scary motorway incident over the weekend!
Discussion
Had the old adrenalin running afterwards.
Night time. Joined the M62, pretty quiet, by getting up to 70 - 75 on the slip road then onto the inside lane. Only saw 1 car infront as I approached, already in the inside lane and about 200 yards away. No exactly a difficult manouvre.
Except, said car was travelling at 45MPH. Came up behind him pretty quick, and it was more of a shock than anything else.
I think that because he was the only car, and it was night, I couldn't get any real perception of his speed, and just assumed that he'd be doing 70 ish, not sunday driver country lane speeds. My passenger was also taken aback.
Still, he was driving slowly and therefore very safely, and I was doing 75, and therefore extremely dangerously.
Bad old me.
Night time. Joined the M62, pretty quiet, by getting up to 70 - 75 on the slip road then onto the inside lane. Only saw 1 car infront as I approached, already in the inside lane and about 200 yards away. No exactly a difficult manouvre.
Except, said car was travelling at 45MPH. Came up behind him pretty quick, and it was more of a shock than anything else.
I think that because he was the only car, and it was night, I couldn't get any real perception of his speed, and just assumed that he'd be doing 70 ish, not sunday driver country lane speeds. My passenger was also taken aback.
Still, he was driving slowly and therefore very safely, and I was doing 75, and therefore extremely dangerously.
Bad old me.
HighwayCode said:
233: 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 adjust your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
* not cross solid white lines that separate lanes
* 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.
you missed out point 234.......
234: When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should
drive at a steady cruising speed which you and your vehicle can handle safely and is within the speed limit (see table)
keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog (see Rules 105 & 210).
not........
234: When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should
amble along with at least a 25MPH speed differential to any other reasonable driver
234: When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should
drive at a steady cruising speed which you and your vehicle can handle safely and is within the speed limit (see table)
keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog (see Rules 105 & 210).
not........
234: When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should
amble along with at least a 25MPH speed differential to any other reasonable driver
bryan35 said:
Had the old adrenalin running afterwards.
Night time. Joined the M62, pretty quiet, by getting up to 70 - 75 on the slip road then onto the inside lane. Only saw 1 car infront as I approached, already in the inside lane and about 200 yards away. No exactly a difficult manouvre.
Except, said car was travelling at 45MPH. Came up behind him pretty quick, and it was more of a shock than anything else.
I think that because he was the only car, and it was night, I couldn't get any real perception of his speed, and just assumed that he'd be doing 70 ish, not sunday driver country lane speeds. My passenger was also taken aback.
Still, he was driving slowly and therefore very safely, and I was doing 75, and therefore extremely dangerously.
Bad old me.
This points to lack of attention and too much assumption. I'm not saying that in a derogatory way, but it is what causes accidents. You assumed he would be doing 70 mph: your mistake. You were going too fast: your mistake.
The idea of the slip road is to adjust your speed to that of the traffic that is already on the main road, not to accelerate and launch yourself onto the motorway, though I must admit the slip roads I use, (jct 13 or 14, on the M6) are like a drag racing quarter mile, being uphill and 100 metres long, from a roundabout onto an always crowded motorway. My 2 litre Rover needs a good bootful to get up to matching 70+ speeds before slipping into traffic, if I want to avoid travelling on the hard shoulder.
I hear you morrisman,
Usually I 'fun pedal' it on the slip road, it being easier to lose speed and tuck in behind than try to accelerate as you can never be sure of the slip road length.
usually you're losing 0-10 MPH, not 30 MPH.
But, yes, bit of lack ot attention and assumption. 45MPH still isn't the cleverest idea on a motorway though.
Usually I 'fun pedal' it on the slip road, it being easier to lose speed and tuck in behind than try to accelerate as you can never be sure of the slip road length.
usually you're losing 0-10 MPH, not 30 MPH.
But, yes, bit of lack ot attention and assumption. 45MPH still isn't the cleverest idea on a motorway though.
Whilst I agree with the gist of what most people are saying, and yes, assumption is the mother of all f-ups, but I think most of us in his situation would have been taken back by the events.
Whatever you may think of the OP's observation, surely not even the most cretinous twenty's plenty nutter thinks that 45 is an accetptable speed on the motorway? I would expect plod to pull somebody going that slowly.
Irrespective of whether it is legal it is an accident waiting to happen. Imagine the inattentive bleary eyed lorry driver, cruise on at 56mph, not going to be anything slower than that in the inside lane unless it's another big artic is there?
