Worried

anewman

iolanthe07 wrote: »

OP - are you displaying the green 'P' plate for new drivers? They're a good idea and people will understand that you are inexperienced and make allowances.

There's some discussion on these on https://www.2pass.co.uk forums. Some people seem to think the P plates attract impatient drivers and make the driving experience worse for someone who has just passed.

Other unexpected things can happen on the motorway. Something that's happened to me and I have seen happen to someone else is a lorry is on the inside lane and you're overtaking the lorry, being in the middle lane. The lorry starts moving out and *then* put the indicators on whilst a car is at the side of them overtaking fast in the next lane (I am sure OP knows the correct procedure is Mirror Signal Manouevere - and that with that procedure the lorry driver could have avoided causing any problems). Luckily for me the next lane was empty. Unluckily for the other person I saw it happen to they had to slam on the brakes and horn as there was no way out of it.

Also be prepared for the day you end up on an NSL dual carriageway going uphill in the outside lane with a nice view of two lorries, the one in the outside lane taking 10 minutes to overtake the other holding traffic up behind it.

Other things to watch out for are in the outside lane (where most accidents occur), even if you're doing 80 you'll relatively often end up with BMW's and Porsche's etc admiring your back side. And when pulling back in look out for anyone pulling out as well as ensuring the lane is clear.

thescouselander

Quietgirl wrote: »

Hi There,

I am a new driver, past my test a month ago. I like to think I am a careful driver. I am 35 so not a young girl racer.

On sunday, I went on the motorway for the first time. I took my daughter to the seaside. On the way home, I was on the slip road to join the motorway, I was indicating to pull out onto the motorway. However, it was busy and this lorry would not move into the next lane to let me in. In the end I ended up running out of road. In my mind I thought well I can't stop, and then join the motorway, I can't pull out as that would cause and accident. So instead, I foolishly went onto the hard shoulder, accelorated and pulled out in front of this lorry. Perhaps I should have stopped on the hard shoulder instead. I don't know, unfortunately being a new driver I have yet to get the experience in how to deal with this sort of situation.

Now I am worried if there was CCTV on the motorway, or if there was a police car around that I might get a letter to prosecute me for this.

What should I have done ?

Am I the only one who is horrified at this manouvre? Not only did the OP mess up on the slip road and go onto the hard shoulder they then made things worse by accelerating and undertaking the lorry while still on the hard shoulder!

I have actually seen a similar thing happen before and I can tell you that is spooks other drivers on the motorway because you cant predict what the inexperianced driver will do next.

Please, for safety's sake, get someone to teach you how to drive on the motorway properly before you get involved in an accident.

I've always thought the motorway driving should be part of the test and I think this incident shows why this is needed. I'm not having a go or anything - I just think that people should get some form of instruction before being alowed on the motorway.

Hintza

The OP was in a mess and I think she did the best and safest thing she could in the circumstances.

terryw

Conor wrote: »

Why, because when the lorry had the right of way, it didn't move over to L2 which it may have not been able to do because a car was at the side of it or it would have meant carving up someone already in L2?

As for inconsideration, you wanna spend a day out in a lorry and then you'll see just exactly who is on the receiving end of the most inconsideration. Hell, you lot manage to be inconsiderate even when you're parked.

Conor, I agree with the point that you are putting forward but I am always wary of using the expression "right of way". I far prefer the expression "have priority if it is safe to do so". The graveyards of England are full of people who had the right of way!

best wishes

terryw

thescouselander

Hintza wrote: »

The OP was in a mess and I think she did the best and safest thing she could in the circumstances.

I disagree. The safest thing would have been to slow down a bit, let the lorry pass and get onto the motorway behind the lorry. Undertaking on the hard shoulder was not the safest thing to do IMHO. For one thing, there is often a lot of debris on the hard shoulder and the last thing you want to do it his any of it at speed. If the OP had slowed down a bit she would have covered less distance on the hard shoulder minimising the risk of hitting anything.

Keith

I think the OP should go back to their driving school, many now offer lessons for after you have passed which include time on the motorway.

asea

Hintza wrote: »

The OP was in a mess and I think she did the best and safest thing she could in the circumstances.

My understanding was that the OP was a mess, did the worst & most unsafe thing in the circumstances - she's just lucky something terrible didn't happen

mymatebob

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclonebri1
Just a few observations and advice, some good advice given already and some not so good, and some just plain offensive..

As said most experienced drivers will move to the 2nd lane if slower traffic is entering a quiet motorway. They don't have to, and dont ever expect a HGV to do so as they cannot change direction and speed anything like as easily as lighter traffic.
You must use the slipway to match your speed to that of the motorway traffic. Get to a speed where you can either speed up or slow to fit into the first suitably sized gap in the traffic.

DO NOT STOP on the slipway, unless you cannot join the main carriageway - don't use the hard shoulder unless it is an emergency, you will be putting yourself and anyone behind you in great danger as they will also be paying more attention looking over there shoulders or in the mirror. This is why motorways are for experienced drivers only.Since when? And how experienced do you have to be?

Get an experienced driver in the car with you and practise a few on/offs on a local motorway between a couple of close junctions.

Lastly don't worry, it will all become automatic very soon:money:

As they say once you pass your test you then learn how to drive.

There was an accident on the Motorway near me yesterday and the police had to put out a warning on the radio for people to stop using the hard shoulder to avoid it. There were, on this occasion, CCTV cameras at the scene and everyone who had gone on the shoulder was told to expect a fine in the post. I am sure the OP will be okay and has learned from the experience

Bob if you are going to quote someone please dont alter what they said, and to answer your point about why are motorways for experienced drivers I mean that learners are prohibited from them not because of the greater danger,(they are statistically safer), but because of the higher speeds that they are unlikely to have experienced

Apologies - the bits in red were mine - a technique I have often used and seen used when quoting to show that the original has been added to. Sorry if that was not clear.

And you can pass your test and 5 minutes later be on the motorway so you may like to think they are for experienced drivers but they are for people who have passed a test - that's it.

Hintza

asea wrote: »

My understanding was that the OP was a mess, did the worst & most unsafe thing in the circumstances - she's just lucky something terrible didn't happen

If you read my first thread then you will see I covered that. I think stopping on slip road where the traffic behind is potentially doing 70mph is far more dangerous.

It doesn't really matter now it is history and the OP will have learn't a lesson and I am sure will be a lot more confident the next time.

We were all new drivers once and it does take a while to build up confidence.

Badger_Lady

OP, yes you messed up a bit but you got there in the end - I assume you weren't on the hard shoulder for long and you safely got onto the motorway. You'll find it gets easier with practice.

I was lucky - most of my driving lessons were on major dual carriageways with sliproads, so I had no problem with motorways - but a lot of new drivers won't have this experience when they first start to drive unsupervised.

As has already been pointed out, you didn't have to get ahead of the Lorry (though I can understand that in your situation, taking nerves into account, it would have seemed as though you did). You will gradually get used to judging the speed of those around you and "filtering" in, whether that's by speeding up or slowing down.

And to all those who suggested stopping at the end of a sliproad next to a busy motorway, how do you propose getting onto the main carriageway from your new stationary position???