Motorway Driving Patterns
Discussion
I do quite a lot of driving for work on motorways and A roads, and I've noticed a few patterns of cars behaviour and wondered if anyone else did too. By understanding common patterns I think it makes you better prepared for what's likely to happen next before it even does.
1. Pass-and-Peel: The right hand lane is full of people following in a long train, often because the one at the front is doing 70 and the ones following want to 80+ but the one doing 70 is overtaking. When the lead car (car 1) pulls in the next car (car2 ) will overtake them, and then pull in. Then Car 3 will pass car 2 before pulling in, and Car 4 will passs car 3 then pull in, etc. I see this more frequently than say car 2 pulling in and car 3 pulling in behind them, instead car 3 passes car 2.
2. Middle-lane-train: There may be a truck in lane 1 quite some distance away, but a queue forms in lane 2 for no good reason that I can determine, as lane 1 and lane 3 are often empty for the lenght of this train, but for the lorry far ahead in lane.
3. Lane 3 "Cushion": Sometimes there will be a car in lane 3 for no good reason, and if they saw a fast approaching car in lane 3 behind them then they would quite often pull in. However sometimes there's a following car, the "cushion" doesn't encourage the car in lane 3 to pull in, nor does it allow any following car to approach and encourage that lead car to pull in. The car in lane 3 for no reason doesn't see a problem, as the car directly behind isn't flashing or indicating etc, and that 2nd car doens't feel the need to move for a fast approaching 3rd car because the lead car is still in the way.
4. Pull-out-concertina: On two lane dual carriageway, a car in lane 2 doing about 80, approaching another car in lane 1 doing about 70. The car in lane 1 is catching a van who's doing about 60, so the car pulls into lane 2 causing the 80mph car to slow down a bit. No problem. However the van doing 60 is also catching a lorry doing 50. The van wouldn't have pulled out on the car doing 80, but he does pull out on the car doing 70 as he thinks there's space. So now the van slows the 70mph car to 60, and the 80mph car to 60. Then at the front the lorry going 51 decides to overtake a lorry doing 50, so he wouldn't have pulled out on any of the cars, but there's a smaller speed difference to the van, so he does. Now all of this can happen pretty quick, but each time a vehicle pulled out it was "only a minor inconvenience" to force the one already in lane 2 to slow, but when it happens in a concertina like this the car in lane 3 has to mange their speed down from 80ish to 50ish without a great deal of warning... unless you spot these things coming!
5. Dive-to-the-inside: This most often occurs on 3+ lane roads, when the traffic slows (as it does sometimes) the traffic density in lane 3/4 is almost always higher than the other lanes, so people have to brake harder and ofter the mena speed in that lane drops below that of lane 1/2 and you can see people making their "dive for the inside" when lane 3 starts to back up, so if you're in lanes 1/2 be aware of slower cars cutting back from lane 3.
6. Traffic waves: This is the concertina effect that occurs when people slow for brake lights, possibly even stopping in the traffic, before the traffic speeds up and lane 3 gets all excited and boots it, only to have the cars come crawling to a halt again. The speed variation in lane 3 is greatest as people have to brake hard due to tail gating, then get undertaken by lorrys/coaches in lane 1, and then lane 3 all accelerate hard to make up the lost ground. Lane 1 on the other hand tends to be dominated by coaches and lorries at a much more consistent speed, possibly as they have a better view ahead, and also because they know how the game works, so they stick to a speed and flow at a conistent rate.
7. Speed-buddies: Sometimes you'll see a gaggle of cars all doing well over the speed limit travelling in a pack together. I guess this comes about because maybe the lead car is encouraging cars to move out of lane 3 if there's no reason for them to be there, and he hits delays every now and again that lets the others catch up. Then when they are in a group they all make the passes together, with the following cars just following in the wake of the leader.
There's a few other common things that I see around (like cruise control overtakes, and cars doing <56mph so lorries have to pass them) but what I'm more interested in is the behaviour of cars when they are in a group, rather than what's happening with one car in isolation if you see what I mean.
