A simulated driving day at the Hollies has confirmed what we always knew – HGV drivers really are the masters of the road.
A competition, hosted by The Hollies, TheStop, saw experienced lorry drivers compete against members of the public to see who could best negotiate a tricky course with an HGV driving simulator.
Equipped with brake and accelerator pedals, indicators and a motion-simulator chair, the simulator assesses how the driver responds to virtual road conditions. The software then generated a score card based on the speed and number of penalties the drivers made.
And with the public getting almost three times the number of penalties compared to the experienced drivers, there was a clear winner when it comes to who should be sitting behind the wheel of a 40 tonne rig.
David Weaver, Manager of the The Hollies, owned by Certas Energy, said: “This simulator fuelled a lot of fun and everyone had a great time negotiating a tricky route through small town streets.
“As well as giving HGV drivers the opportunity to test their skills against their peers, it was also a great way for members of the public to experience what it’s like to ‘drive’ a vehicle that’s three times the length of an average family car, and hopefully appreciate the difficulties HGV drivers face when sharing a motorway with the general public.
“They all agreed that HGV driving isn’t as easy as it looks!”
Professional driver Lewis Harris achieved the most points with just two faults on the day, while civilian driver Tyrone Whyton with 26 faults. Each received a £25 Amazon gift card and free breakfast at The Hollies.
Visitors were also given the opportunity to test the steadiness of their hands with a buzz wire.
The event, held at the Cannock truck stop, was the last leg of the 2024 SNAP Truckpark Tour, organised by SNAP, Certas Energy, and the Road Haulage Association.
