Councillor’s brush with death on the QE2 bridge (From Echo)
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Councillor’s brush with death on the QE2 bridge
5:00pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Southend By Stephen Hackwell
Close call – Blaine Robin
A TERRIFIED councillor has launched a road safety campaign after his car was nearly sent spinning on the QE2 bridge.
Blaine Robin, a Tory councillor in Southend, plans to join lobbyists calling for the Government to bring in tougher restrictions on European left-hand drive vehicles.
Dr Robin, of the Butterys, Southend, was driving across the Dartford Crossing earlier this week when a Slovakian lorry turned into his car, spinning it round until it stopped close to the edge of the QE2 bridge.
The impact smashed up the left side of Dr Robin’s car and left him with pains in his chest, back and legs.
He said: “I could have been killed quite easily. It has really shaken me up. The lorry tried to move lane because the driver could not see me.
“It hit my car and spun it. Before I knew it, I was looking out towards the Thames.”
Under British law, there are no restrictions on left-hand-drive vehicles.
However, the growth of the European market has led to a steady increase in the number of left-hand-drive lorries or large vans on the UK’s roads.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents claims the likelihood of an accident has increased as a result, because drivers have a large blind spot on their right side.
Statistics published by the Department for Transport in 2005 showed one-third of all collisions involving left-hand-drive lorries were due to the blind spot. A society spokesman said: “Left-hand-drive vehicles are not designed for use on Britain’s roads.
“As a result, blind spots can be larger than with British vehicles.
“This is most pronounced when the vehicle has other road users coming up the far side or when turning right.”
The Government announced a consultation on plans to tax foreign haulage drivers for using British roads yesterday.
Each vehicle could pay a £10 daily toll to bankroll repairs and maintenance.
But Dr Robin said that was not enough. He said: “We need to do more to ensure they are driving safely. All it takes is one incident and you may have a death on your hands.”
Comments(32)
mikey s
says...
5:50pm Fri 27 Jan 12
Last November the same thing happened to me! I was in the outside lane of the A20 coming away from Dover. As I passed a Polish lorry, it pulled out into the outside lane, causing my car to spin across the front of the lorry. I hit the nearside crash barrier head-on, spun again, hit the crash barrier rear-on, spun again and ended trapped on the inside of the lorry, puncturing his fuel tank. Our car was a write off - damaged on all four sides.
My wife and I were very lucky to escape without serious injuries - whiplash still ongoing.
These lorries should be compelled to fit an extra mirror to cover the blind spot.
trucker1
says...
6:01pm Fri 27 Jan 12
trucker1
says...
6:01pm Fri 27 Jan 12
tttutor
says...
6:26pm Fri 27 Jan 12
fletch12107
says...
7:04pm Fri 27 Jan 12
doasilikey
says...
7:43pm Fri 27 Jan 12
Young Sage
says...
7:46pm Fri 27 Jan 12
doasilikey wrote:Very well put indeed - "Dr" Blaine loves to pose for the camera as well doesn't he.
Mr. Robin is certainly not shy of publicity. He should go far and I rather hope he does.
boyracer_20yrs old
says...
8:53pm Fri 27 Jan 12
All 9 of me
says...
10:41pm Fri 27 Jan 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:does this include boyracing ?
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
Southendracer
says...
10:42pm Fri 27 Jan 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:what about places that dont have trains?
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
and how about transporting the load to shops ect.
APR
says...
10:50pm Fri 27 Jan 12
They should ensure all LHD trucks are fitted with the correct mirrors.
Also don't try to overtake them unless the road is clear in front, and watch to make sure the truck isn't about to overtake
APR
says...
10:50pm Fri 27 Jan 12
They should ensure all LHD trucks are fitted with the correct mirrors.
Also don't try to overtake them unless the road is clear in front, and watch to make sure the truck isn't about to overtake
paulzone
says...
11:07pm Fri 27 Jan 12
Keptquiettillnow
says...
8:19am Sat 28 Jan 12
To be fair European lorries you see on the roads here are well fitted out with mirrors, much more than many of the UK based HGV.
Maybe its time to look at blacked out windows on cars as well.
westcliff willi
says...
9:19am Sat 28 Jan 12
Keptquiettillnow wrote:If you are refering to cllr robins car in the picture it is totally legal and would have had no part to play in the incident.
Beware of left hand trucks. Beware trucks. To be fair European lorries you see on the roads here are well fitted out with mirrors, much more than many of the UK based HGV. Maybe its time to look at blacked out windows on cars as well.
he is indeed quite lucky and quite right to use his postion to highlight what is becoming a very real danger on our roads.
