Excessive lane changes
Discussion
Following the evident success of the "tailgating" thread - incidentally, I hate tailgating with a passion - I thought I'd bring up a related pet hate of my own.
Excessive lane changes.
Why is it that so many people seem to insist on "getting to the left as soon as possible" even when that means cutting into the safe 2-4 second gap you've left only to have to swerve straight out again (or slam their brakes on) to avoid the car you're following, often with inches to spare?
What part of "after overtaking, return to the left as soon as it's safe to do so don't they understand?
On the tailgating issue, why to the tailgaters seem to think that, just because they can't grasp "safe to do so" I should also go diving into gaps that are unsafe? Cos it ain't going to happen - I'll move over when it's safe to, not when you think there's a gap you could squeeze in!
For the record, how I react to people diving in too soon is to ease off and open the gap again because that way i know I've got space to stop when the twunk in the other car piles into the corner of the car ahead
Excessive lane changes.
Why is it that so many people seem to insist on "getting to the left as soon as possible" even when that means cutting into the safe 2-4 second gap you've left only to have to swerve straight out again (or slam their brakes on) to avoid the car you're following, often with inches to spare?
What part of "after overtaking, return to the left as soon as it's safe to do so don't they understand?
On the tailgating issue, why to the tailgaters seem to think that, just because they can't grasp "safe to do so" I should also go diving into gaps that are unsafe? Cos it ain't going to happen - I'll move over when it's safe to, not when you think there's a gap you could squeeze in!
For the record, how I react to people diving in too soon is to ease off and open the gap again because that way i know I've got space to stop when the twunk in the other car piles into the corner of the car ahead
Variomatic said:
Why is it that so many people seem to insist on "getting to the left as soon as possible"
Maybe because they assume that when you're sitting up their bum while they overtake, it means you're driving something reasonably quick? Then when they pull over and you struggle to pass, they reach the next car in their lane before you do?Variomatic,
Context?
I do this all the time - but thats because I constantly have to move from lane 1 to 3, to overtake the t
t in 2 overtaking nothing on the m62. The whole "early move" is an attempt to sugest that the MLM could move over.
i know it's st driving on my part, but it really pisses me off to see near a full mile of empty left lane, but be powerless to use it as it'd cost 3 points per car if i did get stuck in.
Some years back, I spent some time in holland. Their speeding laws suck balls, but they have some good ideas - if you are not overtaking, move left. Fail to comply and fine. Tailgate, and fine - no need to pressurise as everyone moves left. It makes heir motorways far better during non peak times.
Context?
I do this all the time - but thats because I constantly have to move from lane 1 to 3, to overtake the t
t in 2 overtaking nothing on the m62. The whole "early move" is an attempt to sugest that the MLM could move over.i know it's s
t driving on my part, but it really pisses me off to see near a full mile of empty left lane, but be powerless to use it as it'd cost 3 points per car if i did get stuck in.Some years back, I spent some time in holland. Their speeding laws suck balls, but they have some good ideas - if you are not overtaking, move left. Fail to comply and fine. Tailgate, and fine - no need to pressurise as everyone moves left. It makes heir motorways far better during non peak times.
I know I should have used a smilie, but somehow I just can't bring myself to
For sh!ts and giggles I just checked the date - NL switched to the right in 1795 according to this link: http://www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/?location_id...
For sh!ts and giggles I just checked the date - NL switched to the right in 1795 according to this link: http://www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/?location_id...
Some Gump said:
Variomatic,
I do this all the time - but thats because I constantly have to move from lane 1 to 3, to overtake the tt in 2 overtaking nothing on the m62. The whole "early move" is an attempt to sugest that the MLM could move over.
If you are approaching somebody in L2 and you are in L1 just stay in L1, works better and is safer.I do this all the time - but thats because I constantly have to move from lane 1 to 3, to overtake the t
t in 2 overtaking nothing on the m62. The whole "early move" is an attempt to sugest that the MLM could move over.MLOC????? Whatever that is, not as far as I know 
As for the post itself, my point was this. Say I'm sitting at 70mph, following someone in the n/s lane and leaving a 4 second gap. That's twice the recommended minimum but it doesn't actually get you there faster leaving less - you're still doing the same speed whether it's a 1/2 second gap or 20 seconds*! 4 seconds at 70 is about 125m, or just over a footbal pitch.
In that situation you can just about guarante that people will pass you (so they're moving faster) and move over into the n/s lane, only to almost immediately move back out again or brake to slow down because of the car you're following.
If they move across before they've covered half the gap, then they're cutting into your safety space, leaving you less than a 2 second gap, and forcing you to react to their manouver - bad driving.
If they move over after they've covered half the gap then they're leaving less than a safe space between themselves and the car ahead - also bad driving.
In either case, they're going to have to either brake or move out again almost immediately, so the right thing to do is stay out in the first place. Simples!
As for the post itself, my point was this. Say I'm sitting at 70mph, following someone in the n/s lane and leaving a 4 second gap. That's twice the recommended minimum but it doesn't actually get you there faster leaving less - you're still doing the same speed whether it's a 1/2 second gap or 20 seconds*! 4 seconds at 70 is about 125m, or just over a footbal pitch.
In that situation you can just about guarante that people will pass you (so they're moving faster) and move over into the n/s lane, only to almost immediately move back out again or brake to slow down because of the car you're following.
If they move across before they've covered half the gap, then they're cutting into your safety space, leaving you less than a 2 second gap, and forcing you to react to their manouver - bad driving.
If they move over after they've covered half the gap then they're leaving less than a safe space between themselves and the car ahead - also bad driving.
In either case, they're going to have to either brake or move out again almost immediately, so the right thing to do is stay out in the first place. Simples!
- ok, for the pedants it'll get you there 19.5 seconds faster in this case, but is that worth dying / killing for?
Edited by Variomatic on Sunday 14th November 16:11
DannyVTS said:
i can't stand people who sit in the center lane all day long, i hope you are not one of these people.
Lane 1 if not overtaking, 'simples' ;-)
Totally agree, but the important part is "unless overtaking". If you're in the centre lane and passing vehicles in the inside lane, you're still overtaking until there's a safe gap to move back into. Lane 1 if not overtaking, 'simples' ;-)
That means a gap that won't require the car you pull in front of to slow down or cause you to have too little time to the car in front. If the n/s lane is doing 50mph then that means a gap of at least 110m or so (5 second gap between the two you're pulling in between). For traffic at 70 that grows to over 150m. Obviously, that's in good conditions.
The only argument against that is that 2 seconds is too big a gap to the car in front, because simple maths say, if you sit in the middle of a 4 second gap, there's less than 2 seconds in front or behind you!
Does anyone realise how much money the government actually waste turning 2/3 lanes into 4 just so that some drivers can turn them back into a 2 lane by sitting in lane 3 at what they consider to be their maximum attainable speed sometimes as slow as 45mph. These same people are also the ones who get all wound up when flashed to move over by someone in a vehicle towing a trailer which is not allowed in the outside lane. I know because I get it regularly, You can tow at 60mph legally but you will get points & a fine if you use the outside lane.
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