He's A Very Naughty Boy ...

[Baldric]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38575843

///The bridge was officially closed to HGVs at the time the lorry attempted to cross and a 54-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving///

And rightly so imo.

[ummmm]

He's a complete idiot!!

[-Talbot-]

What a gonk, he won't live this stupidly down



The Forth will be with him ... always

[andy-hughes]

This incident chimes exactly with the thread about the wonk moving the ambulance - people don't think or anticipate.

[mushroom25]

the driver has been arrested, and maybe rightly so. but before condemning the driver it would be interesting to know the attitude of his employers, particularly the despatchers, who would be aware that the alternative to chancing the bridge crossing is a diversion of more than 30 miles, with the consequent costs in time and fuel. would the driver be penalized, notwithstanding the bridge was officially closed? was this his incentive to take a chance, a black mark against his company record?

[andy-hughes]

mushroom - You can always find a reason why anyone committed any crime - but a reason and an excuse are not the same thing.

[Baldric]

///The bridge was officially closed to HGVs at the time///

repeated for the hard of understanding.

[jno]

andy, you may be missing mushroom's point about the pressure drivers are put under by their employers to deliver everything yesterday.

[mushroom25]

a friend was a motor cycle courier for a while - delivery schedules prepared for him by the company assumed he'd be riding to a cruising speed of 100mph.

[Togo]

Stupid driver......but I suppose it will blow over.

[Bazile]

Yes - i wouldn't be surprised if his employers would have pulled him up for taking a detour

[douglas9401]

I think his employers might weigh up the recovery costs, lost load, repairs to truck, road traffic act, and bad publicity against saving a couple of gallons of diesel and half an hour and come down on the side of 'divert'.

[mushroom25]

maybe douglas, but that determination arrives with the benefit of hindsight. beforehand, the company despatchers know well enough that the bridge is closed long before the safe limit is actually reached - a gamble possibly, but one worth taking, for some.

[Togo]

The size of the lorry would suggest it was not being used for courier or local domestic deliveries. It was also probably empty, hence susceptible to being affected by the high wind. Neither is there any sign of any load or goods being scattered around.

[andy-hughes]

jno - //andy, you may be missing mushroom's point about the pressure drivers are put under by their employers to deliver everything yesterday. //

I didn't miss the point - the employer pressure is the reason why the driver acted as he did - but the reason is not an excuse, and that is my point.

[-Talbot-]

stupidly ?

lol stupidity

[agchristie]

I am sure there are mitigating circumstances which will be taken into account. The bridge was closed for a very good reason. The driver will be hoping for damage limitation.

[Baldric]

//mitigating circumstances//

Well it was 02:00 hrs so he thought he'd chance his arm!

Don't think that's going to help him a great deal tbh.

[agchristie]

Baldric, irrespective of the time there can be any amount of reasons why he acted as he did.As I said,it will be down to the plausibility of his explanation which may see a reduction in whatever penalty may be imposed.

[Baldric]

Just give us one that overrides the Official Closure of the Bridge to HGV's, interested in your idea.

[agchristie]

Baldric,one for his legal brief but maybe he got distracted by a bird that flew into his cab door and he missed the closure sign! Who knows!