Motorway overtaking...
Discussion
Hi,
New to the forum and had a look around about this particular subject but couldn't find much.
Ok, so i've just finished work and a disucssion at work has broken out about over taking on a motor way and there were two theorys flying about...
1st. I'm pulling onto a motorway, i see about 800 yards of lorrys or trucks in lane 1. So I pull into lane 2 to over take them when i can pull into lane 1, i do.
2nd. I'm pulling onto a motorway, i see about 800 yeards of lorrys or trucks in lane 1, no traffic in lane 2, so i pull into lane 3 to over take them and when lane 1 becomes free i pull into it.
Its a very odd conversation we were having considering its just a bar i work in, but it was causing some frustration!
Thanks for your help!
New to the forum and had a look around about this particular subject but couldn't find much.
Ok, so i've just finished work and a disucssion at work has broken out about over taking on a motor way and there were two theorys flying about...
1st. I'm pulling onto a motorway, i see about 800 yards of lorrys or trucks in lane 1. So I pull into lane 2 to over take them when i can pull into lane 1, i do.
2nd. I'm pulling onto a motorway, i see about 800 yeards of lorrys or trucks in lane 1, no traffic in lane 2, so i pull into lane 3 to over take them and when lane 1 becomes free i pull into it.
Its a very odd conversation we were having considering its just a bar i work in, but it was causing some frustration!
Thanks for your help!
So your question is: if there is no traffic gaining on you from behind, and there is a string of vehicles to overtake in lane 1, is it better to use lane 2 or lane 3 for the overtake?
Unusual situation; if there is enough traffic to describe as a string of vehicles, some of them would normally be in lane 2. But let's take the question at face value.
I think as usual it depends! If the vehicles in lane 1 are well spaced, and none are closing on the ones in front of them, then I would probably use lane 2 - but keeping in mind a possible exit to lane 3 if one of the vehicles in lane 1 pulled out. If any of the vehicles in lane 1 are closing on the ones in front of them, then I would probably use lane 3 to give them room to come out.
Unusual situation; if there is enough traffic to describe as a string of vehicles, some of them would normally be in lane 2. But let's take the question at face value.
I think as usual it depends! If the vehicles in lane 1 are well spaced, and none are closing on the ones in front of them, then I would probably use lane 2 - but keeping in mind a possible exit to lane 3 if one of the vehicles in lane 1 pulled out. If any of the vehicles in lane 1 are closing on the ones in front of them, then I would probably use lane 3 to give them room to come out.
I generally agree with Mark's line of thinking, but if I had lanes 2 and 3 to choose from I would probably use lane 2.5 (if you know what I mean) or 3, depending on the speed differential between me and the lane 1 vehicles. It is unlikely that I would confine myself to lane 2. If plenty of space is available it seems sensible to use it.
BTW, welcome.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
BTW, welcome.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Ruts in lane one, and more crap tends to gather there.
Two is further from HS and oncoming danger than three and one
Maybe there's a left hand bend ahead.
Of course you shouldn't inconvenience another road user ahead or behind, but in the OP there is noone other than the 800 yrds of elephant racers.
As for setting an example...if he needs an example, he can get a driving instructor. I don't think I'm going to change his driving from outside his car.
Two is further from HS and oncoming danger than three and one
Maybe there's a left hand bend ahead.
Of course you shouldn't inconvenience another road user ahead or behind, but in the OP there is noone other than the 800 yrds of elephant racers.
As for setting an example...if he needs an example, he can get a driving instructor. I don't think I'm going to change his driving from outside his car.
Slightly different situation, but interested in peoples opinions.
Empty motorway, as per this morning at 6am (yes, I'm working on a bank holiday!) your doing 70 in the inside lane. After a few miles, you are approaching a car in the middle lane doing 55.
Do you cross 2 lanes and pass the car, or do you pull to the middle lane, and invite the driver to select a more suitable lane with a flash of main beam?
Empty motorway, as per this morning at 6am (yes, I'm working on a bank holiday!) your doing 70 in the inside lane. After a few miles, you are approaching a car in the middle lane doing 55.
Do you cross 2 lanes and pass the car, or do you pull to the middle lane, and invite the driver to select a more suitable lane with a flash of main beam?
BOF said:
My choice...
you cross 2 lanes and pass the car
Less confrontational
Easy enough to do
Leaves the clown to maintain his status as a prick...
BOF.
Yes, that would be my way of doing it, except that I might try a brief headlight flash as I pass through lane 2 behind him, before passing him in lane 3 and then easing across back into lane 1. The weakness there is that my headlight flash could provoke an adverse reaction rather than achieving anything useful, so on reflection that might be best omitted.you cross 2 lanes and pass the car
Less confrontational
Easy enough to do
Leaves the clown to maintain his status as a prick...
BOF.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
p1esk said:
BOF said:
My choice...
you cross 2 lanes and pass the car
Less confrontational
Easy enough to do
Leaves the clown to maintain his status as a prick...
BOF.
Yes, that would be my way of doing it, except that I might try a brief headlight flash as I pass through lane 2 behind him, before passing him in lane 3 and then easing across back into lane 1. The weakness there is that my headlight flash could provoke an adverse reaction rather than achieving anything useful, so on reflection that might be best omitted.you cross 2 lanes and pass the car
Less confrontational
Easy enough to do
Leaves the clown to maintain his status as a prick...
