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AIBU?

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Original poster

Driving onto a motorway

69 replies

CruCru · 31/05/2012 19:31

On Monday I was joining a motorway from a slip road. This slip road merges with the slow lane of the motorway (M27).

I had a motorcyclist dressed all in black immediately behind me (very very close) and a red van in the slow lane at exactly the point I was going to join. I couldn't brake without causing a serious hazard to the dressed-in-black motorcyclist. So, heart racing, I pressed my foot down to the floor and managed to get onto the motorway with what felt like mere inches between me and the red van. Meanwhile, the dressed-in-black motorcyclist did an exotic manoeuvre known as weaving between lanes and undertaking a bunch of the cars on the right.

It gave me shakey leg for a while (although 8 mo DS didn't even wake up). Why on earth do motorcyclists (not all but definitely this one) take such terrible risks?

OP posts:
mumblechum1 · 31/05/2012 19:34

Good question. They often seem to have no fear at all.

I would have done what you did, too, ie floor the accelerator to get in front of the van (which should have slowed to allow you to join if you were that close to the slow lane, or pulled out into the middle lane to leave you room to get in)

Original poster
CruCru · 31/05/2012 19:38

I'm not sure the driver of the red van was all that aware of what was going on mumble.

OP posts:
Debeezandbirds · 31/05/2012 19:44

Bikers terrify me. Someone tailgated me the other day then undertook me on a single lane road with a speed limit of 30. I know they're nippy things and believe me you feel like Queen of the road when you're on one. But I'd rather be shunted by a massive car with crumple zones than some poor guy on a bike. Sad

In terms of the motorway as you were the joining traffic coming from the slip lane you're expected to slip in around traffic already there even if they're in the slow lane, they do not have to move for you. Sounds like you did all you could though OP. I do like my hazard lights for stuff like this though. Hazards can mean any number of things is wrong and people do tend to back off.

Sirzy · 31/05/2012 19:47

I that situation I would have been tempted to carry on onto the hard shoulder until I could pull in safely, thats what I have done previously when in a similar position.

Its not just bikes though, you get people who take stupid risks in any vehicle

ginmakesitallok · 31/05/2012 19:48

Sirzy - nooooo don't be driving on the hard shoulder, so so dangerous.

Sirzy · 31/05/2012 19:50

for a short amount of time it is much safer than putting your foot down and pushing in where there may not be space. Im talking doing it for the length of one car not for miles!

Debeezandbirds · 31/05/2012 19:51

"Its not just bikes though, you get people who take stupid risks in any vehicle" Completely agree, I think the fear and agitation here stems from if you hit the guy while going at the speed needed to join a motorway you're really gonna hurt him.

I would class driving on the hard shoulder as one of those stupid risks regardless of vehicle.

mathanxiety · 31/05/2012 19:52

People in the slow lane near an entry ramp should have an eye out for motorists entering at all times.
Motorcycles are often driven by people with a death wish.
You did the only thing you could have done and did it very well. Pat yourself on the back.

ineedabodytransplant · 31/05/2012 19:52

Mumble, it is the responsibility of the vehicle joining the motorway to ensure they join safely. It isn't the responsibility of vehicles in the inside lane( not slow lane) to slow down. Most times I will move across a lane to allow a vehicle to join but it isn't down to me to give way as I would probably be going faster anyway.
And Sirzy, I doubt the police would be impressed if you drove on the hard shoulder rather than slow down.

The motorcyclist can manoeuvre a lot easier than a car and as he is behind, again his responsibility.

Original poster
CruCru · 31/05/2012 19:54

Sorry, should have mentioned (drip feed) there was another lane to my left on the slip road which joined the motorway without merging with any of the lanes already on it. There were cars in that lane so I couldn't have moved onto the hard shoulder.

I would have preferred to be in the left lane in retrospect but hadn't realised that it would be so hairy in the right one.

OP posts:
lovingthecoast · 31/05/2012 19:54

Driving on the hard shoulder is hugely dangerous.