A Dermot
says...
11:27am Sat 28 Jan 12
whataday
says...
11:57am Sat 28 Jan 12
leighbloke
says...
12:09pm Sat 28 Jan 12
However should there be a rethink on road safety on the bridge and limit high sided/HGV vehicles to the left hand lanes only and introduce enforcable speed restrictions at all times?
Keptquiettillnow
says...
1:23pm Sat 28 Jan 12
westcliff willi wrote:It may well be legal to have blacked out windows, so is not having mirrors on trucks to cover the blind spots. Whats your point?
Keptquiettillnow wrote:If you are refering to cllr robins car in the picture it is totally legal and would have had no part to play in the incident.
Beware of left hand trucks. Beware trucks. To be fair European lorries you see on the roads here are well fitted out with mirrors, much more than many of the UK based HGV. Maybe its time to look at blacked out windows on cars as well.
he is indeed quite lucky and quite right to use his postion to highlight what is becoming a very real danger on our roads.
I think its time for lots of things that are legal should be looked at, not just pointing the finger and blaming one party.
Never put yourself on the inside of a truck. When trucks are near slow down and give the road to them. You will not win against a truck.
Nick BURTON
says...
2:34pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Loiter along side a Heavy Goods Veh
(whether left or right hand drive)
and especially on a multi lane road &
roundabouts !
Why ? the driver may not take sufficient care to check if anyone is alongside his vehicle before changing lanes
Being in the right is no good when you are road kill.
stonybrig
says...
3:10pm Sat 28 Jan 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:We could not exist without HGV vehicles the y are the backbone of this country but" boyracers the name says it all for you,even if your a nice !!
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
but people love to blame lorry drivers
its true some are careless with regards to over doing it and causing accidents they are a minority,i have driven a large truck for over 25 years accident free
I bet the doctor will be more aware from now on, cos these things happen
Andycal 172D
says...
3:17pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Southendracer
says...
3:28pm Sat 28 Jan 12
trucker1
says...
4:31pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Southendracer wrote:Most eastern European drivers can't speak English let alone read it
didnt these lorry drive read the keep in lane signs that is all over the bridge.
southendreb
says...
4:35pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Jane D
says...
4:49pm Sat 28 Jan 12
save southend
says...
3:38pm Sun 29 Jan 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:I do remember goods coming to southend east goods depot and there it stayed , laying around on platforms for days getting damaged or stolen often by BR staff, how would big stores survive without several hgvs an hour dropping of what we want, as a car driver I know big trucks cut corners as they dont bend and its best to let them in or out when they need to change lanes, johnny foreigner does not give a t,,s as when he is nicked for dodgy driving he is back home in days , endorsements, bans , fines , me no speak engleesh
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
save southend
says...
3:39pm Sun 29 Jan 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:I do remember goods coming to southend east goods depot and there it stayed , laying around on platforms for days getting damaged or stolen often by BR staff, how would big stores survive without several hgvs an hour dropping of what we want, as a car driver I know big trucks cut corners as they dont bend and its best to let them in or out when they need to change lanes, johnny foreigner does not give a t,,s as when he is nicked for dodgy driving he is back home in days , endorsements, bans , fines , me no speak engleesh
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
johnny foreigner
says...
6:39pm Sun 29 Jan 12
save southend wrote:I would just like to make it clear that I have no driving convictions, nor have I ever been stopped by police. Furthermore, I speak English to a reasonable standard.
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:I do remember goods coming to southend east goods depot and there it stayed , laying around on platforms for days getting damaged or stolen often by BR staff, how would big stores survive without several hgvs an hour dropping of what we want, as a car driver I know big trucks cut corners as they dont bend and its best to let them in or out when they need to change lanes, johnny foreigner does not give a t,,s as when he is nicked for dodgy driving he is back home in days , endorsements, bans , fines , me no speak engleesh
Lorries shouldnt be on our roads, especially the 18 wheeler ones. There to dangerous and cause so many accidents. Drivers have been known to fall asleep at the wheel on several occasions because they drive so far. Time to do everything by train!
romeo017
says...
8:16pm Mon 30 Jan 12
alimac69
says...
1:30pm Wed 1 Feb 12
geezer, innit says...
5:49pm Fri 27 Jan 12
Would we be hearing about something like this if it had happened to an 'ordinary joe'?