Motorway, merging lane question.

[MattDB]

Not a bike question but I just wondered with all the well informed highway code aficionados here whether anyone knew the answer to this...

I was on a packed, fast moving three lane stretch of road, I needed to change lanes and indicated right, saw a gap and moved over, i hadn't realised that this close to the point at which the outside lane merged into the middle lane and it became a two lane road. So this coincided with someone merging into the middle lane at the same time as I moved into it. No harm done but furious driver honked their horn at me for quite a while. Obv if I knew the road I wouldn't have timed my manoeuvre so badly but wondered, according to highway code, does the person merging have right of way here or the driver moving from inside to middle lane?

 

[Slick]

Nothing written in stone, but 50/50 for me.

 

[Markymark]

As their lane was rapidly running out and yours not I'd have made sure they had priority for somewhere to go and a bit more forward thinking next time.

 

[MattDB]

[QUOTE 4571958, member: 9609"]was the back of your trailer ahead of the car ?[/QUOTE]
Yes

 

[burntoutbanger]

Sorry to sound harsh but every road I've ever driven on has signage when lanes merge in the way you describe, more attention required imo.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

signage when lanes merge

Yep - keep an eye out for the signage

 

[threebikesmcginty]

As their lane was runnng out they shouldn't have left it until the very last minute - give him the bird.

 

[Salty seadog]

You know what irks me, the people who when coming to a merger point when the traffic is stationary or moving slowly in the lane(s) to be merged into instead of pulling into a gap when they get the chance will carry on to the bitter end and try to bully their way in just so they've got ahead of a few more cars. I delight in ensuring that I do not provide that gap and I think so do lots of others. I hope they find themselves sitting there getting furious untill they are finally let in....hopefully further back than they would have been if they had not been a selfish twunt....

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

[QUOTE 4571971, member: 45"]In my view the driver who can see what it going on should give way to avoid an accident. So if you're both aiming for the same lane the car which is furthest back has the best view and should just back off.[/QUOTE]
This ^^^
And anyone who thinks anything different is a nobber. And the "horn honker" should be face-slammed into something very hard.

 

[Levo-Lon]

[QUOTE 4571923, member: 259"]I don't think the highway code defines 'rights of way' but the person you upset should have just got on with life instead of behaving like a twat.
The British are dreadful at giving way and merging. It's just part of the bus queue mentality, I'm afraid.[/QUOTE]

top answer ...move along

 

[Salty seadog]

I take the points made. I've never thought of it like that.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 4572004, member: 259"]...says Mr Volvo driver, who would probably be too busy tuning in to the Archers or Radio Cowhand to notice what was going on in his 50 metre bubble. [/QUOTE]

Oh I just stab it and steer, if anything's in the way they got brakes don't they.

I'm all for merging in turn and never sit in the 40 mile queue but proceed in an orderly manner in the outside lane and merge when appropriate, ie pipe on the rack, slippers in place and trilby on the parcel shelf, National Trust sticker on the rear windscreen.

It's just the tossers who seem to drive towards a merge or cut across to an exit at the very last second and expect everyone else to make allowances for their pisspoor driving skills

Anyway apparently I shouldn't comment on car driving as I have three bicycles.

 

[Dave 123]

Were they driving an Audi or a Range Rover sport?

 

[Kestevan]

I take the points made. I've never thought of it like that.

Bloody hell...don't start listening to other people's views and being reasonable.

Internet protocol says you should at least have called him a nobber and threatened to set fire to his dog.

 

[John the Monkey]

[QUOTE 4572031, member: 259"]It's really weird, but in most countries, people drive up in both lanes and then give way in turn at the end.

I've only ever seen it happen in the UK that everyone sits in one lane and refuses to give way to someone in the second lane.[/QUOTE]
Yup. And the method abhorred by Salty uses roadspace more effectively.

An Ars Technica article on the topic;
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/07/the-beauty-of-zipper-merging-or-why-you-should-drive-ruder/