ROG:
ANSWERING QUESTIONSCoffeeholic:
if I don’t know the answer or can’t get it from reading the regulations I leave it well alone so someone who does have the knowledge can answer it.Are you saying that any answers given on this site require the person giving those answers to have knowledge of the law or regulation behind that answer before they give it?
Well it is better to know something before attempting to answer it wouldn’t you agree. For instance I know the tacho rules quite well so am happy to answer those questions, and I don’t have to contact a third party to do so. I know nothing about transporting wide loads so I would leave that question alone and even though I know people who do have knowledge of that subject I wouldn’t contact them for the answer then post it on here. I know nothing about driver training but I know you do. If a question is asked about that subject I wouldn’t contact you for the answer then post it. I would leave it for you, or one of the other trainers to answer.
ROG:
Are you also saying that if they learned that answer from whatever sources then they must contribute that answer to those sources whether it was today or years ago?
No, but if I had gone down the route of contacting a third party for the answer I would make it clear I didn’t know the answer and this answer was not coming from me personally, I would credit the person providing the answer.
You have been guilty in the past in taking answers provided by several people on here on such things as driver’s hours or ADR and posting them on other forums as if they are your own.
ROG:
Questioning an answer given is another issue as it might be that the person requires confirmation of an answer given and it would be at that point when help might be required from others who are more knowledgable
But those who have the knowledge usually post the confirmation along with their reply by referencing the relevant legislation or other documents. I and Tachograph do in answering tacho questions, DD does with regards to ADR and you do when answering training or advanced driving questions.
ROG:
I know that the speed limit for LGVs on a SC is 40 max but I do not know where in the road traffic act to find the actual law so if someone asks the question then I will answer 40mph but then if the person asks for proof in law from me I would be stuck so does that mean I should not answer the question?
No, it means you have knowledge of the law or regulation behind that answer when you give it
ROG:
If it is to be a requirement to only answer questions if the person answering has the legal knowledge behind the answer or must contribute the answer to where they found it from then perhaps a new forum rule should be introduced…
Why the hell would there need to be a rule? Surely most people have the the common sense to not answer a question they don’t know the answer to. Attributing the answer to a third party when they have given their time in answering is just common decency and no rule should be needed for that. I did it in this post earlier today and I didn’t need a rule to do so.
