M3 Nightmare Continues!
Discussion
Having joined at J3 in the twilight of Sunday, I can safely say that the LED variable speed matrix signage (especially that on the roundabout itself) is bright enough to bother residents of the next nearest county, let alone the driver unfortunate enough to encounter them firsthand.
Forget looking directly at them as you pass by - you'd experience less discomfort eyeballing an arc welder...on the sun. I really don't understand this obsession for night-tiime ultra bright LED technology on the roads. It's been the same situation with traffic lights for the past few years - hit a junction in the dark on a green light and prepare to go temporarily blind as you try and fight back with your feeble full beams.
I seriously hope that they have a low output function for twilight and night time useage. Perhaps this is all just part of the on-going "testing".
Forget looking directly at them as you pass by - you'd experience less discomfort eyeballing an arc welder...on the sun. I really don't understand this obsession for night-tiime ultra bright LED technology on the roads. It's been the same situation with traffic lights for the past few years - hit a junction in the dark on a green light and prepare to go temporarily blind as you try and fight back with your feeble full beams.
I seriously hope that they have a low output function for twilight and night time useage. Perhaps this is all just part of the on-going "testing".
Planet Claire said:
I was thinking the same thing the other week - are there any other motorways that go into a single lane? I tend to be driving towards London at rush-hour and the M3 queues southbound are sometimes horrendous. Surely the M3 is the main carriageway and should continue as 2-lane from just after the partition with M25 sliproad, and the sliproads joining in from the M25 should merge in to the new lane(s)? Like you, I feel this will be a permanent feature.
Yes, M4 eastbound onto M25 was built with 2 lanes but now only has 1, as does M25 anti-clockwise onto M4 westbound - and that's before they start the work to F*ck the M4 up as a "Smart" motorway! 
KrisP said:
Its appears, potentially, as if the planners have taken leave of their senses
The latest update to the M3-M25 clockwise junction, where there is a temporary merge from 2-1 lanes results in massive queues on the M3, is painted lines post the merge point, which seem to indicate the 2-1 merge is going to be permanent. Bearing in mind that round the sliproad bend between the two motorways was 2 lanes before all this work started, it seems a massive retrograde step back, especially as its not going to make a blind bit of difference to the 'improvements' made to the M3. The queue on the M3 was the longest I've seem it in ages at rush hour this morning
I hope that I'm wrong with the above, but fear I'm not
This is indeed broken.The latest update to the M3-M25 clockwise junction, where there is a temporary merge from 2-1 lanes results in massive queues on the M3, is painted lines post the merge point, which seem to indicate the 2-1 merge is going to be permanent. Bearing in mind that round the sliproad bend between the two motorways was 2 lanes before all this work started, it seems a massive retrograde step back, especially as its not going to make a blind bit of difference to the 'improvements' made to the M3. The queue on the M3 was the longest I've seem it in ages at rush hour this morning
I hope that I'm wrong with the above, but fear I'm not
I've travelled from J3 to J2 twice in the past three days and on both occasions the new lane set-up at J2 has caused problems for people who cant read signs. To go ant-clockwise around the M25 you need to be in the third lane from the left which is clearly indicated by the signs but drivers cant seem to see this and swerve into the correct lane halfway around the junction!
TO be fair, there was something inherently wrong with the previous M3 eastbound to M25 clockwise arrangement. One lane widened into two, but if you took the outside lane you had a ridiculously short space and time to merge with the M25 traffic, the space being governed by the very short sliproad available, and time governed by the fact that the bend is so sharp that you have no visibility from the sliproad of the traffic on the M25 until literally it is too late. It was a hair raising experience using that lane to merge.
ffc said:
I've travelled from J3 to J2 twice in the past three days and on both occasions the new lane set-up at J2 has caused problems for people who cant read signs. To go ant-clockwise around the M25 you need to be in the third lane from the left which is clearly indicated by the signs but drivers cant seem to see this and swerve into the correct lane halfway around the junction!
I can only assume the steering wheel inputs are responding to the Sat Nav directions (now outdated lane guidance) while the eyes are on the Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Facetime/hair/children/Costa* (delete as apptopriate)I went up the M3 yesterday to join the M25 and it is indeed two lanes now coming off the M3 to join M25 clockwise but then cones bring it down to 1. I can't see them keeping it like this as it's causing traffic from J3-2 to slow to a crawl at most times of day.
I can see from the Traffic England website that it's been like that most of this morning. The traffic on the M25 is flowing well in that direction, so the slowdown is obviously being caused by drivers who can't or won't merge in turn.
I can see from the Traffic England website that it's been like that most of this morning. The traffic on the M25 is flowing well in that direction, so the slowdown is obviously being caused by drivers who can't or won't merge in turn.
I do it all the time in the 50 areas. Better than sitting behind someone for miles with other lanes clear.
These issues always remind me of Clarkson many years ago who stood on a bridge over the M25 and showed the new 4th lane they had added. He said 'The problem is that they've built it on the wrong side.' and I knew exactly what he meant. Many people see it as an additional 'slow lane' and so stay in lane 3 and 4 now.
These issues always remind me of Clarkson many years ago who stood on a bridge over the M25 and showed the new 4th lane they had added. He said 'The problem is that they've built it on the wrong side.' and I knew exactly what he meant. Many people see it as an additional 'slow lane' and so stay in lane 3 and 4 now.
ts- you are allowed to use the inside lane' would do fine....JackReacher said:
The lane discipline on the M3 is just terrible, worse now with the 4 lanes. The number of cars that just sit in lanes 2 and 3 regardless of other cars is ridiculous. It seems to have led to a bit of a free for all as cars often undertake.
I noticed that today. Synonymous with UK motorways....It seems to work like this for most people:
1. Join motorway. Signal is optional.
2. Choose a lane between 2 and 4. Do not use 1 as that's the one for lorries/slow drivers/caravans.
3. Stay in your chosen lane whatever happens. It's safer and avoids the need to look in mirrors/use signal/use brain (if present).
4. If limit is 50, try and drive at 49-51 unless there's a slight incline in which case the car seems to slow down, which is weird.
5. When approx. 50 yards from your exit, find a gap smaller than your vehicle and try and move into it avoiding use of signals whenever possible.
6. Go home and complain to anyone who listens about all the bad driving you saw on your way home.
1. Join motorway. Signal is optional.
2. Choose a lane between 2 and 4. Do not use 1 as that's the one for lorries/slow drivers/caravans.
3. Stay in your chosen lane whatever happens. It's safer and avoids the need to look in mirrors/use signal/use brain (if present).
4. If limit is 50, try and drive at 49-51 unless there's a slight incline in which case the car seems to slow down, which is weird.
5. When approx. 50 yards from your exit, find a gap smaller than your vehicle and try and move into it avoiding use of signals whenever possible.
6. Go home and complain to anyone who listens about all the bad driving you saw on your way home.
FurtiveFreddy said:
It seems to work like this for most people:
1. Join motorway. Signal is optional.
2. Choose a lane between 2 and 4. Do not use 1 as that's the one for lorries/slow drivers/caravans.
3. Stay in your chosen lane whatever happens. It's safer and avoids the need to look in mirrors/use signal/use brain (if present).
4. If limit is 50, try and drive at 49-51 unless there's a slight incline in which case the car seems to slow down, which is weird.
5. When approx. 50 yards from your exit, find a gap smaller than your vehicle and try and move into it avoiding use of signals whenever possible.
6. Go home and complain to anyone who listens about all the bad driving you saw on your way home.
I would add:-1. Join motorway. Signal is optional.
2. Choose a lane between 2 and 4. Do not use 1 as that's the one for lorries/slow drivers/caravans.
3. Stay in your chosen lane whatever happens. It's safer and avoids the need to look in mirrors/use signal/use brain (if present).
4. If limit is 50, try and drive at 49-51 unless there's a slight incline in which case the car seems to slow down, which is weird.
5. When approx. 50 yards from your exit, find a gap smaller than your vehicle and try and move into it avoiding use of signals whenever possible.
6. Go home and complain to anyone who listens about all the bad driving you saw on your way home.
If the car in front pulls over into a slower lane, accelerate quickly until you are along side that car, and slow back to 50mph. You then don't have to worry about the other driver getting in front you again as they will have to slow down before they can pull in behind you when they need to pass a slower car.
I find that if an electric signal has now effect on a gap opening up for you it is supplemented by a very FORCEFUL right hand coming out of the window them moving over. It tends to focus the guys mind behind. Amazing how many actually slow down especially if you point assertively to the gap you are going in.
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