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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think I had every right to be in the right hand lane when driving the speed limit on a dual carriage way

539 replies

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 19:55

Dh thinks not.

So I’ve had to do a speed awareness course a while ago so do my best to keep to speed limits at all times.

Driving home on a curving dual carriage way on a slight tilt. 50 limit signs every few yards and a speed camera sign. The lane on the right turns into a fly over which I needed to keep on. So I was in the right hand lane driving at 50. A car came right up to my bumper and kept flashing. I stayed in the lane and pointed at the signs. He kept flashing then overtook me in a dramatic fashion, zoomed off( so breaking the speed limit) then slowed down so ended up driving not that faster than me but still over the limit.

Dh said I should have pulled over. I don’t understand why. Nobody on that road should be doing over 50 so what would be the benefit of me pulling over if I’m doing 50?

OP posts:
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9
MsCheeryble · 25/05/2024 08:45

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:35

So I should have weaved in and out in the run up to it going down to one lane over a bridge when both lanes had cars in because an arsehole wanted to be in front speeding with cars in front of him and behind on both lanes?

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No, you should have stayed in the left hand lane till you actually needed to move over.

MsCheeryble · 25/05/2024 08:43

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:20

This wasn’t a lorry or an emergency vehicle it was an arsehole. He clearly had no reason to overtake, he just wanted to be in front. He then stayed in the right hand lane!!! Why did he have more right to be there than me?

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Because he actually wanted to overtake, you didn't, and it's an overtaking lane.

Everanewbie · 25/05/2024 08:42

Babyonemorekiss · 25/05/2024 08:21

No wonder there such rubbish driving around if people feel it's 'good driving' to move lanes 1or2 miles before an exit!!

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Don’t be daft. You think it’s safer to change lanes 250 yards from an exit? Good grief. So many of you are all caught up with this stay left mantra that you can’t see the wood through the tree.

MsCheeryble · 25/05/2024 08:41

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:08

Quite close. Would have had to cross back very quickly and the lane turns into a one lane bridge ie you need your wits about you so really don’t think anybody should be approaching it over the limit.

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You can't have been that close if there was time for everything you describe in your OP to happen before you pulled onto the flyover. It sounds very much like you could have moved into the left hand lane when you saw the car approaching behind you and moved back again in good time before the road split.

BustyLaRoux · 25/05/2024 08:40

Is this one of those instances where an OP asks if they were unreasonable. Is told by 98% that they were, but then argues with everyone that they weren’t?

bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 08:39
  • hoggers
bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 08:38

AnotherNightAnotherName · 25/05/2024 08:13

In multi-lane motorways often there are very long stretches of 50mph, and the cars don’t all move over to the leftmost lane, they stay in 3-4 lanes all going 50. (I find it really nice and relaxing)

If flashed I would have probably moved in in case it was an undercover cop or something. But I wouldn’t rush over.

Middle lane joggers "find it relaxing"

That's fine then 🙄

MsCheeryble · 25/05/2024 08:37

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:04

So we don’t need to adhere to the speed limit?

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You need to adhere to the speed limit. You also need to adhere to the rule about sticking to the left hand lane unless you are overtaking or, as in your example, you need to be in the lane because the road is about to split.

You are not justified in breaking one rule (about the use of overtaking lanes) purely because you are complying with another (about speed limits). That's just basic.

Everanewbie · 25/05/2024 08:32

DragonGypsyDoris · 24/05/2024 23:17

You should have been in the inside (left) lane. No defence.

The right lane was a slip road!!!

Topofthemountain · 25/05/2024 08:21

Greenleavesinthesun · 25/05/2024 07:53

It’s people like you that cause accidents.

No it isn't.

Babyonemorekiss · 25/05/2024 08:21

Everanewbie · 24/05/2024 20:34

Hi OP. Folks on here are loving the opportunity to pile in with “unless you are overtaking, stay left” Yes. That is the general rule. But motorways split and it isn’t good driving to stay in lane 1 when you need to be in lane 3 or 4 in half a mile. This really depends how long it was until the point you needed to be in the correct lane for your exit. 5 miles, yes, you’re wrong. 1 mile, maybe 2 miles? You were right.

It’s not your job to police other people’s speed and that is dangerous. But neither should you be forced to take a dangerous last minute manoeuvre or miss your turning because some meat head thinks the motorway is their personal race track.

No wonder there such rubbish driving around if people feel it's 'good driving' to move lanes 1or2 miles before an exit!!

