I'm not holding my breath but anything is better than nothing!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/373088...m
|
|
Love the picture. But I fear the lane 2+3 jam and the empty lane 1 is more to do with the junction & filter that you can just see in the distance!
|
Never let the facts get in the way of a good picture....
Still, it should be interesting to see what the outcome of this latest waste of money, sorry, government initiative really is. That is of course if there is an outcome.
|
|
That photo is taken to the south of the exit for Meadowhall. The inside lane is dedicated to serve Meadowhall as the Tinsley Viaduct is currently reduced to two lanes whilst repairs are being carried out. I have been known to use the inside lane and then rejoin after the roundabout, where it's three lanes again.
|
|
|
|
From the BBC item.
Roads Minister David Jamieson said: "Poor lane discipline causes frustration to drivers and can disrupt the flow of traffic.
My response is that poorly maintained L/H lanes cause me frustration and my car to become uncomfortable to drive.
On certain parts of the motorways up to 100 miles from London I find that the L/H lane is badly worn. I dread to think what the rest of the network is like.
Although I do keep left most of the time I will continue to use one lane out where the road has these deep grooves.
Overall I obviously agree with the message but perhaps David Jamiesson should try some of these bad lanes and them we might get some action on fixing them.
|
|
However worthy, it's just another 'flavour of the month' govt. initiative (like the fat/salt/sugar thing) where they can spend millions with their friends in the media, then move on to something else.
|
|
|
>>I find that the L/H lane is badly worn>>
Most of it is caused by trucks, lorries etc.
I've often seen just left hand motorway lanes being repaired/resurfaced because of such damage.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What's for you won't pass you by
|
When does maintaining your speed in lane 2 (especially if you're doing 70mph AND there's a 3rd lane) become lane hogging rather than avoiding being trapped in a speed-limited 56 mph stream of lorries in lane 1?
Cheers, Sofa Spud
|
When there are lots of other people about and a long gap to the next lorry.
When will people realise that if you let cars out of lane 1 routinely, they might be willing to go back in until they catch up with the next lorry?
|
|
|
If there is a truly constant stream of traffic in lane 1 at 56mph then at 70mph by definition you are overtaking and have no reasonable option to go back into lane 1 without it becoming dangerous/disruptive so that isn't a problem. It is a matter of judgement what constitutes "constant stream" so any effort through signage to encourage drivers to think it through rather than simply think "I'm doing 70mph so there can be no problem" should be applauded.
I'd prefer spot fines for poor lane discipline personally.
|
"latest waste of money"
"'flavour of the month' govt. initiative (like the fat/salt/sugar thing) where they can spend millions "
Where does cost come into it? - aren't they using existing signs and just putting something useful on rather than leaving blank?
Anything that improves lane discipline and improves the flow of traffic on our overcrowded motorways is worth a try.
|
Anything that improves lane discipline and improves the flow of traffic on our overcrowded motorways is worth a try.
How about allowing overtaking on the nearside? Solves both.
Except we can't, because it isn't safe, because people don't expect you to, because it isn't legal, because it isn't safe, .... (please use copy & paste to complete this logic)
|
|
|
Lane hogging is even more of a problem where there is only 2 lanes on a motorway. My weekly commute to the office takes me from Newcastle to Stockton down the A1(M), which is largely only 2 lanes. The inside lane is generally filled with lorries and the outside lane is filled with everyone else but the outside lane only averages below 60mph.
It was made even worse this morning by some idiot in a 52 plate Audi Estate who was straddling the both lanes doing just under 60 with a gap in front to the traffic in front that you could get a galactic battlecruiser in. Further down the road somebody else in an Astra van persisted in doing a similar speed in the outside lane when both lanes were clear.
I usually end up leaving the motorway at Bradbury and going across the country roads as it's quicker.
On a related point do to with lane discipline, has the highway code / laws changed so that traffic joining from a slip road has priority over traffic already on the carriageway? As far as I know it hasn't but it seems to happen all the time.
|
|
In some places only having two lanes can encourage better lane discipline - when I drove regularly in the north east I found things much better as people were used to it and behaved sensibly. However, certain bits were the exception and one was the A1 Western Bypass which was pretty much like you say - people just didn't pull in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whilst I commend this initiative, a better solution would be to stop them at motorway services for a time equal to that they add onto everyone's journey. Same with delayed flights.
173 people sat on a plane waiting for some muppet to leave duty free, flight delayed by 10 minutes.
173 people x 10 minutes of their life wasted = 1730 mins
Actually, that comes to over 28 hours which seems a little harsh but I can't imagine they'd be late again for a flight if they were forced to wait that long even once... :-)
--
Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end
|
While I reserve some of the my more extreme and painful *imaginary* punishmments for those who cannot choose the correst lane to be in, perhaps there is an advantage to lane hogging behaviour.
If everyone were to obey the strict letter of the highway code, there would be many more lane change manouvres carried out. Although I don't have any figures or specialist knowledge, I imagine that a lot of motorway accidents may be caused during lane changes.
So, especially if the police were to close the motorway to investigate a resulting accident, people staying in the second lane may be saving us all a huge amount of time!
I still wish they would clear off into the LH lane though! :-)
number_cruncher
|
In my younger, more foolish days (5 weeks ago) I was driving down a dual carriageway at about 65ish - didn't know where I was and needed to keep my eye out for turnings - it was really early so no cars.
As it turned out, I got whisked onto a motorway (turned out to be the right way) but the outside lane was closed. I was behind a car which must have been doing less than 50 (my speedo was reading 52). It was so infuriating not being able to undertake so I'll admit, I was getting impatient. As soon as it opened up into 3 lanes again, I took off past the car. Perfect manuever - indicated etc.. but when I went past, he stuck a finger up - and it wasn't a thumbs up - then he flashed me. (headlights thankfully)
Before you go thinking, I kept my distance big time because from the way he drove, it looked like he'd had 6 too many.
--
Adam
|
|
|
|
