Slip roads onto dual carriageways.....

madjay

It is up to the vehicle joining the carriageway / Motorway to adjust his speed and timing so that he shouldn't need to stop or cause any vehicle on the carriageway / motorway to take avoiding action.

jase1

andygb wrote: »

Very often this situation is caused by selfish motorists who do not move to the right lane when people are trying to merge.

It is not incumbent on motorists to move to an overtaking lane to compensate for drivers who are unwilling to match speed (if unable to, say in the case of trucks, common sense applies obviously).

However, it is incumbent on drivers on the motorway to keep maintain safe stopping distances, and to increase these as necessary to accommodate other drivers -- if everyone did this there would be no problem with anyone joining the carriageway.

andygb

jase1 wrote: »

It is not incumbent on motorists to move to an overtaking lane to compensate for drivers who are unwilling to match speed (if unable to, say in the case of trucks, common sense applies obviously).

It is just this sort of selfish attitude which causes problems.
Guess what, I move into the outside lane, if I spot someone trying to merge, and the road behind me is clear.
I also say good morning to my neighbours, even though I don't have to - because it is not INCUMBENT on me to do so.
I also say thank you to shop staff when they serve me - even though it is not INCUMBENT on me to do so.
I also see certain people who cannot be bothered to say hello or thank you, and I assume that they are the selfish ones who believe that it is not INCUMBENT on them to do so.

jase1

andygb wrote: »

It is just this sort of selfish attitude which causes problems.
Guess what, I move into the outside lane, if I spot someone trying to merge, and the road behind me is clear.

And if the road isn't clear?

Define 'clear' in this context; would you move out if it meant someone else had to slow down?

To reiterate: moving into an overtaking lane when you are not overtaking is a courtesy only, and is not something the driver joining the motorway should be relying on. If that courtesy inconveniences other road users it should not be implemented.

almillar

Poor Strider! He's right, she shouldn't have been stopped on a slip road. But then, he forgot to look in front of him. Use your side mirror Strider. Just because things aren't allowed to happen, doesn't mean they don't. What if her car was broken down. She stopped in a bad place, but maybe she couldn't help it.
Expect the unexpected. But unfortunately some numpty not knowing how to slip, isn't that unexpected!

pinkteapot

If you lived here in Essex you'd have just carried on (probably at much more than 40), joined the road while she was still stationery by crossing the hatched bit, and then blared your horn at her.

As an aside, there are several junctions at the north end of the A12 that are from minor roads and are effectively a left-turn onto the busy dual carriageway. The Highways Agency have tried to be helpful and build what slip-roads they can, but they're often only a couple of car-lengths long and follow a sharp 90 degree turn. Pretty common to find cars stopped and waiting to join. Didn't think it was illegal.

Best slip road behaviour I've seen in recent months was someone reversing back down a motorway exit sliproad, presumably after realising they'd taken the wrong exit. :eek:

andygb

pinkteapot wrote: »

Best slip road behaviour I've seen in recent months was someone reversing back down a motorway exit sliproad, presumably after realising they'd taken the wrong exit. :eek:

A close relative did that years ago, when my family was in the car. This was before I had passed my car test (I had a full bike licence), and I gave him a right earful.
Unfortunately, my dad and sis both took his side:(
Stupidity is sometimes contagious.;)

Cornucopia

pinkteapot wrote: »

Didn't think it was illegal.

It isn't. The OP is wrong, and their behaviour was potentially dangerous.

andygb

jase1 wrote: »

And if the road isn't clear?

Define 'clear' in this context; would you move out if it meant someone else had to slow down?

I think that the meaning of "clear" is obvious - not impeding another road user's progress.;)

Cornucopia

Whenever you manoeuvre your vehicle on the roads, you should do so without causing inconvenience to other road users - this is basic Highway Code stuff.

In this case inconvenience amounts to causing someone else to have to slow down or change direction.

In practice, there are certain occasions where there is misjudgement, but these should be kept to a minimum.