The Highway Code is a set of guidelines to help us all drive safely on the road together. At some stage somebody decided that some of them were black and white, no grey areas allowed, and now people don't use their brains. If they are driving legally (ie not over the speed limit) then they are protected by their cloak of righteousness
Whatever you may think of the OP's observation, surely not even the most cretinous twenty's plenty nutter thinks that 45 is an accetptable speed on the motorway? I would expect plod to pull somebody going that slowly.
Irrespective of whether it is legal it is an accident waiting to happen. Imagine the inattentive bleary eyed lorry driver, cruise on at 56mph, not going to be anything slower than that in the inside lane unless it's another big artic is there?
The Highway Code is a set of guidelines to help us all drive safely on the road together. At some stage somebody decided that some of them were black and white, no grey areas allowed, and now people don't use their brains. If they are driving legally (ie not over the speed limit) then they are protected by their cloak of righteousness
7db said:
It's only 10 mph slower than the big things. Norty use of loud pedal withoutchecking its clear, but hey - could happen to anyone. Use pedal with red lights attached, steer round and off you go.
No kidding. Just shows you the problem though. It wasn't speed - 75 MPH indicated which is more or less 70 anyway.
It was failure to judge, which I believe is one, if not THE top causation factor in accidents. And I can see why!.
Just goes to show that you never stop learning. Unlike mr 45MPH.
NiceCupOfTea said:
Whatever you may think of the OP's observation, surely not even the most cretinous twenty's plenty nutter thinks that 45 is an accetptable speed on the motorway? I would expect plod to pull somebody going that slowly.
Irrespective of whether it is legal it is an accident waiting to happen. Imagine the inattentive bleary eyed lorry driver, cruise on at 56mph, not going to be anything slower than that in the inside lane unless it's another big artic is there?
Oh yes, I see your point, but watching out and being ready and prepared for the unusual is what makes the difference between safe drivers and unsafe. Anybody who screams "It was his fault! He shouldn't have been going that slow" should have their license torn up and binned. Bleary eyed and inattentive or not!
I seem to recall seeing 50mph stickers on the rear end of my dads trailor several years ago. Now I'm assuming that was/is the MAXIMUM speed he was allowed to tow at. Not a compulsory speed, or an advised speed. A sign to warn other observant drivers that that is the max speed he can do.
We can hypothesize all we like, but we should NEVER assume that nobody is going to travel at 45mph anywhere. That is just the sort of thing that causes accidents.
PS. You're the guy who says he beeps his horn at people who are crossing a side road when you turn into it. (the post about pedestrians getting killed) And also does three point turns in crowded roads outside schools where kids are crossing? That really says it all about your road traffic knowledge and attitude!!!!
you notice that I didn't actually crash, (touch wood), as I always drive within a safety cell of what I see to be clear and can stop in, it's just that in this incident I did actually have to stop in it! (well, slow down)
You don't think 'you see I'm a good driver because I left myself plenty of space'
you do think 's**t, that could have been f*****g nasty' which is could have been.
You don't think 'you see I'm a good driver because I left myself plenty of space'
you do think 's**t, that could have been f*****g nasty' which is could have been.
morrisman said:
Whatever you may think of the OP's observation, surely not even the most cretinous twenty's plenty nutter thinks that 45 is an accetptable speed on the motorway? I would expect plod to pull somebody going that slowly.
Irrespective of whether it is legal it is an accident waiting to happen. Imagine the inattentive bleary eyed lorry driver, cruise on at 56mph, not going to be anything slower than that in the inside lane unless it's another big artic is there?
Oh yes, I see your point, but watching out and being ready and prepared for the unusual is what makes the difference between safe drivers and unsafe. Anybody who screams "It was his fault! He shouldn't have been going that slow" should have their license torn up and binned. Bleary eyed and inattentive or not!
Yep, that's what I was agreeing with!
morrisman said:
I seem to recall seeing 50mph stickers on the rear end of my dads trailor several years ago. Now I'm assuming that was/is the MAXIMUM speed he was allowed to tow at. Not a compulsory speed, or an advised speed. A sign to warn other observant drivers that that is the max speed he can do.
Yes, but what has that got to do with anything? It is now 60 for towing with a trailer on the motorway - 15 mph more than 45! In my experience, anybody doing that sort of speed on the motorway is either drunk, drugged, asleep, or generally unsafe to drive. It shows a basic lack of understanding of what the motorway is for and the inherent dangers.
morrisman said:
We can hypothesize all we like, but we should NEVER assume that nobody is going to travel at 45mph anywhere. That is just the sort of thing that causes accidents.
You're agreeing with me again!
morrisman said:
PS. You're the guy who says he beeps his horn at people who are crossing a side road when you turn into it. (the post about pedestrians getting killed) And also does three point turns in crowded roads outside schools where kids are crossing? That really says it all about your road traffic knowledge and attitude!!!!
