|
heading north on the M74 on Saturday in very light traffic. I'm in lane 1 doing 70 (honest....) up ahead are two old Volvo estates (one white, one green) in lane 2 doing 65 ish. Just as I'm about to head over to lane 3 to overtake, they both indicate left and move to lane 1, so I overtake in lane 2. Once I'm past and in lane 1 they both move back into lane 2 again - odd or what???
|
|
Odd indeed... Nice that you weren't inconvenienced, though. Shows usage of rear-view mirrors; odd again!
|
|
|
well not really. I dont know the m74, so it might not apply. But there are sections of motorway where "stuff" can appear from the side. On a rural motorway it can be game, or farmed animals, or on an urban motorway it could be supermarket trolleys or lumps of concrete or debris
Now if the motorway is empty, there is no point in not giving yourself some leeway and safety margins (specially at night) as long as when you are approached from the rear you pull inside in good time.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
The fact that they acted in unison suggests they were travelling together - perhaps an enthusiast picking up a new purchase and being followed home by his assistant, unfamiliar with the road?
In those circumstances people try and stay close together (fear of getting lost, unknown car needing help) and make exaggerated moves to indicate that the one in front is going to turn off, or stay on the road. If there had perhaps been a left filter somewhere even miles ahead, where the left hand lane led off the motorway, cautious people might stay in the middle well in advance, but then politely move over when someone else approached.
I don't know the road, I'm just trying to think of some explanation that fits, but I do know that situation quite well (and in an old Volvo estate, as it happens).
|
|
I'm sure they were together too, yes it's nice to know they were using their mirrors. For the record it was a wide open stretch of rural motorway, flat fields to both sides with no animals in sight with three full lanes for the next 100 miles. Certainly better than the bright yellow old style Punto doing 55 I had to do a 1-2-3-2-1 lane change to get round previously, driver with hands at 10to2 staring straight ahead obliviously.
|
|
|
|
well not really. I dont know the m74 so it might not apply. But there are sections of motorway where "stuff" can appear from the side. On a rural motorway it can be game or farmed animals or on an urban motorway it could be supermarket trolleys or lumps of concrete or debris
I know the M74, well at least as far as Hamilton and have yet to encounter anything other than other road users driving normally, in what I must say is a very picturesque location. But your comment is at once intriguing.
"Stuff can appear from the side"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do tell.
|
|
|
|
Tramlines on inside lane? My Omega is a nightmare on such a road, perhaps old Volvos are the same.
--
Alyn Beattie
I\'m sane, it\'s the rest of the world that\'s mad.
|
Yes valid, some motorways are so badly rutted by trucks its not comfortable.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
Yeah I have mentioned that in the past as well, I hate middle lane hoggers. However, in the last couple of weeks done a lot of driving in very wet conditions and definitely find the middle lane to be the drier, with the camber always sloping to either the inside or outside lane (obviously).
However inside lane can also be very heavily rutted by HGVs causing either very bad flooding or at least surplus surface water.
--
2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS
|
We were driving up the M1 a few weeks ago at about 3 in the morning - BiL driving - stuck in the middle lane but very little other traffic.
Got pulled by the coppers and serve him right IMO.
He thought they were just being awkward as no-one else on the road - but my view is - all the more reason to stay in lane 1.
I reckon we must lose about 25%+ capacity on our roads because of idiots not using the correct lane discipline.
|
Rules 238 - 242 in the highway code cover lane discipline and overtaking. They have the highway code on internets now:
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/23.htm
238: You should drive in the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower moving vehicles it may be safer to remain in the centre or outer lanes until the manoeuvre is completed rather than continually changing lanes. Return to the left-hand lane once you have overtaken all the vehicles or if you are delaying traffic behind you. Slow moving or speed restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by signs.
MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a) & MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a)
241: Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe to do so.
Overtake only on the right. You should
* check your mirrors
* take time to judge the speeds correctly
* make sure that the lane you will be joining is sufficiently clear ahead and behind
* take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot area to verify the position of a vehicle that may have disappeared from your view in the mirror
* remember that traffic may be coming up behind you very quickly. Check your mirrors carefully. When it is safe to do so, signal in plenty of time, then move out
* ensure you do not cut in on the vehicle you have overtaken
* be especially careful at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance.
242: Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.
|
|
|
On a deserted motorway during darkness, my experience is that the middle lane is far safer as any hazards are more likely to be by the edges of the carriageway.
But, I suppose, Plod knows best.
--
e Prôf - Another Recycled Teenager
|
On a deserted motorway during darkness my experience is that the middle lane is far safer as any hazards are more likely to be by the edges of the carriageway.But I suppose Plod knows best.
i'd thoroughly agree, but in the case quoted the motorway wasn't empty when the (police) car approached from behind and they didn't move over, which the driver could easily have done
....that's the problem bit...not driving down the middle on an empty m/way
i often do it, as debris etc can be difficult to spot at night and is more liklely to be in the nearside lane.......but if someone catches me up, i pull left again........it's fairly easy really and i don't think the traffic cops were awkward at all, they were trying to educate someone into driving properly and complying with the law...which is what they're paid to do is it not...Pendlebury didn't mention his b-i-l was reported for it, either
|
|
|
|
|
|
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/50317e11790e78d451cd7ea1034db948/945052e3f5e296502220368946402172.jpg)
£14,662was £14,989Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/3541ab6c55c241daa536e7011376e00a/2ade89a4638733a7b49c56a4ed052ac8.jpg)
£18,340was £19,200Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/1a7d4474b17676684a348cdd448c4b92/08bb122aa412bc7f4fd14d51efe0f7ec.jpg)
£29,937was £30,619Details![2023 BMW 1 Series 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]](https://img.common.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/unsafe/trim/90x60/smart/filters:quality(70):no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/8f880fcabd37557d908c28a4d66bdb53/3fbad8b2291927dfff4a517b10b43a88.jpg)
£20,252was £20,915Details