A Motoring Rant (1 Lane Closed)

If everyone would just let one person in zip style then I'm guessing a lot of these backups would move a fair bit faster, instead you get the muppets straddling lanes and almost hitting bumpers of people in front of them to ensure you don't get in.

Why should we all queue extra because people don't go down the open lane *shrug*
 
Drive up to the end of the line, and merge, simple enough.
I figure the other people are in no hurry so are happy to let us busy people get to the front. It's a great service these motorists provide ;)

Sometimes people forget to let me merge. On 1 particular instance, a guy was doing the "I am not looking at you" thing, and continually edging to block me (everyone else was merging without any issues) so I opened my window to give him an earful. However, once I had my window open, his wing mirror was just sat there right in front of me. I figured as he was not using it, I would do him a favour, so I folded it in for him.
 
[TW]Fox;26270981 said:
Seen any signs saying 'Go on green traffic lights' lately?
If you were not supposed to use the empty lane, it would be coned off, no?
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It *is* coned off, though. You can see it a couple hundred yards ahead. That's why there are signs indicating you to get in lane, no?
 
ttaskmaster said:
It *is* coned off, though. You can see it a couple hundred yards ahead. That's why there are signs indicating you to get in lane, no?
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If it's a couple of hundred yards ahead, why not use it whilst the lane is still open? Surely you can see the logic in this, why would you want to wait in a queue when you can still carry on till the end?
 
gurdas said:
If it's a couple of hundred yards ahead, why not use it whilst the lane is still open? Surely you can see the logic in this, why would you want to wait in a queue when you can still carry on till the end?
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And then sit there waiting for someone to let me in?
Yeah, sure, why not....
Sign says Get In Lane (occasionally Get In Lane Now). If they wanted us to merge at the end, why not say Merge In Turn, like they already do elsewhere?
 
ttaskmaster said:
And then sit there waiting for someone to let me in?
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Yes that's exactly what you are supposed to do!

I always skip like maybe 50 cars in the queue, the people at the end have to let you in, on the odd occasion you have ignorant people trying to block you, you might get in after 4 cars? That's still 46 cars I've not had to wait for.
 
ttaskmaster said:
And then sit there waiting for someone to let me in?
Yeah, sure, why not....
Sign says Get In Lane (occasionally Get In Lane Now). If they wanted us to merge at the end, why not say Merge In Turn, like they already do elsewhere?
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The highway code DOES say merge in turn! Have you never read it? Just because they need to use signs to remind people in areas where it's particularly bad doesn't mean the highway code doesn't apply if there isn't a sign!

Abandoning lane 2 700 yards ahead of a closure increases the length of the queue for no good reason.
 
[TW]Fox;26274527 said:
ttaskmaster said:
Sign says Get In Lane (occasionally Get In Lane Now). If they wanted us to merge at the end, why not say Merge In Turn, like they already do elsewhere?
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The highway code DOES say merge in turn! Have you never read it? Just because they need to use signs to remind people in areas where it's particularly bad doesn't mean the highway code doesn't apply if there isn't a sign!
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Not trying to be smart here, asking this more as a question, but I was always under the impression that when the HWC clashes with road markings/signs the HWC is overruled? (I.E the HWC says to use the left lane at roundabouts for straight on but some roundabouts these days sign/mark for left to be left only and right to be straight on/right and that overrules the HWC). So if the only signs are ones telling people to get in the left lane that should overrule the HWC no?
 
[TW]Fox;26274527 said:
The highway code DOES say merge in turn! Have you never read it? Just because they need to use signs to remind people in areas where it's particularly bad doesn't mean the highway code doesn't apply if there isn't a sign!
Abandoning lane 2 700 yards ahead of a closure increases the length of the queue for no good reason.
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"288
When the ‘Road Works Ahead’ sign is displayed, you will need to be more watchful and look for additional signs providing more specific instructions. Observe all signs - they are there for your safety and the safety of road workers.
Where lanes are restricted due to road works, merge in turn (see Rule 134).

134
You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed".

So if you start seeing signs saying Get In Lane, or Get In Lane Now... start getting in lane. Don't **** about trying to merge right down the end, as common sense will tell you it slows trafffic down as everyone brakes to let late mergers in. Even on roads with permanent merging, like the Tonbridge Bypass, it slows to a crawl as everyone allows for last-minuteers.
 
The important part of #134 being:
In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily
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In other words, carry on in the blocked lane as far as you can until you have to merge in turn.

I'm not sure why we're still arguing over this.
 
It's amusing that lane discipline is usually shocking in the UK however if there's a queue the world and his wife will get in that lane.
 
Spunkey said:
The important part of #134 being:
In other words, carry on in the blocked lane as far as you can until you have to merge in turn.
I'm not sure why we're still arguing over this.
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Because it never works that way.
If people just hop into the open lanes and carry on at the speed they were going, everything goes fine. But there is always someone who goes hooning down the closed one, pulls up at the end and tries to squeeze in, which slows the others down, causing the congestion to begin with.
 
ttaskmaster said:
But there is always someone who goes hooning down the closed one, pulls up at the end and tries to squeeze in
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You mean, doing the right thing? :rolleyes:

The merge point is at the end of the blocked lane. The correct practice is to filter into the single lane at the merge.
 
ttaskmaster said:
Because it never works that way.
If people just hop into the open lanes and carry on at the speed they were going, everything goes fine. But there is always someone who goes hooning down the closed one, pulls up at the end and tries to squeeze in, which slows the others down, causing the congestion to begin with.
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That's incorrect. If people hopped into the open lane they couldn't carry on at the normal speed because you're doubling the amount of traffic in that lane and something has to give.

What causes congestion is 2 lanes worth of traffic going into 1. Therefore it makes more sense to use 2 lanes until 1 closes, not all pile into the 1 lane 3 miles before the end.

I will stick to driving correctly in these situations thanks :p
 
ttaskmaster said:
Because it never works that way.
If people just hop into the open lanes and carry on at the speed they were going, everything goes fine. But there is always someone who goes hooning down the closed one, pulls up at the end and tries to squeeze in, which slows the others down, causing the congestion to begin with.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcPby71TNC0

Please watch this handy video demonstration of how to merge correctly and the effects of doing what you do.
 
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