Consider lane 2 whilst merging.
Discussion
How many closely consider goings on in lane 2 whilst merging onto a dual carriageway or motorway ?
Lets say you've done everything right and found a nice space for yourself on a fairly busy road, were gaps in between cars are not very big. You go to move into the gap only for someone in lane 2 to move quickly to their left. Suddenly there is no gap and your buggered.
I look at both lanes when merging but feel i would be able to better judge things if i could focus on doing relative speed judgements between myself and lane 1 exclusively. If the person in questions speed was simerler to that of the people you are planning to merge in between then them moving into the space you want isn't out of the question right ? Or is this mentioned somewhere deep in the highway code ? Of course i would be indicating but this doesn't grant you right to the place you intend to occupy.
Lets say you've done everything right and found a nice space for yourself on a fairly busy road, were gaps in between cars are not very big. You go to move into the gap only for someone in lane 2 to move quickly to their left. Suddenly there is no gap and your buggered.
I look at both lanes when merging but feel i would be able to better judge things if i could focus on doing relative speed judgements between myself and lane 1 exclusively. If the person in questions speed was simerler to that of the people you are planning to merge in between then them moving into the space you want isn't out of the question right ? Or is this mentioned somewhere deep in the highway code ? Of course i would be indicating but this doesn't grant you right to the place you intend to occupy.
t in front of me doing 40 down the slip road and I need to burn 'em.I don't believe you're supposed to move from lane 2 to lane 1 when alongside a slip road, that's why the dashes are close together (the lines between the lanes) around junctions.
So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
Alex@POD said:
I don't believe you're supposed to move from lane 2 to lane 1 when alongside a slip road, that's why the dashes are close together (the lines between the lanes) around junctions.
So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
In general i would say that allowing for other peoples mistakes is good whilst driving. But in this specific scenario it stops me from focusing solely on what the code says i should. So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
Markjag12 said:
Alex@POD said:
I don't believe you're supposed to move from lane 2 to lane 1 when alongside a slip road, that's why the dashes are close together (the lines between the lanes) around junctions.
So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
In general i would say that allowing for other peoples mistakes is good whilst driving. But in this specific scenario it stops me from focusing solely on what the code says i should. So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
Alex@POD said:
I don't believe you're supposed to move from lane 2 to lane 1 when alongside a slip road, that's why the dashes are close together (the lines between the lanes) around junctions.
So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
I'm not aware of anything that says vehicles shouldn't or mustn't move for lane 2 to 1 in the vicinity of a joining slip road? (I think some countries do prohibit lane changes near to motorway junctions.)So from what you're saying, you're making allowances for other people's mistakes, which isn't a bad thing!
That's not to say it isn't often sensible not to do that though, particularly at times when there is a high likelihood of vehicles looking to join the motorway. I've seen numerous instances where a car in lane 2, having just overtaken a lorry, is being tailgated (often by someone who has just joined the motorway and is looking to get into lane 3 asap), and, perhaps feeling the pressure exerted by the tailgater, then moves into lane 1 just as cars are streaming down the joining slip road (invariably all too close to each other). Chaos ensues.
Of course, like the majority of issues on the roads, this potential problem could be virtually eliminated if people just left an appropriate gap to the vehicle in front.
Edited by MaxSo on Wednesday 30th May 18:13
Markjag12 said:
Lets say you've done everything right and found a nice space for yourself on a fairly busy road, were gaps in between cars are not very big. You go to move into the gap only for someone in lane 2 to move quickly to their left. Suddenly there is no gap and your buggered.
This will likely never happen on a normal slip as it's a bonehead move by a lane 2'er. Also the not confident driving miss daisy's will be in lane 1 or middle lane hogging lane 2 (and so with no intention of switching lanes for miles) and the ones making progress with sometimes unpredictable moves won't want to slow down/cut into lane one for any reason I can think of. By all means expect the worst but it's not something I see happen, you need to be more aware when in lane 2 of land 1'ers pulling out to help a slip road joiner.
Only instance of extra caution I can think of is some slips where you have a 2 lane road, the slip on briefly makes it 3 but then this new inside lane immediately becomes an off slip a little further on. Thinking A3 Hayling island off slip as an example, so you have potential for drivers on the dual carriageway you are joining alongside needing to come into your joining slip in a relatively short distance and you potentially out of it.
MaxSo said:
I'm not aware of anything that says vehicles shouldn't or mustn't move for lane 2 to 1 in the vicinity of a joining slip road? (I think some countries do prohibit lane changes near to motorway junctions.)
It's definitely the case in France (where I learnt to drive), the road markings over here are similar so I assumed they were for the same rules... Pica-Pica said:
From what you say, you seem a newly qualified driver, or at least one with limited motorway experience. Maybe you need specific one to one guidance, or just gain more experience.
Fairly experienced, like i say i am aware of the potential for this. And largely have no issues when joining. But just thought of this particular scenario when reading another of the many threads about proper slip road procedures. Just seems like one you have next to zero chance to mitigate if the person decides to make this move just before you try to occupy the space. Especially if lane 1 is busy and cars are fairly closely packed. There is very little chance you would have the space needed to find another gap before the end of the slip road. And of course you have already used the slip road to accelerate into your gap. So theres no road left to stop in.
How closely do I consider lane 2 when merging from a slip road. Very closely. Why wouldn't you?
I would hope any serious driver considers traffic in lane 3 when moving from lane 1 to lane 2 (or L1 moving from L3 to L2 - all assuming a 3 lane motorway here), so why wouldn't you do the same on a slip road?
If at all possible I don't change lanes with another vehicle 2 lanes across who might move into my intended landing space - too risky - wait until you are just ahead or drop just behind the threat vehicle. I have seen far too many near misses (and had a few myself in my early driving days) in just this situation.
Obviously with a slip road, the limited run in does impinge on this, and is mitigated to an extent by the likelihood of people moving into lane 1 adjacent to a slip entry being much less than the equivalent general lane switch situation. Nonetheless, is is far from hard on most decent length slip roads in free flowing traffic to make subtle adjustments to further reduce the risk.
I would hope any serious driver considers traffic in lane 3 when moving from lane 1 to lane 2 (or L1 moving from L3 to L2 - all assuming a 3 lane motorway here), so why wouldn't you do the same on a slip road?
If at all possible I don't change lanes with another vehicle 2 lanes across who might move into my intended landing space - too risky - wait until you are just ahead or drop just behind the threat vehicle. I have seen far too many near misses (and had a few myself in my early driving days) in just this situation.
Obviously with a slip road, the limited run in does impinge on this, and is mitigated to an extent by the likelihood of people moving into lane 1 adjacent to a slip entry being much less than the equivalent general lane switch situation. Nonetheless, is is far from hard on most decent length slip roads in free flowing traffic to make subtle adjustments to further reduce the risk.
In general you should always be considering any possibility for another vehicle to occupy the space you are intending your vehicle to occupy. This is whether you are changing lane or staying in lane, if you think about it this is also the stopping in the distance you can see to be clear rule and fundamentally how you avoid having a collision.
Therefore considering traffic in other lanes is totally the right thing to do.
Therefore considering traffic in other lanes is totally the right thing to do.
Its rare but its possible on a dual carriageway which has frequent exits. If you're bombing down a short slip road with no one in front of you thinking its clear. A driver in lane 2 could be moving into lane 1 in preparation for the next exit a few hundred metres further on. If the difference in speed is substantial, the driver on the main road could be unaware of a speeding car joining.
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