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Motorway driving
Comments
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its suprising how many people forget the First Rule of the Road in the UK:
Drive on the Left.
As the hard shoulder is for stopping and emergencies only, then the normal lane to drive in is Lane one, the other overtaking lanes are supposed to be there for that reason only - overtaking, and once the overtake is completed then you are supposed to return to the left lane.
As any overtake is usually completed like this then there may be no real need to indicate, especially if it would be of no use to another road user, or cause confusion.
If though for example it would be of use, ie moving inbetween vehicles due to wanting to move out of an overtaking lane (blue lights approaching requiring you to move out of the way). then of course give the signal.
Leaving the motorway is more or less the same as turning off a main road, and on a motorway it is usually of good use to those following you to know that you are planning to leave (which is why, at motorway speeds its a good idea to start the signal as you pass the 300yard (III) marker to help people plan for their own progress).Don't try to teach a pig to sing - it wastes your time and annoys the pig0 -
its suprising how many people forget the First Rule of the Road in the UK:
Drive on the Left.
As the hard shoulder is for stopping and emergencies only, then the normal lane to drive in is Lane one, the other overtaking lanes are supposed to be there for that reason only - overtaking, and once the overtake is completed then you are supposed to return to the left lane.
As any overtake is usually completed like this then there may be no real need to indicate, especially if it would be of no use to another road user, or cause confusion.
If though for example it would be of use, ie moving inbetween vehicles due to wanting to move out of an overtaking lane (blue lights approaching requiring you to move out of the way). then of course give the signal.
Leaving the motorway is more or less the same as turning off a main road, and on a motorway it is usually of good use to those following you to know that you are planning to leave (which is why, at motorway speeds its a good idea to start the signal as you pass the 300yard (III) marker to help people plan for their own progress).
And that is the important thing here, most people won't make the assumption that the overtaking driver will return to lane one. Therefore, it is probably best to signal. Personally, I can't see what harm it does. If a car is returning to lane one, I find it helpful to know when.
(It may not be the first rule, but nonetheless an important one
) The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark0 -
So you know better than your instructor?
Nah, don't be daft.
Or maybe I do? Perhaps, because I'm a muppet, I can better predict what some muppetty other driver might do? It's a distinct possibility..:p
Anyway, nah. I emboldened the "I do" part because I'm not trying to sit on the fence, I do indicate to pull back into lane 1, as I say, not to finish an overtake, but if I'm cruising along & decide for whatever reason to move to the left.
*EDIT* To be fair, I ought to add "when there are other drivers nearby", but yeah that's kind of self-explanatory)
Of course I can understand the reasons why the rules don't state it as mandatory, and so strictly speaking I'm on the side of those who say "no", because I know they're *right*.
However, I see so many drivers, bikes & lorries undertake whenever it suits them (I'm sure I have done too in the past, no halo here), and so many drivers *do* indicate back into the left, that in many situations it's easier to fit into the rules everyone else is playing by, even if they're not strictly the correct rules..
You know?
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And that is the important thing here, most people won't make the assumption that the overtaking driver will return to lane one. Therefore, it is probably best to signal. Personally, I can't see what harm it does. If a car is returning to lane one, I find it helpful to know when.
(It may not be the first rule, but nonetheless an important one)
Why?, if they have overtaken you safely and returned to their normal driving lane, they are not a problem to you.
Drivers on " Auto -Pilot " cause me concern, because they clearly do not really know why they are signalling.0 -
Lane 1 is the one you're meant to be in. Treat it the same as overtaking on a normal 2 lane road, indicate to move out, not to move back in, that's where you're meant to be, as others have said.
BUT (and there's always a but, these arguments come up because people try to have solid rules, whereas driving on the road is not a solid situation) I can recall doing a test to become a driving examiner, and was on a dual carraigeway with a 40 limit, not a motorway. I overtook, and indicated, then found myself behind something slow in the outside lane (may have pulled out, can't remember), so I had to move in slightly sooner than expected (no cutting up!!) - as I was moving back into lane 1, and I was under test, I took the decision not to indicate. After the test the examiner was of the opinion that I should have indicated 'because it would have benefited the person behind' (the one who had just been overtaken). I agree with this - generally, you don't indicate to 'move back in' on any type of road, unless you think you need to give out that information, which is usually in a 'traffic' situation.
The overtake was either correctly executed or it wasn't.
If it was then no indication required upon pulling back in as it benefits no-one.
If it wasn't then the examiner should have failed the student.
Not surprising drivers don't know when to indicate if the examiners don't have a clue.0 -
Why?, if they have overtaken you safely and returned to their normal driving lane, they are not a problem to you.
Drivers on " Auto -Pilot " cause me concern, because they clearly do not really know why they are signalling.
The trouble is, so many drivers do not return to lane one immediatley after completing an overtaking manoeuvre. They may wait a while to do so, at which time the assumption may be made that they are not going to bother at all, then all of a sudden they switch lanes.The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark0 -
Motorways in germany are far the best.0
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DirectDebacle wrote: »The overtake was either correctly executed or it wasn't.
If it was then no indication required upon pulling back in as it benefits no-one.
If it wasn't then the examiner should have failed the student.
Not surprising drivers don't know when to indicate if the examiners don't have a clue.
I am sure they do, they are after all employed by the Driving Standards Agency, they set the standards.0 -
The trouble is, so many drivers do not return to lane one immediatley after completing an overtaking manoeuvre. They may wait a while to do so, at which time the assumption may be made that they are not going to bother at all, then all of a sudden they switch lanes.
As long as they don't cut in, what difference is that going to make?0
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