Gap stealing

[HertsBiker]

You know the score. Leave a gap on the motorway, legitimately overtaking slower traffic, and someone will pull into your gap. I cut the gap down to 1 second, eg too close for comfort and still people jump into the gap. What's the matter with them? And to top the lot they aren't up to your speed quickly so it causes you to brake. Then I halved the gap, so literally 2 car lengths away and still WVM pulls into the gap. Hate cars, can't wait to get back on the bike.

[Captain Muppet]

Idiots have poor spacial awareness. It's just part of the huge list of things wrong with sharing the world with them.

[buzzsaw]

Not on a motorway but a single carriage A road, had a car overtake into a gap between me and the car I was following then turn off 1 min later. WTF?

[Jasandjules]

Yes this really p***es me off. Especially if raining etc. I wish there was a sign I could display that says "I've left this gap for a f***ng reason"...

[hondansx]

'Cos people are s. Mainly bikers though

[bicycleshorts]

buzzsaw said:

Not on a motorway but a single carriage A road, had a car overtake into a gap between me and the car I was following then turn off 1 min later. WTF?

If the overtake was on and safe, then he was correct to take it in my mind. I've lost track of the number of times I've thought "nah, I'll hold back" only to have the numpty in front turn off at my exit and hold me up for the next 10 miles. Usually on bloody good B roads as well!

ETA: "Cut down the gap" sounds a great way of putting yourself in a compromising position. Remember the 2 second rule is a minimum, if you left a 3+ second gap then a numpty could pull in and you'd still be fine.

[Toltec]

bicycleshorts said:

if you left a 3+ second gap then a numpty could pull in and you'd still be fine.

No you wouldn't, because you would have three extra vehicles in it.

You can mitigate it somewhat by being aware of vehicles being likely to pull in front of you. Still irritating when they do not either accelerate to the lane flow speed or pull back as soon as there is a gap.

[Horse Pop]

I am baffled by this outlook.

If someone pulls out, drop back again. If I think someone is going to pull out I move right a lane (if you're paying attention, you will spot this before they do) or else leave them a nice big gap so they know they can pull out. The whole point of having multiple lanes is so people can overtake.

It's a motorway, not a post office queue :X

[bicycleshorts]

Toltec said:

bicycleshorts said:

if you left a 3+ second gap then a numpty could pull in and you'd still be fine.

No you wouldn't, because you would have three extra vehicles in it.

Then leave a 5 second gap

[Fastdruid]

bicycleshorts said:

buzzsaw said:

Not on a motorway but a single carriage A road, had a car overtake into a gap between me and the car I was following then turn off 1 min later. WTF?

If the overtake was on and safe, then he was correct to take it in my mind. I've lost track of the number of times I've thought "nah, I'll hold back" only to have the numpty in front turn off at my exit and hold me up for the next 10 miles. Usually on bloody good B roads as well!

Totally this. I always overtake at the first safe opportunity. Although of course it does mean some "Oh well" moments when they don't turn off.

[buzzsaw]

bicycleshorts said:

If the overtake was on and safe, then he was correct to take it in my mind. I've lost track of the number of times I've thought "nah, I'll hold bawas a " only to have the numpty in front turn off at my exit and hold me up for the next 10 miles. Usually on bloody good B roads as well!

ETA: "Cut down the gap" sounds a great way of putting yourself in a compromising position. Remember the 2 second rule is a minimum, if you left a 3+ second gap then a numpty could pull in and you'd still be fine.

I get what you're saying but it wasn't just me and the car in front. This was a steady stream of traffic. There was no way of making any real progress, and the turn off was a minor side road.

[Motorrad]

Horse Pop said:

I am baffled by this outlook.

If someone pulls out, drop back again. If I think someone is going to pull out I move right a lane (if you're paying attention, you will spot this before they do) or else leave them a nice big gap so they know they can pull out. The whole point of having multiple lanes is so people can overtake.

It's a motorway, not a post office queue :X

I'm with horse pop on this one.

You modulate the throttle in order to restore the gap or change lanes to make continued progress.

A driver doesn't 'own' the space in front of them.

I'll agree though that people with poor spacial awareness and driving skills to match are tts best to be avoided.

