Motorway sliproad, stay same speed, move over or slow down?

[WyclefJohn]

This is more of a question about what do most people do, rather than what is reasonable.

Yesterday, I was driving up a sliproad to join a motorway, and I saw what looked like I big gap in front of a van, but I was going a bit slower (maybe 5mph or so, although I was getting faster), so the van was gaining on me a bit. I was fully expecting him to slow down a touch and let me in, and I was getting a bit nervous as I thought I would have to brake sharply. Eventually they did and no problem, but I could have caused an accident, but my strategy hinged on the strategy of the other driver (or player, it's a bit like game theory).

My DP and I then had a conversation about what is the reasonable thing to do as the driver on the motorway in the similar situation. If you're on the main road, and you see a car coming on, you're going to clash, there are three strategies

1. Move over if there's space
2. Slow down
3. Keep going at normal speed, and force the person coming on to react

My DP argued the right thing to do is 3) keep going. However, I think that "most people", would either follow strategy 1) or 2), to allow someone on.

I think my DP is technically correct, but moving over a slowing down seems more natural. I also get it can vary from situation to situation (difference in speeds, how much braking is required). What do most people do and what is right in this situation?

I normally do 1if I can, sometimes 2 in heavy traffic. However, I expect to have to do 3 on joining the carriageway. You should have slowed down slightly and slotted behind the van.

@PookieDo Mon I always try to move if I can and it’s safe based on that in my experience people don’t expect to have to wait, and will barge on even at the wrong speed and not give way.

There is one junction on my route home that is like a magnet for dicks behind the wheel. I have a game with myself here, where I spot the ones that are going from on-slip -> lane 3 in one single move. I am rarely wrong. It's like they can't even see lanes 1 and 2!

I agree I should have slowed down when I was on the slip way (as I said, I had accelerated to about 70mph, probably had a good 30m or so on the van, but I think he was going about 75, and so that 30 was getting smaller the further down the slip road I went.

I take the point about braking on the motorway, being dangerous, and it's interesting to see the split here between those who take the foot off the gas, and those who don't see it as their problem. I still sort of feel the latter is more dangerous, as people do pull out, which causes harder braking, but I know it's technically correct.

I always move over or slow down to let a car in.

Was driving in a motorway a few days ago (I rarely drive on them) and traffic was heavy and slow so there was no where to move over, I slowed down and let a few cars in but I was shocked that no one else was letting anyone in. I think most people are considerate and if traffic moving it’s oretty easy to get off the slip road (I have never had a problem).

I would move over if I could to let cars join. I would not slow down (nor should I) unless forced to.

If you do what is technically correct there is no room for confusion

Start doing something different and confusion will cause accidents

I do move out where possible and if the traffic is very busy I will try and create a gap to help people get on. However, if the traffic was free moving and there was a 30m gap in front of me, I probably would just keep to a constant speed, as that is more predictable, and therefore safer for everyone around me. In general I do try to avoid breaking unexpectedly on the motorway as it can cause traffic jams and collisions.

It does sound like you haven't spent that much time driving on motorways and A roads with slip roads, as the situation you describe doesn't sound that tricky? If that's the case, the more you do drive on motorways, the less intimidating joining will become, and this type of situation will become a non-event.

ivykaty

Yes. I agree.

Here's another scenario - TWO cars on the slip road.
Car on motorway jams on brakes to accommodate Car one pulling out, nearly causing a collision for Car two, who has correctly gauged the speed on the motorway car and is aiming for the gap behind them.

Also sharp braking, particularly in heavy traffic, can actually cause traffic jams so is best avoided.

I move over if I can to let people in

Here's another scenario - TWO cars on the slip road.
Car on motorway jams on brakes to accommodate Car one pulling out, nearly causing a collision for Car two, who has correctly gauged the speed on the motorway car and is aiming for the gap behind them.

I think we're all agreed that slamming on the brakes is bad all round. But I don't think anyone is suggesting it is. I'm trying to find out the best way to avoid slamming on the brakes.

Well if Car one correctly identified the gap the motorway car wouldn't HAVE to slam on brakes. The system is safer if everyone follows the rules because then there is no room for interpretation or misinterpretation.
If you lack the power to get out in front, you ease off a little and join behind.
70 is the limit, it doesn't mean you have to join at 70. You could just as easily, and more safely, have joined at 65.

I'm trying to find out the best way to avoid slamming on the brakes.

For you to accurately assess the gap and match your speed. Seriously, this isn't difficult. It's a basic driving skill. Learn how to do it or don't drive on motorways.

Why are you talking about slamming on the brakes?!

Anyway, it is interesting to see the difference at least in attitudes here.

For you to accurately assess the gap and match your speed.

