Joining a Busy Main Road from a T-Junction
Discussion
As per title.
Images for illustrative purposes:
Car came out of a T-junction and blocked oncoming traffic as they waited for someone to let them in. It's a common occurrence and happens everywhere. I don't know what the Highway Code says, or what learner drivers are taught about this scenario but my view is, where possible, use the space between the lanes and then watch in your near-side mirror as you wait for an opportunity to join the traffic. But the 'norm' seems to be: just pull out and elbow your way in. Don't worry about blocking the traffic in the opposite direction (which could have and effect on the direction you want to go in!).
Views?
Images for illustrative purposes:
Car came out of a T-junction and blocked oncoming traffic as they waited for someone to let them in. It's a common occurrence and happens everywhere. I don't know what the Highway Code says, or what learner drivers are taught about this scenario but my view is, where possible, use the space between the lanes and then watch in your near-side mirror as you wait for an opportunity to join the traffic. But the 'norm' seems to be: just pull out and elbow your way in. Don't worry about blocking the traffic in the opposite direction (which could have and effect on the direction you want to go in!).
Views?
Pica-Pica said:
Views? Neutral. Fortunately around here, people are reasonable and let people in if they would otherwise struggle to get out of a side road. A bit of give and take, and due caution all round - no issues.
When there's clearly space in the middle of the two lanes, you don't think it would be better (and kinder to oncoming traffic) to swing into that space and wait for an opening from there?Glassman said:
Pica-Pica said:
Views? Neutral. Fortunately around here, people are reasonable and let people in if they would otherwise struggle to get out of a side road. A bit of give and take, and due caution all round - no issues.
When there's clearly space in the middle of the two lanes, you don't think it would be better (and kinder to oncoming traffic) to swing into that space and wait for an opening from there?As I said, around here people will let others out, in other areas you may wait for a long time.
But, yes, if traffic was light to the right, and a gap came up, then, if no car from the left was indicating to come into that space, I would pull into that space.
Also if there was no traffic to the right, and traffic to the left was spaced reasonably, AND a car was indicating right, then If I felt the driver was likely to let me out then I would also pull into that gap.
The proviso would be that in the tourist season I would not expect people to let me out, because (a) traffic would be heavier, and (b) tourists seem less considerate than locals.
To "op"....That's not the road leading into Bournemouth/Poole is it?
For the "learner" in first photo, unless the waiting van on the other side of him waved him out, then he should not be there, no ADI would suggest blocking the road, if they did that on a test then they would fail....period (You should not cause any other road user to slow down or change direction to avoid you )
For the V90 blocking the road....cause it is big, and the bigger the car, the more those drivers think they can do what they like, and the hell with everyone else!
If the filter lane is big enough, and moving into it would not inconvenience anyone else, then I would consider moving forward into it, but the Volvo is clearly blocking the road.
A real pain when you get traffic like that, I find that the locals are who use the road all the time are reasonable and "let" people out/in, as they themselves have to cross the traffic so it would even out in the long run.
A way the council roads dept could resolve this is to chuck in a mini roundabout. Must be a royal pain in the arse trying to get out of roads like this everyday, and if it is the road I think it is, I have used it recently and hate it!
For the "learner" in first photo, unless the waiting van on the other side of him waved him out, then he should not be there, no ADI would suggest blocking the road, if they did that on a test then they would fail....period (You should not cause any other road user to slow down or change direction to avoid you )
For the V90 blocking the road....cause it is big, and the bigger the car, the more those drivers think they can do what they like, and the hell with everyone else!
If the filter lane is big enough, and moving into it would not inconvenience anyone else, then I would consider moving forward into it, but the Volvo is clearly blocking the road.
A real pain when you get traffic like that, I find that the locals are who use the road all the time are reasonable and "let" people out/in, as they themselves have to cross the traffic so it would even out in the long run.
A way the council roads dept could resolve this is to chuck in a mini roundabout. Must be a royal pain in the arse trying to get out of roads like this everyday, and if it is the road I think it is, I have used it recently and hate it!
Knob, pure and simple.
People are too stupid and entitled to think "I'll go left and do a turning manoeuvre". Nope it's "I'll hold up dozens of people because I'm too dumb to know how to turn around".
I was stuck behind a van who sat in the LH lane with his indicator on waiting to be let into the RH lane (LH lane was turning left, RH lane was going straight).
I was stuck there for 10 minutes as the RH lane wasn't moving due to roadworks. The irony was that the next intersection after the left turn was a round-a-bout. He could have done a U turn there. Also there was an alternate route off that roundabout that was moving.