BOF.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I've been in a situation, overtaking a few heavies, due to spray I was in lane 3, leaving the clear lane 2 between us - faster car approaching from well behind gives a nice early flash, I move into lane 2 (lateral to a gap between the heavies, just for safety) in plenty of time, he keeps his speed on, gives me a wave (full hand, before you start) as he goes past - two happy co-operating road users... loved it.
p1esk said:
...I might try a brief headlight flash as I pass through lane 2 behind him...
What is your aim of the headlamp flash?If it is to "educate", then I'd suggest leaving it out.
If you are needing him to know that you are there for safety reasons, and consider moving aside, then I'd think that was a good use of the headlamp flash.
7db said:
p1esk said:
...I might try a brief headlight flash as I pass through lane 2 behind him...
What is your aim of the headlamp flash?If it is to "educate", then I'd suggest leaving it out.
If you are needing him to know that you are there for safety reasons, and consider moving aside, then I'd think that was a good use of the headlamp flash.
I suppose really it was in the hope of doing a bit of educating, but on reflection that's a bit too much to hope for, and it's not for me to be doing that anyhow. If I'm being honest I wouldn't claim safety as being the justification either, as given plenty of time and space I'd go to lane 3 pretty early and do a normal overtake, not just whizz across the lanes just behind him. OK, I'll scrub the headlight flash.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I have watched Chris Gilbert's Advanced Driving DVD and he tackles motorways in one section.
In his commentry, he explains his positioning on the carrageway reletive to the other lanes/traffic.
For example: if L1 has traffic in it, and you are in L2 and are holding no one up, then why return left at all - especially if you can see that you may have to return to L2 or even L3 to overtake more traffic?
Invariably, what you're doing is diving back into little spaces, then back out again to overtake in the near future. If no one is behind you, then maintain your lane, keeping an eye on traffic in all lanes ahead.
Anyway, I believe the whole "I'd use L3" thing is simply generating a plane of safety between yourself and traffic in L1.
Personally, I'd be in L2, then move out to L3 once traffic on L1 looks a bit bunched. Someone somewhere along the line is going to want to come out, sooner or later. Instead of reacting to someone swapping lanes, be somewhere safe and completely out the way.
When returning back, it won't be L1. I'll return back to L2 once spacing in the traffic permits, and will hold L2 until a suitable gap appears (i.e. I can cruise at 70 in L1 for miles without having to move back out again) and/or I perceive I would be holding cars up in L2 (normally when traffic starts to get heavy).
I don't believe lane-hogging is that bad, provided you aren't holding anyone up whilst doing so.
On some motorways, when I'm making *ahem* "progress" I'll opt for L2, even if the carrageway is totally clear, because it'll act as my "plane of safety" from both sides of the carrageway and, invariably, offer me the best mix of visibility fore and aft, especially if the road curves ahead/behind etc.
In his commentry, he explains his positioning on the carrageway reletive to the other lanes/traffic.
For example: if L1 has traffic in it, and you are in L2 and are holding no one up, then why return left at all - especially if you can see that you may have to return to L2 or even L3 to overtake more traffic?
Invariably, what you're doing is diving back into little spaces, then back out again to overtake in the near future. If no one is behind you, then maintain your lane, keeping an eye on traffic in all lanes ahead.
Anyway, I believe the whole "I'd use L3" thing is simply generating a plane of safety between yourself and traffic in L1.
Personally, I'd be in L2, then move out to L3 once traffic on L1 looks a bit bunched. Someone somewhere along the line is going to want to come out, sooner or later. Instead of reacting to someone swapping lanes, be somewhere safe and completely out the way.
When returning back, it won't be L1. I'll return back to L2 once spacing in the traffic permits, and will hold L2 until a suitable gap appears (i.e. I can cruise at 70 in L1 for miles without having to move back out again) and/or I perceive I would be holding cars up in L2 (normally when traffic starts to get heavy).
I don't believe lane-hogging is that bad, provided you aren't holding anyone up whilst doing so.
On some motorways, when I'm making *ahem* "progress" I'll opt for L2, even if the carrageway is totally clear, because it'll act as my "plane of safety" from both sides of the carrageway and, invariably, offer me the best mix of visibility fore and aft, especially if the road curves ahead/behind etc.
Daschund said:
On some motorways, when I'm making *ahem* "progress" I'll opt for L2, even if the carrageway is totally clear, because it'll act as my "plane of safety" from both sides of the carrageway and, invariably, offer me the best mix of visibility fore and aft, especially if the road curves ahead/behind etc.
Nothing to stop you, if clear, using all three lanes for safety, information, and reducing forces. Not strictly necessary, but it's a nice touch. Obviously if there's traffic, it's not the best idea... i just stay left & go past them. i cant be arsed with the hassle of doing it correctly. im using the road correctly & staying left when i dont need to pull out to overtake so as far as im concerned its them in the wrong.
yes they could move back left, but they havent bothered for the last god knows how many hundred miles while they hold everyone up so the chances of them doing so when im there are slim.
i'd LOVE to see a plod dealing with MLMs it'd make the roads so much less stressful. maybe plods on bridges filming them & sending tickets for careless driving rather than pointless scamera numpties.
yes they could move back left, but they havent bothered for the last god knows how many hundred miles while they hold everyone up so the chances of them doing so when im there are slim.
i'd LOVE to see a plod dealing with MLMs it'd make the roads so much less stressful. maybe plods on bridges filming them & sending tickets for careless driving rather than pointless scamera numpties.
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