The pictures show that it is a racing car transporter/support vehicle. It has side lockers, side access doors and a tail lift, with tool boxes, a generator and the nose of a racing car just visible inside.
Seen the comments regarding saving when a front tyre blows.
You can be lucky, and catch in time, and you brain keeps your braking leg in control.
But if your not hundred percent on the ball, the vehicle shoots away, either in the direction of the blown tyre, or in the direction of the braking wheel is you slam on the ankers.
If it’s an old “split rim” the tyre comes of straight away.
Seen it a couple of times in the last couple of years, trucks crossing over, always wonder if the drivers concentration was somewhere else for a millisecond, e.g. Sat nav, radio etc.
When I started driving you where scared to let the wheel loose for a second, as the play in the steering required 100% attention to keep it up the road.
The newer truck ride like a car and make you become less aware of the issues.
The truck in the accident looks older, could have been maintained to the gunnels, (maybe not) but the tyres could be old and perished, there could be weakness in steering joints, a propshaft could,have dropped and kicked the vehicle out of direction, who knows at this moment in time?
If it’s a “private hgv” it doesn’t need inspection at a regular interval, it only needs to pass once a year a MOT, which is based on minimum standards.
Dr Damon
Why do you assume you know more than anybody on here,
just because you have driven since the 60s does not necessarilly mean so.
I know blokes who have been in this job for years who in real terms know the far end of ■■■■ all.
Dr Damon:
Norfolkinclue1:
109LWB:
How can anybody comment on the condition of the vehicle?
Yeah sure, it’s not a 2017 model, but there are plenty of older trucks around in perfect mechanical condition, even if the body is a little tatty.
My company’s newest truck is 2009, it’s oldest is 1998 and in daily use.
They are as mechanically sound as any modern truck on the road.We have no idea why this happened, it could literally be anything from an animal in the road to a blowout, to a medical episode.
Agree fully with the first part, however it has been widely reported now as a blowout. Including from 3 very unfortunate chaps who were following, they got out and ran to the scene to give help to, it seems, the family of 3 seriously injured survivors who’s dad/male driver was a fatality.
The only glimmer I can take from reading about it is the coverage about the way the public reacted to this one, plenty trying to help at the scene and each other in the trapped traffic, makes a change from people taking to twitter to moan about the precious delays while others die, although I’m sure one of you can find tweet somewhere…Couple of quick questions for the Dr Damon account…
1: Why are you still here
2: Why are we all still waiting for all your evidence to back your claims when you posted all your trolling crap in the other accident thread, where is it?
3: If you have such a problem with anyone speculating and generally chatting about this crash and you would prefer to deal in facts ( irony ) then why don’t you just disappear until we’ve had the police report done, the coroners reports done, any charges bought and any ensuing legal proceedings completed, should be a good few months away from your pseudo intellectual garbage.
That way all of us grown ups can carry on chatting about it like normal people do when an event happens that touches our lives because we, unlike yourself, are professional drivers.
You really are an amateur when it comes to trolling, way to obvious. Your claims and lies got boring very quickly…[/I will answer your first question.
Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
We’ll Dr you’ve slapped the entire tnuk community with your gloves, and they will demand satisfaction on the field of battle, I do not know what qualifications if any you have to make such a bold statement, but in the educational world just copying from Google is classed as plagiqrism, (cheating) so I think you need to think very carefully,
Dr Damon:
I will answer your first question.Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
Hell of a thing to say when many on this forum were driving to Bagdad when you were probably in your Dadsbag,
rob22888:
Total:
Blowout from what I read. Very unfortunate.Doesn’t necessarily excuse the driver though. Could have been caused by a tyre defect he missed before setting off, in which case he has blood on his hands.
Proper walk round checks aren’t exactly in fashion from what I see everyday.
On your walk around check do you get underneath the truck and check the inside of the tyre ■■?
scottie0011:
Dr Damon:
I will answer your first question.Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
Hell of a thing to say when many on this forum were driving to Bagdad when you were probably in your Dadsbag,
Think we need some new jokes on here, as haven’t heard that one for ages … well, at least 10 minutes …
109LWB:
How can anybody comment on the condition of the vehicle?
