Motorway Lane Priority Question...

The Mad Rapper

The Mad Rapper

The Mad Rapper

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I am hopeful that someone can give me the definitve answer to this:

Two cars are on a 3 lane motorway. Car A is in Lane 1, Car B is in Lane 3. Assuming, for the sake of argument, both are level and both indicate to move into Lane 2 at the same time, who has priority?
 
The way I see it is if they are in lane 1 and I'm in lane 3 then theoretically I should be overtaking them therefore going faster than them, so if they move into lane 2 first I can then move in in front of them once I've overtaken.

By allowing them to move it dos not hinder either of you in any way, however if you move across first, you stop them from starting their maneuver, therefore hindering them, or you end up having to slow right down to allow them in front of you therefore hindering yourself.

So to smmarise, allow them to move into lane 2, overtake them then move into lane 2 yourself this stop you from hindering anyone including yourself.
 
I would have thought that it should be treated as a "wide" overtake. Ie, if found in this situation the person in lane 3 should clear the person in lane 1, before moving back to lane 1 themselves. This removes any chance of a collision as the person in lane 1 can do what they please.

Thats my take on it anyway, as a very heavy motorway user.
 
Jez said:
I would have thought that it should be treated as a "wide" overtake. Ie, if found in this situation the person in lane 3 should clear the person in lane 1, before moving back to lane 1 themselves. This removes any chance of a collision as the person in lane 1 can do what they please.

Thats my take on it anyway, as a very heavy motorway user.
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The effectively what I was trying to say in a nutshell lol
 
The reason I ask is because on a number of occassions recently I have been in almost exactly this situation. They were slightly ahead of me, but I was going much faster. I indicate to move in, and start to do so, they then indicate to move out and start to do so and I feel forced to reverse my manouvre or be forced to brake.
 
My take is that you should not be moving in as early, you should clear them first and give them space :)
 
The Mad Rapper said:
The reason I ask is because on a number of occassions recently I have been in almost exactly this situation. They were slightly ahead of me, but I was going much faster. I indicate to move in, and start to do so, they then indicate to move out and start to do so and I feel forced to reverse my manouvre or be forced to brake.
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You should be more observant. It's generally fairly clear if a cars going to move out from their relative speed and position to the car in front of them.
 
i dont think there is a "priority"

i always give "them" the priority because there are some shockingly bad drivers out there, im not going to risk them not seeing me.

im the sort of tool that indicates well before a lane change and all the way through the lane change so they have no excuse not to see me. two or three blinks of the indicator before a move seems scary to me as i expect people to just start crashing into you
 
Gribs said:
You should be more observant. It's generally fairly clear if a cars going to move out from their relative speed and position to the car in front of them.
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You should be less rude.

If you read the scenario I described a few posts above you'll see that I started to move in first having indicated. My view is that they should have used their mirror, seen I was pulling in and waited until I got past. Perhaps they should be more observant?
 
The Mad Rapper said:
You should be less rude.

If you read the scenario I described a few posts above you'll see that I started to move in first having indicated. My view is that they should have used their mirror, seen I was pulling in and waited until I got past. Perhaps they should be more observant?
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You are overtaking them, give them the space. There is no need to move in until you have cleared them.
 
The Mad Rapper said:
You should be less rude.

If you read the scenario I described a few posts above you'll see that I started to move in first having indicated. My view is that they should have used their mirror, seen I was pulling in and waited until I got past. Perhaps they should be more observant?
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It would presumably be easier for you to see him than it would be for him to see you. I agree with what Gribs is saying, it's not difficult to predict that a car in lane 1 is likely to want to move into lane 2.
 
The Mad Rapper said:
You should be less rude.

If you read the scenario I described a few posts above you'll see that I started to move in first having indicated. My view is that they should have used their mirror, seen I was pulling in and waited until I got past. Perhaps they should be more observant?
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You've also said "on a number of occassions recently" so it's not a one off. This suggests it's probably something you're doing wrong. It's aslo very little hardship on you to move back right so no one needs to slow down.
 
I agree too.

You risk pulling into their blind spot which is pretty dangerous for both parties!

Always assume they won't see you. :)

Better to indicate and drift in after you've cleared him like the others have said.

gt
 
PMKeates said:
Move in to the middle lane with your horn held while in a bigger vehicle. This gives you priority.
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If you're in a BMW/Audi this is correct as you'll be leaving the motorway within 100 yards. Why else would you leave the BMW/Audi lane? :p
 
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