LORRY EVENT PROVIDES INVALUABLE SAFETY EXPERIENCE FOR ADVANCED MOTORISTS

Local company Longcliffe Quarries Limited has provided a group of advanced motorists with an invaluable ‘view from the cab’ – an insight into the day to day driving challenges faced by lorry drivers.

Members of the Derwent and Hope Valley Institute of Advanced Motorists Roadsmart Group spent the day at the company’s transport depot at Curzon Lodge near Matlock.

The Group’s aim is to enhance driver and rider skills on the road, improve road safety and prepare people for the advanced driving / motorcycle test. Through several mocked-up scenarios involving Longcliffe’s bulk tanker lorries, the members were able to get a lorry driver’s view and understand the limitations of blind spots around their vehicles.

The scenarios included an opportunity to see the visibility a tanker driver has of other vehicles around it when negotiating a roundabout; a set up scene to show the view of pedestrians when on a crossing or a path alongside the lorry; and a valuable ride in the cab to see the all-round experience for the driver.

The Group’s Secretary and chief observer, Bill Storey said: “Our members gained so much from this event. There is no better way to learn how to drive safely when around lorries than seeing the situation from the lorry driver’s side. Whilst these drivers are assisted by all sorts of safety cameras and gadgets in their cab, there are still significant blind spots for which they have to constantly adjust their driving. “We have significantly increased our knowledge by taking part in this event. This will not only help us all as drivers, but also improve our skills for teaching others to become advanced motorists. Ultimately the most important outcome from the Longcliffe session is improved road safety.”