By controlling the car I'm not driving?

Obviously the HC says you should give people already on the motorway priority, but I totally agree that those people on the carriageway should make small adjustments when safe to allow others joining from a slip road.
Imagine being on a slip road and seeing fast,busy traffic on the MWay, you’re doing say 60mph, in an small/average 1litre car (limited acceleration)and nobody helping to create a bit of space by easing off the gas. It’s pretty scary !
Also, when I was taking motorway lessons, my instructor specifically made me break lightly once or twice as we were approaching on-slips and had cars coming up alongside us to allow them on. At first I felt uneasy about breaking on a motorway but if there is space behind you to do it I guess it can be acceptable in some instances.

I was joining a motorway last week, matched the speed reasonably well, identified a gap behind a van and slowed a little to slot in. The van then started to slow, I guess trying to be helpful.
Unfortunately the knock on effect was that there wasnt enough room for me to pick up speed to get in front as I was in my small engined car and the gap behind that I was aiming for decreased.
Luckily he was then able to pull into the middle lane leaving me space.
I will keep my speed constant as I approach a junction to allow cars on the slip road to adjust their speed and pull into the middle lane to give space whenever I can.

I still think in practice, if people on the motorway didn't react (get going at the same speed) I feel there would be quite some accidents from people (such as myself in this situation) just pulling out.

But the point is, you shouldn't "just pull out"! When I was learning to drive, my driving insructor was adamant that one should never, Never, NEVER, do anything to make another driver change speed or direction.

AND - were you signalling that you wanted to pull out?

So wait - are you allowed to stop on a slip road?

But the point is, you shouldn't "just pull out"! When I was learning to drive, my driving insructor was adamant that one should never, Never, NEVER, do anything to make another driver change speed or direction.
AND - were you signalling that you wanted to pull out?

I signalled, and I wasn't just pulling out in the case with the van.

BUT...

I suspect many are getting hung up on the first incident. My question has been what do most people do, when they are on the motorway, and they see cars coming on. Do they anticipate and see if they can take action (pull over, slow down a bit (NOT slam on the brakes)), or do they keep on going without any change to their speed?

Given the reality, (I wasn't on the M√(-1)), where cars do have a tendency to "pull out" (and I made a slight misjudgement of distance of speed in the first instance), causing traffic on the Motorway to break, what is the best strategy to take?

The M5 / M6 junction, Northbound, is quite fun for this.

The joining traffic - at least until the recent roadworks, which has spaced it out a bit - has often been in a long traffic jam, moving very slowly, and uphill on the slip road.

Meanwhile the main motorway is often moving a good 20-30 mph faster, often with 2 lanes of lorries.

The 'custom and practice' seems to be that the inner lane of lorries space out and slow down enough to allow 1 vehicle from the sliproad in per gap, the usually another one from the other lane of the sliproad slightly further down the road. A bit like the 'vehicles merge in turn' sign that I have encountered in Canada.

It's probably not 'in the highway Code' but with the very limited opportunity and visibility for matching speed, and the heavy traffic on both motorways (though better than in the old pre M6 toll days) it seems to work.

Most people in moving traffic move or ensure they leave the necessary gap. I would be looking at the car in front, made sure a car can get in the rest is up to the other driver to gauge can it make it to the gap or if not slip in behind me.

@WyclefJohn My question has been what do most people do, when they are on the motorway, and they see cars coming on. Do they anticipate and see if they can take action (pull over, slow down a bit (NOT slam on the brakes)), or do they keep on going without any change to their speed?

I think nearly everyone has said that, where possible they will move over and allow joining traffic to merge freely into lane 1, as a courtesy/general nice human thing to do.

But if that is not possible, the onus is on you to join safely and with you making the manoeuvres and speed adjustments, not the traffic already there which should maintain course and speed to avoid causing sudden jams or pile ups (possible even with slight braking).

What more is there to say?

So wait - are you allowed to stop on a slip road?

Yes. Although it's probably not great if you're a nervous driver who doesn't like hearing the engine scream at the red line and is hoping to move off sometime in the next 12 hours.

Road cars have acceleration capability far beyond what many drivers think. Notably, accelerating through the gears as taught often involves changing up way earlier than is required to get maximum acceleration. And a lot of the problems on motorways and dual carriageways stem from people who don't think to, and often can't, change down in order to accelerate or even maintain speed.

Automatic gearboxes, of course, solve this problem.

You do realise if you take your foot slightly off the accelerator you will slow down a little & can safely pull out behind the poor sod?

And if they've got cars behind them?

I'd rather boot it, hit the motorway in front of them at 80-90 & then slow down to cruising speed once I'm on it. Making sure that the traffic ahead is still moving of course!!