Driving Etiquette Question.
Discussion
Quick scenario:
I am traveling in L1 at 70mph on the motorway. Its the middle of the night, nice and quiet. No other drivers in sight. As I draw along side a slip road another vehicle emerges and is traveling down the slip road adjacent to me. I realize that we will crash if we both continue our paths.
Now of course I will move over to allow us both to continue safely and with minimum disruption. But is it too much for the other guy to signal? It may be obvious where he/she wants to go (i.e. onto the motorway) but surely correct etiquette suggests signaling as if to say:
''Hello, I am here. Please consider moving over to L2 so we both may continue safely etc.''
For all the other person knows I may be a complete idiot and just continue cruising down L1 in my own world.
thoughts, comments?
I am traveling in L1 at 70mph on the motorway. Its the middle of the night, nice and quiet. No other drivers in sight. As I draw along side a slip road another vehicle emerges and is traveling down the slip road adjacent to me. I realize that we will crash if we both continue our paths.
Now of course I will move over to allow us both to continue safely and with minimum disruption. But is it too much for the other guy to signal? It may be obvious where he/she wants to go (i.e. onto the motorway) but surely correct etiquette suggests signaling as if to say:
''Hello, I am here. Please consider moving over to L2 so we both may continue safely etc.''
For all the other person knows I may be a complete idiot and just continue cruising down L1 in my own world.
thoughts, comments?
Mike V said:
Quick scenario:
I am traveling in L1 at 70mph on the motorway. Its the middle of the night, nice and quiet. No other drivers in sight. As I draw along side a slip road another vehicle emerges and is traveling down the slip road adjacent to me. I realize that we will crash if we both continue our paths.
Now of course I will move over to allow us both to continue safely and with minimum disruption. But is it too much for the other guy to signal? It may be obvious where he/she wants to go (i.e. onto the motorway) but surely correct etiquette suggests signaling as if to say:
''Hello, I am here. Please consider moving over to L2 so we both may continue safely etc.''
For all the other person knows I may be a complete idiot and just continue cruising down L1 in my own world.
thoughts, comments?
Do you expect anyone using the M'way to actually drive courtiously and correctly these days? I don't. Just ignore them and don't get stressed.I am traveling in L1 at 70mph on the motorway. Its the middle of the night, nice and quiet. No other drivers in sight. As I draw along side a slip road another vehicle emerges and is traveling down the slip road adjacent to me. I realize that we will crash if we both continue our paths.
Now of course I will move over to allow us both to continue safely and with minimum disruption. But is it too much for the other guy to signal? It may be obvious where he/she wants to go (i.e. onto the motorway) but surely correct etiquette suggests signaling as if to say:
''Hello, I am here. Please consider moving over to L2 so we both may continue safely etc.''
For all the other person knows I may be a complete idiot and just continue cruising down L1 in my own world.
thoughts, comments?
I think on the scale of absoloute retardness on the motorway this is barely one and half, like you say its obvious where he is going and you should be an alert enough driver on the motorway to anticiapte any such instance when approaching a slip road.
Now indicating at roundabouts!! That annoys me! Especially mini ones.(Roundabouts not mini inidicators)
Now indicating at roundabouts!! That annoys me! Especially mini ones.(Roundabouts not mini inidicators)
That's not really a question you are asking there is it?
Are you asking "should I signal?" or are you asking "am I an idiot?"?
Either way, if a driver in L1 stays there when the motorway is clear and another driver is joining at the same point, then I'd consider that inconsiderate and bloody minded regardless of what signals were being shown.
Just pretend that everyone else on the road hasn't seen you and drive accordingly. You'll make much safer progress and end up less stressed in the long term.
Are you asking "should I signal?" or are you asking "am I an idiot?"?
Either way, if a driver in L1 stays there when the motorway is clear and another driver is joining at the same point, then I'd consider that inconsiderate and bloody minded regardless of what signals were being shown.
Just pretend that everyone else on the road hasn't seen you and drive accordingly. You'll make much safer progress and end up less stressed in the long term.
I always watch what's far ahead of me for any issues (TVR, standard non-brakes)... When driving a "normal" car though, I'm horrified by other people's standards, bullying, etc, especially truckers and Audi Man. I drove over 100,000 miles in the last 18 months. I've seen it all. It is a sad fact, but YOU have to be aware of every situation, w
kers pulling out on you etc, etc. Keep the faith, keep aware, keep awake and keep at it! XXX
kers pulling out on you etc, etc. Keep the faith, keep aware, keep awake and keep at it! XXX OP: Why would the other car signal? Is there somewhere else, other than onto the motorway, that they could go?
ETA: that said, it's up to the joining vehicle to merge, not for the traffic on the motorway to accommodate them; this does not negate a little courtesy and co-operation.
If the motorway's quiet, I'd say that the joining vehicle should either lift off or boot it, not expect the car in L1 to move. Getting alongside is bad planning on the joining vehicle's part, in my opinion.
ETA: that said, it's up to the joining vehicle to merge, not for the traffic on the motorway to accommodate them; this does not negate a little courtesy and co-operation.
If the motorway's quiet, I'd say that the joining vehicle should either lift off or boot it, not expect the car in L1 to move. Getting alongside is bad planning on the joining vehicle's part, in my opinion.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 12th February 06:53
shalmaneser said:
DAVEVO9 said:
I always pull into lane 2 just before any traffic enters a Motorway.
+1its just nice.
theap into the path of the 70MPH+ traffic in L2, with nary a glance at the shiny things.
