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[Tom Bourke]

Of course the other thing here is that many cars and trucks seem to think that on the rare occassion that they do use a turn signal that is not a request or an indication that they will change lanes when there is an opening but rather indication that they are coming over no matter what and expect everyone to get out of their way.

Many times I run into drivers who take my turn signal to mean they have to speed up and close the opening before I can get over.  This is regardless of if I am in a small car or my stretch cargo van with trailer.

[John Roberts {JR}]

Many times I run into drivers who take my turn signal to mean they have to speed up and close the opening before I can get over.  This is regardless of if I am in a small car or my stretch cargo van with trailer.

I recall driving in rush hour traffic in NJ commuting toward NYC, and in downtown Boston back in the '60s. The secret was not to let the other car drivers know that you see them. Once they see you looking at them they have carte blanche to cut you off.  So the trick is knowing who is around you without telegraphing that you know.

Kenmore square was fun where the several lanes merge down to only a few. Not for the meek or timid. it also helped that I was driving an old beater, painted flat gray primer. So it looked like I wasn't afraid to trade some paint, while I never did. 

JR

[Tommy Peel]

I've never understood the thought process that makes people slow down when they are passing. I've always felt the less time I spend exposed to the other vehicle the better.

Mac

+1000
Or when you're passing someone and they speed up when you get beside them.....

[Lee Buckalew]

Same here. (I can only sleep in a car if you are driving).

 

I hope to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did.  Not yelling and screaming like the other people in his car.

     

[Alec Spence]

In Europe we have very strict driving hours rules, and enforce mandatory tachographs on larger vehicles.

+1

Might sound harsh, but these rules were introduced for good reason, and have delivered results.

Roughly summarised, in the UK: Max 56 hours in a week, but you can't do multiple 56 hour weeks back-to back.  45 mins break after 4.5 hours driving.  There are subtleties to it all to help flexibility, but those are some of the simple headliners.

[gordonmcgregor]

+1

Might sound harsh, but these rules were introduced for good reason, and have delivered results.

Roughly summarised, in the UK: Max 56 hours in a week, but you can't do multiple 56 hour weeks back-to back.  45 mins break after 4.5 hours driving.  There are subtleties to it all to help flexibility, but those are some of the simple headliners.

The not so subtle one here is that 56 hours is total hours worked so it includes any non driving work you do in a day ie rigging or operating a PA.

[Jelmer de Jong]

The not so subtle one here is that 56 hours is total hours worked so it includes any non driving work you do in a day ie rigging or operating a PA.

That's not so different overhere, but without attending the event and watching every employee it's impossible to check what's the truckdriver is doing when the meter says 'idle'. Thats why there is a maximum on working hours per day. Lets say you drive to a venue and arrive at 9AM in the morning after a two hour drive, park your truck after it's unloaded and sleep for the rest of the day. The concert ends at 11.30PM and you are asked to move your truck to the loading dock. This is not possible since you started at 7AM and are for beyond the maximum working hours per day(9 or something like that) altough the total time behind the wheel is a little more then two hours. If you wait a few minutes till 00.01, the next day has started and it's okay to move your truck to the loading dock of the venue. It's even ok to drive back home for 4.5 hours without a break.

[gordonmcgregor]

That's not so different overhere, but without attending the event and watching every employee it's impossible to check what's the truckdriver is doing when the meter says 'idle'. Thats why there is a maximum on working hours per day. Lets say you drive to a venue and arrive at 9AM in the morning after a two hour drive, park your truck after it's unloaded and sleep for the rest of the day. The concert ends at 11.30PM and you are asked to move your truck to the loading dock. This is not possible since you started at 7AM and are for beyond the maximum working hours per day(9 or something like that) altough the total time behind the wheel is a little more then two hours. If you wait a few minutes till 00.01, the next day has started and it's okay to move your truck to the loading dock of the venue. It's even ok to drive back home for 4.5 hours without a break.

I'm sure the same thing happens here as well, but I know of one incident where the prosecution used a video clip of a gig from Youtube  as evidence and that along with witness reports got the driver a 24 month ban, fines etc.
Sleeping in a designated bunk on the vehicle does not count as "work" running a sound board all day and night does. If the above driver had rested during the day he could have driven legally, he would then have to take an extended break the next day or cut his hours. The HGV rules are hard to implement and are open to interpretation, personally I'll stay below 3.5 tons and stay in a cheap hotel if needs be. G

[John Roberts {JR}]

Pretty soon google will be driving all the trucks so that should be safer, unless they encounter some microsoft software and get a blue screen while driving..

JR

[Tim McCulloch]

Hours of service regulations are the big changes.

http://www.jjkeller.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/content____bi-hoursofservice-newrule-FAQs

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