Driving/Highway Code question

Bluemeanie_2

Hello,

This isn't moneysaving but I can't find the answer anywhere else. It's quite hard to describe so please bear with me.

I'd like to know the rules/who's at fault in this situation.

I live in a city with loads of roads that have two lanes then filter into one, (quite sharply) or two into three etc using a large white curved arrow to indicate this. If you are queuing the first lane and people are coming up the side of you with the intention of "pushing in" do you "have" to break/slow down and let them in? If you didn't and they went in the side of you, would it be considered your fault for not automatically slowing down and allowing them in, or their fault for not indicating and waiting for an appropriate gap to filter in/change lanes?

This hasn't happened to me, by the way. I just witnessed an incident (not a crash) but the driver would let the person in and they both kept going, with the one trying to "push in" having to retreat as they were forced into the middle of the road.

I'm genuinely interested in the correct factual answer.

Thanks

Johno100

It should come down to mutual consideration for your fellow road user, but it is often the driver with the biggest cojones and willing to take a risk with the panels of their vehicle who gets to go first:D

ukpete79

my interpritation of that situation (I have delivery drivers in london all day so have experienced this personally) would be that the white arrow indicates 'filtering', and as such, the 'let one in' unwritten rule should apply.

id be interested to know if there is a specific protocol for using them, but I would say that if two cars have come into contact, then one or both drivers are at fault, if everyone just chilled out a bit and had more consideration for eachother, then london might run a bit smoother!

notanewuser

Bluemeanie wrote: »

Hello,

This isn't moneysaving but I can't find the answer anywhere else. It's quite hard to describe so please bear with me.

I'd like to know the rules/who's at fault in this situation.

I live in a city with loads of roads that have two lanes then filter into one, (quite sharply) or two into three etc using a large white curved arrow to indicate this. If you are queuing the first lane and people are coming up the side of you with the intention of "pushing in" do you "have" to break/slow down and let them in? If you didn't and they went in the side of you, would it be considered your fault for not automatically slowing down and allowing them in, or their fault for not indicating and waiting for an appropriate gap to filter in/change lanes?

This hasn't happened to me, by the way. I just witnessed an incident (not a crash) but the driver would let the person in and they both kept going, with the one trying to "push in" having to retreat as they were forced into the middle of the road.

I'm genuinely interested in the correct factual answer.

Thanks

Drivers should use the disappearing lane up to the point that it disappears, at which point drivers should merge in turn.

Same as when a lane disappears on the motorway (but most drivers get into the lane that's staying about 800 yards too early and then get narky when you use the lane past the 200 yard warning. )

Bluemeanie_2

So there is no clear answer? It's not black and white? I can understand why the person didn't want to let them in to a certain extent. They were very close to the second lane ending and had let one vehicle in and the driver of the other vehicle just kept coming up the side at the same speed even though there were only inches left of the second lane, so he was being a bit bullish. I really thought they were going to hit each other it got so close!

Bluemeanie_2

Thanks everyone.

4743hudsonj

I actually had an accident in this exact situation. Basically I was in the left lane. I let a car in from the right disappearing lane. The driver behind him wasn't getting anywhere with the car behind me so he decided to accelerate and push in front of me. As he was behind me and somewhat in my blind spot I didn't see it coming and he side swiped me.

He tried to claim I accelerated on purpose to block his merge ( I was accelerating but not to block him, just moving with stop start traffic).

The insurance companies found 100% in my favour with no witnesses on either side ( in hindsight I should have gotten a witness as it would have shortened the process.). Their reasoning being the curve arrow you described in his lane pointing towards mine. This indicated he had to give way and merge to my lane, I and every car behind me had right of way.

The road for reference is the A428 Bedford road in Northampton, westbound just after cliftonville road.

Now obviously the sensible thing is to allow alternative cars through but the irony is atleast with my example is the delay wouldn't exist at all If there was only one lane. All those cars fighting to merge cause the tailback that people try to avoid in first place.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Following these rules will reduce the likelihood of an incident:

Only assume that all other road users have not seen you and are not willing to give way whatever the road signs say or the road layouts are,
Disregard all drivers turn signals - they could be misleading,
Look out for motor bikes and push bikes,
Keep your distance as much as possible,
When traveling on roundabout assume that all other road users have tunnel vision and have no idea that another vehicle could be next to them as they cut in front of you,
Look out for motor bikes and push bikes,
Fit a dash camera

Its far better not to be involved in an incident than try and fight a claim even when you clearly are in the right....and when you get a non fault claim result you will end up paying more on car insurance for the next few years - tough.

If you are involved in a collision do buy a £20 pay and go sim card and give that to the third party insurers or you will get hounded for the next 6 years with no win no fee no injury claims company that will insist on calling/texting you 4 times a week to claim for non-existent whiplash.

Good luck !

AdrianC

From the Highway Code...

134
You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed.

4743hudsonj

Whilst I agree with foxy-stoat's advice, I do not agree that your premiums will (always) be affected. In my case declaring the increase had no affect on any quotes from any of the major providers.

I also never received a single personal injury call despite only ever dealing with the other parties insurers.

Maybe I was lucky.

Bluemeanie_2

4743hudsonj wrote: »

I actually had an accident in this exact situation. Basically I was in the left lane. I let a car in from the right disappearing lane. The driver behind him wasn't getting anywhere with the car behind me so he decided to accelerate and push in front of me. As he was behind me and somewhat in my blind spot I didn't see it coming and he side swiped me.

He tried to claim I accelerated on purpose to block his merge ( I was accelerating but not to block him, just moving with stop start traffic).

The insurance companies found 100% in my favour with no witnesses on either side ( in hindsight I should have gotten a witness as it would have shortened the process.). Their reasoning being the curve arrow you described in his lane pointing towards mine. This indicated he had to give way and merge to my lane, I and every car behind me had right of way.

The road for reference is the A428 Bedford road in Northampton, westbound just after cliftonville road.

Now obviously the sensible thing is to allow alternative cars through but the irony is atleast with my example is the delay wouldn't exist at all If there was only one lane. All those cars fighting to merge cause the tailback that people try to avoid in first place.

Thanks. That conclusive ness is what I was looking for. That's basically what happened here, except they didn't quite collide and I think she saw him she just wouldn't let him in for whatever reason. (I think the bullish way he tried to "push" in)

I agree I hate them. I try to drive assertively and economically so often just let people in to avoid an accident/incident/courtesy. I have always thought of it being the person in the first lanes "right of way" technically though. Hence my interest in the technically correct answer (Highway Code/insurance view).

Thanks for everyone's help.