Why is it legal for some lorries to carry a load two lanes wide, on a dual carriageway, during daylight hours?

I've just driven from Bristol to Southampton and all the way down the a34 I've had to sit at 50mph because of three such lorries. I just don't understand how these haulage companies can think its a good idea to do such a thing with so much traffic about. Why could they not wait til 2am when traffic is almost non existent?

They have businesses to run too and will pay a **** load more road tax than any car. They will be moving at the weekend because there are less traffic on the roads, and certainly less haulage traffic. Personally I would rather these moved in daylight than come up behind them at 2 a.m.

Also the cost of moving it at night will probably significantly more.....extra wages, lighting, convoy vehicles.....plus where they are going may not be able to receive it at 2am.

Whilst yes it may be frustrating at times it needs done.

Having come up the A34 at night, it is almost as busy as during the day time, except it's trucks not cars!

The other point to take into account is safety. In daylight people see things better, have a better perception of risk, plus the hailiers themselves need to be able to see.

So tough, get the map out and realse that there are other routes you could have used.

I would have taken another route if I knew try we're going to be there, but by then it was the straightest line home and I was alone in the car. It's just irritating that they can dictate that all traffic will sit behind them for about 30 miles at 40ish mph. I wouldn't have minded slowing down of a few minutes before they can pull over and let some traffic pass

I would have taken another route if I knew try we're going to be there, but by then it was the straightest line home and I was alone in the car. It's just irritating that they can dictate that all traffic will sit behind them for about 30 miles at 40ish mph. I wouldn't have minded slowing down of a few minutes before they can pull over and let some traffic pass

Makes perfect sense (iPhone being silly) try=they, we're=were, of=for

If they had a Police Escort, the Police like to move during the day and before end of shift. Movement orders are also given at these times for Private Escorts as when these are on the road Traffic moves slower so less incidents.

As above, its all about movement orders. The relevant authorities will tell you which route to take and you have to follow that.

Sorry, but if you followed them for 30 miles you had plenty of chances to find another route.

Someone needs to tone their aggressiveness down, there's no need for it.

Back on topic

The wide loads should be done after 7pm and before 7am that's just common sense to keep the traffic flowing.

taff170, as I posted -- Traffic moves slower so less incidents. --- Just as the the relevant authorities like it

taff170, as I posted -- Traffic moves slower so less incidents. --- Just as the the relevant authorities like it

Aggressive quote not aimed at you D15VRS!

I understand where your coming from but I would suggest slow moving traffic where unexpected(motorway) may actually cause more impatience from drivers and for them to take higher risks to get around it and therefore increase accidents.

There are plenty of chances on the A34 between it's southern end and the M4 junction to find an alternative route. Even if you are on your own then you should be capable of knowing in which direction you are heading and I would have thought the names of the towns in that direction.

This "incident" as reported by the OP was NOT on a motorway.

Llanigraham gives a lot of good mature advice and comments on this site. Every one has their own opinion but current traffic advice from the authorises that control abnormal load movements is to do this in day light. Granted it may p!$$ some other road users - all the more reason to leave enough journey time to account for diversions/hold ups/ accidents etc. and patient driving.

Lets not forget that wide loads, tractors or whatever are all legitimate road users that have as much right to be there as you or I - why should we expect them always to be inconvenienced for the sake of the average motorist in a car?

"The current advice from local authorities"says it all!

What do these people really know about real life situations to be honest?

Is this the same "local authorities" who believe we should only get bin collections every 3 weeks and are generally behind every stupid decision that is made for us?

It's common sense for heavy loads to be moved at night as there is less traffic and therefore less chance of an accident.

But these "local authorities" have no common sense and are mainly made of mid management public sector "workers" who would stand little or no chance getting a job in the private sector because quite frankly the have no idea!

Sorry for hijack but anyone who thinks that these morons in the local authorities have a clue isn't worth debating with.

Edited 21 October, 201213 yr by taff170

Taff170

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Having driven up the A34 on Friday evening from its southern end near Winchester to the M4 junction, without any hold-ups, I happen to know exactly what options are available to get off that road and find an alternative route, plus I have a Road Atlas here I could look at.

wtf's an 'atlas' :think:

They have businesses to run too and will pay a **** load more road tax than any car. They will be moving at the weekend because there are less traffic on the roads, and certainly less haulage traffic. Personally I would rather these moved in daylight than come up behind them at 2 a.m.

no such thing as road tax :p #pedantic I would rather they moved their big, slow loads when I'm not trying to get to/from work

"The current advice from local authorities"says it all!

What do these people really know about real life situations to be honest?

Is this the same "local authorities" who believe we should only get bin collections every 3 weeks and are generally behind every stupid decision that is made for us?

It's common sense for heavy loads to be moved at night as there is less traffic and therefore less chance of an accident.

But these "local authorities" have no common sense and are mainly made of mid management public sector "workers" who would stand little or no chance getting a job in the private sector because quite frankly the have no idea!

Sorry for hijack but anyone who thinks that these morons in the local authorities have a clue isn't worth debating with.

Just because they don't have the same views as you doesn't mean they know nothing. Have you studied the statistics relating to the likely hood of more accidents at one time of the day than others? Have you considered the cost to industry off making all these movements at night? Have you ever driven a wide or slow load? I have never driven a wide load but have driven tractors on teh raod enough to realise that it is not the tractor that cause the problems but eh impatient idiots who have an "why should you hold me up" attitude.

And if driving a slow moving is not enough then try doing this at night - it is truly frightening what some idiots in cars will do.

no such thing as road tax :p #pedantic I would rather they moved their big, slow loads when I'm not trying to get to/from work

OK, Vehicle excise duty then

So Sliders not biased at all then...?

Driven a tractor may be a clue..

Any thought to pulling over and letting a few of these "idiots in cars" past?

Thought not.

So Sliders not biased at all then...?

Driven a tractor may be a clue..

Any thought to pulling over and letting a few of these "idiots in cars" past?

Thought not.

Not biased, just have an opinion from the other side of the fence - there are always two sides to every debate remember.

Yes, I pull over to let idiots past when I can and when its safe to do so. Unfortunately on the single carriageway roads around here I can drive many miles without having an opportunity to pull in. Inevitably I have just rejoined the road when another car or too come up behind - what do use suggest I do - fit wings???

Drive at night?

Why don't YOU drive at night, and let those of us who need to use the roads to keep the country moving get on with it?

Drive at night?

25 mph, heavy loads, country roads, all farming operations having to be done at night so that we can cart grain/potatoes/livestock etc - you really are showing total stupidity now.

Edited 21 October, 201213 yr by slider

Play nice please