Yeah sure, it’s not a 2017 model, but there are plenty of older trucks around in perfect mechanical condition, even if the body is a little tatty.
My company’s newest truck is 2009, it’s oldest is 1998 and in daily use.
They are as mechanically sound as any modern truck on the road.We have no idea why this happened, it could literally be anything from an animal in the road to a blowout, to a medical episode.
I’m open to any eventuality and benefits of the doubt. as I commented earlier, things like ‘it should have been picked up on a walkaround’ are obviously daft. It is pretty clear that the truck is older, most likely used infrequently and in the hands of a private individual and not a company operating under the o-licence regime though.
Raymundo…Scottie’s joke…Well I thought it was good. 
robroy:
Raymundo…Scottie’s joke…Well I thought it was good.
Thank you Rob, must admit Raymundo has probably heard it before due to him and me being in the same line of the industry over the years 
Dr Damon:
Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.Shall we have a little competition?
Absolutely.Your mission is to show us that you can maintain control of a truck on a suitable test area regarding 10 steer tyre blowouts out of 10 using an explosive device to kill the tyre running at 56 mph.Then when you’ve done that you’ll only need to save 3 out of 3 at autobahn type speeds let’s say 150 mph with a car.Bearing in mind you won’t be told which one of the tyres has been rigged to explode nor when and where.
As for me I won’t need to do the test because I know that I’m not good enough to pass it. 
Edit to add.
Let me guess Dr Damon reckons he would have saved it because he thinks that he’s a better driver and knows more. 
Dr Damon:
I will answer your first question.Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
Good grief, what is it with all the egos and people with an over inflated sensa of their own importance on here lately? Is it becoming the new normal?
switchlogic:
Dr Damon:
I will answer your first question.Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
Good grief, what is it with all the egos and people with an over inflated sensa of their own importance on here lately? Is it becoming the new normal?
More to do with ALTER egos, and nom de plumes Luke I reckon. 
robroy:
Dr DamonWhy do you assume you know more than anybody on here,
just because you have driven since the 60s does not necessarilly mean so.
I know blokes who have been in this job for years who in real terms know the far end of [zb] all.
This.
We had a lad join from the army at 25, he’d picked up more than most I know in his time behind the wheel. His practical mechanical ability was outstanding, and his driving was spot on. Same can’t be said for a couple of our more seasoned drivers who expected everything to be fixed for them and get all the easiest tasks…
switchlogic:
Dr Damon:
I will answer your first question.Because I know more about trucks and transport than you and a few others on here.
Shall we have a little competition?
Good grief, what is it with all the egos and people with an over inflated sensa of their own importance on here lately? Is it becoming the new normal?
I wouldn’t know as I am way too brilliant to answer, let me log on again in a minute and someone else will let you know.
Do me a favour though and agree with me,ahem, I mean them as I just can’t be arsed logging on a third time to agree with me in the first place… 
Carryfast:
Winseer:
Even that video “in the real world” above didn’t produce the kind of move I’d expect from a LHS front blowout… The thing seemed to boing UP rather than just collapse down on that side.!A collapse though would jerk the steering wheel out of your hands, a struggle to hold even with one’s hands at 10-to-2 on the wheel like we’re supposed to do.
You wouldn’t generally see the split second part where the rim collapses down onto the delated flat tyre because it’s too fast and shrouded in the smoke of what remains of the tyre now clamped to the road surface resulting in a mismatch in rolling speed.The steering having been snatched to the deflate side by the clamping forces and the sudden increase in rolling resistance effectively acting as a one wheel brake.The resulting sudden swerve then obviously causing the side of the vehicle to lift on the same side as the direction of the turn.