WTF!? Relevance!? Firstly I will reply to that thread in my own time. I fail to see why I have to justify my own actions to some pompous git who reads a post and thinks he knows that person inside out! I was already turning into a road when the kids walked out without looking. I beeped my horn to alert them to my presence as per the HC. The time I did a 3 point turn outside a school I was forced to by some nutter van driver who had blocked the road and was threatening to ram me. So the information you "gleaned" from my post was totally inaccurate.
For the record, it is your attitude that stinks, and as for my "road traffic knowledge" I have an IAM pass within the last year and have 15 accident free years behind me, thanks for asking.
bryan35 said:
But, yes, bit of lack ot attention and assumption. 45MPH still isn't the cleverest idea on a motorway though.
I seem to recall one of the organic shoes brigade (Transport 2000 or Brake or somesuch) issuing a guide to driving "best practice" that advocated driving at "40 to 50 miles per hour, even on the motorway".
Unfortunately, my Google game is weak tonight, and I can't find this priceless piece of deathless prose.
Quite surprised you assumed the other driver would be doing a sensible speed; the number of morons I see on the roads in perfectly capable cars doing 45-50mph on motorways/DCs is astounding.
The whole point of cars is to get from A to B quickly. If you don't agree then get off the roads and walk.
The whole point of cars is to get from A to B quickly. If you don't agree then get off the roads and walk.
nicecupoftea said:
Whatever you may think of the OP's observation, surely not even the most cretinous twenty's plenty nutter thinks that 45 is an accetptable speed on the motorway? I would expect plod to pull somebody going that slowly.
Irrespective of whether it is legal it is an accident waiting to happen. Imagine the inattentive bleary eyed lorry driver, cruise on at 56mph, not going to be anything slower than that in the inside lane unless it's another big artic is there?
Oh yes, I see your point, but watching out and being ready and prepared for the unusual is what makes the difference between safe drivers and unsafe. Anybody who screams "It was his fault! He shouldn't have been going that slow" should have their license torn up and binned. Bleary eyed and inattentive or not!
Yep, that's what I was agreeing with!
morrisman said:
I seem to recall seeing 50mph stickers on the rear end of my dads trailor several years ago. Now I'm assuming that was/is the MAXIMUM speed he was allowed to tow at. Not a compulsory speed, or an advised speed. A sign to warn other observant drivers that that is the max speed he can do.
Yes, but what has that got to do with anything? It is now 60 for towing with a trailer on the motorway - 15 mph more than 45! In my experience, anybody doing that sort of speed on the motorway is either drunk, drugged, asleep, or generally unsafe to drive. It shows a basic lack of understanding of what the motorway is for and the inherent dangers.
morrisman said:
We can hypothesize all we like, but we should NEVER assume that nobody is going to travel at 45mph anywhere. That is just the sort of thing that causes accidents.
You're agreeing with me again!
morrisman said:
PS. You're the guy who says he beeps his horn at people who are crossing a side road when you turn into it. (the post about pedestrians getting killed) And also does three point turns in crowded roads outside schools where kids are crossing? That really says it all about your road traffic knowledge and attitude!!!!
WTF!? Relevance!? Firstly I will reply to that thread in my own time. I fail to see why I have to justify my own actions to some pompous git who reads a post and thinks he knows that person inside out! I was already turning into a road when the kids walked out without looking. I beeped my horn to alert them to my presence as per the HC. The time I did a 3 point turn outside a school I was forced to by some nutter van driver who had blocked the road and was threatening to ram me. So the information you "gleaned" from my post was totally inaccurate.
For the record, it is your attitude that stinks, and as for my "road traffic knowledge" I have an IAM pass within the last year and have 15 accident free years behind me, thanks for asking.
Strange, but I seem to have misinterpreted every post of yours that I've read. Wierd
nicecupoftea said:
It's unfortunate that you appear to misinterpreting my posts - please point out where I've lost you and I'll try and clarify.
Now I go back and read them all appears quite plain and simple. I fear I had a blonde moment earlier today.
Oh well, 12 hour night shifts, 7 days a week, week after week, in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, does not bode well for ones 'visage' of the outside world. Apologies for being a
There are any number of reasons why the driver might only be pressing along at 45mph on the motorway. Not all of them involve him being a pistonhead-hating lentil-muncher. And even if he is, you aren't going to change his drviing from outside his car.
OP avoided an incident here but scared himself. It's a good post to think about
OP avoided an incident here but scared himself. It's a good post to think about
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff