New kind of lane-merge numpty?
Discussion
Saw a wierd bit of driving on the A303 this AM.
As two lanes were about to merge in to one I was at the back of a line of three well-spaced cars doing 75-80 in L2.
In L1 was a boxy car (Meriva? It was dark) doing about 60.
The first car passed boxy man at about the 400 yard mark. As it was approaching, he put his hazard lights on. I initially thought he could see stationary traffic ahead, but none was in sight. As the second car approached him at about the 200 yard mark he again put his hazard lights on.
I had to experience this myself, so I got past him just before the lane dividing line finished, again getting hazard lights just as I caught him.
Being in a puckish mood, I flashed my hazards as I merged in front of him. His reaction to this was to turn his hazards and main beam on and off and swerve about in the road a fair bit.
Thoughts?
Maybe the hazards were saying "Caution, the dual carriageway is ending! You may not have seen the numerous signs!" But I assume the message was "I don't think you should overtake me".
More to the point does he do this every time two lanes merge?
As two lanes were about to merge in to one I was at the back of a line of three well-spaced cars doing 75-80 in L2.
In L1 was a boxy car (Meriva? It was dark) doing about 60.
The first car passed boxy man at about the 400 yard mark. As it was approaching, he put his hazard lights on. I initially thought he could see stationary traffic ahead, but none was in sight. As the second car approached him at about the 200 yard mark he again put his hazard lights on.
I had to experience this myself, so I got past him just before the lane dividing line finished, again getting hazard lights just as I caught him.
Being in a puckish mood, I flashed my hazards as I merged in front of him. His reaction to this was to turn his hazards and main beam on and off and swerve about in the road a fair bit.
Thoughts?
Maybe the hazards were saying "Caution, the dual carriageway is ending! You may not have seen the numerous signs!" But I assume the message was "I don't think you should overtake me".
More to the point does he do this every time two lanes merge?
Johnnytheboy said:
hombrepaulo said:
Yes I do. Merge earlier next time
If they wanted me to merge earlier, they'd have move the merge point back somewhat. Mind you, I'm glad I did pass him, as after the light show he disappeared backwards... still with main beam on
I think by reacting to him you were just doing what he wanted you to do. When I see that sort of thing going on I generally just carry on with my journey - you've done nothing wrong by overtaking where there was space to do so!
Getting irate at being passed seems to be how Meriva/Picasso/Agila etc drivers go about their daily business anyway.
Getting irate at being passed seems to be how Meriva/Picasso/Agila etc drivers go about their daily business anyway.
dibbers006 said:
I find it's a challenge to merge as late as possible as fast as possible. Concrete blockers always make this game higher stakes, as do the jeopardy of workmen hanging out cones.
I once ate the Mars bar out of a truck drivers outstretched hand at 65mph
I've heard of the Mars bar game. Are you sure you ate it out of his hand? I once ate the Mars bar out of a truck drivers outstretched hand at 65mph
Argued this at work the other day with "an early merger", i agree if they wanted you to merge earlier thats where they'd stick the cones.
I don't know why they can't merge the traffic into the middle of the road, that way no one gets right of way. They can then cone you into which ever lane they wish.
I don't know why they can't merge the traffic into the middle of the road, that way no one gets right of way. They can then cone you into which ever lane they wish.
I still want to know what the hazard lights were about.
Thinking about it, I saw another odd one the other day. A pickup truck a few cars ahead of me in L1 actually indicated right and pulled in to the middle shortly before the merge causing an Audi (shockingly) to brake sharply. Not unusually road-captaincy, but the indicating was slightly unexpected.
Thinking about it, I saw another odd one the other day. A pickup truck a few cars ahead of me in L1 actually indicated right and pulled in to the middle shortly before the merge causing an Audi (shockingly) to brake sharply. Not unusually road-captaincy, but the indicating was slightly unexpected.
Just sounds like a lack of confidence. Still, not as bad as the 
s who think it's funny to block you from merging, speed matching you side by side 
I'd forgotten about that. Luckily there was nothing behind me so had to slam on the anchors, but serious wtf?! I'm sure it was a cab as well, old model Passat. Had signwriting on the back of it but didn't catch it
s who think it's funny to block you from merging, speed matching you side by side I'd forgotten about that. Luckily there was nothing behind me so had to slam on the anchors, but serious wtf?! I'm sure it was a cab as well, old model Passat. Had signwriting on the back of it but didn't catch it
LC926 said:
I don't know why they can't merge the traffic into the middle of the road, that way no one gets right of way. They can then cone you into which ever lane they wish.
There are a few places where this is the way the lanes merge (coincidentally, one is on the A303 near stonehenge), and it does indeed seem to make people behave normally (i.e. merging in turn), rather than as idiots.
I actually had a 'lane merge' experience yesterday. Both me and another car were in lane 2 approaching the merge (plenty of time) the car in lane 1 then proceeded to speed up to close up the gap so that both me and the other car couldn't merge.
I slowed down, so did they, so I then managed to speed up and merge in (still way before the merge), I then deliberately allowed the driver following me to merge in front.
Person behind was fuming.
I slowed down, so did they, so I then managed to speed up and merge in (still way before the merge), I then deliberately allowed the driver following me to merge in front.
Person behind was fuming.
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