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Original poster

Stressful incident on motorway, scared

209 replies

Nooooope · 19/09/2026 15:55

I've been driving for a few months, no incidents so far but had a stressful encounter on the motorway today.
It was busy with being a Saturday afternoon, I was merging from a slip road onto the left lane, I was doing about 60mph, the car in front of me slowed down so I had to as well.

I got to the end of the slip road and the car in the left lane didn't slow down enough, I felt there would have been a collision if I'd merged or I would've severely cut him up.
I panicked so I just braked at the end of the slip road which was becoming the hatching, he gave me a long beep and I then quickly merged as he'd slowed down, nothing happened but I don't know what else I could've done.

I feel like I messed it up somehow, normally I manage to merge but I did not feel there was a safe gap, I'm scared ill be reported for it and feel stressed now. Any advice?

OP posts:
TimeForTeaAndG · 20/09/2026 19:53

chaosmaker · 20/09/2026 14:15

Middle lane hogging is generally due to the 'slow lane' thickos

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No, that's overtaking. Middle lane hogging is driving in the middle lane while lane 1 is empty.

OnlyUsername · 20/09/2026 19:58

I had an issue happen to me once - I matched the speed of two cars with a decent gap (probably doing about 60) and the car at the back of the gap sped up to close it. Knob. I had to slow down and slot in behind.

ICantGetNoSleepHere · 20/09/2026 20:28

SandyHappyPerson · 20/09/2026 19:31

What do you mean? When I come across middle lane hoggers, (normally when I have to go around them then back to lane one after passing them), there is absolutely nothing in lane one.

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They mean the people who think there is a “slow lane” tend to be the ones that sit in the middle “not fast or slow” lane.

chaosmaker · 20/09/2026 21:19

SandyHappyPerson · 20/09/2026 19:31

What do you mean? When I come across middle lane hoggers, (normally when I have to go around them then back to lane one after passing them), there is absolutely nothing in lane one.

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Because they think the left hand lane is the slow one and therefore they think they must be in one of the overtaking lanes. Usually the 3rd one of a 4 lane motorway. Don't get me started on that section of the M5....
Also they usually don't pull in after they've been overtaken. How do those people ever pull off?

Doris86 · 21/09/2026 12:56

@Nooooope

“I got to the end of the slip road and the car in the left lane didn’t slow down enough”

You shouldn’t be relying on cars to let you in. It’s entirely your responsibility to join safely, adjusting your speed as necessary to slot into a gap.

The problems come when you get ‘niceholes’ who slow down to let you in. This can cause danger and confusion, where one person is following the Highway Code and another is making up their own rules.

I had this a few weeks ago. Joining a motorway and car on inside lane. I slowed down intending to slot into a big gap behind the car. They started slowing down too to let me me in, and they ended up coming to a virtual stop on the motorway. They then proceeded to angrily honk their horn and flash their lights at me. WTF? They were the ones that nearly caused a pile up by slowing down so much. If they had carried on at a steady speed then I would have safely slotted in behind them - as per the Highway code.

Doris86 · 21/09/2026 16:09

croisette · 19/09/2026 16:05

If someone is barrelling at 70 in the slow lane it’s not always possible to follow that to the letter! Fact the guy had a heavy hand on the horn suggests he wasn’t making it easy either.

like others I move to the middle or adjust my speed when I see a merging lane to my left. It’s just good practice.

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It is always possible. You judge their speed, and either slow down to slot into behind them, or speed up to slot in in front.

chaosmaker · 21/09/2026 19:16

Doris86 · 21/09/2026 12:56

@Nooooope

“I got to the end of the slip road and the car in the left lane didn’t slow down enough”

You shouldn’t be relying on cars to let you in. It’s entirely your responsibility to join safely, adjusting your speed as necessary to slot into a gap.

The problems come when you get ‘niceholes’ who slow down to let you in. This can cause danger and confusion, where one person is following the Highway Code and another is making up their own rules.

I had this a few weeks ago. Joining a motorway and car on inside lane. I slowed down intending to slot into a big gap behind the car. They started slowing down too to let me me in, and they ended up coming to a virtual stop on the motorway. They then proceeded to angrily honk their horn and flash their lights at me. WTF? They were the ones that nearly caused a pile up by slowing down so much. If they had carried on at a steady speed then I would have safely slotted in behind them - as per the Highway code.

They should have flashed you in really if they were doing it that way

ICantGetNoSleepHere · 21/09/2026 20:35

chaosmaker · 21/09/2026 19:16

They should have flashed you in really if they were doing it that way

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Flashing lights can only legally mean “I’m here”. Not “there you go”, “come through” or “speed trap ahead”.

chaosmaker · 21/09/2026 20:43

flashing is like slang when it comes to driving, here it is to let someone in
Beeping for them not seeing you, not moving at a green light, being an arse etc

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