However, the van driver should, without question, have moved into the middle lane. I always move across when Im driving on the Mway and approaching a slip road to enable those on the slip road to join safely. Isn't that what most people do?

ineedabodytransplant · 31/05/2012 19:55

Several years ago my employers put some of us service engineers through 'drive to survive' driving courses as we were doing astronomical mileages.

They taught us to increase/decrease our speeds when joining a motorway or roundabout to suit the existing road use speed. Doesn't have make your journeys a lot less fraught when you join the traffice flow smoothly. And also helps with fuel consumption as you aren't suddenly braking/accelerating.

Sirzy · 31/05/2012 19:55

Ineed - I have done it with a policeman friend in the car and he agreed it was the safest option. Pull in front of a car and risk crashing, slam on and have a crash or drive for a tiny distance on hard shoulder and enter motorway safely - not a hard choice.

holmesgirl · 31/05/2012 19:58

I think joining the motorway and letting other people join is one of life's most stressful things!

greenplastictrees · 31/05/2012 19:58

If you were indicating, the van should have changed lanes to make space for you when it was safe to do so. In theory if it was safe to do so, he should already have changed lanes by the time you needed to enter the motorway as he should have been observing what was going on around him.

Not sure what I would have done in your situation, providing not dangerous/braking limit I'd have accelerated. If I needed to brake then I would have though (probably tapping breaks at first as a warning to the cyclist) in case he was too close.

mumblechum1 · 31/05/2012 19:58

I do move into the middle lane as a courtesy if it would otherwise be a hairy moment, and if it's safe for me to do so. I think most people would do that to be polite.

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 31/05/2012 19:58

loving, yes, I do, when I can, but you cannot expect it. You should never cause another vehicle on the road you are joining to slow down or change direction.
I agree with ineedsabodytransplant.

This situation was the totally the motorbike's fault.

ineedabodytransplant · 31/05/2012 19:59

Lovingthecoast,

What happens if the van driver CAN'T move over? Does any driver joining the motorway just assume he will and drive into the side of him? I know who would be charged with dangerous driving/ undue care and attention and it wouldn't be the van driver.

Crucru, was it the Gosport junction heading towards Portsmouth by any chance? Because the way that is laid out anyone joining in the outside lane of the slip road ends up in lane 2!

Sirzy · 31/05/2012 19:59

The van may have not been in a position to change lanes depending on traffic at the time, however he should have changed his speed to try to make sure there was a safe gap to enter.

Debeezandbirds · 31/05/2012 20:00

259 and 269 of the highway code contradicts you Sirzy. I would have though a policeman would know that.

Point of the highway code is that it is designed for safety. Also if everyone follows it it makes the actions of other drivers easier to judge.

Sirzy · 31/05/2012 20:02

And you have to judge each situation on the safety. I know you shouldn't use it but if that is the safest thing in that situation then of course you use it. If the only other option is crashing are you honestly saying thats what you would do?

BillyBollyBandy · 31/05/2012 20:03

I would have screamed "fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck" and floored the car to undertake the van.

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 31/05/2012 20:05

Sirzy - that's not right though. I mean, I would probably do that myself, but it is totally the responsibility of the joiner to join in a safe way. As I said, you should not make another driver change their speed.

EclecticShock · 31/05/2012 20:06

Very dangerous situation. I think I might have breaker instead (gently), although hard to say unless you experienced it. Selfish maybe, but slowing and motorbike hitting you because he is too close is preferable to hitting a van on motorway.

Ahhhtetley · 31/05/2012 20:07

Motorcyclists can brake and accelerate so much quicker than car drivers which is why they, sometimes, get closer than the car driver is happy with.

Next time I'd suggest just doing what is safest for you. If you would have braked for the van then do so, chances are the biker has figured what was going to happen anyway. On a bike you can see so much more of what is around you.

Still he/she shouldn't have been so close to you