Discussion
The Highways agency is now using a 'merge in turn' large yellow sign at roadworks where a lane is closed, to ease congestion.
Our motoring cousins on the continent manage it, but in the UK we seem to have two type of driver, IMHO. The first type (majority) see a potential lane closure and get into the open lane as soon as possible..behind one another like 3 miles of metal sheep. The second type see the signs and either discount them or if not register them in their brain, yet continue in the closing lane until the very last moment and then nip back into the open lane..
Street
Our motoring cousins on the continent manage it, but in the UK we seem to have two type of driver, IMHO. The first type (majority) see a potential lane closure and get into the open lane as soon as possible..behind one another like 3 miles of metal sheep. The second type see the signs and either discount them or if not register them in their brain, yet continue in the closing lane until the very last moment and then nip back into the open lane..
Street
You have to do the medium of the two. I show my intention to filter in and do so at a reasonably early opportunity.
I HATE the c
S that just run to the end and force their way in at the VERY last minute relying on other peoples skill to compensate for their s**t driving.
Have a wonderful story of an Audi TT that tried it a while back on the A329M and ended up in a load of cones....
I HATE the c
S that just run to the end and force their way in at the VERY last minute relying on other peoples skill to compensate for their s**t driving. Have a wonderful story of an Audi TT that tried it a while back on the A329M and ended up in a load of cones....
I think that I fall into a different category of driver, in that I continue driving in the lane to be closed and merge into the open lane towards the point of closure, but unlike your second type of driver, I do this intentionally and in a controlled manner. (i.e not racing up the empty lane and pushing in the the very last moment)
I do not understand the first type of lemming driver who merges in to the open lane miles before the lane closure, which at this time is usually backed up and slow moving, while the lane to be closed becomes relatively clear and empty up to the point of closure.
I think that it is common sense to make full use of the road before the lane closure, but I often encounter reluctance by drivers in the open lane to let me in when I reach the point of closure. Their attitude seems to be that I am pushing in at the top of the queue when they have had to endure the slow moving traffic because they merged miles before.
I do not consider this to be unsocial or aggressive driving (unless this is done by the second type of driver who does race up the lane and barge in at the very last moment whilst collecting cones on the way).
P.S. Hi to everyone. I have been lurking here and on safespeed for a long time now and have finally decided to raise my head above the parapet.
I do not understand the first type of lemming driver who merges in to the open lane miles before the lane closure, which at this time is usually backed up and slow moving, while the lane to be closed becomes relatively clear and empty up to the point of closure.
I think that it is common sense to make full use of the road before the lane closure, but I often encounter reluctance by drivers in the open lane to let me in when I reach the point of closure. Their attitude seems to be that I am pushing in at the top of the queue when they have had to endure the slow moving traffic because they merged miles before.
I do not consider this to be unsocial or aggressive driving (unless this is done by the second type of driver who does race up the lane and barge in at the very last moment whilst collecting cones on the way).
P.S. Hi to everyone. I have been lurking here and on safespeed for a long time now and have finally decided to raise my head above the parapet.
I've been trying to find you a picture...
Basically is a big yellow sign. At the top reads:
MERGE IN TURN AHEAD
Then it depicts two lines of traffic. 3 arrows pointing upwards in the left lane and 2 arrows pointing at 45 degrees in the right hand lane.
For Numpties who don't know what 'merge in turn ahead' means...
Street
Basically is a big yellow sign. At the top reads:
MERGE IN TURN AHEAD
Then it depicts two lines of traffic. 3 arrows pointing upwards in the left lane and 2 arrows pointing at 45 degrees in the right hand lane.
For Numpties who don't know what 'merge in turn ahead' means...
Street
Streetcop said:
I've been trying to find you a picture...
Basically is a big yellow sign. At the top reads:
MERGE IN TURN AHEAD
Then it depicts two lines of traffic. 3 arrows pointing upwards in the left lane and 2 arrows pointing at 45 degrees in the right hand lane.
For Numpties who don't know what 'merge in turn ahead' means...
Street
Oooooohhhh! So dat's wot it means.
/Eccles (Goon Show) type voice.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
This has been discussed at length before. I get so angry with the inside lane full of 'metal sheep' (good description) I drive up the empty lane and try to merge a good bit before the end.