More real world examples which bust the myth of the ‘controllable’ steer axle blow out.The third video example below actually capturing the rim collapsing onto the deflated tyre and pulling the steering over to the left.
youtube.com/watch?v=9LkLeljt4t0
youtube.com/watch?v=UKXH8C-wtcs
youtube.com/watch?v=7sZtuDFMqFQ 1.47 - 1.55 , 5.29 - 5.38
Yes. Good examples indeed. We often hear phrases uttered like “Fred Bloggs lost control of his vehicle” as if it were 100% down to driver incompetence. I’d have to argue that such LHS blowouts would be enough to tax everyone’s skills on here to the very limit! 
(Imagine what might have happened without the concrete central reservation there!)
The “jerk to the Left” can clearly be seen in all the above. I wonder if it is even possible when travelling fully loaded to hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly - without breaking one’s fingers, etc. in such a LHS blowout! 
Darkside:
I came past the scene this morning.The lorry was sat on a low loader, and there are still screens up around the site. From what I could see it was an old Merc I think but the cab was a mess so I could be wrong. it was halfway up that hill so speed couldn’t be a factor, and the marks he left by veering to the right are short and sharp. It looks like an old removal van with living quarters in it from first glance.
Scary times. Even though this obviously wasn’t a haulier operated lorry, it is yet another incident involving trucks that will be big news.
On the subject of blowouts and tyres and daily checks…
Week before last I phoned a driver to say his truck was in for inspection at the weekend. He replied that a front tyre ‘needs looking at’, as it has a bolt in it. I asked why he was driving it in that condition, and he said it had been like it all week. I got it changed there and then. Sure enough when his daily checks sheet came in at the end of the week, he had marked down everyday ‘bolt in tyre!’
This a British driver, mid forties, bags of experience, someone I would have said up to that point was a good bloke.
If a driver attempts to defect a vehicle, and the firm just takes it away from them, and doesn’t throw in a replacement, then it’s easy for “corner cutting” as described to take place. I would say it’s more about “resigned that the firm won’t be dealing with it today” rather than “complacency” on the part of the driver.
I found a big bulge in a tyre on one occasion for example, refused to go out in it - so was grounded for the entire shift and kept to time for my trouble. Now I for one, detest being grounded - especially if there’s no early knock thrown in. It’s easy to see why some drivers might “cut corners” given the perceived “punishment” that awaits if they happen to press matters such as “I ain’t taking that out on the road Mr TM!” 
weeto:
Norfolkinclue1:
Plenty of comments about “saving” blowouts in an artic, not seen anyone address the fact this was a rigid.
In an artic you have less weight over the axle, more axles to balance, weight further back and a pivot point to help cope with the drop when it blows.
That rigid had 2 axles, I’m sure the experts here can figure out the vast difference in handling, loaded or not, good condition or not…Thing is, there will be a hell of a lot of truck drivers out there who will have no idea how to deal with a front axle blow out when it happens because they have have never been taught how to react, any other axle is a non event, but steering axle is likely to end in disaster for the uneducated driver concerned.
In 30 years I have never seen or heard any instructions on how to deal with a steer axle blowout on a truck, so the average driver will probably panic do the wrong thing and lose total control of their truck.
Plenty of evidence out there of drivers going into a panic when something unexpected happens or the driver screws up which results in third parties ending up being injured or killed.
This is a good video showing how to recover from a steering axle blowout without losing control, problem is everyone is flat out on the limiter leaving no room to recover from it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8znCgvHMb-g
Good post. I’ve wanted to go on a “Defensive Driving Course” for yonks now - but they always seem to peter out, and never happen. There’s obviously no desire for us drivers to be paying for such courses ourselves…
The Vid is a good one too. Gets that point across.
It’s also worth pointing out that in the event of one’s trailer trying to jacknife, one can also make the same footwork (accelerate in a straight line instead of easing off or braking) which jerks straight the entire combination, and corrects the movement before it turns into an out-of-control jacknife.
Of course, the very worst place to have to make such moves - would be just going into a hairpin bend then!
I did a defensive driving course 15 or so years ago and I can safely say it was the most rewarding work related course I’ve ever done. It completely changed my driving, I was 25 at time, and I’d recommend them, even if it meant paying yourself