Surely you are supposed to drive in lane 2 exclusively at all times when on the motorway. Isn't lane 1 for those scary lorries and the outside one for white vans, BMWs and Audis? Being caught in lane 1 is never a problem for me. Maybe you should follow my example and just drive down the middle.
I do not realy want to upset the posters on this thread, but being the person i am i really must say that you should have knowledge of what you are blithering on about. Let the entertainment begin.
Quoted from the current edition of the highway code.
Personally i think it should be posted on the entrance of all slip roads in letters approx 1 foot high!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Driving on the motorway
259
Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway.
You should give priority to traffic already on the motorway
check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder
stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway
remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.
Quoted from the current edition of the highway code.
Personally i think it should be posted on the entrance of all slip roads in letters approx 1 foot high!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Driving on the motorway
259
Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway.
You should give priority to traffic already on the motorway
check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder
stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway
remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.
To be fair, no-where there does it say you should not use your indicators. I would argue that it's just a logical extension of either changing lanes (for which you should indicate) or joining a major road from a minor road (in which case you should also indicate).
The key point though, is that the OP said "etiquette", which is rather different from "law". It could be argued that you don't need to indicate because you shouldn't be doing anything that causes drivers on the motorway to change their course but still, it doesn't do any harm in case you have made a mistake.
The key point though, is that the OP said "etiquette", which is rather different from "law". It could be argued that you don't need to indicate because you shouldn't be doing anything that causes drivers on the motorway to change their course but still, it doesn't do any harm in case you have made a mistake.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 12th February 08:18
There is no requirement to use your indicators when joining the motorway. If you wish you can reinforce your intention to join with an indicator - no harm done and may make you more visible and hence safer. I usually do.
If you are going to change lane you should consider if anyone can benefit from you making a signal and then you should signal your intentions to that person before your manouevre. If in doubt it's probably best to make a signal.
As to etiquette? It's polite to make a signal and to leave it on for long enough for other drivers to actually notice it (at least three or four clicks) and then start your manouevre. It's also polite not to require other drivers to change speed or direction to avoid you wherever possible.
It is also polite, when in L1 and if L2 is empty, to move out to L2 to allow joining traffic to do so more easily. There is, however, no obligation to do so.
Finally the person joining the motorway, as stated above from the Highway Code, must give way to traffic already on the motorway. It is AMAZING how many drivers seem to think this rule does not apply to them. It also astonishing at how many simply assume the driver in L1 will move over into L2 despite there being no requirement and, often, despite L2 being FULL!
Those drivers are arses of the first order.
If you are going to change lane you should consider if anyone can benefit from you making a signal and then you should signal your intentions to that person before your manouevre. If in doubt it's probably best to make a signal.
As to etiquette? It's polite to make a signal and to leave it on for long enough for other drivers to actually notice it (at least three or four clicks) and then start your manouevre. It's also polite not to require other drivers to change speed or direction to avoid you wherever possible.
It is also polite, when in L1 and if L2 is empty, to move out to L2 to allow joining traffic to do so more easily. There is, however, no obligation to do so.
Finally the person joining the motorway, as stated above from the Highway Code, must give way to traffic already on the motorway. It is AMAZING how many drivers seem to think this rule does not apply to them. It also astonishing at how many simply assume the driver in L1 will move over into L2 despite there being no requirement and, often, despite L2 being FULL!
Those drivers are arses of the first order.
Etiquette, the word as per the Oxford dictionary
etiquette
/ettiket/
• noun the code of polite behaviour in a society.
So as we are in a culture where polite behaviour, and consideration for others, is generally being ignored, then the onus on the individual to be aware of the consequences of his action, possibly to his own detriment, should have a higher priority should they not???
103-112: Signals103
Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians (see 'Signals to other road users'), of your intended actions.
You should always :
give clear signals in plenty of time, having checked it is not misleading to signal at that time
use them to advise other road users before changing course or direction, stopping or moving off
cancel them after use
make sure your signals will not confuse others. If, for instance, you want to stop after a side road, do not signal until you are passing the road. If you signal earlier it may give the impression that you intend to turn into the road. Your brake lights will warn traffic behind you that you are slowing down
use an arm signal to emphasise or reinforce your signal if necessary. Remember that signalling does not give you priority
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...
etiquette
/ettiket/
• noun the code of polite behaviour in a society.
So as we are in a culture where polite behaviour, and consideration for others, is generally being ignored, then the onus on the individual to be aware of the consequences of his action, possibly to his own detriment, should have a higher priority should they not???
103-112: Signals103
Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians (see 'Signals to other road users'), of your intended actions.
You should always :
give clear signals in plenty of time, having checked it is not misleading to signal at that time
use them to advise other road users before changing course or direction, stopping or moving off
cancel them after use
make sure your signals will not confuse others. If, for instance, you want to stop after a side road, do not signal until you are passing the road. If you signal earlier it may give the impression that you intend to turn into the road. Your brake lights will warn traffic behind you that you are slowing down
use an arm signal to emphasise or reinforce your signal if necessary. Remember that signalling does not give you priority
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...
SLCZ3 said:
Remember that signalling does not give you priority
Many drivers would do well to remember that one.Regarding entering the motorway, why signal? How does it help? Where else would the driver be going? However, the driver entering should not assume they can barge in and should show care, particularly when the motorway being entered is busy.
Regarding pointless signalling, how stupid is the driver who, having just overtaken a car (I'm thinking particularly single carriageway), signals left to return to his side of the road?
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