This morning on my freezing cold commute to work I had an experience that I have never had before: a really considerate HGV driver (aka LGV aka lorry aka truck). It actually occurred on the same stretch of road where the Oakwood driver behaved so recklessly a few months ago. In light of today’s lovely experience, I’ve decided to also record moments of extreme consideration as well as those of danger, so that we get a nice and balanced picture.

This HGV belonged to Sheffield Insulations and I encountered it as I was cycling along Drayton Park, N5 towards the Holloway Road. At the point just before the junction with Benwell Road, I head the truck come up behind me. There is a cycle lane on this stretch of the road but I wasn’t in it due to parked cars; the driver stayed behind me and did not attempt to pass - just a few metres ahead, the lights were red.

At this junction (Drayton Park and Holloway Road) there is an ASL and so I cycled into it and occupied a central position at the front of the box. Once stopped I turned round to see how close to me the HGV was, and to my great surprise and extreme gratitude the driver had actually stopped way before the stop line. I felt like clapping and kinda wish I had, but my hands were hurting from the cold (I had forgotten my gloves :(). I didn’t ask him why he stopped so far back, but I can only assume it was so that I didn’t fall into one of his blind spots.

So yay for the driver of the Sheffield Insulations HGV, yay! Hopefully more and more will start behaving in this way.

Posted under praise