People are too stupid and entitled to think "I'll go left and do a turning manoeuvre". Nope it's "I'll hold up dozens of people because I'm too dumb to know how to turn around".
I was stuck behind a van who sat in the LH lane with his indicator on waiting to be let into the RH lane (LH lane was turning left, RH lane was going straight).
I was stuck there for 10 minutes as the RH lane wasn't moving due to roadworks. The irony was that the next intersection after the left turn was a round-a-bout. He could have done a U turn there. Also there was an alternate route off that roundabout that was moving.
watchnut said:
For the "learner" in first photo, unless the waiting van on the other side of him waved him out, then he should not be there, no ADI would suggest blocking the road, if they did that on a test then they would fail....period (You should not cause any other road user to slow down or change direction to
I actually did this on my test and passed.I did say to the examiner "I'm going to have to just pull out here and hope someone lets me in or we will sit at this junction for the whole test"
I expect if the cars are stationary anyway then causing someone to remain stationary for a little while longer isn't causing them to change speed or direction.
Didn't even get a minor.
another examiner on another day, slightly different views on things might have been different. However it sounds like you took the initiative, and showed confidence and it worked good for you......now go on and do ROSPA or IAM or both! joelpython said:
My ADI has taught me that it's only OK to block the oncoming traffic from the right if you are waved out.
THINK BIKE! is all i will add to that!(lots of car drivers wave or flash other cars out of junctions without looking behind them to see if a bike is overtaking down the outside.......)
Glassman said:
watchnut said:
To "op"....That's not the road leading into Bournemouth/Poole is it?
No. It's Cockfosters. IME this is a curiously regional phenomenon.
I left London to return to Dorset in 2002 after living up there for a decade. When driving in London I had got quite used to doing this and to others doing it.
I distinctly recall the first time I did it on an A road in Greater Bournemouth and someone coming from my right nearly drove in to me. Despite me being stationary there when they came in to view about 250 yards away. I genuinely think they thought I had some cast-iron plan for vacating their lane before they hit me.
Since that incidence I have more or less dropped the habit, as people round here simply do not get it.
Max_Torque said:
joelpython said:
My ADI has taught me that it's only OK to block the oncoming traffic from the right if you are waved out.
THINK BIKE! is all i will add to that!(lots of car drivers wave or flash other cars out of junctions without looking behind them to see if a bike is overtaking down the outside.......)
janesmith1950 said:
RumbleOfThunder said:
The biker should not be overtaking at a junction or exit of a side street, frankly.
Perhaps not, however that doesn't mean you should ignore their presence in your planning.judgement lacking motorcyclists aside, nobody should really be slowing down to specifically let people out of side with any traffic (Bikes, cars or goods vehicles) behind them, unless the traffic is stop-start.
When I was learning to drive I was advised to ease out of junctions where visibility was restricted, such as by parked cars, and wait for someone coming from my left to let me out if I was blocking traffic to the right. Obviously it winds up people who can't see a situation but if traffic is parked right up to the junction or there's something like a wall blocking the view each way you have to ease out and potentially block traffic.
Other than that, I was never encouraged to move out and block traffic like this. Then again, there are plenty of dashcam videos of road ragers behind learners at junctions getting wound up about being delayed by them doing the right thing and waiting. The same people would fly off the handle if a learner moved out in front of them and blocked their way.
Other than that, I was never encouraged to move out and block traffic like this. Then again, there are plenty of dashcam videos of road ragers behind learners at junctions getting wound up about being delayed by them doing the right thing and waiting. The same people would fly off the handle if a learner moved out in front of them and blocked their way.
Blakewater said:
Other than that, I was never encouraged to move out and block traffic like this. Then again, there are plenty of dashcam videos of road ragers behind learners at junctions getting wound up about being delayed by them doing the right thing and waiting. The same people would fly off the handle if a learner moved out in front of them and blocked their way.
Learners are the one road user I give excessive lattitude to... That's the point of the L plate, to say "I'm still learning and may make mistakes, please be patient with me". We were all learners once, none of us were born the driving gods we are. I was heading down Hartland rd in Reading last night and a learner misjudged a mini-roundabout and was a tiny bit late on the brakes, Merc in front goes absolutely mental on the horn and blasts through the roundabout at well over 30 (I hope he was caught by the speed camera not too far up the road). I spotted the learner a fair bit off and had already started slowing (slowing for a RAB is SOP in peak hour for me anyway). They weren't sticking out far into the mini-roundabout so I was able to drive straight through giving a friendly wave to the learner.
Sure the learner needed to pay more attention, but they are going to make mistakes and there's no point in going ape-s
t over them as we all did the same or worse as learners.Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff