It’s something we see happen time and time again. When a truck is involved in an incident out on the road, mainstream media can be quick to point fingers before knowing the full story.
And Luke Bruce, owner of Kangaroo Island based Ugly Dog Transport, recently experienced it for himself.
On the morning of Sunday November 3, one of his drivers was travelling along Main South Road, between Myponga and Yankalilla in South Australia.
It’s a narrow stretch of road with a single lane each way, narrow bridges, overhanging trees and lots of guard rails. “That’s the main highway in and out of Kangaroo Island, so all our freight to Kangaroo Island uses that road,” Luke said.
Dash cam footage currently doing the rounds shows an Ugly Dog Transport prime mover and semi trailer loaded with sheep narrowly avoiding a four-wheel drive, which came to a complete stop to avoid hitting a cyclist on a pedal trike.
Unfortunately, Luke says early reports didn’t show the full clip, with numerous media outlets jumping to conclusions and claiming the truck was trying to overtake on a double white line.
“The driver came and spoke to me about what happened, then later that day I was sent a video from the driver with the dashcam footage,” said Luke.
“A couple of hours later I received an email from a newspaper asking me questions like whether or not I still employed the driver or if any livestock were injured.
“When I saw those questions, I wondered what part of the footage they had actually seen and replied saying our driver was avoiding someone on a bike.”
But by that point, the story had already gone online accusing the driver of trying to overtake, with Luke’s company name featured prominently in the truck on the truck.
“So once they actually spoke to me they changed the headline,” he said.
Luke took to his company’s Facebook page to share the footage of the full incident. In the post he wrote, “Just letting you all know we are aware of the incident involving one of our trucks yesterday.
“With the mainstream media doing their best to make us look completely at fault, I thought I would post the whole video. We also commend our driver for avoiding what could have been a very nasty accident for everyone involved especially the person on the peddle bike.”
Luke says his driver went from being painted as the villain, to a hero, with many comments on his post commending the driver’s actions.
One commenter wrote: “Good job driver, it was last minute that I did actually see the bike rider in which the car driver braked for which caused you to lock up a fully loaded rig. Respect brother for your quick thinking and sharp reaction time. Legend.”
Another said, “Your driver should be highly commended, fully loaded with nowhere to go and stopped safely. Well done.”
While another added, “In all honesty I think that most would commend the three vehicles. Considering the fool on the bike showed how little regard he had for any other road users. To those who say that the truck has a better vantage point to see. You ever driven them? Well done to all involved.”
The incident has also prompted many to argue that bikes shouldn’t be allowed on narrow roads like this, which see high volumes of freight.
“I do think bikes need to be banned from these sorts of roads,” Luke said. “Main South Road from Sellicks Beach to Cape Jervis, in the Adelaide Hills zoning, is only 2.5 metres wide, so we need escorts any time we go over that width – but they still allow bikes on there.”
On social media, one commenter wrote, “Perhaps we should be asking why such a bike is allowed to even traverse such a narrow roadway? It’s a proper hazard!! Well done to all drivers!”
Another added, “Cyclists should be banned on that section of Main South between Myponga and Yank. They’re banned on the freeways and express ways so it’s not like the govt can’t do it. Now Forktree Rd is bitumised, there is no excuse a cyclist can come up with as to why they would need to put everyone else at risk on that road.”