[Engineer1]

bicycleshorts said:

Toltec said:

bicycleshorts said:

if you left a 3+ second gap then a numpty could pull in and you'd still be fine.

No you wouldn't, because you would have three extra vehicles in it.

Then leave a 5 second gap

then have atleast 6 cars attempt to fit in the gap, on my last 2 drives home some blind idiot has just stuck their indicator on and decided the bit of road I am occupying is the bit they want to be in, pretty much driving at/ into the side of my car.

[ToothbrushMan]

buzzsaw said:

Not on a motorway but a single carriage A road, had a car overtake into a gap between me and the car I was following then turn off 1 min later. WTF?

Hmm. I wouldnt have any issue over than as turning 1 minute later is going to be perfectly safe on most occasions - had he cut right across your bows to make the turning then that would be a whole different story.

What I cant stand is on a dual carriageway you have somebody overtake and then turn off with literally no time before the turning (so they pull back in front of you and turn off left in one sauntering seamless no rush move). Its usually by Mk4 Golf TDi's driven by lads that have the seat so reclined they can barely see out of the windscreen or are steering with one finger on the top of the wheel whilst moving their heads around to their "tunes" like stevie wonder

[scarble]

Jasandjules said:

Yes this really p***es me off. Especially if raining etc. I wish there was a sign I could display that says "I've left this gap for a f***ng reason"...

Unless you're planning on overtaking the car in front, leave a gap big enough for someone who actually wants to get somewhere before they die of old age to get in to.
Bloody b-road ducklings.

[Bill]

Horse Pop said:

I am baffled by this outlook.

If someone pulls out, drop back again. If I think someone is going to pull out I move right a lane (if you're paying attention, you will spot this before they do) or else leave them a nice big gap so they know they can pull out. The whole point of having multiple lanes is so people can overtake.

It's a motorway, not a post office queue :X

Yep. It's not worth getting stressed about, particularly as you're likely to be the only person leaving a decent gap and are therefore certain to have someone try to fill it.

[selym]

Not even A roads. I had some idiot of the female variety just about run me off the road yesterday, pulling from the wrong lane into a tiny space on a 100 yard single lane road between roundabouts.

She deserved a strongly worded email, for sure.

[Disco You]

HertsBiker said:

You know the score. Leave a gap on the motorway, legitimately overtaking slower traffic, and someone will pull into your gap. I cut the gap down to 1 second, eg too close for comfort and still people jump into the gap. What's the matter with them? And to top the lot they aren't up to your speed quickly so it causes you to brake. Then I halved the gap, so literally 2 car lengths away and still WVM pulls into the gap. Hate cars, can't wait to get back on the bike.

Here's a thought.

You're travelling at 70 mph in lane 2 overtaking a steady stream of slow vehicles in lane 1. You approach a slower vehicle in lane 1 so you need to overtake. What do you think the odds are of the people in lane 3 who are driving nose to tail at 75 mph letting you out?

Every so often you need to let someone out on a motorway, stop being so selfish.

[selym]

Disco You said:

HertsBiker said:

You know the score. Leave a gap on the motorway, legitimately overtaking slower traffic, and someone will pull into your gap. I cut the gap down to 1 second, eg too close for comfort and still people jump into the gap. What's the matter with them? And to top the lot they aren't up to your speed quickly so it causes you to brake. Then I halved the gap, so literally 2 car lengths away and still WVM pulls into the gap. Hate cars, can't wait to get back on the bike.

Here's a thought.

You're travelling at 70 mph in lane 2 overtaking a steady stream of slow vehicles in lane 1. You approach a slower vehicle in lane 1 so you need to overtake. What do you think the odds are of the people in lane 3 who are driving nose to tail at 75 mph letting you out?

Every so often you need to let someone out on a motorway, stop being so selfish.

White van and Audi drivers take those odds, however long they are.

[New POD]

The solution is ...... to let it pass. Life is too short. Move to middle lane and attempt to undertake them is not the solution. Road rage ensues and it all gets a bit erm gay*

Where gay is that you've now got the owner of a white Q7 angry and the fkwit actually is thinking about ramming you at 85 mph.