Busy Two Lane On-Slip - How Best To Negotiate?
Discussion
After many years of happily merging onto motorways, I've found myself with a daily commute involving slip road which can be quite tricky at rush hour. Here it is - joining the A329(M) northbound at the Coppid Beech roundabout near Bracknell. I know it looks like no big deal, please stay with me!
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4150571,-0.80275...
As you can see, there are two lanes on the slip road and the lane markings stop almost with simultaneously with the start of the merging area. It's uphill and poorly sighted. Fairly short merge area, but the slip itself is long so getting up to speed isn't a problem. The entry to the slip is a traffic light controlled roundabout.
Intended use (please correct me if I'm wrong): Vehicles exit roundabout using either lane. Those in Lane 2 overtake slower vehicles if they wish, then merge into Lane 1 of the slip road well before the merge point and everyone can safely merge onto the motorway using the full length of the merging area.
Actual use at rush hour: Two lanes of dense traffic moving up the slip road side by side at speed, very little attempt to create space or single out so lots of neck-and-neck vehicles at the top of the slip road. Vehicles in Lane 2 block the view of those in Lane 1 so they have very little opportunity to judge and match speed for the merge onto motorway. Some drivers in lane 2 of the slip road will take first opportunity to merge onto the carriageway and will overtake drivers still on the slip road or just prevent them from joining. It's clear that some people believe that Lane 2 of the slip road is where you're supposed to merge from, because it's closest to main carriageway - maybe they are right and I'm wrong?! I'm sure you will tell me.
My current strategy: I aim to exit the roundabout into Lane 1 and unless there's something to overtake, I'll stay in Lane 1 all the way up the slip road, adjusting my speed to try and avoid being alongside another car at the top of the slip road and creating space to allow drivers to tuck in. When the traffic is heavy but fast flowing there's little room for such finesse, and when I get to the top of the slip road, there's often a car alongside me, and my door mirror is full of 2 or 3 tailgating cars pushing their way through on the right hand side.
I have regular RoSPA driver development training for work - my last instructor suggested that being in Lane 2 was a better place to be accelerating up the slip as you have more control over what you are alongside and a guaranteed view of the m/way, but there's still the risk you'll be alongside someone, just the other way around. You're also almost guaranteed a have a tailgater who may even cross the hatchings behind you if they see a gap.
I would be very grateful if anyone has any thoughts on how to best deal with this situation? I know there's no perfect solution, I just want to make sure I'm doing everything possible to get safely onto the motorway and not preventing others from doing the same. TIA
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4150571,-0.80275...
As you can see, there are two lanes on the slip road and the lane markings stop almost with simultaneously with the start of the merging area. It's uphill and poorly sighted. Fairly short merge area, but the slip itself is long so getting up to speed isn't a problem. The entry to the slip is a traffic light controlled roundabout.
Intended use (please correct me if I'm wrong): Vehicles exit roundabout using either lane. Those in Lane 2 overtake slower vehicles if they wish, then merge into Lane 1 of the slip road well before the merge point and everyone can safely merge onto the motorway using the full length of the merging area.
Actual use at rush hour: Two lanes of dense traffic moving up the slip road side by side at speed, very little attempt to create space or single out so lots of neck-and-neck vehicles at the top of the slip road. Vehicles in Lane 2 block the view of those in Lane 1 so they have very little opportunity to judge and match speed for the merge onto motorway. Some drivers in lane 2 of the slip road will take first opportunity to merge onto the carriageway and will overtake drivers still on the slip road or just prevent them from joining. It's clear that some people believe that Lane 2 of the slip road is where you're supposed to merge from, because it's closest to main carriageway - maybe they are right and I'm wrong?! I'm sure you will tell me.
My current strategy: I aim to exit the roundabout into Lane 1 and unless there's something to overtake, I'll stay in Lane 1 all the way up the slip road, adjusting my speed to try and avoid being alongside another car at the top of the slip road and creating space to allow drivers to tuck in. When the traffic is heavy but fast flowing there's little room for such finesse, and when I get to the top of the slip road, there's often a car alongside me, and my door mirror is full of 2 or 3 tailgating cars pushing their way through on the right hand side.
I have regular RoSPA driver development training for work - my last instructor suggested that being in Lane 2 was a better place to be accelerating up the slip as you have more control over what you are alongside and a guaranteed view of the m/way, but there's still the risk you'll be alongside someone, just the other way around. You're also almost guaranteed a have a tailgater who may even cross the hatchings behind you if they see a gap.
I would be very grateful if anyone has any thoughts on how to best deal with this situation? I know there's no perfect solution, I just want to make sure I'm doing everything possible to get safely onto the motorway and not preventing others from doing the same. TIA
I'm sorry but I can't be bothered to read the whole post on my phone ....
But ... I used to commute on that road for over a decade whilst at Microsoft.
All I would say is that wherever possible I was in lane 2 accelerating to the speed of the traffic on the dual carriageway so that I could merge onto the road without negatively affecting anyone else.
If that was not possible I would be in either lane, moderating my speed to allow a decent gap in front so that I could move into a space on the DC without hindrance.
In all the years doing this I never had one issue that I can remember, possibly the odd driver just being hesitant and too slow and the odd tailgater. But by leaving a decent gap in front neither ever really caused me an issue.
But ... I used to commute on that road for over a decade whilst at Microsoft.
All I would say is that wherever possible I was in lane 2 accelerating to the speed of the traffic on the dual carriageway so that I could merge onto the road without negatively affecting anyone else.
If that was not possible I would be in either lane, moderating my speed to allow a decent gap in front so that I could move into a space on the DC without hindrance.
In all the years doing this I never had one issue that I can remember, possibly the odd driver just being hesitant and too slow and the odd tailgater. But by leaving a decent gap in front neither ever really caused me an issue.
garyhun said:
I'm sorry but I can't be bothered to read the whole post on my phone .... But ... I used to commute on that road for over a decade whilst at Microsoft.
No bother, I know it was a long one and I appreciate the first hand experience. Assuming that you were simply making enough progress up the slip to make sure you were clear of anyone in (slip) lane 1 by the time you got to the merge point? Ie. that you made sure you never found yourself alongside someone at the point that the lane markings disappear? IME even in a shopping trolley it's not difficult to pass up this slip road as so many people seem hesitant to actually accelerate. I get a good advance view of the A329M traffic flow coming down from Amen Corner so I already have a good idea of how fast it will be flowing and can plan accordingly.garyhun said:
In all the years doing this I never had one issue that I can remember, possibly the odd driver just being hesitant and too slow and the odd tailgater..
Strangely I had no problems in the first 12 months of doing it . . . then all of a sudden, almost weekly issues 
. It could just be me . . . racking my brains to think what it could be.Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff