Joining a dual carriageway or motorway

[cb1965]

People just want to get from A to B. Driving etiquette is non-existent. Manners? They went out the window along with things like consideration, care, thoughtfulness.

cb1965 exemplifies this.

No I don't, but I just think it's a question of perspective. Yes it's crap driving on behalf of the person joining, but it's hardly crime of the century!

Let's face it - if we all went around getting upset about every bit of poor driving we see then we'd all be on the blood pressure tablets in no time. Plus who here can absolutely hold their hand up and say their driving is always beyond reproach?

To me you can handle it two ways

1) Slow down for a few seconds and let them in, tut under your breath, get on with life. Total time out of life lost: 3 seconds!

2) Force the issue where you make them aware of their 'crime', chase them down, stop and remonstrate with them, risk getting a kicking in doing so. Set off again with raised pulse and stress levels higher than they should be. And to boot...total time out of life lost: 3 minutes! Sensible, logical and intelligent response? Nope, not even close!

 

[artyman]

When Approaching junctions I try to move to the middle lane if possible to give joiners somewhere to go, if not then try and adjust a gap for them. It's called consideration for others. If we all did it life would be far more pleasant, why some folk seem to think driving is some form of gladiatorial contest is beyond me.

 

[Charles Morgan]

The simplest, easiest and most pain-free is to do what Artyman suggests and I have always done. Stay out of the inner lane where other traffic is joining a dual carriageway or motorway, or if you have to be in the lane, modulate your speed and make merging safe and easy.

I also wait until the junction is in the rear view mirror before even thinking of returning to the inner lane.

 

[del320]

^This is no use!

I'm hammering down the outer lane at 85+ when some berk slides out in front of me at 60 mph in the off-chance that some scrote in a Hyundai Getz will weave onto the M-way at the next junction, in the sure and certain knowledge that some berk will slide out in front of me at 60mph causing me to to operate main beam, horn, disengage cruise and wear a thousand miles off my discs all because some scrote in a Hyundai Getz has the effrontery to occupy my road space.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Hooligan!

 

[alecr]

if the right side lane empty then common courtesy would be to pull into said lane and let any car joining from slip road get onto motorway safely

 

[219]

^This is no use!

I'm hammering down the outer lane at 85+ when some berk slides out in front of me at 60 mph in the off-chance that some scrote in a Hyundai Getz will weave onto the M-way at the next junction, in the sure and certain knowledge that some berk will slide out in front of me at 60mph causing me to to operate main beam, horn, disengage cruise and wear a thousand miles off my discs all because some scrote in a Hyundai Getz has the effrontery to occupy my road space.

Are you saying that Hyundai drivers are all Getz ?

 

[Mike Walker]

Have a look at the Institute of Advanced Motorist's book on being a better driver. All the guidance you need is in there.

 

[kid-jensen]

I've been driving a good few years and though I realise that's no guarantee of a safe attitude, my philosophy for joining motorways is simple:

Always join at ~20mph faster than the avearge inside lane speed.

That way, it's MUCH easier to adjust your speed (because you can change speed faster by beaking than by accelerating - even in a Hypercar). Having adjusted your speed, you can slot-in to the traffic with minimum drama and no reasonable motorist could be offended.

Obviously, some drivers will be offended, some drivers seem offended by ANYONE travelling faster than them, even if they crawl everywhere, but you can't please everyone.

I'm absolutely certain that, overall, this is the safest way and my newly-qualified daughter has been indoctrinated from day one.

 

[developer]

I just charge in and expect people to move.

I am driving an AMG after all.

Simples

 

[John]

Yes, simply solve the problem by accelerating up the slip road and joining courteously at 140mph...

Used to work for me.

 

[E55BOF]

Or drive an old WD Land Rover with the massive steel double bumpers made out of scrapped battleships. Even battered Cavalier taxis will give way to you....

 

[gIzzE]

Yes OP, you were in the right legally, however, it is stupid rule that was introduced when motorways etc. were almost empty 40 years or so ago and doesn't work anymore.

I always let someone filter in, it is far easier for me to slow down to let them in safely than it is for them to have to almost stop and then wait for a gap big enough to enter safely.

I have seen a few people not letting others enter a carriageway recently, it is a case of people trying to prove a point for the sake of it even if it does make the road more dangerous. Well done!


I would have happily got out and had words with you if it had been me.

Anyway, I'm sure this won't be the last incident like this, but what to do about it? I don't appreciate having my life endangered like this.

Let them in??

 

[mat8n]

I find this comical when I'm driving one of the large cranes, weighing in at around 100 tons and 8+axels, plodding along in the left hand lane at a pretty close to flat out speed of 42mph, flashing orange lights everywhere and an escort vehicle behind, I sit on the left and at about 80% of slip roads someone will come along and sit on the inside expecting me to move into the right lane!
I sit there and look at the from about 6 foot away, just watch them as they realise I'm not moving over or slowing down, I sit and wonder why they don't accelerate and go in front? But that never happens, they follow along, slip road diminishing with me looking and laughing.
The last moment they slam the brakes on and try and get in behind, but obviously they can't as there's a van escorting me! On the rare occasion they do get between us, the rule is for the escort vehicle to sit on the right hand side white line so the idiot can't see what's coming up from behind! They then have to sit on the motorway for however long doing 40mph staring at flashing lights.

Learn your highway code. It's quite simple.

 

[Alex225]

Personally I'll move over if the lane next to me is clear. If not they can swivel.

Exactly the same here.

If I have the option to change lanes then I'll be courteous and move over to make joining a bit easier and potentially safer.

If the lane to my right is occupied then you have right of way and the car joining the motorway has to fit in around vehicles already on the motorway.

Unfortunately even when it's not someone's right of way, if they have in their head that it is, they lose their minds when you don't do what they want. So that usually means if you don't move when they indicate, don't let them out of a junction or out of a parking space.

 

[StuA45AMG]

What really scares me are the drivers that are on the slip roads that just pull straight out on to the dual carriageway/motorway without using it to build up speed

 

[Dryce]

What really scares me are the drivers that are on the slip roads that just pull straight out on to the dual carriageway/motorway without using it to build up speed

Side effect of courteous driving by those who do move one lane over.

It reinforces the idea amongst some who are unaware of the highway code that they have precedence over traffic already on the DC or motorway when they are joining.

 

[notlostyet]

courteous drivers lol.. i drive an merc artic from time to time on the m1 just 2 weeks ago some driver came to a full stop on lane 1 to let some other courteous driver join the motorway luckily only three cars were involved in that particular crash

 

[gIzzE]

courteous drivers lol.. i drive an merc artic from time to time on the m1 just 2 weeks ago some driver came to a full stop on lane 1 to let some other courteous driver join the motorway luckily only three cars were involved in that particular crash

But that is just a **** driver who shouldn't be on the road.

There is a difference between slowing down to 60mph to let others filter in and stopping, or making sure there is no way for people to filter in.

 

[Dryce]

courteous drivers lol.. i drive an merc artic from time to time on the m1 just 2 weeks ago some driver came to a full stop on lane 1 to let some other courteous driver join the motorway luckily only three cars were involved in that particular crash

But that's not caused by courtesy - but idiocy.

The two are not the same thing.

(And how on earth is the driver being let in being courteous?)