Merging lanes - hyperthetic question

prowla

WTFH wrote: »

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?

I hope so!

(Whether it is moving ahead of you or falling back should be a pretty good indication...)

zappahey

WTFH wrote: »

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.

Do they stop wishing to pass once they start the manoeuvre? That would be quite bizarre. I've moved out, I've started to accelerate but I don't fancy it any more.

prowla

WTFH wrote: »

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.

You are playing with words, and rather badly; "who wish to pass" covers all points until they have completed the manoeuvre and actually passed, and thereby achieved their "wish"; up until then they still "wish to" pass (and are demonstrating that fact by engaging in the overtake).

anotherbaldrick

The situation as it often plays out in the real world is that the average thinking driver has noted the advisory sign and adjusted his speed and position to be in line comfortably before the pinch point. There are, unfortunately a fair number of planks, who steam down the outside lane to try and get as far up the line as they can before cut off point. These get up peoples noses it is not unusual for HGV drivers to put a blocker in by straddling the middle of the lanes as they approach

arcon5

Rodney_Trotter wrote: »

167 fail by the op

Hypothetically of course

I don't see how 167 applies, there was no overtaking happening. I had always been ahead in lane 2 of this girl.


If it applies then look at 168

EDIT: just seen this 167/168 discussion is already taking place.

almillar

If it really is a permanent two lanes into one, then the car behind, on the left, is clearly in the wrong. This has been covered on the forum before.
If the OP had flown up the outside lane you could understand the other person's annoyance, but if OP was in the outside, then she should have let him be.
In a merge, no-one has right of way - left and right lane have to give way to each other. In Germany, it's LAW for one from the left, one from the right, one from the left, to go through - the zipper system. It's a really good idea (but not a legal requirement) to use it here - it's the best way to keep the traffic moving when losing a lane, without the hesitation and stopping that can flow back down a queue and add to tailbacks.
And if it's a queue you're joining to merge, please use BOTH lanes. As in, join the shortest queue. You're not bunking the queue, you're shortening it's length. If everyone is going one at a time at the front, everyone will take the same time to get through.

WTFH

arcon5 wrote: »

I don't see how 167 applies, there was no overtaking happening. I had always been ahead in lane 2 of this girl.


If it applies then look at 168

EDIT: just seen this 167/168 discussion is already taking place.

If you were always ahead, why didn't you pull in earlier?

WTFH

zappahey wrote: »

Do they stop wishing to pass once they start the manoeuvre? That would be quite bizarre. I've moved out, I've started to accelerate but I don't fancy it any more.

Actually, that happens in the real world.
You pull out when it's safe to, check that it is still safe to overtake, then pull along side and pass.
If the law was that the person on the inside had to slow down as soon as the other person started to pull out, then more accidents would happen.

zappahey

WTFH wrote: »

If the law was that the person on the inside had to slow down as soon as the other person started to pull out, then more accidents would happen.

And where was it suggested that that is, or should be the law? I think you need to go back and read rule 168 again and give up on the straw man arguments.

WTFH

OK, maybe I misread rule 168, but when it says
"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."

Does that not mean you are supposed to slow down if necessary to let the other vehicle pass?