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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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Itloggedmeoutagain · 24/05/2024 20:04

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:03

Loads of people sit in that lane because it’s a feeder lane over a road. Why would you need to overtake of the speed limit us being kept to?

It doesn't matter
Loads of people are wrong
In this country we drive on the left.
If you parked on a double yellow with loads of others you'd all get a ticket. Loads of others don't set the rules

Original poster
P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:04

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 24/05/2024 20:02

But why did anybody need to overtake if I was doing the speed limit?

That's not how it works. The right-hand lane is for overtaking. You weren't overtaking. Your choice of lane is not based on how fast or slowly you think anyone else should be going or what the speed limit is.

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

OP posts:
Tinyhattinycat · 24/05/2024 20:03

But anyone speeding is a much bigger walker than lane hoggers

Workawayxx · 24/05/2024 20:03

If it was safe to do so and easy to pull back into the right lane after, I’d just pull over and let the twat go ahead. I wouldn’t say you were technically wrong though.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/05/2024 20:03

As far as I am aware, @P3kingDuck, the right hand lane is for overtaking, so if you are not overtaking, or have finished your overtaking manoeuvre, and you do not need to be in the right hand lane because it is about to split, then you should move back to the left hand lane.

If the dual carriageway was about to split, it was OK for you to stay there, but if you could have returned to the left hand lane until you needed to move back to the right, you should have done that.

The other driver was an arse, no question about it, and he was driving badly, but you should have moved over and left him to his bad driving.

gamerchick · 24/05/2024 20:03

Just move over next time. Don't sit in the right hand lane OP. No matter how justified you feel. It's that sort of attitude that can cause accidents. It's not worth it.

Original poster
P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:03

Loads of people sit in that lane because it’s a feeder lane over a road. Why would you need to overtake of the speed limit us being kept to?

OP posts:
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 24/05/2024 20:02

But why did anybody need to overtake if I was doing the speed limit?

That's not how it works. The right-hand lane is for overtaking. You weren't overtaking. Your choice of lane is not based on how fast or slowly you think anyone else should be going or what the speed limit is.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 24/05/2024 20:02

P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 19:59

I wasn’t controlling the limit I was doing what was on the sign.

Show quote history

You were preventing the car from overtaking. Therefore controlling the speed limit

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/05/2024 20:02

This is one of those times when everyone is in the wrong! Him/her being wrong doesn't mean you are right.

NashvilleQueen · 24/05/2024 20:01

And actually your staying in lane at 50mph and pointing at signs in a passive aggressive way is likely to create a more dangerous situation whether you like it or not.

GanninHyem · 24/05/2024 20:01

How far from the Lane change were you and were you actively overtaking? If you were ages from the flyover and no one was in the driving lane (which your OP suggests as the faster car wouldn't have been able to undercut you if a car was in this lane) then yes, you're wrong. It is an OVERTAKING lane for a reason and you should always seen to return to the driving lane once you have completed your manoeuvre.

user1471505494 · 24/05/2024 20:01

Pig headed drivers like you actually cause accidents

Itloggedmeoutagain · 24/05/2024 20:01

The left hand lane is for driving. It matters not one jot what the speed limit is.
The right hand lane is for overtaking.
If you were not overtaking you should have been in the left lane
If you were immediately about to come off you should have been in the right lane

Itsmyshadow · 24/05/2024 20:01

Do you also sit in the middle lane on a motorway when the left lane is empty “because I am doing 70”?

2Old2Tango · 24/05/2024 20:01

You should have moved over to let them pass. You could then move back again if you needed to be in that lane to join the flyover.

Youre right that they were speeding, but you don't know the circumstances why they were taking that risk, and it wasn't for you to police the matter. Maybe they were trying to get to a dying relative for example. When the hospice rang to say get here asap (dad dying) you can be sure I broke the speed limit. Fortunately it was 4am and no self appointed speed Marshalls on the road.

Original poster
P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 20:01

pinksheetss · 24/05/2024 19:58

For all you know that could have been an on call fire Marshall who was urgently trying to get by

YABU

He zoomed off then slowed down and got off barely seconds before me. Definitely wasn’t an emergency. Would have obviously pulled over if he had had a proper flashing light. It was just headlights.

OP posts:
Growlybear83 · 24/05/2024 20:00

Unless your turn off was imminent, of course you should have been in the left hand lane. One of the most basic rules that you are taught is that the right hand lane is for overtaking only. While the person who was close behind you was also in the wrong for driving above the speed limit, it's people driving in the way that you were who cause accidents.

pootlin · 24/05/2024 20:00

Get in the left hand lane FFS.

spannered · 24/05/2024 20:00

"Dh said I should have pulled over. I don’t understand why"

Generally I was taught that if someone is driving aggressively behind you, the safest thing is to pull over and let them pass. They could place you in danger. It sounds like the driver behind ended up undertaking you as you didn't pull over.

That said, I agree with other posters that you should be in the left lane by default unless you need to overtake. (Obviously, you have to be in the right lane to prepare for the road splitting off, but you haven't said how close you were to that!)

NachoHat · 24/05/2024 20:00

You should have moved, OP. Your DH is right.

StormingNorman · 24/05/2024 19:59

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.

It doesn’t matter. Just move the fuck over.

NashvilleQueen · 24/05/2024 19:59

It's not your job to police others. Unless you are overtaking stay left.

SpaghettiHat · 24/05/2024 19:59

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.

Because they want to! None of your business

Original poster
P3kingDuck · 24/05/2024 19:59

MadKittenWoman · 24/05/2024 19:58

It's not your job to control the speed limit. Pull in.

I wasn’t controlling the limit I was doing what was on the sign.

OP posts: