopping for compulsory rest breaks and delviery slots.

Slow and safe will always end up getting sacked or losing biz if an indie.

Eventually the problem will disappear with electric trucks. These have no gearbox and any amount of torque. Problem fixed.

https://www.driving.co.uk/news/daf-electric-lorry-delivered/

My CPC is very old now and I have to admit that I didn't know there were limiters on all lorries now but I do remember lorries being banned from the outside lane.

I can't explain why lorries overtake one a little bit slower than themselves, too hard for me, but there is a good reason which is why I am pretty patient about it.

Come on, there must be a lorry driver who can explain!

I don't mind lorries generally, but I do get a bit annoyed when the overtaking one is going only a bit faster than the one it's overtaking!!! Particularly on a hill. :-|

Sharron no problem if they are overtaking us if we are in the inside lane but do have a problem if we are overtaking traffic in middle lane doing 70 and they indicate and pull out in one move, no waiting until they are sure we can take avoiding action which we often can't if we are being overtaken in the outside lane. It is not only foreign lorries although they are the main culprits.

I would think that there is summat like a variable cruise control to set their speeds
rather than a fixed limiter...

When we were first together, OH thought I knew an awful lot of lorry drivers.Maybe I did, maybe I didn't, I'm not telling him about it!

Daughter of a lorry driver who had spent far too many years as a driver, I would flash lorries past if they overtook me. I had always done it, never thought about it, but it was a revelation to him.

I am quite patient with overtaking lorries anyway, I can get back up to speed a lot more quickly that they can.

On the A75 which we travel get a lot of HG vehicles going to Cairnryan port to cross to Ireland they pass me doing more than 56 mph think they can adjust something to go faster ? There are some Plonkers leave me standing .me 45 mph .saying that they have to catch ferry before they sail. No excuse though for dangerous driving hope you enjoyed your jaunt Barbara

Our motor home is 4.5 tonnes and so is classed as a private HGV. Private HGVS can do the same speed as any other vehicle on the road but we also have a camera fitted which lets us see behind us across three lanes. I think more vehicles would benefit from this.