Merging lanes - hyperthetic question

prowla

Richard53 wrote: »

Only on roundabouts. And when sailing.

"Starboard!!!"

168

Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.

WTFH

prowla wrote: »

168

Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.

Except to get to 168, you have to read 167 (you can't pick and choose!)

167

DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example
...

• where the road narrows

prowla

WTFH wrote: »

Except to get to 168, you have to read 167 (you can't pick and choose!)

Sure, but 168 is specific, whereas 167 requires a judgement call in each particular instance.

WTFH

It does, but as a driver, I cannot control what another driver does, I can only observe and take action.

Also, if I am slowing down in the outside lane, is the other car accelerating or maintaining speed? It's hard to tell (without knowing the facts, not just the opinion from one side)
Had the other driver decided that there was not enough room in front of them for the car and so was making space behind?

The phrase "Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass" is not talking about letting them in infront, but preventing them from pulling out behind. 168 is also mainly to do with single carriageway roads, I believe.
Also, without knowing the exact circumstances, did the OP indicate, pull out and attempt to pass the other car, or were they just sitting in the outside lane all the time? What speed were the two lanes moving at? Could the OP have pulled in safely sooner? Had the OP and this other car been following each other (in any order) for some time?

jase1

As with all driving, some logical deduction and spacial awareness is required.

Things such as; how fast is your car compared with the other one, how much road do you have left, are you able to safely maintain a position on the wrong side of the road should push come to shove.

Nothing morally wrong with booting it to get past a baulker (within the speed limits of course), but if you'll run out of road, or you're in a Fiesta and they have a Jag, use your common sense.

prowla

The words to 168 and 167 are written in plain language; 168 does not say depending upon your relative speeds; it simply states that the driver being overtaken should give way. And overtaking applies to both single and multiple lane roads.

I think that the defensive driving comment from someone earlier makes sense; if I'd been in the left lane, I might've taken it upon myself to control what the other driver did by either (a) casually wandered across the line to ensure nobody did try and go past me, or (b) made sure there wasn't a gap in front of me for a car to think they might be able to pass me and pull into.

zappahey

WTFH wrote: »

The phrase "Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass" is not talking about letting them in infront, but preventing them from pulling out behind. 168 is also mainly to do with single carriageway roads, I believe.

You seem to be adding a personal interpretation to what the highway code actually says. It doesn't specify during which particular point in the overtake you should not obstruct nor on which type of road so it's reasonable to assume it applies anytime and anywhere.

The whole event is probably just another instance of drivers been unable to deal with the idea of merging in turn when the road narrows.

WTFH

prowla wrote: »

The words to 168 and 167 are written in plain language; 168 does not say depending upon your relative speeds; it simply states that the driver being overtaken should give way. And overtaking applies to both single and multiple lane roads.

I wasn't talking about relative speeds, but about perception. If I am slowing down, can I tell whether the car beside me is speeding up slightly or maintaining the same speed?

WTFH

zappahey wrote: »

You seem to be adding a personal interpretation to what the highway code actually says. It doesn't specify during which particular point in the overtake you should not obstruct...

Gramatically speaking, it DOES specify, no personal interpretation necessary.
If it said "Never obstruct drivers when they are passing" or "Never obstruct drivers once they have started to pass" then that would mean something different to "Never obstruct drivers who WISH to pass" They have not begun the manoeuvre, but they are wishing to do so.

forgotmyname

Maybe the traffic to the left just happened to start speeding up as the OP decided to overtake and totally misjudged the situation?

So the driver didnt speed up to block them, He sped up because the traffic and road conditions changed.
OP failed to observe the road ahead.

I had a similar issue some time back, But on the motorway.

Heavy traffic in a section of roadworks. Cars all bunched up as we approached an exit. Barely more than a car length between most cars. I had a slightly bigger gap as the vehicle ahead was a large HGV.
Car overtook me and pulled in so close to the HGV i thought he was trying to clean his headlights on the lorry.
As the exit approached the car in front failed to take the slip. I think OK he is either a !!!! or omnthe phone thats why he took the left lane.

I take the slip and accelerate. Screech of brakes and mr !!!! did want to take the slip afterall but decided he wanted to take some cones with him.

He had pulled in so close to the lorry he couldnt actually see the slip road. Only spotting it as i passed him to the left. Then he obviously thought oh..s..
I want that slip road. Then the cones started.

Dont tailgate large HGV's.

I probably shouldnt have accelerated up the slip. But had i not, I may have been in an accident caused by their stupidity. He probably wouldnt have noticed the slip until well into the cones then slammed his brakes on as he did. Then i would have had to brake sharply and the car behind that with another HGV behind them.