Topofthemountain · 25/05/2024 08:19

MultiplaLight · 25/05/2024 07:10

Here's the highway code. You are wrong.

Again, Rule 266

266
Approaching a junction. Look well ahead for signals, signs and road markings. Direction signs may be placed over the road. If you need to, you should change lanes well ahead of a junction. At some junctions, a lane may lead directly off the road. Only get in that lane if you wish to go in the direction indicated by signs or road markings.

AnotherNightAnotherName · 25/05/2024 08:13

In multi-lane motorways often there are very long stretches of 50mph, and the cars don’t all move over to the leftmost lane, they stay in 3-4 lanes all going 50. (I find it really nice and relaxing)

If flashed I would have probably moved in in case it was an undercover cop or something. But I wouldn’t rush over.

Cheerstoyoutoo · 25/05/2024 07:57

MultiplaLight · 25/05/2024 07:10

Here's the highway code. You are wrong.

How is she wrong when she was turning right?

Hoppinggreen · 25/05/2024 07:57

Do you want to be right or do you want to be safe?
Thats the advice I gave DD when she started driving - its not up to you to drive for other people, you just need to get where you are going in 1 piece and if that means getting out of the way of people driving badly then do so asap.

Greenleavesinthesun · 25/05/2024 07:53

It’s people like you that cause accidents.

Toptotoe · 25/05/2024 07:52

That lane is for overtaking only - you have committed an offence by hogging it.

Some people may have mitigation for driving at this speed which would a defence in law.
You are on the road as another driver. You are not there to enforce the law as a vigilante driver.
In any event, as I recall, a person is allowed to exceed the speed limit for 1 twelfth of a mile if overtaking, however, this may well be old law so don't quote me on this.

Lanawashington · 25/05/2024 07:46

BobnLen · 25/05/2024 07:35

Please manage to spell it correctly.

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You do realise licence isn’t the only spelling of it don’t you? Other countries spell it license which is perfectly acceptable. Not everyone on Mumsnet is from England

WhistPie · 25/05/2024 07:36

Well I did what many of the people on here said that the OP should have done, I moved from Lane 3 on the 4 lane motorway to Lane 2 because an aggressive, light flashing driver came up behind me. I'd moved into lane 3 because I wanted to stay on the motorway and the signs said get in lane. However I was then in the lane to split off onto another motorway and couldn't get back, due to traffic which wouldn't let me back in, so I ended up having to go down the other motorway. There wasn't a junction on this for 10 minutes or so, so that little diversion to get out of the way of an aggressive dickhead added almost half an hour onto my journey.

OP, if the signs had indicated the road split ahead, you were correct to be in the lane you needed, irrespective of whether you were overtaking or not.

BobnLen · 25/05/2024 07:35

Bagwyllydiart · 25/05/2024 07:08

You need to surrender your license.

Please manage to spell it correctly.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 25/05/2024 07:18

I can't fathom this because you talk of the right hand lane leading to a flyover and also talk of both lanes merging over a bridge. So on that basis I'm assuming the flyover wasn't within half a mile or so.

Your driving was wrong. You shouldn't be in an overtaking lane if you aren't overtaking. If you're driving at the signposted limit and everyone in the left lane is doing the same then you should be in there with them.

Whether someone else breaks the speed limit or sits in an overtaking lane wrongly isn't your concern, isn't for you to control and isn't a justification for your own poor driving.

Martha877 · 25/05/2024 07:16

P3kingDuck · 25/05/2024 07:02

I said quite the reverse actually. Any speeding isn’t great but I have never had any driving conviction and I’m vigilant now. I would have had to go over the limit to pull safely in front of the cars on the left.

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If there were cars on the left, then you were overtaking? How did the car behind then get past you, if you wouldn't speed up and overtake the cars on the left?

I smell bullshit

AprilPoisson · 25/05/2024 07:12

Same reason you stick to left on motorways rather than coasting in the middle lane or fast lane.
Everyone knows that.
You are being deliberately disingenuous.

MultiplaLight · 25/05/2024 07:10

Here's the highway code. You are wrong.

To think I had every right to be in the right hand lane when driving the speed limit on a dual carriage way
rwalker · 25/05/2024 07:10

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 19:58

But why did anybody need to overtake if I was doing the speed limit? We would both be getting off at the same place.

They wanted to overtake and they were speeding
there speeding and you being in the wrong lane are 2 separate issues

you should of been left till you NEEDED to be in right