Article Trucks in outside lane of mway
Discussion
Think I've encountered one Romanian truck in 25 years of driving in lane 3 of a UK motorway, then yesterday on trip back and to to Manchester, I encountered it twice!
So what's the rules.
First case was in a restricted 50 area, (not that that may matter) with a wide load across lane 1 and into lane 2. No escort, but flashing yellows. Weird thing was, it was a 50 limit and seemed to be doing pretty much 50. But truck in inside lane was doing a bit quicker and of course had other vehicles all around at similar speed, just moved out to lane 3 with the guy in front of me very close indeed it must be said.
Secondly on way back, Eddie stobart truck suddenly indicates and moves into lane 3 as I approach from behind at 70. It was a bit close, to be fair, he would have had lots and lots of time to make the manoeuvre once I'd passed, and it was very much an indicator then go immediately. Reason was a matrix sign showing lane one shut. But as they are across lane one and two, and there were two trucks in those lanes with me approaching, of course I was unsighted on the matrix sign, so it was surprise to suddenly see a truck appear as I closed on him!
Not knowing the rules as such and not having seen it before, the first incident 'seemed' ok to me. But I'm not sure on the second. If lane one is shut, temporarily or otherwise, can trucks use 2 and 3 or just 2?
No drama or beeping of horns occurred nor was warranted, but just thought I'd ask the experts!!
So what's the rules.
First case was in a restricted 50 area, (not that that may matter) with a wide load across lane 1 and into lane 2. No escort, but flashing yellows. Weird thing was, it was a 50 limit and seemed to be doing pretty much 50. But truck in inside lane was doing a bit quicker and of course had other vehicles all around at similar speed, just moved out to lane 3 with the guy in front of me very close indeed it must be said.
Secondly on way back, Eddie stobart truck suddenly indicates and moves into lane 3 as I approach from behind at 70. It was a bit close, to be fair, he would have had lots and lots of time to make the manoeuvre once I'd passed, and it was very much an indicator then go immediately. Reason was a matrix sign showing lane one shut. But as they are across lane one and two, and there were two trucks in those lanes with me approaching, of course I was unsighted on the matrix sign, so it was surprise to suddenly see a truck appear as I closed on him!
Not knowing the rules as such and not having seen it before, the first incident 'seemed' ok to me. But I'm not sure on the second. If lane one is shut, temporarily or otherwise, can trucks use 2 and 3 or just 2?
No drama or beeping of horns occurred nor was warranted, but just thought I'd ask the experts!!
craigjm said:
The rule says -
If you are a driver of an HGV which weighs over 7.5 tonnes, you must not drive in the right hand lane of a motorway if there are three or more lanes.
Therefore if there are no longer three lanes then they can drive in the right hand lane.
So in scenario 1, driver should have just followed the slower wide load? It was slower but, to be fair, not that much below the limit? If you are a driver of an HGV which weighs over 7.5 tonnes, you must not drive in the right hand lane of a motorway if there are three or more lanes.
Therefore if there are no longer three lanes then they can drive in the right hand lane.
And in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
s3fella said:
So in scenario 1, driver should have just followed the slower wide load? It was slower but, to be fair, not that much below the limit?
And in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
My reading of the rules is that you are correct on bothAnd in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
s3fella said:
So in scenario 1, driver should have just followed the slower wide load? It was slower but, to be fair, not that much below the limit?
And in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
You possibly haven't had the experience of waiting until you're suitably close to a need to change lane in an hgv, to find the speed-matchers alongside you who then refuse to give way or make way.And in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
You soon find that you might as well change lanes before the speed-matchers have got alongside you.
True. As I say, no drama or anything, just interested. The stobbart truck's manoeuvre was a bit of a surprise as it was pretty quiet and it was an instant move as soon as the indicator came on. And turned out there was plenty of time to give a bit more notice, but maybe driver thought it was more urgent .
Weird to have seen it twice in one day though. Btw first truck had an 'A' as the country designator on number plate. Austria??
Weird to have seen it twice in one day though. Btw first truck had an 'A' as the country designator on number plate. Austria??
s3fella said:
craigjm said:
The rule says -
If you are a driver of an HGV which weighs over 7.5 tonnes, you must not drive in the right hand lane of a motorway if there are three or more lanes.
Therefore if there are no longer three lanes then they can drive in the right hand lane.
So in scenario 1, driver should have just followed the slower wide load? It was slower but, to be fair, not that much below the limit? If you are a driver of an HGV which weighs over 7.5 tonnes, you must not drive in the right hand lane of a motorway if there are three or more lanes.
Therefore if there are no longer three lanes then they can drive in the right hand lane.
And in scenario 2, as stobart driver moved to lane 3 whilst there was three lanes, although the matrix sign did indicate that lane 1 was closed ahead, (no x on matrix just a yellow 'T' shape) and all lanes were open for a mile, should he have not waited ?
Scenario 2. He could have waited but a mile is hardly a fair distance when travelling at 50 plus mph. I can't see a driver getting done for it.
You can also use lane 3 in emergency situations. For example some years ago I was set up for overtaking up a hill, I was empty and would maintain 56 mph up the hill. A truck I had just about started overtaking swung out into lane 2 doing about 35-40 mph. Total f
king idiot and he knew I was motoring on. Two options, brake hard or already knowing there was no vehicle in lane 3. Swing out and around him as an emergency manoeuvre to avoid an accident.A wide load that covers more than one lane means that LGVs can use lane 3 as it is designated as a motorway of not more than 2 usable lanes at that point
In well moving traffic then getting over early into the open lanes is recommended so using lane 3 in that case is ok
In very slow or virtually stopped traffic then using all the space to the merge point is recommended
In well moving traffic then getting over early into the open lanes is recommended so using lane 3 in that case is ok
In very slow or virtually stopped traffic then using all the space to the merge point is recommended
GC8 said:
Article? The word is articulated, surely? Further to that, whether a vehicle is articulated or rigid has no bearing on this.
Car-only driver in ignorant shock!
I suspect the word was artic that got auto-corrected.Car-only driver in ignorant shock!
And while the artic/rigid has no bearing, the weight does. And to most people, artic=big. The guy was just asking a question!
Person who can drive an HGV in "car-only drivers are idiots" shock?
dowahdiddyman said:
If a wide load is taking up both lanes the use of lane 3 to pass is not a problem.
The Stobbies driver should have waited for the motorway to go down to two lanes before moving onto the third lane.
Depends on the situation as it is often safer to move across early to prevent conflict or a near miss in fast flowing traffic - different in slow traffic where using all the road surface up to the merge point is recommended The Stobbies driver should have waited for the motorway to go down to two lanes before moving onto the third lane.
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