Good manners or good driving?
Discussion
Opinions please.
A61 into Sheffield from Chesterfield. Once you hit the surburbs the road turns to a wide 30mph. Further down is a DC, the inside lane been a timed bus lane,
Mon to Fri rush hour only, this then mergers into one lane just before a shopping area. Every Sat afternoon is the same, "bus lane" clear everyone in the outside lane. Now the HC says stay left, so do I make progress down the inside lane and risk a road rage incident where the lanes merge or just queue with the rest of the sheep who have been programmed not to drive in the green coloured lane?
A61 into Sheffield from Chesterfield. Once you hit the surburbs the road turns to a wide 30mph. Further down is a DC, the inside lane been a timed bus lane,
Mon to Fri rush hour only, this then mergers into one lane just before a shopping area. Every Sat afternoon is the same, "bus lane" clear everyone in the outside lane. Now the HC says stay left, so do I make progress down the inside lane and risk a road rage incident where the lanes merge or just queue with the rest of the sheep who have been programmed not to drive in the green coloured lane?
medicineman said:
Opinions please.
A61 into Sheffield from Chesterfield. Once you hit the surburbs the road turns to a wide 30mph. Further down is a DC, the inside lane been a timed bus lane,
Mon to Fri rush hour only, this then mergers into one lane just before a shopping area. Every Sat afternoon is the same, "bus lane" clear everyone in the outside lane. Now the HC says stay left, so do I make progress down the inside lane and risk a road rage incident where the lanes merge or just queue with the rest of the sheep who have been programmed not to drive in the green coloured lane?
That will be you and me in the bus lane then. At least on the occasions I visit the old stamping ground.
You can reduce much of the annoyance factor in these situations with "body language". If you go flying down the bus lane and barge in then you'll raise hackles. If you cruise gently pass the stream of traffic and merge courteously with a smile or a cheery wave I don't think you'll have a problem. If anyone looks even remotely annoyed, then let them go ahead of you in the merge.
It's not what you do - it's how you do it...
It's not what you do - it's how you do it...
Down the "bus lane" every time. If the sheep are too dumb to read a sign , thats their problem. You would be amazed at how quickly I can get across London in an artic at 7pm using precisely this method. It is quite funny sometimes when the "pips" finish on the 7 o`clock news and those of us who are switched on [topgun mode] "break left" [/topgun mode] in unison!
steve
steve
safespeed said:
You can reduce much of the annoyance factor in these situations with "body language". If you go flying down the bus lane and barge in then you'll raise hackles. If you cruise gently pass the stream of traffic and merge courteously with a smile or a cheery wave I don't think you'll have a problem. If anyone looks even remotely annoyed, then let them go ahead of you in the merge.
It's not what you do - it's how you do it...
Absolutely spot on, there is a lot to be said for good car body language.
Roll down the inside wait at the start of the queing area with car parallel to other lane and indicate. Wait until someone lets you in and :wave:
Works every time and you rarely wait two or three before someone lets you in.
Spot on SafeSpeed
I always abide by this terminology.
IMO if I have "right of way" merging I throw it out the window.
Before the flaming and limited personal abuse starts on that above line (people always assume the negative
) let me explain
If I am coming down the outside for a merge point, I will do it at a mediocre speed, come to the end, slow down and indicate as I approaching the end and wait until someone is going to LET me in. Its a joint effort and nothing pisses me off more than drivers coming down the outside "expecting" to be let in because they have the "right" to be there.
Respect and politeness cost nothing and they are a two way motion. If more people understood this there would be much less crap going on in the world
Gh0st
I always abide by this terminology.
IMO if I have "right of way" merging I throw it out the window.
Before the flaming and limited personal abuse starts on that above line (people always assume the negative
) let me explain If I am coming down the outside for a merge point, I will do it at a mediocre speed, come to the end, slow down and indicate as I approaching the end and wait until someone is going to LET me in. Its a joint effort and nothing pisses me off more than drivers coming down the outside "expecting" to be let in because they have the "right" to be there.
Respect and politeness cost nothing and they are a two way motion. If more people understood this there would be much less crap going on in the world
Gh0st
safespeed said:
You can reduce much of the annoyance factor in these situations with "body language". If you go flying down the bus lane and barge in then you'll raise hackles. If you cruise gently pass the stream of traffic and merge courteously with a smile or a cheery wave I don't think you'll have a problem. If anyone looks even remotely annoyed, then let them go ahead of you in the merge.
It's not what you do - it's how you do it...
If you get stuck pulling into a space like that, or out onto a queueing road, or a busy roundabout try winding down your driver's window, in people's eyes this removes a barrier between you and them so no longer are they trying to box out a car but a person.
Sounds like bollocks I know but give it a try, it usually works.
markmullen said:
If you get stuck pulling into a space like that, or out onto a queueing road, or a busy roundabout try winding down your driver's window, in people's eyes this removes a barrier between you and them so no longer are they trying to box out a car but a person.
Oh yes. London taxi drivers visibly depend on this particular technique. It's good to have the window open for that cheery wave and other hand signals too.
While we're talking about having the window open in traffic, another time you REALLY need the window open is when you stop in heavy traffic to allow a right turner out from a side road or entrance on the left.
If a biker is filering past your offside he may be at great risk from the emerging vehicle, but you can stop him heading into danger with a "hold back" hand signal.
The "hold back" signal which seems to be universally accepted is to show your open palm. In this case you would put your arm out of the window, open hand, thumb down. It works every time.
medicine man,
I do the same route as you about 4 times/week and take the bus lane when it's legal and relatively empty, and generally try to be courteous, as Safespeed was suggesting. what i also find is that people that I've passed on the inside then actually read the next sign and move over as well.
I do the same route as you about 4 times/week and take the bus lane when it's legal and relatively empty, and generally try to be courteous, as Safespeed was suggesting. what i also find is that people that I've passed on the inside then actually read the next sign and move over as well.
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