Blind spots on motorways when traffic is bunched up

[the_pea]

Posters offered really good advice on my previous question re motorways so here I am again.

When driving on the motorway say in lane 2 or 3, I know you should never hang around a HGV or large vehicle's blind spot, and that you should only use lanes 2 and 3 for overtaking.
However, how do you avoid this in conditions such as poor weather / average speed restrictions etc when traffic is more bunched up and lane 1 is pretty full of HGV's ? How can you avoid being in a lorry's blind spot if you are in lane 2 say, if everyone is travelling at roughly the same speed?

I would really appreciate any pro hints and tips on how to stay safe in these instances.

If you find yourself in a lorry's blind spot in the conditions outlined above, will the lorry have the sense to not move lanes incase there's something in their blind spot?
Or should you hang back at all costs even if it means travelling slightly slower than lane 1?!


TIA

[jchesh]

On my bike and to a lesser extent in the car, I hang back just behind the HGV until the vehicle in front of me has passed it, then I move past swiftly.

[Mandat]

the_pea said:

Posters offered really good advice on my previous question re motorways so here I am again.

When driving on the motorway say in lane 2 or 3, I know you should never hang around a HGV or large vehicle's blind spot, and that you should only use lanes 2 and 3 for overtaking.
However, how do you avoid this in conditions such as poor weather / average speed restrictions etc when traffic is more bunched up and lane 1 is pretty full of HGV's ? How can you avoid being in a lorry's blind spot if you are in lane 2 say, if everyone is travelling at roughly the same speed?

I would really appreciate any pro hints and tips on how to stay safe in these instances.

If you find yourself in a lorry's blind spot in the conditions outlined above, will the lorry have the sense to not move lanes incase there's something in their blind spot?
Or should you hang back at all costs even if it means travelling slightly slower than lane 1?!


TIA

You don't need to drive slower. Just position yourself such that you are not keeping station in the blind spot of other vehicles, particularly HGV's.

[Pica-Pica]

jchesh said:

On my bike and to a lesser extent in the car, I hang back just behind the HGV until the vehicle in front of me has passed it, then I move past swiftly.

Ditto, and very much so.
If the HGV is RH Drive, you should be far enough back to see the driver’s face in the mirror. Also if you are far enough back and they move out, you will have time to react before the back follows the HGV’s front. Also, try not to get level with vehicles in all lanes. Try and stagger your positions. I know this is not always possible, nor necessary, in stopped or crawling traffic.

Be especially aware if you are on the right side of a LHD HGV. In these cases, definitely hang back, and never ‘flash’ a warning. Although it means the same as a horn, and warns of your presence, many will take that as an invite to move across (even if they are not already indicating, they may be about to, and will take that as a signal to go).

[IT1GTR]

jchesh said:

On my bike and to a lesser extent in the car, I hang back just behind the HGV until the vehicle in front of me has passed it, then I move past swiftly.

+1, exactly what I do.

[DickyC]

Another situation to hang back from an HGV is first turn from a roundabout onto a dual carriageway or slip road. If there's something he needs to avoid, a breakdown or something, he's going to change lanes.

[henrycrun]

Assume that a continental plate on HGV means LHD - so take extra care

[RobM77]

IT1GTR said:

jchesh said:

On my bike and to a lesser extent in the car, I hang back just behind the HGV until the vehicle in front of me has passed it, then I move past swiftly.

+1, exactly what I do.

Me too. Aside from the obvious blind spot issues, right next to a heavy lorry at 50mph+ isn't the best place to be for a variety of reasons. I do a lot of motorway miles and frequently see lorries drift in their lane or even across lane boundaries, plus blowouts aren't that uncommon.

[carguy143]

When travelling through roadworks with average speed limits where everything bunches up, I try and drive in formation. In other words I don't drive next to the vehicle next to me, I kind of hang back a little so I can see the driver of the car next to me in their wing mirror. If you can see them in their mirrors, they should be able to see you.