Lane Closure - Merge In Turn - 800yds or at closure?
Discussion
Coddy85 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-0E2Nxtm6o
Reason enough to merge early?
Ok, slightly exaggerated circumstances.
Slightly? In what way does swinging blindly from lane three of a free flowing highway into a slip road which is likely to contain slowing, if not stationary, traffic which you can't see to be clear due to a high sided vehicle at all related to merging from L2 to L1 with excellent visibility in slow moving traffic approaching a well signposted obstructionReason enough to merge early?
Ok, slightly exaggerated circumstances.
The phrase "grasping at straws" springs to mind...
Snappy89 said:
I try and use all the lane up to the merge point, but that has become increasingly difficult in recent years.
It's already been said but merging in early only serves to increase the tailback and make everyone's journey longer. That being said it does tend to offend various angry little men from time to time. Recently on the A38(S) approaching Burton, an accident and subsequent central reservation barrier repairs led to a closure of lane 2.
The result was a tailback of over a mile in lane 1 PRIOR to the merge point itself. Myself along with a few other motorists keen not to be sat all day in traffic took the initiative to use the rest of lane 2. All was going well until some t
t in an HGV swung out into lane 2 and then rode both lanes in order to not let us pass safely. I suspect this easily added about 15 minutes to my journey.
Surely that should be classed as dangerous.
This is the thing which really boils me,is why do these Road Angels do this?It's already been said but merging in early only serves to increase the tailback and make everyone's journey longer. That being said it does tend to offend various angry little men from time to time. Recently on the A38(S) approaching Burton, an accident and subsequent central reservation barrier repairs led to a closure of lane 2.
The result was a tailback of over a mile in lane 1 PRIOR to the merge point itself. Myself along with a few other motorists keen not to be sat all day in traffic took the initiative to use the rest of lane 2. All was going well until some t
t in an HGV swung out into lane 2 and then rode both lanes in order to not let us pass safely. I suspect this easily added about 15 minutes to my journey. Surely that should be classed as dangerous.
If they want to queue in lane one then great,do that but how is it dangerous is it to drive carefully down the other lanes then merge.
I've had buses,HGVs and cars do it in front of a few cars of me and i'm surprised I haven't seen any road rage.
Mind you I had a HGV try to do it to me in Belguim on the motorway but I had 3 ton of motorhome bearing down so he thought better and retreated!
I'm sorry they are all Tw5ts,its just not necessary.
That's better
P
I will pull in where it is safe to do so, usually early, then I maintain a gap for people to merge in front of me, which other people dont seem to do.
Up the A1 where it goes from 3 into 2 lanes before stevenage, I find it very unsafe there. So I pull into lane 1 and let everyone else sort th4mselves out.
Up the A1 where it goes from 3 into 2 lanes before stevenage, I find it very unsafe there. So I pull into lane 1 and let everyone else sort th4mselves out.
Personally, if I take the outer lane, I'll hang back enough from the car ahead that the traffic on the inside can see I am not just desperate to push in as far ahead as possible. It doesn't always work, but more often than not they seem more willing to simply let me merge in. There's always going to be the occasional person who wants to go first at all costs, but then I simply let them go. It's simply not worth getting all stressed over it.
When you get someone flying down the outside, to barge in at the last minute, they may well not be breaking any rules of the highway but it's easy to see why it would boil the piss of all those queueing. Drive like a dick and more often than not, you'll get treated like one.
When you get someone flying down the outside, to barge in at the last minute, they may well not be breaking any rules of the highway but it's easy to see why it would boil the piss of all those queueing. Drive like a dick and more often than not, you'll get treated like one.
And what about the car behind you? Does he have to hang a distance behind too? And the car behind him?
The person at the cones has to squeeze in, because nobody is ever willing to let them in, as the vast majority of people have seemingly ever read the Highway Code.
The person at the cones has to squeeze in, because nobody is ever willing to let them in, as the vast majority of people have seemingly ever read the Highway Code.
Edited by Philplop on Wednesday 12th November 10:29
Philplop said:
And what about the car behind you? Does he have to hang a distance behind too? And the car behind him?
