Problem with BEDFORD TRUCKS

[alphaX]

I am sure a lot of us have had some sort of an encounter with the good old BEDFORD truck. I had my run in with one in January, while for waiting my turn at a T intersection as shown in the figure below. The pickup truck entered the street that I was on, and since the bedford was right infront of me , I had to let it go first.

The truck slowly started to approach my car and suddenly it picked up momentum and before I could do anything its right tire smashed the front of my car.

I didn't even get a chance to think before this happened...I got out of the car to check the damage and I realized that the driver had no way of seeing me, unless he stuck his head out of the window. There was a huge blind spot...a wood panel that seperates the front windsheild from door.

All bedfords have this panel. The truck driver said..."sir aap pata nahee kahan say a gain hain?" I was furious..but what could have I done expect...well I THANKED GOD , I was not run over by this truck.

To make a long story short....these trucks are a hazard for everything they share the roads with..check out the blind spot..

There should be some effort to get this problem rectified , so the visibility is better thatn it is now and life can be saved.

[system]

yaar no safety standard, no check on existing standards, driver are Illiterate,many of them high on drugs while driving. trcuks 20,30 years old. so aap kiya expect kartay hoo. yaar yehan standards intay high hain kay aap sooch nahi saktay. rules pakistan main bhi hain lakin aun kooo follow koi nahi karta. Nannn police walay nann driver. phir road par chalnay walay kaa Allah hii Hafiz hai.

[testdriver]

I think these trucks have done their job and are expired. Often these trucks become out of control of the driver and results in accidents. And above all that these are usually subjected to overloading....so these should be banned and a scheme should be announced so that people can get newer trucks replaced by their old ones at very nominal price.

[system]

Look at this truck. outside visibility and blindspots. I think those truck should be replaced with the russsian trucks that look similar to this freight liner or may be volvo. someone posted the photos of russian trucks few day ago.

[alphaX]

If replacing is a pricey proposition, then there should be measures taken to improve the safety standards on these trucks. These trucks should have safety equipment to protect smaller vehichles, instead of huge steel frames extending out of these trucks. There should be a limit in weight that they can haul. The money that is spent on getting these trucks painted and dressed up like a bride, should really be spent on safety , so fatalities and injuries from these trucks can be eliminated

[alphaX]

Yep.....thats an excellent example. Thanks adnan1.....If people like you and me can come up with little ideas to improve these things, what the people who are responsible for imposing safety standards doing?

And yes..that guy who hit my car with his Bedford was under influence of drugs...

[Shergill]

I too agree that trucks with local made wooden type bodies should be gradually replaced with modern factory fitted cabins in view of the current affairs of busy roads in Pakistan and India.
Here too we had problems with the local made bodies on TATA/Leyland?premier/hindustan trucks. But these are now fast vanishing and there are very few who would opt for these.
Just compare
A TATA 1210S with local made body restricting drivers view

A TATA Novus cabin view to have carlike outside view

A Leyland driver's cabin with ergonomics helping the driver to have great view outside

[system]

Bhai in those bigger size trucks they have more safety features and they can haul a lot more weight than these old bedfords. NLC in pakistan is using the volvo, Man and Renault trucks. These trucks have all wheel brakes plus trailer brake and engine brakes and Look yaar how clear u can see from driver seat.

[system]

Nice Indian made truck.

[kdiesel]

if you look at original BEDFORD truck , it doesn't have any visibility problem. This is nothing compare to the trucks which carries big cubes of grass or something like that.

[system]

bhai these trucks are too old and need replacement. pakistan main koi check karnay wali authority nahi. Koi Truck driving school nahi. kiya yaar koi tu system hoo aur phir ausay follow karnay walay hooon.

[Storm]

If there is a law passed making our haulers/ trukers that they'd have to fit ANYTHING to their truck they'd go on strike,... unless it was shiny and said "bubbly" on it!

[portage1]

who is this clown

[Storm]

which one,.. there are plenty on PW,.. LOL!!!

[portage1]

some one is using my id look above your reply..protage1.......mine is portage1

[Storm]

i just noticed the spelling difference,.. probably someone trying to get your BP up Portage bhai. Just ignore him.

same thing happened to FLi_GTi a while back.

[AbidSiddiqui]

so Pakistanis are living dangerously

[alphaX]

Kdiesel....you are right..the visibility problem is created by the custom desgined cabins. Check out this TJ with mirrors extending outside the trucks bed.

The money that is spent on decorating these truck, is only making them heavier and well...some find it pleaseing to look at. I am not against the way these trucks are decorated. I think these trucks are a big part of our culture, but attention and money should be spent on making them safer. Its 2006 for, these truckers should not be driving with a face full of niswar and absolutley no visibility.

On top of that..these jawans have to sit on a bench seat , which is set high and if they sit upright, their eyelevel is higher than the top of the windshield, so they have to sit with hunched back.

I say they should add atleast these

1. Mirrors extending the trucks width
2. Adjusting the seating in the drivers cabin.
3. Mandatory safety exams for truck drivers.

[portage1]

After all the fancy stuff on a truck,block the driver view too

[toyopat]

Well i m one of the effecties of this blind experience a Bedford truck turn from left lane to right lane for taking U turn and i was in right lane driver didnt C me and than i lose 1 of my wing (not mine mine car)
ROCKET ki kiaa bat he