quick question about the westway road

[pedromorgan]

Ok. idiot here.... and pretty new to driving but trying VERY hard to get better!

I have a quick question about the westway road and large A roads in general.
There are loads of big junctions on the westway and lots of poeple comming and going.
Yesterday I was driging along there at about 6pm and I was staying in the middle lane and in some cases the right lane, not to overtake but just to stay away from all the manuvering and stay out of trouble.

Was I doing the right thing?

I was sticking to the 40 mph limit.
Was I hogging the middle lane and doing something wrong?

Peter

P.S. I am quite looking forward tot he introductory IAM thing on the 18th!

[davepoth]

Strictly speaking, you should keep left if the traffic is flowing, but it's sensible to come out to lane 2 at the junctions as the slip roads are a bit stingy. It is possible to keep left on the Westway, but you do need to keep your wits about you. That said, you'll need to keep your wits about you hanging around in the other lanes too. So long as you're getting out of the way of anything that wants to overtake, you're doing fine.

[7db]

Keep left on the westway -- you'll make better progress. Pop out at slips if you must, but generally lane 1 moves quicker.

[7db]

pedromorgan said:

I was sticking to the 40 mph limit.
Was I hogging the middle lane and doing something wrong?

Were you keeping up with traffic in front or did a large gap develop? That's generally a good test to see whether you are lane-hogging or not, although the specific guidance in the HC that only applies to motorway traffic, it's practical for large DCs

[gdaybruce]

When I first started to drive on the Westway the speed limit was 70mph and it was classed as a motorway. It then came down to 60, then 50 and now it's 40mph. In my experience, however, traffic almost totally ignores the 40 limit unless there is actually a marked police car sticking to the limit (which is rare, even they tend to do 50). While I would never criticise anyone for sticking to the limit, a vehicle doing 40mph really does stand out (at least in the rush hours) and is likely to be overtaken in whichever lane is free. In both directions, the inside lane (out of three) actually becomes the exit lane, for the Paddington slip going East and the Northern roundabout going West so there is a reasonable argument for getting into lane 2 early if you don't want those exits. Just be prepared to be overtaken on both sides, sometimes at silly speeds and especially by bikers.

The day they put a camera van half way along the Westway will be a day that many, many drivers regret!

[pedromorgan]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Constructive feedback and criticism is always greatly apreciated.


I fully take your point about driving at the road speed. but what I don't get is that there are cameras on the westway! have they ever been turned on?!

"Were you keeping up with traffic in front or did a large gap develop? That's generally a good test to see whether you are lane-hogging or not, although the specific guidance in the HC that only applies to motorway traffic, it's practical for large DCs"
Judging by what I was seeing in my mirrors, I dont think I was holding anyone up. People could have easily overtaken if they wanted to. but there was a big gap infront of me for some of the journey. I was travelling slightly faster than lane 1 for most of the time.

I am doing the same journey this friday. but I am going to take a southern route and head for the M4. I am going to brave the elephant and castle (another place I made a complete hash of last time!)


I am booked onto the Welcome session at Orpington on the 18th and I am really looking forward to it!

Peter

[Hackney]

Peter, it seems like you're going about things the right way.
It's better to stick to the limit however arbitrary or ignored it may be.

gdaybruce is spot on about the Westway though, there's a 40 limit but it's ignored by all and sundry. The difficulty is if you keep left and that lane becomes a slip, particularly Westbound at the West Cross Route exit where you'll be trying to move right as all the idiots cut across two lanes to head to take the exit.

Regarding the E&C roundabout.... I don't think I've ever seen anyone get it right. Just be aware of where you need to go, try and be in the correct lane and watch out for the maniacs!

[pedromorgan]

The thing that got me about the E&C was when I was trying to turn left onto St Georges Road. I was in the left hand lane and trying to turn left but when I went to do so, there were about 3 bus lanes or lanes for other stuff to negotiate before I actually got to the lane to go down the road!
It was comeplete chaos and I got an eye roll and a sigh from a guy in an alpha and the 2 fingered salute from a white van man!

I have looked at satelite pictures of that junction and I still have no idea what I was supposed to be doing!!

Peter

[7db]

gdaybruce said:

traffic almost totally ignores the 40 limit unless there is actually a marked police car sticking to the limit (which is rare, even they tend to do 50).

...and then I drove along the Westway last night and then for nearly 10 miles out on the A40 with a marked Police car pootling along at the speed limit. Wow the road in front got empty and the road behind got full. It was only at the NSL that I was able to get away from him.