Should I always move over for faster traffic?

[Phisp]

This morning I was travelling in lane two, at 70mph, of a dual carriage way passing a stream of cars. A silver Merc SLK (AMG as it turns out) was following quite close behind me (approx 0.5sec gap). After passing the cars there was approx a 10sec gap (both lanes clear) until we'd reach two Artics, one overtaking the other. Normally, I'd quite happily move in to let the Merc pass, but the two Artics prompted me to stay in lane 2. My reasoning being that in 10 secs, we'd both be at 56ish and there seemed little point in moving in as I would actually not be holding up the chap following.

However, his thought process was quite different to mine. He undertook me, moved back into lane 2 and gave my front windscreen a good dousing with water from his washer jets - it seems they are very good on Mercs as I was quite amazed how much water actually hit my car. He saw fit to have another go at me, verbally this time, a few minutes later as we waited at the top of a slip road for some traffic lights to change - ironically, he was behind me as he planned his exit off the dual carriageway rather badly.

Should I have moved in? On the one hand, it would not have really benefited him if I had. On the other hand, it would not have caused me any issues not to - other than moving in, allowing him to pass then moving straight back out again.

Edited by Phisp on Friday 31st July 11:00

[_Neal_]

If it's as long as 10 seconds before the artics, and as long as you'd be able to get out behind him, I would've moved over, especially if he's clearly being aggressive. It's just not worth the hassle and potential unpleasantness, and it's polite if he clearly wants to be travelling quicker than you are.

As an aside, he sounds like a real dick.

Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 31st July 10:54

[BertBert]

That's a very difficult judgement call. Hard to say without actually being there.

One the one hand, anything you can do to facilitate an agressive tailgater and undertaker(!) going by is a very good thing.

However, I have found on many occasions when you move in to a gap that is not really big enough for comfort, the "overtaker" often mooches alongside and you then get stuck having to brake to the speed of the lorry. Ie the overtaker is not being at all considerate of the fact you have moved in for him and getting on with it.

This one of the great things about the 2-lane french autoroutes. They seem to have got this worked out (unless the Dutch get involved).

Back to your situation, the right answer with hindsight is to have moved over. That only workis with hindsight though!

Bert

[tonycott]

You did good, as you have not held him up anyway. Hes just a knob in an expensive car who thinks that you are scum and should not be on the road.

[scoobydude]

Technicaly speaking lane 2 is for overtaking only. You were overtaking so you had every right to be in lane 2. In this case I'd have let the twunt pass me. My thinking on this is always, if this cocksucker wants to have an accident so be it, I don't so off you go.

[Fat Audi 80]

Being an owner of both a diesel which I drive very sedately on cruise control on dual carriageways and motorways, and an Audi S2 which is rather more rapid, I can see it from both points of view.

On this occasion I would have moved over, (unless the gap really was uncomfortably small). You could tell by the car and his "body language" he was pressing on and he would have probably been past you in a couple of seconds. This would have made his life easier and meant you did not have to feel a little uncomfortable holding him up. (Although you were perfectly entitled to do so I might add).

When I am pressing on in the S2, I absolutely love it when people travelling slower than me see me coming in the rear view mirror and move over! They always get a polite wave from me, or a left, right with the indicators.

When cruising I nearly always move over if I can...

HTH

Cheers,

Steve

[Munter]

I normally move over, but almost instantly stick on my right hand indicator. E.g. "If you are so keen to pass me get a fking move on or I'll pull out infront of you again. You choose."

If they don't get a move on I'll pull back into lane 3 to safely pass whats in lane 2.

[Fat Audi 80]

Munter said:

I normally move over, but almost instantly stick on my right hand indicator. E.g. "If you are so keen to pass me get a fking move on or I'll pull out infront of you again. You choose."

If they don't get a move on I'll pull back into lane 3 to safely pass whats in lane 2.

Goog point.

Oh yeah I forgot to add that I always indicate left when pulling back in to allow them to get on the gas as early as possible so that I can get out again if I need to...

[GW65]

Munter said:

I normally move over, but almost instantly stick on my right hand indicator. E.g. "If you are so keen to pass me get a fking move on or I'll pull out infront of you again. You choose."

If they don't get a move on I'll pull back into lane 3 to safely pass whats in lane 2.

Erm, so how are they supposed to know that you've not just changed your mind and you're going to pull out? Sounds like a recipe for them hanging back to be sure...which of course leads to exactly the situation you were trying to avoid...

[cs02rm0]

If he had room to undertake you almost certainly should have moved over, you will be holding him up once the artics are both back in lane 1. Might not seem much to you, but if everyone else has the same attitude and he's travelling a few hundred miles it can become irritating.

[Phisp]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

He indeed undertook me quite quickly. Within a few seconds of him passing me on the inside, moving back out and dousing me we were slowing for the Artic in lane 2. So, in hindsight, moving in would have been the best idea.

Also, by moving in I would have allowed him to be the one immediately following the overtaking Artic, meaning he could proceed unhindered once it had moved out of his way. I must admit I had not considered that point at the time. ( Oops - slow typer )

I like the idea of indicating that you want to move straight back out again.