The person at the cones has to squeeze in, because nobody is ever willing to let them in, as the vast majority of people have seemingly ever read the Highway Code.
Maybe? I just don't think it's too tough to drive in such a manner as to show consideration for what we are attempting to do. The person at the cones has to squeeze in, because nobody is ever willing to let them in, as the vast majority of people have seemingly ever read the Highway Code.
Edited by Philplop on Wednesday 12th November 10:29
You may well be right about the number of folk who haven't looked at the highway code, but it still falls to us to drive accordingly. I'm simply saying it's human nature for folk to feel hard done by, if they see what they perceive to be queue jumpers. By making allowances it just makes the whole thing a bit less stressful, as gaining a few feet road distance on a stranger just isn't worth the grief. Life is way too short.
krallicious said:
Quote from The Highway Code 134:
"You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed."
The UK seems to be one of the only countries that I have driven in that seems to have a problem understanding 'merging in turn'.
I'll be sure to drive down the outside lane when I visit the family after Christmas in my German registered, German car. That should really wind some people up
Good post."You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed."
The UK seems to be one of the only countries that I have driven in that seems to have a problem understanding 'merging in turn'.
I'll be sure to drive down the outside lane when I visit the family after Christmas in my German registered, German car. That should really wind some people up
I love the amount of self-righteous indignation against merging in turn in this thread
If people want to see a queue and immediately jump to the back of it then I am very happy for them to do so and even more happy for them to feel angry and indignant about the fact I am "jumping the queue" AND doing as directed in the highway code!
Some wanna-be traffic officer t
t earlier said he likes to sit straddling both lanes and causing an even longer tailback - good one, you probably drive a lorry at work and do the "lorry-side-by-side-rolling-road-block" we all know and love 
On the A350, dual carriageway from JC 17 M4 towards Chippenham, where there's a lane closure due to road improvements, several sets of yellow signs have been put up saying WHEN QUEUING USE BOTH LANES.
These roads works have been ongoing for ages and in the past I've witnessed some monumental acts of idiocy by the "how dare you use the outer lane" brigade. Thankfully, during this evenings rush hour, both lanes where being used to their capacity and merging in turn was very much in evidence.
So until it becomes accepted practise, IMO we need more of these signs, along with MERGE IN TURN ones, to educate UK motorists.
These roads works have been ongoing for ages and in the past I've witnessed some monumental acts of idiocy by the "how dare you use the outer lane" brigade. Thankfully, during this evenings rush hour, both lanes where being used to their capacity and merging in turn was very much in evidence.
So until it becomes accepted practise, IMO we need more of these signs, along with MERGE IN TURN ones, to educate UK motorists.
Coddy85 said:
I think you should merge when safe an legal to do so. But I also think you don't have the "right" to be let in. Just as you don't have the right to pass others on a multi-lane road unless the outer lane is clear.
I see this a lot at the Tunbridge Wells section of the A21, which is now becoming dual carriageway all the way through! (Hurrah) That merging point hasn't moved nor is it unexpected but some drivers try to force the issue so much that they end up either running into the ghost island or causing more tailbacks. Common sense is they key.
-1.I see this a lot at the Tunbridge Wells section of the A21, which is now becoming dual carriageway all the way through! (Hurrah) That merging point hasn't moved nor is it unexpected but some drivers try to force the issue so much that they end up either running into the ghost island or causing more tailbacks. Common sense is they key.
At the merge point I think that there is an absolute expectation and right to be allowed to merge in turn with the adjacent lane. Where do you think the vehicles in the closing lane are supposed to go if not merge with the continuing lane?
Blayney said:
Can you see that if everyone merged in turn that it would benefit everyone though? The reason that it only benefits the one guy following the suggested use of the road is because everyone else is queuing inanely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCLF2tyW0TU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCLF2tyW0TU
Quote from the video said:
When both lanes move slowly everyone is equally disadvantaged, reducing road rage significantly.
