COUNTRY ROADS
Who’s in the wrong? Lorry driver in furious standoff with cyclist as they come face-to-face down country lane
Including advice on similar situations from driving experts
BRITS have been divided over who is in the wrong after footage of a furious row between a cyclist and a lorry driver emerged on social media.
The pair confronted one another on a narrow country lane, with each demanding that the other get out of the way.
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The lorry driver, who wished to remain anonymous, filmed the spat and uploaded the clip to TikTok.
The video shows the driver urging the woman on her bike to "go back to the wide bit" of the lane to allow them to pass one another.
However, she refuses and demands that the motorist back her 60ft lorry up until a wide enough stretch of road can be found.
The baffled trucker snapped back: "You think it's easier for me to reverse?
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"I'm 60ft long and the same width as this road.
"As you can see by the fact that I'm in the hedge on both sides."
She argued it would be easier for the "push bike" to wheel back down the road than trying to negotiate the twisting path in such a massive motor.
The cyclist then complained that the vehicle "shouldn't be down here anyway" but eventually gave in and walked back up the road.
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The video has provoked fierce debate among social media users.
One commenter claimed: "The cyclist has right of way, sorry I am a class one [HGV] driver too."
I'm a glam lorry driver who doubles as a MODEL - I love including my Barbie-pink truck in risque shoots
Another critiqued: "You shouldn't be driving down a narrow country road in a 60ft lorry, simple."
But others were more sympathetic to the lorry driver, with one expressing "shock" at the suggestion it shouldn't be on the road.
A fourth hit back: "People forget, the driver doesn't pick the destination and therefore has no choice in access route."
So who was in the wrong?
Well, it's a little complicated when it comes to the rules of the road.
HGV's can be restricted from certain roads based on their weight and height but there is no blanket ban across particular types of routes.
Many lorries have to use country lanes as they are vital in delivering supplies to rural businesses, including farms.
The local council are responsible for managing the roads and any restrictions and must put up clear signage informing drivers of the restriction in advance of accessing the road.
When faced with a lorry on a narrow road, experts suggest using road markings to determine who has priority.
If no road markings give an indication of the right of way, then nobody has priority.
In these cases, it's usually best to let a lorry pass as, like the driver in the clip argued, it is probably harder for them to reverse.
Motoring experts from disability driving school advise: "You may come face to face with tractors or lorries [on country roads].
"Be aware of what’s around you when you see a tractor or lorry approaching you – take into consideration that they may need more room and may take up more space.
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"Be prepared to slow down, move over if the road space allows you to, and even be prepared to stop if necessary"
It comes after one driver revealed how they managed to get out of a parking ticket thanks to a simple punctuation error.
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