Edited by Phisp on Friday 31st July 17:51

[BertBert]

Having now read the original post properly, I think it's even more marginal. My thought would be to see what's behind the car behind. If there is approaching traffic there, the most likely effect of you moving over is that matey behind pulls alongside you and slows down for the artic. Then all the people behind pile up behind him. Noone will let you out as the artic pulls in and you end up waiting for the traffic to clear. Very annoying.

Hey ho.

Bert

[Munter]

GW65 said:

Munter said:

I normally move over, but almost instantly stick on my right hand indicator. E.g. "If you are so keen to pass me get a fking move on or I'll pull out infront of you again. You choose."

If they don't get a move on I'll pull back into lane 3 to safely pass whats in lane 2.

Erm, so how are they supposed to know that you've not just changed your mind and you're going to pull out? Sounds like a recipe for them hanging back to be sure...which of course leads to exactly the situation you were trying to avoid...

Nah they usually stand on the throttle just as soon as you indicate left. So by the time i'm indicating right they are usually beside me. If they are not then I HAVE changed my mind and i'll need back out before I crash into the truck I'm forced to brake.

[flemke]

BertBert said:

However, I have found on many occasions when you move in to a gap that is not really big enough for comfort, the "overtaker" often mooches alongside and you then get stuck having to brake to the speed of the lorry. Ie the overtaker is not being at all considerate of the fact you have moved in for him and getting on with it.

You forgot another part of motoring business-as-usual in Britain:

You move nearside to let tailgating cretin past.
As tailgating cretin is abreast, he slows down to near your speed, either because he's not paying attention or because a vehicle has pulled out in front of him.
He is now travelling only slightly faster than you are, and more slowly than you had been travelling.
Other vehicles now begin to stack up behind him, perfecting the tailgating-cretin technique. Many of these vehicles are ones that you yourself had overtaken not long ago.
Because these idiots are not maintaining proper following distances, thus making it awkward for you to return to offside lane after original tailgating cretin has moved ahead, you end up waiting for 5-10+ vehicles that are actually slower than you are to clear before you can return to lane you had vacated only to be considerate to another.

[vonhosen]

Phisp said:

This morning I was travelling in lane two, at 70mph, of a dual carriage way passing a stream of cars. A silver Merc SLK (AMG as it turns out) was following quite close behind me (approx 0.5sec gap). After passing the cars there was approx a 10sec gap (both lanes clear) until we'd reach two Artics, one overtaking the other. Normally, I'd quite happily move in to let the Merc pass, but the two Artics prompted me to stay in lane 2. My reasoning being that in 10 secs, we'd both be at 56ish and there seemed little point in moving in as I would actually not be holding up the chap following.

However, his thought process was quite different to mine. He undertook me, moved back into lane 2 and gave my front windscreen a good dousing with water from his washer jets - it seems they are very good on Mercs as I was quite amazed how much water actually hit my car. He saw fit to have another go at me, verbally this time, a few minutes later as we waited at the top of a slip road for some traffic lights to change - ironically, he was behind me as he planned his exit off the dual carriageway rather badly.

Should I have moved in? On the one hand, it would not have really benefited him if I had. On the other hand, it would not have caused me any issues not to - other than moving in, allowing him to pass then moving straight back out again.

Edited by Phisp on Friday 31st July 11:00

I think you met a PHer.

[1950trevorP]

"Should I ALWAYS move over?"

I would suggest that there should be little, if any, use of the word ALWAYS
in connection with driving.

I woul prefer the question "reversed".

Why would I NOT move over?

(Nobody behind), (approaching "on-slip") spring to mind.

[7mike]

cs02rm0 said:

If he had room to undertake you almost certainly should have moved over, you will be holding him up once the artics are both back in lane 1. Might not seem much to you, but if everyone else has the same attitude and he's travelling a few hundred miles it can become irritating.

But the merc took the same exit as the op. If everyone took the same attitude as the merc driver then there would be lots of pointless agression, drivers who don't look much beyound their own personal bit of space & feck all gain in progress because they just get to stop at the next queue quicker...........oh hang on




This morning a guy jumped a red light at a ped crossing I was about to step out on to. Well done mate you got to sixth place at the queue at the next roundabout that much sooner.

Edited by 7mike on Saturday 1st August 12:54

Edited by 7mike on Saturday 1st August 12:55

[HRG.]

If there was time for him to overtake on the inside then there was sufficient time for you to move over. Holding up another driver is simply discourteous and should be discouraged at all times.

[BertBert]

HRG. said:

If there was time for him to overtake on the inside then there was sufficient time for you to move over. Holding up another driver is simply discourteous and should be discouraged at all times.

I don't think that that is the inevitable conclusion at all.

If you are holding station behind an artic alongside another one waiting for the overtake, if your lhs is clear, then the car behind can always go down the inside and barge back in.

Therefore without being there it's impossible to judge based on the fact that the car behind was able to undertake.

Bert

[cs02rm0]

7mike said:

cs02rm0 said:

If he had room to undertake you almost certainly should have moved over, you will be holding him up once the artics are both back in lane 1. Might not seem much to you, but if everyone else has the same attitude and he's travelling a few hundred miles it can become irritating.

But the merc took the same exit as the op. If everyone took the same attitude as the merc driver then there would be lots of pointless agression, drivers who don't look much beyound their own personal bit of space & feck all gain in progress because they just get to stop at the next queue quicker...........oh hang on

The OP can't account for the Merc driver's actions though, or predict the exit he'll take.