Motorway feeder lane.
Discussion
Although I have driven in many countries, I am still perplexed as to what the correct rule is when approaching a feeder lane while driving on a motorway in the UK.
In most other countries in Northern Europe at least, it is the norm to wait for a suitable space to slot into the line of traffic, when joining a motorway.
Here, on the other hand, you are frowned upon and given fingers etc. if you do not IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES give space to allow access.
As far as I am aware, the Highway Code specifies that the approaching car in the feeder lane must slow down and wait for a suitable space to open up and then make their move to join the motorway traffic.
Of course this scenario does not apply to Motorways joining other Motorways.
In Denmark, where I come from, everyone, even the boy-racers, hold back politely and join when a space is available and it is safe to do so.
In most other countries in Northern Europe at least, it is the norm to wait for a suitable space to slot into the line of traffic, when joining a motorway.
Here, on the other hand, you are frowned upon and given fingers etc. if you do not IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES give space to allow access.
As far as I am aware, the Highway Code specifies that the approaching car in the feeder lane must slow down and wait for a suitable space to open up and then make their move to join the motorway traffic.
Of course this scenario does not apply to Motorways joining other Motorways.
In Denmark, where I come from, everyone, even the boy-racers, hold back politely and join when a space is available and it is safe to do so.
Rule of common sense,
If you are in Lane 1 and can see some one trying to join, if you can move to lane 2 do so.
If you are joining a motorway from the slip road, get to a speed (50mph) so you will need a smaller gap to join and cause less disruption to the traffic already on the motorway.
And having driven in Holland on several holidays this seemed to be the way they did it too, at least I dont recall anyone stopping an waiting for a large gap to appear.
If you are in Lane 1 and can see some one trying to join, if you can move to lane 2 do so.
If you are joining a motorway from the slip road, get to a speed (50mph) so you will need a smaller gap to join and cause less disruption to the traffic already on the motorway.
And having driven in Holland on several holidays this seemed to be the way they did it too, at least I dont recall anyone stopping an waiting for a large gap to appear.
Someone should remind lorry drivers of the proper etiquette, since they almost universally refuse to yield to a car attempting to join. Funny, however, how the same drivers will yield for fellow lorry drivers.
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
ian_uk1975 said:
Someone should remind lorry drivers of the proper etiquette, since they almost universally refuse to yield to a car attempting to join. Funny, however, how the same drivers will yield for fellow lorry drivers.
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
ian. i used to yield for drivers joining. if possible, if there was room i'd move into the 2nd lane to allow other vehicles to merge into lane 1. but over the last few years, driving standards have slowly gone downhill, and that includes trucks. i often pulled out, got level, or even maybe 2/3s of the way passed the vehicle i'd let join, only for it to then dither around at a similar speed to my limited truck, so now i'm stuck holding up all the vehicles in the lane behind me, as numbnuts in lane 1 has regally stitched me up, so i now have to ease off, to slot in behind said idiot, and suffer the abuse of the drivers i've held up all for trying to do the correct thing.Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
its a shame, but the repeated stupidity of others has now made me only concerned with my own progress, and nobody elses.
my understanding was that it is the responsibility of the joining car to feed in to traffic by adjusting their speed and finding a suitable gap.
having said that if i see a car coming down the slip road and its safe for me to do so i will move over / speed up / slow down as required.
As someone previously mentioned, its common sense but if people in lane one have no where to go, ultimately it falls to the joiner to sort themselves out.
having said that if i see a car coming down the slip road and its safe for me to do so i will move over / speed up / slow down as required.
As someone previously mentioned, its common sense but if people in lane one have no where to go, ultimately it falls to the joiner to sort themselves out.
chilistrucker said:
ian. i used to yield for drivers joining. if possible, if there was room i'd move into the 2nd lane to allow other vehicles to merge into lane 1. but over the last few years, driving standards have slowly gone downhill, and that includes trucks. i often pulled out, got level, or even maybe 2/3s of the way passed the vehicle i'd let join, only for it to then dither around at a similar speed to my limited truck, so now i'm stuck holding up all the vehicles in the lane behind me, as numbnuts in lane 1 has regally stitched me up, so i now have to ease off, to slot in behind said idiot, and suffer the abuse of the drivers i've held up all for trying to do the correct thing.
its a shame, but the repeated stupidity of others has now made me only concerned with my own progress, and nobody elses.
