How not to join a motorway!

aileth

NeededToChooseAUsername wrote: »

And what if they don't, as in this situation?

You crash? :A

JustinR1979

Generali wrote: »

The Highway Code tells you to maintain your speed if someone overtakes you in that situation. They should brake and pull in behind you.

Half the problem in situations is when drivers think they know best and use their judgement/drive unpredictability.

I'm sure it says to ease off to help them pass if need be.
In any situation you have to think of the safest course of action as the answer.
I've not cheated and checked, so go check and pull me up on it if I'm wrong

jc808

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I must admit that as I have always driven small, low-powered cars (well, up to now when I've borrowed OH's!) I've sometimes been a little nervy of joining big motorways, but I'm also sensible enough to know how to do it PROPERLY.

Y'know, looking for a gap and squaring up to it and moving into it at the right speed...and if I need to speed up or slow down for a gap, I do.

I wonder whether more driving lessons should be devoted to joining/leaving dual carriageways. I think I got to do it three or four times in the few months I took to pass, and then once on my test.

HBS x

I think some people just dont know how to use gears... uphill in a 1 litre engine, 5th gear, 50 MPH, foot on floor... youre going to be slowing down, not speeding up!!

JustinR1979

jc808 wrote: »

I think some people just dont know how to use gears... uphill in a 1 litre engine, 5th gear, 50 MPH, foot on floor... youre going to be slowing down, not speeding up!!

Not in a Daihatsu Charade Gt-ti

Retrogamer

When i done my driving lessons (in regards to people coming off slip roads) i was told not to change my speed.
I was advised not to slow down or speed up as it's the other drivers responsibility to give way and join from the slip road safely.
The reason given is if i speed up or slow down, it might cause confusion with the other driver.
The only think we were told is be prepared to overtake if they pull out in front of you.

The same way, when joining roads from slip roads we were told to get the vehicle up to speed so it's easier to join the flow of traffic.

Despite the above, i still get idiots slowing down trying to let me out slip roads, but i'm already slowing down trying to pull in behind them. I ended up running out of slip road once and stopped, and the vehicle already on the motorway had stopped as well. Idiots.
It's probably the same idiots that try and come off slip roads at 30mph to 70mph limits.

sh0597

I think the lorry could have left a bigger gap. This would likely have prevented the accident.

sh0597

Retrogamer wrote: »

When i done my driving lessons (in regards to people coming off slip roads) i was told not to change my speed.
I was advised not to slow down or speed up as it's the other drivers responsibility to give way and join from the slip road safely.
The reason given is if i speed up or slow down, it might cause confusion with the other driver.
The only think we were told is be prepared to overtake if they pull out in front of you.

The same way, when joining roads from slip roads we were told to get the vehicle up to speed so it's easier to join the flow of traffic.

Despite the above, i still get idiots slowing down trying to let me out slip roads, but i'm already slowing down trying to pull in behind them. I ended up running out of slip road once and stopped, and the vehicle already on the motorway had stopped as well. Idiots.
It's probably the same idiots that try and come off slip roads at 30mph to 70mph limits.

It's better to move over if the road is clear or at least leave a bigger gap to the car in front.


As for joining, are you sure you are making your intentions clear? People are possibly thinking you will drive into them.

JustinR1979

Lorry had a 1 second gap. Maybe he had closed this gap to allow more space to join behind.
Or to prevent people compromising his 2 second gap by barging in there.


If you're supposed to drive with a 2 second gap, why would you join with a 0.1 second gap to 44 tonne of death.
You have to be in charge of your own safety, not rely on some stranger in a vehicle that could kill you without trying, is just mindless.

Retrogamer

sh0597 wrote: »

It's better to move over if the road is clear or at least leave a bigger gap to the car in front.

Possibly, but that's not how i was taught in my lessons

sh0597 wrote: »

As for joining, are you sure you are making your intentions clear? People are possibly thinking you will drive into them.

I'll try and get up to speed joining from a slip road. I'll be indicating i want to pull out as well.
It usually happens if i'm slightly in front of a car already on the motorway or directly beside it. I realise i can't get in front of them in time, so i slow down to pull behind them.
This is when i realise they're also slowing down because they think it's helping, but it's really making things worse

Horizon81

jc808 wrote: »

I think some people just dont know how to use gears... uphill in a 1 litre engine, 5th gear, 50 MPH, foot on floor... youre going to be slowing down, not speeding up!!

This is spot on. There's a steep hill near me and at least half of the time you're travelling along at the speed limit (NSL), maintaining your speed up the hill only to have to slow down to almost standstill as you approach the top due to someone in a little hatchback (that's more than capable of maintaining the speed all the way up and over the hill if the gears are used correctly) who just leaves teh car in top gear while the speed just drops off and off till they're doing 20mph. Some people will never learn.