Dealing with people joining from a slip road.
Discussion
Vipers said:
Whilst I personally will try to let a vehicle joining L1 from the slipway do so safely, drivers should be aware of whom has the "Right of Way" when joining a carriageway from a slip road.
And it certainly isnt the vehicle joining the carriageway. End of story. No if' and but's.
If, ... but, ... I think you'll find that both vehicles have "right of way" there in fact. And it certainly isnt the vehicle joining the carriageway. End of story. No if' and but's.
GreenV8S said:
If, ... but, ... I think you'll find that both vehicles have "right of way" there in fact.
My current and new copy of the official Highway code, says on page 86:-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 ON THE MOTORWAY.
Which I interpret that the vehicle already on the motorway has right of way, not the one joining.
It also says. CHECK THE TRAFFIC ON THE MOTORWAY AND MATCH YOUR SPEED TO FIT SAFELY INTO THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE LEFT HAND LANE
Again, its on the onus for the vehicle joining to fit in with those already on the motorway, not for those on there to adjust to allow them to fit ie?
It so agrevating when you are behind a vehicle on L1, both maintaing a steady speed, when they break, slow down, to let someone in?
Edited by Vipers on Monday 5th November 20:28
GreenV8S said:
Note that "priority" and "right of way" are distinct terms having very different legal meanings. "Priority" is what you're talking about here.
Call it what you will, you may be right of defination of right of way, and priority, but the onus on the joining vehicle is to fit on with others on the motorway, isnt it? I am not debating the legal meanings, which the majority of us cannot understand, just common sense with what it states the obvious in the highway code.Vipers said:
Call it what you will, you may be right of defination of right of way, and priority, but the onus on the joining vehicle is to fit on with others on the motorway, isnt it? I am not debating the legal meanings, which the majority of us cannot understand, just common sense with what it states the obvious in the highway code.
Don't mind me, I'm just teasing you for giving us the definitive final answer and then getting it wrong. 
The people on the motorway have priority over people joining, but that doesn't mean they can't cooperate. A little cooperation can make things easier all round. You're not legally obliged to, just as you aren't legally obliged to be polite and considerate, but thankfully most people choose to be.
GreenV8S said:
The people on the motorway have priority over people joining, but that doesn't mean they can't cooperate.
My highlighted on "Cooperate", just to emphasise that word.Totally agree 100%, and I always try to do so in these situations, (as in my daily driving habits), as you do most likely, but it grieves me with some of our lesser better drivers who think have they god gift to just pull out from slips onto L1 whether it results on someone already there having to suddenly break or not.
Anyway, safe driving out there Peter, just seen your profile, I bet you dont have any trouble at all joining from slip's, in that set of wheels.
Yung Man said:
Being a truck driver I usually find myself doing 56 mph as I pass on ramps,
Then 2 miles further at J24 an estate car with a box on the roof did a similar thing, he went right to the end of the slip road expecting me to move over instead of him speeding up, the slip road was a down hill one, if he choses to try to join at 56 mph what does he expect?.
He braked hardish then slotted in behind then when he pulled out to pass me he stayed in lane 2, there was nothing in lane 1 to pass. (MLM)
Last night same place, a Mercedes E300 came "down" the slip road at 40mph I was doing 50mph, he was 2 car lengths in front of me indicating he wanted to come on, the driver was making no attempt to match his speed with that of the traffic already on the motorway, he could have quite easily been doing more than 40mph it was a downhill ramp. He braked before the HS then got in behind me, pulled out, pulled in then left at J25 which is about 1 mile further on, If I had pulled out.............. well I'm just repeating myself now.Then 2 miles further at J24 an estate car with a box on the roof did a similar thing, he went right to the end of the slip road expecting me to move over instead of him speeding up, the slip road was a down hill one, if he choses to try to join at 56 mph what does he expect?.
He braked hardish then slotted in behind then when he pulled out to pass me he stayed in lane 2, there was nothing in lane 1 to pass. (MLM)
It's a waste of time helping people like that, they will never change their (bad) style of driving.
I always pull out to let joining traffic on, if L2 is clear; but I never expect HGVs to do the same (for the reasons others have already stated); the best thing they can do, it seems to me, is keep a constant speed and a reasonable gap to let joining traffic pull in to. Usually they do this.
The only problems I tend to have joining, and it is only occaisionally, are with nose-to-tail cars who aren't leaving a gap. I generally consider that truckers are the most considerate drivers on the motorway.
The only problems I tend to have joining, and it is only occaisionally, are with nose-to-tail cars who aren't leaving a gap. I generally consider that truckers are the most considerate drivers on the motorway.
The Black Flash said:
I always pull out to let joining traffic on, if L2 is clear; but I never expect HGVs to do the same (for the reasons others have already stated); the best thing they can do, it seems to me, is keep a constant speed and a reasonable gap to let joining traffic pull in to. Usually they do this.
The only problems I tend to have joining, and it is only occaisionally, are with nose-to-tail cars who aren't leaving a gap. I generally consider that truckers are the most considerate drivers on the motorway.
The only problems I tend to have joining, and it is only occaisionally, are with nose-to-tail cars who aren't leaving a gap. I generally consider that truckers are the most considerate drivers on the motorway.
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