Merging from slip roads into traffic on motorways
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From: Mr Benn on 16 Feb 2010 06:19 It's such a simple thing to do. Correct Method: Match your speed on the slip road approximately to the speed of traffic travelling in lane 1 and then choose an empty slot to move into. Incorrect Method: Match your speed on the slip road, drive parallel to a vehicle already in lane 1 and then try to merge into the side of the vehicle even though there are gaps in front of and behind the vehicle. Why are so many drivers getting this wrong? The broken line separating the slip road from lane 1 means "give way". Note: It's not always possible for traffic already in lane 1 to move over to lane 2 because of traffic already in lane 2 although as a courtesy they should do this when safe to aid traffic joining the motorway.
From: Tim on 16 Feb 2010 06:30 Mr Benn wrote: > It's such a simple thing to do. > > Correct Method: > > Match your speed on the slip road approximately to the speed of > traffic travelling in lane 1 and then choose an empty slot to move > into. > Incorrect Method: > > Match your speed on the slip road, drive parallel to a vehicle > already in lane 1 and then try to merge into the side of the vehicle > even though there are gaps in front of and behind the vehicle. > > Why are so many drivers getting this wrong? Probably because motorway driving isn't part of the driving test. You've forgotten "Incorrect method number 2": Slow down until stationary at the end of the sliproad and wait for a large gap in the traffic. The technique of merging with a high speed flow of traffic is alien territory for many new drivers who haven't done passplus. Not too surprising that some folk get it wrong. Tim
From: Halmyre on 16 Feb 2010 06:41 On 16 Feb, 11:30, "Tim" <timdownie2...(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > Mr Benn wrote: > > It's such a simple thing to do. > > > Correct Method: > > > Match your speed on the slip road approximately to the speed of > > traffic travelling in lane 1 and then choose an empty slot to move > > into. > > Incorrect Method: > > > Match your speed on the slip road, drive parallel to a vehicle > > already in lane 1 and then try to merge into the side of the vehicle > > even though there are gaps in front of and behind the vehicle. > > > Why are so many drivers getting this wrong? > > Probably because motorway driving isn't part of the driving test. > > You've forgotten "Incorrect method number 2": Slow down until stationary at > the end of the sliproad and wait for a large gap in the traffic. > > The technique of merging with a high speed flow of traffic is alien > territory for many new drivers who haven't done passplus. Not too > surprising that some folk get it wrong. > > Tim There's also incorrect method number three - simply drive onto the motorway assuming that other cars will change lanes to accommodate you. Bonus points if you then immediately cross all three lanes and latch on to the rear bumper of the car in front of you. -- Halmyre
From: Bernard on 16 Feb 2010 07:14 "Halmyre" <flashgordonreceding(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:243163ac-2032-43a2-b73f- There's also incorrect method number three - simply drive onto the motorway assuming that other cars will change lanes to accommodate you. Bonus points if you then immediately cross all three lanes and latch on to the rear bumper of the car in front of you. -- Halmyre This is exactly what happens on the entrance to the M621 near Elland Road in Leeds. The design doesn't help. The 300 yard marker for the next exit is within the slip lane of the entrance causing the problem.
From: Nkosi (ama-ecosse) on 16 Feb 2010 07:52
On 16 Feb, 11:56, Huge <H...(a)nowhere.much.invalid> wrote: > On 2010-02-16, Tim <timdownie2...(a)obvious.yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > Mr Benn wrote: > >> It's such a simple thing to do. > > >> Correct Method: > > >> Match your speed on the slip road approximately to the speed of > >> traffic travelling in lane 1 and then choose an empty slot to move > >> into. > >> Incorrect Method: > > >> Match your speed on the slip road, drive parallel to a vehicle > >> already in lane 1 and then try to merge into the side of the vehicle > >> even though there are gaps in front of and behind the vehicle. > > I'd just like to say "Hello" to the driver of the red Subaru who tried this > one on me an the A1(M) a couple of weeks ago. > > >> Why are so many drivers getting this wrong? > > > Probably because motorway driving isn't part of the driving test. > > More likely because so many drivers are aggressive morons. > > > You've forgotten "Incorrect method number 2": Slow down until stationary at > > the end of the sliproad and wait for a large gap in the traffic. > > That'll be because it isn't incorrect. If you can't merge you stop at the > Give Way line at the end of the slip road. > > -- > 219361311 > email me, if you must, at huge {at} huge (dot) org <dot> uk] From the HC Driving on the motorway 259 Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway. You should give priority to traffic already on the motorway check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking On the motorway 260 When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should drive at a steady cruising speed which you and your vehicle can handle safely and is within the speed limit (see Rule 124) keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog (see Rules 126 and 235) and while we are here Lane discipline 264 You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs. [Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6] So i have gauged the speed of the motorway traffic at 70mph, and have accelerated accordingly, Numpty Fuckwit in his Audi has noticed that I am going to emerge in front of him so accelerates to stop me entering the motorway unless I brake to avoid him and therefore slows me to 50 mph now I am trying to join the nose to tail traffic behing him at 20 mph less than the traffic speed. According to the above rules who is in the wrong? Just about every time I join a motorway in this country this is the scenario, only the make of car changes from time to time. Nkosi |