The driver should have checked his/her mirrors before starting the turn, not after.
Also, if an HGV has time to clock the lights changing, start rolling and begin a turn in the time it takes you to spin 25ft you need to get a higher gear.
Bad anecdote I guess. I was just coming under the bridge and past maybe 4 or 5 cars before the HGV. They stopped almost immediately after releasing the brake, and it was a tight gap at the best of times. It was dangerous on my part, and I learnt my lesson.
The driver should have checked his/her mirrors before starting the turn, not after.
Also, if an HGV has time to clock the lights changing, start rolling and begin a turn in the time it takes you to spin 25ft you need to get a higher gear.