Lorry 'bullies'
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In Commercial Motor June 30 I read an article in which Mr J. Hanlon warned lorry "bullies".
I can readily imagine that Mr Hanlon was annoyed when he found himself being bullied along in the way he described. Of course, the driver should not have behaved as he did; his attitude is not only dangerous. it also does a lot of damage to the already shaky image of road transport.
And yet I don't think the driver was entirely to blame: people driving for pleasure, slowing down every few seconds to admire the sights and generally behaving as if they don't know what to do next, can be terribly exasperating, especially if you are trying to avoid running over them with a 20-ton load behind you which you are expected to deliver safely and right on schedule. A little understanding makes all the difference in such cases. If Mr Hanlon, instead of signalling, had pulled into a lay-by for a second, the lorry driver could have overtaken him and the day would have been a lot sunnier for both of them.
Last summer I travelled some 3000 miles along British roads with my car — I am not a professional lorry driver — and I didn't see a single lorry "bully". On the contrary, most lorry drivers were considerate and helpful and I think they deserve a compliment rather than a rebuke.
A. W. N. A. KWINTEN, Westerhoven, Holland.