Road craft on motorways and dual carrageways in UK

[John]

I remember seeing such an 'undertaking' activity very recently which I think I mentioned before - and the outcome.

Edit: I did!

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/driving-incidents-roadrage/132977-proverbial.html

 

[sjmaxwell]

Interestingly I posed this same point on the advanced-driving forum, where I received support. They (the IAM members, Advanced Driving Instructors and observers) told me that passing on the left as I described isn't illegal. You are probably confusing this safe action with those nutters who dodge from lane to inner lane and back in order to pass. Some of the advanced drivers said that they pass on the left without changing lanes quite often, even with police cars following. So I have no problem in continuing to do so where necessary.

Doesn't the Highway code mention something about moving with the flow of traffic therefore, as you say, you are not undertaking. Quite right about the nutters who dodge in and out - 2 years in prison should sort them out!!

 

[neilrr]

Very often on the M25 the gantry signs will say "Congestion, stay in lane" even when there is no congestion. I think you can do pretty much what you want on the M25.

 

[holbay]

While we are mentioning motorways my pet hate is the clowns who when trying to enter the motorway from the on ramp think they have the right of way and draw level with you and try to push you into the next lane so they can get on. Well sorry i am on the motorway and new entrants have to give way to traffic on their right so i never change lanes to allow them on...George..

 

[V12]

If you can change lanes safely, then why not?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

While we are mentioning motorways my pet hate is the clowns who when trying to enter the motorway from the on ramp think they have the right of way and draw level with you and try to push you into the next lane so they can get on. Well sorry i am on the motorway and new entrants have to give way to traffic on their right so i never change lanes to allow them on...George..

Absobloominlutely. Had one do that to me on a 2-lane stretch of the A1(M) last year, but the outer lane was occupied so I held my speed (on cruise control) and stayed in the inner lane. She continued trying to climb into my passenger door then gave up and eased off a tad so she could get in behind - whilst pressing her fist on the horn button! When the outer lane had cleared enough she pulled over and pressed her right foot hard to the floor so she could get her Ford up next to me then stayed there mouthing obscenities and demonstrating how to hold a finger in the air! I smiled back at her. I wonder if she's written in to the Ford Owners' Forum to tell them about the inconsiderate, stupid, arrogant Mercedes driver.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

If you can change lanes safely, then why not?

The slip road is there to enable drivers entering the motorway to adjust their speed to merge into the traffic in lane 1. It's not just a case of changing lanes safely to let them in, it's also about doing so without inconveniencing other drivers on the motorway. If I have to slow from 70 to 50 behind a car that's moved over into my lane just to let someone else onto the motorway, I'm not a happy bunny! It's even worse when drivers pull out into lane 2, causing an obstruction, when approaching a slip road just in case someone MAY be wanting to enter the motoway.

 

[Clkrichard]

George you are so right ! You hang on to the bit of the road you "own" and whatever you do dont ease off the throttle or change lanes to let someone else on. It's so much better to cause and even be involved in an accident than let someone invade your personal piece of road.
For heavens sake man exercise some common sense and give and take !

 

[John]

I normally change lanes to make life easier for adjoining traffic.

Why intentionally make other people's lives more difficult for the sake of 5 degrees on the steering wheel and lifting a leaver for a second and dropping it?

 

[holbay]

George you are so right ! You hang on to the bit of the road you "own" and whatever you do dont ease off the throttle or change lanes to let someone else on. It's so much better to cause and even be involved in an accident than let someone invade your personal piece of road.
For heavens sake man exercise some common sense and give and take !

On the part of the M74 at peak time which is the only time i am on the M74, it is a 4 lane conga line there is nowhere for me to move to without pushing the car on my right into the car on its right. But as common sense states you do not enter the motorway unless it is safe to do so...George...

 

[Clkrichard]

Then you ease off to create a gap for joining traffic to filter into and lane one goes one after another ....... Simples !

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I normally change lanes to make life easier for adjoining traffic.

Why intentionally make other people's lives more difficult for the sake of 5 degrees on the steering wheel and lifting a leaver for a second and dropping it?

Why intentionally make other people's lives more difficult when they're in Lane 2 for the sake of someone joining the motorway who is unable to filter into well spaced traffic in Lane 1? "Not well spaced" you say. That's your fault!!

 

[holbay]

Then you ease off to create a gap for joining traffic to filter into and lane one goes one after another ....... Simples !

And in doing that the driver that is already trying to climb up the back of my car gets ratty, i think Richard you need to experience this part of the M74. Go onto any internet Glasgow radio station at peak times and hear how many times the Raith interchange gets mentioned. Also when circumstances allow i do let people onto the motorway in front of me providing i dont close the braking distance of the guy behind me...George...

 

[Clkrichard]

Wow I am pleased I dont have to drive there then ! At the slip I use everyone in lane one expects the car ahead to back off to let someone else on and is already slowing to do the same ..... I guess if we all know what to expect it kind of sorts itself out.

 

[holbay]

At this particular junction Richard the traffic leaving the M74 southbound is on the sliproad off and backs up in lane 1 on the M74 for at least 500 Yards, then the cars coming on southbound block the on ramp back to and through the roundabout under the M74 , and this occurs north and southbound sides. Also the 2 junctions either side of the Raith get blocked up. I feel at times that i should buy one of those Go-Pro video cameras to record it as i dont believe what i see there sometimes....George..

 

[Dieselman]

Daily I use a piece of motorway that is notorious for all four lanes backing up for over 2 miles and the dual carriageway feeding into it does the same.

People give and take. Those that don't have crashes...at least one a week. Latest one was last night...

 

[Clkrichard]

Dieselman you make my point exactly ! Is it really worth having an accident by not letting someone filter or even push in ? If everyone went one and one there wouldnt be any problems.

 

[seven]

You guys are missing the point here. What you have to remember is that by letting some one in it may make you 0.2 seconds late for your destination.

 

[Dieselman]

You guys are missing the point here. What you have to remember is that by letting some one in it may make you 0.2 seconds late for your destination.

Yesterday, I sloewed down to warn someone their rear tyre was flat and smoking badly, it made me late and I missed the best parking spot in the car park...

Should've just let him crash...

 

[John]

Why intentionally make other people's lives more difficult when they're in Lane 2 for the sake of someone joining the motorway who is unable to filter into well spaced traffic in Lane 1? "Not well spaced" you say. That's your fault!!

Arguably, it depends how busy it is.

If it isn't busy, what I stated isn't a problem.

If it is, just slow down in lane 1 to create a gap.

Either way, it couldn't be simpler and doesn't involve anyone getting angry or crashing.