So to you guys, do you recognise any of the things I've described? And do you notice any other behaviour amongst groups of 2 or more cars?
1. Pass-and-Peel: The right hand lane is full of people following in a long train, often because the one at the front is doing 70 and the ones following want to 80+ but the one doing 70 is overtaking. When the lead car (car 1) pulls in the next car (car2 ) will overtake them, and then pull in. Then Car 3 will pass car 2 before pulling in, and Car 4 will passs car 3 then pull in, etc. I see this more frequently than say car 2 pulling in and car 3 pulling in behind them, instead car 3 passes car 2.
2. Middle-lane-train: There may be a truck in lane 1 quite some distance away, but a queue forms in lane 2 for no good reason that I can determine, as lane 1 and lane 3 are often empty for the lenght of this train, but for the lorry far ahead in lane.
3. Lane 3 "Cushion": Sometimes there will be a car in lane 3 for no good reason, and if they saw a fast approaching car in lane 3 behind them then they would quite often pull in. However sometimes there's a following car, the "cushion" doesn't encourage the car in lane 3 to pull in, nor does it allow any following car to approach and encourage that lead car to pull in. The car in lane 3 for no reason doesn't see a problem, as the car directly behind isn't flashing or indicating etc, and that 2nd car doens't feel the need to move for a fast approaching 3rd car because the lead car is still in the way.
4. Pull-out-concertina: On two lane dual carriageway, a car in lane 2 doing about 80, approaching another car in lane 1 doing about 70. The car in lane 1 is catching a van who's doing about 60, so the car pulls into lane 2 causing the 80mph car to slow down a bit. No problem. However the van doing 60 is also catching a lorry doing 50. The van wouldn't have pulled out on the car doing 80, but he does pull out on the car doing 70 as he thinks there's space. So now the van slows the 70mph car to 60, and the 80mph car to 60. Then at the front the lorry going 51 decides to overtake a lorry doing 50, so he wouldn't have pulled out on any of the cars, but there's a smaller speed difference to the van, so he does. Now all of this can happen pretty quick, but each time a vehicle pulled out it was "only a minor inconvenience" to force the one already in lane 2 to slow, but when it happens in a concertina like this the car in lane 3 has to mange their speed down from 80ish to 50ish without a great deal of warning... unless you spot these things coming!
5. Dive-to-the-inside: This most often occurs on 3+ lane roads, when the traffic slows (as it does sometimes) the traffic density in lane 3/4 is almost always higher than the other lanes, so people have to brake harder and ofter the mena speed in that lane drops below that of lane 1/2 and you can see people making their "dive for the inside" when lane 3 starts to back up, so if you're in lanes 1/2 be aware of slower cars cutting back from lane 3.
6. Traffic waves: This is the concertina effect that occurs when people slow for brake lights, possibly even stopping in the traffic, before the traffic speeds up and lane 3 gets all excited and boots it, only to have the cars come crawling to a halt again. The speed variation in lane 3 is greatest as people have to brake hard due to tail gating, then get undertaken by lorrys/coaches in lane 1, and then lane 3 all accelerate hard to make up the lost ground. Lane 1 on the other hand tends to be dominated by coaches and lorries at a much more consistent speed, possibly as they have a better view ahead, and also because they know how the game works, so they stick to a speed and flow at a conistent rate.
7. Speed-buddies: Sometimes you'll see a gaggle of cars all doing well over the speed limit travelling in a pack together. I guess this comes about because maybe the lead car is encouraging cars to move out of lane 3 if there's no reason for them to be there, and he hits delays every now and again that lets the others catch up. Then when they are in a group they all make the passes together, with the following cars just following in the wake of the leader.
There's a few other common things that I see around (like cruise control overtakes, and cars doing <56mph so lorries have to pass them) but what I'm more interested in is the behaviour of cars when they are in a group, rather than what's happening with one car in isolation if you see what I mean.
