I am not for one moment suggesting that this applies to any of the readers on this site but...........
Up here in The Highlands of Scotland we are getting into 'the meat' of the tourist season. This means that there are a lot of welcome visitors, from all over Europe, either in Campers or towing Tin Tents.
All are more than welcome and you can be sure that we'll quite happily take your money – sorry – we'll give you a good welcome.
But.................
… and it's a BIG but …........
As a lorry driver who regards Inverness as 'South' might I take this opportunity to make a few suggestions/observations?
1/ Basics. Learn the rules of the road! There are, in The Highlands, a LOT of single track roads – for example both the A837 and the A894 are single track roads – and the rules are very simple: All single tracks have a plethora of passing places. The driver nearest the passing place will either stop in the passing place or reverse!
It doesn't matter if you have a Tin Tent – the rules dictate that if YOU are nearest the passing place – YOU should reverse!
Now, I must admit that politeness will usually mean that the person in the car will reverse but not all will. . . . . and they will be quite within their rights
2/ ….. and, while we're on about single track roads.....
The (eg.) A837 is classified as an A road – the clue is in the nomenclature – and the legal limit on an A road is (for cars) 60mph. Make no mistake; locals WILL drive along these roads at the legal speed limit.
Now if you want to admire the scenery, and, after all, why wouldn't you when it is supremely spectacular, please do so........ but DO NOT do so by pootling along at 20mph whilst pointing and gesticulating.
THIS WILL JUST ANNOY THE LOCALS!
Use the passing place and park up to let them past. Take 2 minutes to admire the view, then move on.
3/ Did I mention passing places? Again, the clue is in the nomenclature. It's a passing place........ it is NOT a convenient place for you to stop and have a coffee. Don't do it.
4/ While I'm on about single track roads etc: I drive a big articulated lorry. I will happily travel at the legal limit on a single track. All lorry and delivery drivers have a limited amount of time and, in some cases, an horrendous mileage to cover. Get in the road and they WILL get annoyed. Please, don't do it.
5/ . . . . . . . . and, please be aware that passing places are not built for Artics. I know the rules (probably better than you do) but Artics DO NOT FIT in passing places. You are no-where as big as I am so use your brain and pull into the passing place.
6/ Talking of size.... … … … Please, please, please, please, I BEG you, LEARN THE SIZE OF YOUR VEHICLES. I never cease to be amazed at the number of Camper Drivers/Tin Tent towers who have no idea what-ever of the size their vehicles. Learn. Please.
7/ I can think, off the top of my head, of at least one road where there is a sign which states – quite clearly and in plain English – NOT SUITABLE FOR CARAVANS.
This means that people who are towing caravans should NOT go further along that road; They should use the nearby turning place to turn around and go another way.
At least a dozen times a year Tin Tent towers choose to ignore the sign and carry on. The inevitable happens and that ultimately leads to traffic jams and big bills and a LOT of frayed tempers from the locals.
The road signs are NOT there just to make the landscape look pretty - they are there for a reason.
Stick to the them.
8/ Finally..... the biggest bug bear of all. LEARN TO BLOODY REVERSE THE DAMN THING!! I will normally have a dozen occasions a year whereby I have to practically drag the driver out of the car while I reverse the combination for them. It's a basic skill and the failure to be able to do so is supremely irritating and, arguably, illegal. Learn
Excellent advice,i do agree with the learn to reverse,ive been caravanning over 40 years and still practice when I can,ive got a mover fitted but still reverse onto the pitch,i recently took a wrong turning and had no choice but to reverse,it could save a lot of embarrassment.
Whilst I would be happy and confident to reverse my caravan a few metres I would not expect a car driver to be inconsiderate enough to want me to reverse my outfit 50-100 m if that was the nearest passing place and I was nearest to it.It seems to me that whoever has the smallest outfit should reverse.On local narrow roads ,whilst in my car,I very occasionally meet a large agricultural vehicle and I would not expect him to reverse even if he was closer to a passing point.Reversing a car and being able to look out of your rear window is safer than relying on wing/door mirrors.
Just my opinion.
The problem arises when the Tin Tent Dragger decides to be bloody awkward.
If two cars are approaching each other on a single track, then the one WHO PASSES the passing place first HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.
So.... if there is 200 yards between the passing places and you've quite clearly seen me drive past the passing place - as is my right - and you choose not to pull in to the passing place you are approaching but, instead, drive straight past.......... then why should I have to reverse because of you?
And it happens more often that you could possibly believe!!
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
In tourist areas with narrow roads its the locals that drive like nutters & cause all the accidents, they get impatient with the tourists. Farmers in 4x4s are the worst followed by delivery drivers/lorry drivers/bus & coach drivers & also local pensioners who believe its still legal to drive home p***ed after a lunchtime pub session. Tourists are generaly not in a hurry & drive carefully. If some t**t expects you to back up in a caravan, you are the one who has all the time in the world not some local bully of a farmer in a Navara, so stand your ground.
You're on holiday - you don't need to stress out when driving single track roads. When you see another vehicle coming the other way, especially if it is a lorry or bus, just pull into a convenient passing place even if there is one a bit closer to the spot where you would otherwise meet. You're on holiday and have plenty of time and as pointed out it gives you a bit of time to admire the view. If you've been pulling over for faster vehicles behind you as you should do there won't be many if anyone behind you to get blocked up by you using the not nearest passing place to the spot where you would otherwise meet.
You've got some hope! Half the car drivers now days can't even reverse a car let alone with a tin tent on the back you only have to watch some of them in the supermarkets to see that
Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 15/5/2013
Why do companies send artics down these roads and not smaller lorries?
Ali
There is suprisingly little thought given to this in the transport/logistics industry, all traffic planners do is make up multiloads in the most cost effective way possible. I used to arrive back in the UK from Germany in a 44tonner with 6 or more drops that had to be got off asap, often the drops were stuff like 1 pallet of turf to some to place down a country lane in deepest Devon & I was going like train, not a second to lose. In fact I was the lorry driver I was ranting about in my earlier post. If you've got it, it came by truck, These days usually driven by a Romanian with no English & a dodgy satnav.
There are some people, especially those who live in a big inner city who very rarely have the opportunity to drive - therefore get used to - single track roads. A bit of understanding, therefore patience should be extended by those (of us) who are a bit more used to it. Also beautiful countryside/natural scenery will probaly be a jaw-dropper for the same townies who rarely see anything other than urban grey and therefore somewhere they want to savour rather than fly past. Lastly, I would be welcoming tourists with open arms in this climate. I am lucky enough to be a townie who lives fairly close to lovely countryside so am used to driving single-tracks and dual carriageways. I must add that I have no experience of inner city driving and probably would be a pain in the proverbial to experienced city drivers!
Bimblers, I think you need to decide which rules you want to live with...
In Point 1 you say that whoever is nearest to a passing place should reverse irrespective of size, all well & good, but then go onto Point 5 to say that because you drive a large vehicle you won't be the one to reverse!
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Topic: A Plea - or is it a Rant?
