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TruckNet UK's community manager, Rikki Chequer, applauds the return of polite discussion...
Page 9
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I wrote last week that a decent conversation on the forums may have to be locked because some of the participants couldn't engage in sensible conversation without being abusive. Well, I'm pleased to say that the discussion thread remains "unlocked" and is going strong. Many of the protagonists have started to take on board other points of view and respond to them in a manner that encourages debate and not confrontation.
Any discussion between HATOs (Highways Agency Traffic Officers) and professional drivers was going to be difficult. Drivers are used to the police patrolling the highways, and since it is a relatively new profession, the HATOs don't yet have the 'pedigree' of traffic police.
Of course, I am not saying HATOs have won over all the drivers using the forums, but a number of things they have pointed out have explained why they take some actions, and why they adopt certain attitudes. I suspect it has also helped that a number of the HATOs engaging with the forum users are ex-truck drivers and are able to show an understanding of the problems drivers face. I also suspect the candid admission that there are some numpties employed as HATOs is respected, since we all know the truck driving profession is not without its own share of such people.
TruckNet UK is proud to be associated with the East Coast Truckers Club, and I have mentioned their hugely successful children's convoy in the past in this column. Rob Billman (Mr Vain on the forums) of the ECTC has been volunteered to do a bungee jump to raise funds for the 25th children's convoy in 2010.
Anyone who would like to contribute to this extremely worthy cause can read details on the forums or get more information by e-mailing: glennjohnson@btinternet.com Finally, one of the great things about the forums is the diaries, written and illustrated by the drivers themselves. A regular contributor to these is Mad Monk, who regularly regales us with tales of trips around Europe. His latest details a trip to and around Poland, Germany and France, and is, as always, highly entertaining.