So to you guys, do you recognise any of the things I've described? And do you notice any other behaviour amongst groups of 2 or more cars?
One I've noticed:
The bumper sticker. This tends to happen on long, deserted stretches of motorway like the M6 north of Preston and the M74 south of about Larkhall. You're tooling along at about 70 in lane 1 with the cruise on, when you come across another car in front doing 60-65. You overtake it & drop into lane 1 in front of it. It then sticks to your bumper for the next 10-15 miles, overtaking HGVs etc as you do & always sticking behind you. Eventually it'll overtake and disappear. It almost seems like the driver wants company on the empty road
The bumper sticker. This tends to happen on long, deserted stretches of motorway like the M6 north of Preston and the M74 south of about Larkhall. You're tooling along at about 70 in lane 1 with the cruise on, when you come across another car in front doing 60-65. You overtake it & drop into lane 1 in front of it. It then sticks to your bumper for the next 10-15 miles, overtaking HGVs etc as you do & always sticking behind you. Eventually it'll overtake and disappear. It almost seems like the driver wants company on the empty road
Deleted my original post as im apparently too stupid to understand the thread :<.
Only other one i can think of is where one car is obviously following the other one, and has no idea where they are or where they are going, so they stick to the other car like glue. From a distance the way they change lanes makes them look like one of those bendy buses.
If you want to be a complete a
hole, find a way (safely!) to get in-between them, and observe the sheer navigational terror in your rear-view 
Only other one i can think of is where one car is obviously following the other one, and has no idea where they are or where they are going, so they stick to the other car like glue. From a distance the way they change lanes makes them look like one of those bendy buses.
If you want to be a complete a
hole, find a way (safely!) to get in-between them, and observe the sheer navigational terror in your rear-view Hudson said:
Deleted my original post as im apparently too stupid to understand the thread :<.
Sorry if I've not explained things clearly enough, in the OP, it would have been better to use diagrams or an animation, but I don't have the facilities for that - so we're relying on my description instead!!There's the "can't get out of lane 2" - you can be in lane 2 overtaking something in lane 1 of a three lane motorway, and a car will approach from behind and tailgate you, even though lane 3 is completely clear. Then when you move back into lane 1, they proceed to overtake and remain in lane 2 instead of pulling in in front of you.
king arthur said:
There's the "can't get out of lane 2" - you can be in lane 2 overtaking something in lane 1 of a three lane motorway, and a car will approach from behind and tailgate you, even though lane 3 is completely clear. Then when you move back into lane 1, they proceed to overtake and remain in lane 2 instead of pulling in in front of you.
Yes, that's a good one too. I've seen these people who will drive at a certain speed in lane 2, and when they come up behind something in lane 2 going slower they will not use a clear lane 3 to make the pass. Instead they wait for whatever's in their way in lane 2 to return to lane 1, and then speed up again. I could understand if lane 3 was full, or contained much faster traffic, but yeah this happens even when lane 3 is empty.mrmr96 said:
king arthur said:
There's the "can't get out of lane 2" - you can be in lane 2 overtaking something in lane 1 of a three lane motorway, and a car will approach from behind and tailgate you, even though lane 3 is completely clear. Then when you move back into lane 1, they proceed to overtake and remain in lane 2 instead of pulling in in front of you.
