Lane merging

[Slarti]

Just had an argument robust discussion with a gentleman about lane merging.

I was in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway overtaking traffic on the left and see road markings ahead indicating I should move over as the lane is ending. I start to indicate and prepare to merge into an ample gap whereon the driver I have overtaken accelerates and drives bumper to bumper with the car in front of him. As my lane was ending I had to slow down and merge behind him - thankfully the driver behind him maintained the gap!

His argument was:

I was in the "wrong lane"
Merging is illegal
He has right of way so it's OK to block me

My argument:

I'm using the lane exactly as it was intended
Merging is legal
If he had taken no action I'd have merged safely with no incident but his action created danger where there was none, which nobody has a right to do.

He bolstered his argument by claiming he was a driving instructor. I find that very hard to believe but perhaps I've got this all wrong. I'd accept his point if I was trying to bully my way into congested traffic but when you actively take steps to put another driver in a dangerous situation you become a massive twat.

As you'be described you were correct- merge in turn.

Op here, thought I'd elaborate as a few people have asked, the discussion actually occurred about 10 minutes later by chance. I had been to the office then went and parked up on the supermarket to use the ATM and there he was. I decided to ask him if he thought what he did was safe and legal.

Fortunately because we had gone our separate ways and had our 10mins we had both obviously calmed down and it genuinely was just a robust discussion. It even ended relatively amicably in agreeing to disagree. It was far too civilised for a bit of morning road rage.

Great update

There's some roundabouts near me where it's marked to use both lanes to go straight on, then merge into one very shortly after exiting the roundabout. The number of times I've come close to being pushed into oncoming traffic because the person behind on the left has ignored the road layout, markings, and my indicators and decided that they have to speed up and claim the space forcing me to brake sharply as space to merge has gone.

No - you've got it entirely wrong. A sign warning of a lane closure ahead does not mean you should, long before the lane closes, move over. Traffic flows much better, and more of the road is used, if drivers merge at the point where two lanes merge in to one

If it's on the motorway and a red X, it's against the law to not change lanes.

The survey also showed that a significant number of drivers do not understand the legal implications of driving through a Red X; with 39 per cent either not knowing it was against the law or thinking that it was not against the law. The Highways Agency is engaging with police services in England to promote the enforcement of Red X non-compliance through the use of mobile patrols. Hertfordshire Constabulary, Surrey Police and Kent Police are among those actively engaging in Red X enforcement

But I don't think that is what most people are talking about, I was just thinking earlier how annoyed I get when people drive on through the red X and jump the queue of traffic.

Glad it ended amicably OP, the most reasonable people turn in to thugs behind the wheel sometimes.

Do people not realise it's against the highway code to continue to travel in a lane with the red x flashing above?

the most reasonable people turn in to thugs behind the wheel sometimes.

I'm a pretty nervous driver and I swear some people can tell and take advantage of it. I'm getting better ask the time as I log more and more miles but thuggish behaviour really doesn't help - making me more nervous just makes me more likely to make a mistake.

I'm seriously thinking about doing an advanced driving certificate in a year or so to help me deal with these aggressive drivers and build confidence.

(I'm totally competent, btw, I'm just an over thinker who's still building experience on the roads)

It's worth taking the IAM test LadySalmakia. I did mine back in 1998 and it does calm you down a lot. Worth every penny!

There are far too many two lanes to one then two again where I am and it does lead to aggression. I always leave space but have to break when the car overtakes to cut in then breaks heavily to stop hitting the car infront. It should work well but there are far too many who instead of merging with the speed of the road speed up to overtake as many as possibly leaving a trail of break lights behind them.

The odds of you meeting by the ATM must be huge, I am amazed you even recognised him. Pleased you parted on amicable terms.