What annoys me is the sheep in the inside lane who will not let you in.
EVEN WORSE are those trucks who try to do the public a favour by blocking the clear lane, you tossers! This is why 2 wheels of my X5 ended up on the central reservation one day. I was so mad...
Solution - Don't drive too much in the UK.
What annoys me is the sheep in the inside lane who will not let you in.
EVEN WORSE are those trucks who try to do the public a favour by blocking the clear lane, you tossers! This is why 2 wheels of my X5 ended up on the central reservation one day. I was so mad...
Solution - Don't drive too much in the UK.
If everybody did merge in turn while they were still moving at a reasonable speed, there would be no problem...
What happens though, is that somebody in the inside lane will slow down, even slightly to let somebody in... this causes a little "brake ripple" backwards aong the queue so slows everybody else has to slow as well... then again somebody touches the brakes to let somebody in and again a ripple goes back - after 2 or 3 ripples the open lane is stationary and then it all gets worse...
That's why you often queue to get into roadworks, but usually drive through (slightly) faster once you reach them - it's not usually the capacity of the single lane that's the problem, it's the delay at the merge.
In theory, if everybody got themselves into a single lane well in advance of the closure, then the traffic would carry on straight through. In theory... It can never work like that though, for the reasons above, so the "merge in turn" is the next best thing - if everybody does it. But it's just not the done thing, old chap - I say wait your turn you cad!
So it's a dilemma - do I wait with the numpties and "do the right thing" or obey the signs and be seen (until I am out of sight) as an impatient git?
I don't know the answer to that one - I do both, depends how I feel at the time.
What happens though, is that somebody in the inside lane will slow down, even slightly to let somebody in... this causes a little "brake ripple" backwards aong the queue so slows everybody else has to slow as well... then again somebody touches the brakes to let somebody in and again a ripple goes back - after 2 or 3 ripples the open lane is stationary and then it all gets worse...
That's why you often queue to get into roadworks, but usually drive through (slightly) faster once you reach them - it's not usually the capacity of the single lane that's the problem, it's the delay at the merge.
In theory, if everybody got themselves into a single lane well in advance of the closure, then the traffic would carry on straight through. In theory... It can never work like that though, for the reasons above, so the "merge in turn" is the next best thing - if everybody does it. But it's just not the done thing, old chap - I say wait your turn you cad!
So it's a dilemma - do I wait with the numpties and "do the right thing" or obey the signs and be seen (until I am out of sight) as an impatient git?
I don't know the answer to that one - I do both, depends how I feel at the time.
Streetcop said:It'll never work. It makes too much sense!
The Highways agency is now using a 'merge in turn' large yellow sign at roadworks where a lane is closed, to ease congestion.
Our motoring cousins on the continent manage it, but in the UK we seem to have two type of driver, IMHO. The first type (majority) see a potential lane closure and get into the open lane as soon as possible..behind one another like 3 miles of metal sheep. The second type see the signs and either discount them or if not register them in their brain, yet continue in the closing lane until the very last moment and then nip back into the open lane..
Street
BTW I always filter in shortly before the lane closure. If anybody complains I just explain that if the Police had wanted the lanes closed 2 miles ago they'd have put the cones there!
The solution to this is easy, instead of closing off just lane one, or just lane two, thus creating a point of conflict where one lane is forced to move into another, and those already in that lane assume the moral high ground. Close both lanes and have them go into a new cone marked lane in 'the middle' then after a few hundred feet send them into either lane one or two. If folks had to go into 'the middle' naturally they would 'merge in turn' as its fair, we like fair when it comes to queuing or giving way, and no one has any assumed moral high ground due to their lane not being closed so sod the others.
Balmoral Green said:
The solution to this is easy, instead of closing off just lane one, or just lane two, thus creating a point of conflict where one lane is forced to move into another, and those already in that lane assume the moral high ground. Close both lanes and have them go into a new cone marked lane in 'the middle' then after a few hundred feet send them into either lane one or two. If folks had to go into 'the middle' naturally they would 'merge in turn' as its fair, we like fair when it comes to queuing or giving way, and no one has any assumed moral high ground due to their lane not being closed so sod the others.
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