Yes, that's a good one too. I've seen these people who will drive at a certain speed in lane 2, and when they come up behind something in lane 2 going slower they will not use a clear lane 3 to make the pass. Instead they wait for whatever's in their way in lane 2 to return to lane 1, and then speed up again. I could understand if lane 3 was full, or contained much faster traffic, but yeah this happens even when lane 3 is empty.mrmr96 said:
1. Pass-and-Peel: The right hand lane is full of people following in a long train, often because the one at the front is doing 70 and the ones following want to 80+ but the one doing 70 is overtaking. When the lead car (car 1) pulls in the next car (car2 ) will overtake them, and then pull in. Then Car 3 will pass car 2 before pulling in, and Car 4 will passs car 3 then pull in, etc. I see this more frequently than say car 2 pulling in and car 3 pulling in behind them, instead car 3 passes car
I see this a lot, often on approach to slip roads (or roundabouts on dual carriageways) and nearly always when the gap in front of car 1 is smaller than the one behind it.An equally common scenario is for car 2 not to pass car 1 but to stay in lane 2 and either a)sit alongside or slightly behind or c) overtake at .001 mph more.
The woman driving the bmw her husband bought for her. She is far to close to the steering wheel, and tailgates you. This makes you angry, and in your head you replay scenes of getting out a chainsaw and sawing off her back wheels, at approx 75mph with your head sticking out the window. Eventually she disapears and you feel calm again.
The lane 1 brain dead mong, all too common. You can see that they're quickly gaining on a lorry but apparently they haven't notice. Many a time when the speed differential has been low I've eased off and given a flash to suggest they can move out if they want, but usually they fail to spot that too and choose to dab/slam on the brakes (dependent on speed and just how little attention they've been paying) and move out after you. Sometimes they just stay where they are at their new slower speed. Dimwits.
mrmr96 said:
king arthur said:
There's the "can't get out of lane 2" - you can be in lane 2 overtaking something in lane 1 of a three lane motorway, and a car will approach from behind and tailgate you, even though lane 3 is completely clear. Then when you move back into lane 1, they proceed to overtake and remain in lane 2 instead of pulling in in front of you.
Yes, that's a good one too. I've seen these people who will drive at a certain speed in lane 2, and when they come up behind something in lane 2 going slower they will not use a clear lane 3 to make the pass. Instead they wait for whatever's in their way in lane 2 to return to lane 1, and then speed up again. I could understand if lane 3 was full, or contained much faster traffic, but yeah this happens even when lane 3 is empty.The person who after you move over from lane 2 to 1 (or 3 to 2) will overtake at 0.001mph differential.
Typically will then sit on your rear quarter in lane 2 as you are gaining on traffic in lane 1.
They won't overtake.
They won't pull back.
They won't (if possible) move into lane 3.
You have a choice of booting it, braking, or indicating and hoping they move.
The 'must overtake', most annoying when using cruise control. Overtakes you then slows down. You overtake and pull in. He overtakes again and again slows down. Repeat.
Typically will then sit on your rear quarter in lane 2 as you are gaining on traffic in lane 1.
They won't overtake.
They won't pull back.
They won't (if possible) move into lane 3.
You have a choice of booting it, braking, or indicating and hoping they move.
The 'must overtake', most annoying when using cruise control. Overtakes you then slows down. You overtake and pull in. He overtakes again and again slows down. Repeat.
One of my pet hates - I call it the 'Beeliner'.
It's when you're approaching an on-slip, and someone is coming down the slip road to join the motorway.
Whether the traffic is light, medium or heavy, they're not bothered, they make an instant 'beeline' for lane 3, even if there's nothing to overtake in lane 2.
Hate to make a sweeping generalisaton, but it's usually a car of German origin...
It's when you're approaching an on-slip, and someone is coming down the slip road to join the motorway.
Whether the traffic is light, medium or heavy, they're not bothered, they make an instant 'beeline' for lane 3, even if there's nothing to overtake in lane 2.
Hate to make a sweeping generalisaton, but it's usually a car of German origin...
Fastdruid said:
The 'must overtake', most annoying when using cruise control. Overtakes you then slows down. You overtake and pull in. He overtakes again and again slows down. Repeat.
I was once witness to someone doing this to a mate of mine while we travelled down from Manchester to Birmingham. Our car was on cruise, this other little car would come blasting past once it had been overtaken, and slow up about half a mile ahead and we would gradually catch up and pass them. Repeat infinitum until we reached our junction to come off. 
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