Yep, two sides to every story. Dithery drivers are a menace... even if you have no idea where you're going, drive with decisiveness!its a shame, but the repeated stupidity of others has now made me only concerned with my own progress, and nobody elses.
agreed.
i always keep a very close eye on whats about to join from the slip road.
i'd much rather the driver that comes down with a bit of purpose, you can see them checking their mirrors, and maybe even over their shoulder, as they get ready to join, these are the drivers that would get a flash from me before they've even put their indicator on, so they know its ok to make a move and get going.
its much better that way, than the idiots that dawdle down the slip road, not checking their mirrors at all, then upon arriving at the absolute end of the slip road, they break, indicate, and attempt to dive out at 40m.p.h all in one go.
i always keep a very close eye on whats about to join from the slip road.
i'd much rather the driver that comes down with a bit of purpose, you can see them checking their mirrors, and maybe even over their shoulder, as they get ready to join, these are the drivers that would get a flash from me before they've even put their indicator on, so they know its ok to make a move and get going.
its much better that way, than the idiots that dawdle down the slip road, not checking their mirrors at all, then upon arriving at the absolute end of the slip road, they break, indicate, and attempt to dive out at 40m.p.h all in one go.
If safe and possible get to 70 on a slip road because the vehicle slows quicker than it can speed up and brake lights are acivated when slowing which shows others what you are doing
The law is that those in the slip road must adhere to the give way rules
Good driving would be all drivers making minor adjustments to accomodate others
The law is that those in the slip road must adhere to the give way rules
Good driving would be all drivers making minor adjustments to accomodate others
ian_uk1975 said:
Someone should remind lorry drivers of the proper etiquette, since they almost universally refuse to yield to a car attempting to join. Funny, however, how the same drivers will yield for fellow lorry drivers.
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
+1. However, I would add that in my experience of travelling down the M4 near Bristol every day that most of the lorries who sit in lane 1 and won't move out even if lane 2 is empty are foreign. Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
I do think that motorway etiquette has declined in recent years. It was always drilled into me that, if lane 2 was clear, I should move out so that traffic joining the motorway can do so more easily and safely.
Bertie W
This morning I was travelling along the M60 in the left hand lane.
I approached a junction entrance slip-road that climbs a gradient before levelling-off fro a reasonable distance.
One car did join the motorway without any problem, but the car in front of it reached the end of the slip road and came to a complete stop.
There was plenty of space in front of me and I eased off a little. The car in question then set off and joined the motorway, but did not accelerate particularly briskly. The car in question then moved into the middle lane for no apparent reason. I maintained my speed and passed in lane 3.
I can only assume that the driver was very nervous. It didn't cause me any problem and I wasn't inconvenienced, but it did demonstrate what appeared to be a lack of awareness. Had the road been busy then there might have been problems.
I approached a junction entrance slip-road that climbs a gradient before levelling-off fro a reasonable distance.
One car did join the motorway without any problem, but the car in front of it reached the end of the slip road and came to a complete stop.
There was plenty of space in front of me and I eased off a little. The car in question then set off and joined the motorway, but did not accelerate particularly briskly. The car in question then moved into the middle lane for no apparent reason. I maintained my speed and passed in lane 3.
I can only assume that the driver was very nervous. It didn't cause me any problem and I wasn't inconvenienced, but it did demonstrate what appeared to be a lack of awareness. Had the road been busy then there might have been problems.
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 28th June 12:24
ian_uk1975 said:
Someone should remind lorry drivers of the proper etiquette, since they almost universally refuse to yield to a car attempting to join. Funny, however, how the same drivers will yield for fellow lorry drivers.
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
It's had to stop. I'll explain why later.Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
It does seem to be another one of those modern deseases where those wanting to join multi-lane road from a slip way just come on, often at a stupidly slow speeed, regardless of there being a safe gap or not. The notion of give way seems to ellude them along with the ability to read what is happening on the road.
It is not always possible to provide a gap or move over to allow these people on. Assuming many A roads are like the A1 there are places where the slip road is very short and often after a sharp bend or obscured by bushes and so it is not possible to see the joining traffic until it is on the road.
It is not always possible to provide a gap or move over to allow these people on. Assuming many A roads are like the A1 there are places where the slip road is very short and often after a sharp bend or obscured by bushes and so it is not possible to see the joining traffic until it is on the road.
ian_uk1975 said:
Someone should remind lorry drivers of the proper etiquette, since they almost universally refuse to yield to a car attempting to join. Funny, however, how the same drivers will yield for fellow lorry drivers.
Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
In that situation you have the choice of accelerating in front of the lorry, or tucking in behind it. Personally I'd put my foot down so it's easier for the lorry and easier for me as there's less lane changing going on around me. Disclaimer: I do acknowledge there are some decent lorry drivers out there... just wish I encountered them more often!
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