Flashing blue lights: should I stop?

JimmyTheWig

I think I've realised part of the problem.

The OP was in a two lane stretch of road. They weren't overtaking anyone. They should have been in the left hand lane.
Unless they were in the right hand lane in order to turn right ahead. In which case they should have been indicating already.
If it was too early to be indicating, it was too early to be in the right hand lane.

No wonder the car behind was wary.

CWCDiver

I had someone do the self same thing to me about three days ago on my way into London from Hertford, I was in my car (black Audi) with the blues going headlights flashing and they were in a red Astra, maybe this is you OP?

The simple fact is most people do not seem to know what to do when they see an emergency vehicle, panic seems to be the first option...

In general I prefer that people carry on driving as normal and I will move around them.

Lum

This situation is not taught in driving lessons and is very unlikely to be encountered during a lesson or on the test.

Plenty of more experienced drivers out there who also don't have a clue what to do.

Can you really blame the OP for not knowing. They accepted they got it wrong and came here asking for advice on how to improve their driving for next time. Personally I see this as a good thing and the correct course of action, though a different forum, such as SafeSpeed, would likely have gotten more helpful responses.

Jakg

Lum wrote: »

We had the dual carriageway discussion quite recently too, in another {...} get a nice wave from the passenger as they shoot past at 70.

Did something similar recently... on a moderately busy single carraigeway I could see an ambulance on blue lights coming over the crest of a hill behind me (several cars between us). I could either pull up on the side of the road, and make the ambulance try to fight its way past me / into oncoming traffic, or I could just put my foot down and pull up in a bus stop about the same distance down the road as the ambulance was behind me.

I chose the latter... depressingly several vehicles overtook me blissfully unaware of what was behind them... even got a wave though.



On topic - if you really were a moment away from the start of the 3rd lane (which you intended to take), and were in the 2nd lane, I would of also gone for the 3rd lane (with a signal). I would think that having signalled your intent, and giving the driver 2 free lanes rather than one would allow the driver more confidence to make progress...

This of course assumes the car wanted to go straight over - if there was indication or road positioning saying otherwise I would of moved into the first lane.

6am

Thank you all for your comments and advice. It is much appreciated.

JimmyTheWig wrote:

The OP was in a two lane stretch of road. They weren't overtaking anyone. They should have been in the left hand lane.
Unless they were in the right hand lane in order to turn right ahead. In which case they should have been indicating already.
If it was too early to be indicating, it was too early to be in the right hand lane.

There is a roundband couple of hundred yards down the road after my right turn which leads to a busy dual carriageway. For that reason drivers start to position themselves much more early than my right turn. Those who would like to turn left at roundabout position themselves in the left lane. Those who would like to turn right at my junction or turn right farther down at the roundabout position themselves in the right lane. For that reason I was positioned in the right lane. I agree it was possible for me to be in the left lane at that time of the evening and then change two lanes as I approached my turn, however I believe my position was correct for maneuver I was going to do.

CWCDiver wrote:

I had someone do the self same thing to me about three days ago on my way into London from Hertford, I was in my car (black Audi) with the blues going headlights flashing and they were in a red Astra, maybe this is you OP?

No it was not me.

Lum wrote:

They accepted they got it wrong and came here asking for advice on how to improve their driving for next time.

Yes, that was a reason for the post. Thank you for understanding.

Lum

People who change lanes way way in advance of the roundabout really do wind me up. I can understand it on a congested road where you'd change just before the queue starts, but on an empty 30mph road there is no need to be changing lanes 300 yards before the roundabout.

JimmyTheWig

6am wrote: »

I agree it was possible for me to be in the left lane at that time of the evening and then change two lanes as I approached my turn, however I believe my position was correct for maneuver I was going to do.

My point isn't that you shouldn't have been there. Without knowing the junction (a Google maps link would help us all) I can't say.
My point is that if you were in the right hand lane because you were turning right, your manouver had started and you should have been indicating.

derrick

bigjl wrote: »

......Do feel free to point out these single carraigeways with two lanes in one direction that then widen into three lanes to have a right hand filter lane..........

Example one, scroll up and down, it occurs on both sides of the junction.

Example two, again scroll up and down, it occurs on both sides of the junction.

.

Lum

Example two is actually a dual carriageway to the north, but single to the south.

Example one is spot on though.

6am

Lum wrote: »

People who change lanes way way in advance of the roundabout really do wind me up. I can understand it on a congested road where you'd change just before the queue starts, but on an empty 30mph road there is no need to be changing lanes 300 yards before the roundabout.

It is usually congested when I drive here. It is not a long stretch of the road, it is a town centre with lots of turns, traffic lights and junctions. It will be a mess if drivers start to position themselves at the last opportunity. By positioning themselves early traffic flows smoothly through this network of turns, traffic lights and junctions. My usual routine is to position myself early in the right lane, drive through junctions and traffic lights, indicate right turn, change to the third lane, wait for traffic lights, then turn. In daylight there will be a lots of cars in the left lane, in front of me and behind. I do not think it will right for me to drive in the left lane through junctions and traffic lights because to change to the third lane I will need to go through the traffic in the right lane which will be difficult to do. I guess it was a habit to take the same position when the road was empty.