Dealing with poor lane discipline
Discussion
I do a fair bit of long distance driving for work along motorways and multi lane roads.
Now, Australia has very, very, very poor lane discipline as a general rule.
It is very common to be cruising along late at night and be confronted with a car just sitting in the rh lane at about 20 under the speed limit, no other cars around.
I like making safe and speedy progress. I do around 60,000km a year driving to and from jobs and things like that, never during rush hours, usually either middle of the day or at night.
Basically, in situations like that, what is the correct approach? A flash of the lights and wait for them to move, or just a stuff it and undertake? I'm not a big fan of the undertake for obvious reasons, but seems to be the only way of making any form of progress.
Also, 3 lane roads. No one in the left (slow) lane, many people in the middle lane all doing 10 below the speed limit. Quite a few in the right (fast) lane doing 5 below the speed limit. Why? And why the hell can't they all move over 1 lane? Once again, methods of dealing with this?
Now, Australia has very, very, very poor lane discipline as a general rule.
It is very common to be cruising along late at night and be confronted with a car just sitting in the rh lane at about 20 under the speed limit, no other cars around.
I like making safe and speedy progress. I do around 60,000km a year driving to and from jobs and things like that, never during rush hours, usually either middle of the day or at night.
Basically, in situations like that, what is the correct approach? A flash of the lights and wait for them to move, or just a stuff it and undertake? I'm not a big fan of the undertake for obvious reasons, but seems to be the only way of making any form of progress.
Also, 3 lane roads. No one in the left (slow) lane, many people in the middle lane all doing 10 below the speed limit. Quite a few in the right (fast) lane doing 5 below the speed limit. Why? And why the hell can't they all move over 1 lane? Once again, methods of dealing with this?
Colonial said:
...Now, Australia has very, very, very poor lane discipline as a general rule.
It is very common to be cruising along late at night and be confronted with a car just sitting in the rh lane at about 20 under the speed limit, no other cars around.....
...Also, 3 lane roads. No one in the left (slow) lane, many people in the middle lane all doing 10 below the speed limit. Quite a few in the right (fast) lane doing 5 below the speed limit. Why? And why the hell can't they all move over 1 lane? Once again, methods of dealing with this?
Sorry to be facetious but you did mean Australia, not Austria? Sounds like they all think they're supposed to be driving on the right....It is very common to be cruising along late at night and be confronted with a car just sitting in the rh lane at about 20 under the speed limit, no other cars around.....
...Also, 3 lane roads. No one in the left (slow) lane, many people in the middle lane all doing 10 below the speed limit. Quite a few in the right (fast) lane doing 5 below the speed limit. Why? And why the hell can't they all move over 1 lane? Once again, methods of dealing with this?
I find that during the day, when I drive my mums new car with the lights on people tend to move if they're being lazy.
Typically... I would say don't resort to tailgating, but sit a reasonable distance behind with your right hand indicator on. That's supposed to work, but I don't know how it would be recieved. If you sit a way behind and flash once or twice, then perhaps the driver would get the message but not be threatened.
You could always fit 2 small blue lights in your grille, and flash those.
Typically... I would say don't resort to tailgating, but sit a reasonable distance behind with your right hand indicator on. That's supposed to work, but I don't know how it would be recieved. If you sit a way behind and flash once or twice, then perhaps the driver would get the message but not be threatened.
You could always fit 2 small blue lights in your grille, and flash those.
parapaul said:
Sorry to be facetious but you did mean Australia, not Austria? Sounds like they all think they're supposed to be driving on the right....
Fair point, could have made it clearer. I was referring to multi lane roads. I think the big problem is you can flash and you can indicate, but if no one is looking in their mirrors it doesn't achieve a thing
Colonial...In my experience Aussie drivers ignore the right indicatior thing and just assume you have it on by accident. I have aso found a flash of the lights causes a less than desired effect...
It gets ignored
You get the finger
Driver panics and makes a poor move in to the left lane and cuts someone off
Driver floors it but stays in the right lane
I think part of the problem with lane discipline is that over taking on the left is a legal move here so the attitude is "Pfft he can go round if he wants to get past"...this then promotes weaving through traffic. It also seems to force slower moving vehicles to get stuck in the right lane...I.E if someone is slow off the lights everyone just streams past on the left and dont allow the slower vehicle to move over.
It gets ignored
You get the finger
Driver panics and makes a poor move in to the left lane and cuts someone off
Driver floors it but stays in the right lane
I think part of the problem with lane discipline is that over taking on the left is a legal move here so the attitude is "Pfft he can go round if he wants to get past"...this then promotes weaving through traffic. It also seems to force slower moving vehicles to get stuck in the right lane...I.E if someone is slow off the lights everyone just streams past on the left and dont allow the slower vehicle to move over.
I sometimes drive 800kms+ a day on the F3/Pacific Highway between Sydney and Taree and back. The right indicator does not work. Tried it out and as effective as praying that they move over.
The flash is the only option left. I don't like sitting in the rh lane doing 20 below the speed limit when it is perfectly clear in the lh lane. I prefer them to move over, but if they don't, well...
The flash is the only option left. I don't like sitting in the rh lane doing 20 below the speed limit when it is perfectly clear in the lh lane. I prefer them to move over, but if they don't, well...
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