It wasn't many days ago that we posted about HGVs, and how Aggregate Industries urges the construction industry to drive forward road safety:
At Aggregate Industries, for example, we operate an incredibly robust approach to the enrolment of our 1,000-plus franchisee drivers… blah blah blah
With traffic levels on Britain’s roads reaching record levels, and HGV traffic identified as the second fastest growing traffic type in recent years, we're calling for more to be done to drive road safety forward in #construction 🚛 https://t.co/M0YmF5e4Jy pic.twitter.com/jhW5Z4Uv5m— Aggregate Industries (@AggregateUK) January 29, 2019
Given that HGVs in the wrong hands, or hands containing mobile devices, are lethal weapons – as in the case of the Newbury A34 tragedy in 2016 – perhaps the company should look closer to home first. The RAC warns us that:
Using a handheld mobile phone while behind the wheel of a car is a controversial and incredibly dangerous issue…
The law is clear on when you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if you are safely parked – and this does not include waiting in traffic or when sat at the traffic lights.
Contrary to what many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is stopped at lights or in a traffic queue. If your engine is running, your phone should be nowhere near your hands.
The AI driver below obviously thinks he’s above the law. Fortunately, however, he was caught on camera, and the film has been shared widely on social media:
Hi @AggregateUK - here’s your driver tapping away on his iPad, creeping over the Advance Stop Line. WU18FLC . This how HGVs kill people. @MetCycleCops pic.twitter.com/kZpUQ3UuQ1— RossiBike (@RossiTheBossi) March 4, 2019
But it’s not an isolated incident – despite the incredibly robust approach to enrolment AI has for its drivers. We have previously posted examples; here are a few more:
@AggregateUK please have a word with your driver no hands on the wheel whilst texting on motorway. M25 near junction 11 #roadsafety pic.twitter.com/ESZtNa2pcW— Liz Ismail (@smilelizzy) July 28, 2018
@AggregateUK how do you support your drivers so that they don't need to read paperwork whilst driving? The 'blind spot' your warning signs mention will be massive if the driver isn't looking at the road. I'd like to arrive alive.#Aisafetynudge pic.twitter.com/8bLzN4d65e— Bridget Walton (@BiddyBike) February 5, 2018
@AggregateUK Is this how you expect your drivers to behave around vulnerable road users? pic.twitter.com/oZ3wgJxO0v— Bicycle-Riding Motorist (@MrHappyCyclist) January 30, 2018
@AggregateUK nice of your driver in the middle lane of the m60 just now using his forearms to drive in the middle lane because he's on his phone!— Nathaniel Banks (@nathaniel2510) August 28, 2018
@AggregateUK the driver of YJ66 VTD needs alerting that his indicators don't work and he really shouldn't be on the phone whilst driving...— c (@staircasewxt) July 27, 2017
@AggregateUK fecking loonatics! Lovely weather to drive these trucks like loonies! Don’t worry about red lights! They’re clearly just for other people! 😡🤬 pic.twitter.com/xnxjzCfiu5— Marc Jacka (@Jaffa13377) November 27, 2018
@AggregateUK This idiot was not only driving and texting, he was doing so, as kids were leaving a school. #perfectstorm pic.twitter.com/r0HlaXErmm— highhopesbest (@highhopesbest) October 14, 2016
It’s all very concerning.
So when the MPA – the trade association that represents AI and others – talks about a new vision, a vision supposedly aimed at:
Driving Change, Raising Standards and Improving Perceptions
perhaps that vision needs to be repurposed:
Driving must Change, to Raise Standards and Improve Perceptions