Seems like a win-win for merging in turn.I remember going through road works on the A1, where police were sitting at the end of the lane which
was closed owing to the works, and pulling over all those drivers who had ignored the earlier merge signs, (and there were quite a few) whether they just kept them waiting a long time, `had words' with them, or they were fined, I do not know. But as others have pointed out using both lanes as far as possible, must represent the best use of available road space.
Of course, in some other countries they use zip zones, (green lines painted on the road) just before the works, in which each driver is required to let in ONE, and only ONE other vehicle into the continuing lane in front of them. That way everyone knows they will get their fair turn, at merging and moving through the road work obstruction.
But in this country, we don't often use common sense / practical approaches like this.
was closed owing to the works, and pulling over all those drivers who had ignored the earlier merge signs, (and there were quite a few) whether they just kept them waiting a long time, `had words' with them, or they were fined, I do not know. But as others have pointed out using both lanes as far as possible, must represent the best use of available road space.
Of course, in some other countries they use zip zones, (green lines painted on the road) just before the works, in which each driver is required to let in ONE, and only ONE other vehicle into the continuing lane in front of them. That way everyone knows they will get their fair turn, at merging and moving through the road work obstruction.
But in this country, we don't often use common sense / practical approaches like this.
Drove down the A303 at the weekend - interesting to see signs saying USE BOTH LANES WHEN QUEUING and MERGE IN TURN at all of the points where the dual carriageway ended. It's rather sad they need to put huge signs in capital letters to remind people of the blindingly obvious but given some of the responses in this thread its hardly surprising that such measures are necessary, some of the people here would queue for miles in Lane 1...
Fox- said:
Drove down the A303 at the weekend - interesting to see signs saying USE BOTH LANES WHEN QUEUING and MERGE IN TURN at all of the points where the dual carriageway ended. It's rather sad they need to put huge signs in capital letters to remind people of the blindingly obvious but given some of the responses in this thread its hardly surprising that such measures are necessary, some of the people here would queue for miles in Lane 1...
The problem is that in this country there will always be the greedy b*rstard who for whatever reasonwill try to grab more of `whatever' is on offer, than those around them. These are the ones who cause the problems, and aggravation in roads situations such as this.
sixspeed said:
Just hypothetically speaking, if you were to adopt a merge-in-turn at the end of your lane, the vehicle that was clearly "behind" did not give way to you, and you were to merge anyway (thus causing a collision), who would be at fault?
This is just the situation that zip zones appear to avoid, as the driver of the rear most car is obliged to let in just the one vehicle only, which may be alongside (possibly slightly ahead) into the ongoing lane, but the key words would be ONE VEHICLE ONLY.I've come to the conclusion that people would rather you stabbed a family member of theirs than merge in front of them.
It used to frustrate me but now I just slot in wherever I can and let the show commence. I watch often as a car behind me (in my lane, merging into another) tries to cram into the same space that I'm also moving into, forcing the car already in the lane to drop back essentially to avoid collision. This causes the driver of the car in the lane in which we're merging in to, to lose the plot and then results both cars driving parallel down the road in a single lane; one now heading at oncoming traffic.
Another good one is when someone has inadvertently left a gap that is perfect for a safe merge however, as soon as they realise what's going on they accelerate to try and block your reasonable manoeuvre.
It's honestly hilarious, sometimes to the point that if I see people tooling around too much behind me I'll slow down a little just to make things extra awkward and to get one of them to submit.
It used to frustrate me but now I just slot in wherever I can and let the show commence. I watch often as a car behind me (in my lane, merging into another) tries to cram into the same space that I'm also moving into, forcing the car already in the lane to drop back essentially to avoid collision. This causes the driver of the car in the lane in which we're merging in to, to lose the plot and then results both cars driving parallel down the road in a single lane; one now heading at oncoming traffic.
Another good one is when someone has inadvertently left a gap that is perfect for a safe merge however, as soon as they realise what's going on they accelerate to try and block your reasonable manoeuvre.
It's honestly hilarious, sometimes to the point that if I see people tooling around too much behind me I'll slow down a little just to make things extra awkward and to get one of them to submit.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff