Merge In Turn, why does no one do it properly!

[dishman]

Does anyone else get frustrated that no-one seemingly knows how to do a lane closed merge in turn.

I was driving yesterday, and entering a duel carriage section off a roundabout, there were signs informing everyone that in 200 yards the outside lane was closed.

Everyone had got into the inside lane immediately from the roundabout causing a tailback to the roundabout, eventually snarling it up.

Predictably the outside lane was totally empty for the 200 yards all the way up to the merge.

So, I did what anyone who knows what should be done in this situation and went down the empty right hand lane, and merged at the merge point.

While doing this I could feel the seething anger as I passed the needless queue on the left. Thankfully no-one self policed me/tried to prevent me from proceeding and no one prevented me from merging. But, I have the feeling of having to not look at anyone while they stare at me tootling down the empty lane.

But....I must say....does no one know the correct procedure? Does no one realise they are causing an extended queue that is causing far more problems than if they used both lanes and merged one by one?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Because the stupid idiots who don't understand the highway code ruin it and make it difficult for the rest of us. One that gets me is people not moving into the yellow hatch at box junctions when the exit is clear.

 

[Murdochcat]

Because its not in the highway code - but IIRC it does appear in the Channel Islands rules

 

[Alec_t]

IIRC it does appear in the Channel Islands rules

It was certainly done in Jersey when I drove a hire car there a few decades ago. Worked well.

 

[Stivino]

Because its not in the highway code - but IIRC it does appear in the Channel Islands rules

It gets a mention in rule 134.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Besides the yellow signs often say use both lanes but the drongos still ignore it.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

I think the issue is that some use it to merge in turn, and others use it as an express overtaking lane and demand to be let in at the head of the queue.

Driving at the appropriate speed in the merge lane is how it should be done, mostly it's not

 

[dishman]

I think the issue is that some use it to merge in turn, and others use it as an express overtaking lane and demand to be let in at the head of the queue.

Driving at the appropriate speed in the merge lane is how it should be done, mostly it's not

But it only seems that way because there is no one in that lane to begin with. So technically I was overtaking everyone....but only because no one was using the damn lane. Now....I did not speed down the outside, but any speed above 10mph made it seem like I was skipping past everyone regardless.

If it was used properly, there would already be an equal number of queuing cars in both lanes. The outside lane would not become the "overtake the queue" lane.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I think the issue is that some use it to merge in turn, and others use it as an express overtaking lane and demand to be let in at the head of the queue.

Sure but that only happens because nobody merges as they should, if everyone used both lanes that couldn't happen.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Sure but that only happens because nobody merges as they should, if everyone used both lanes that couldn't happen.

Theres a difference between proceeding at an approapriate speed (highway code) and excess speed.

I'm not saying the lane shouldn't be used. I am saying it is often misused, as well as often, not used.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Sure but the lane would not be misused if it was actually used though, which was mine and dishmans point.

 

[dishman]

it's like a chicken and the egg

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

it's like a chicken and the egg

That's it exactly - no one wants to be the one, beating the queue, in the 'wrong lane'. It only takes a few, to start the ball rolling. There was one place I went regularly, where there was a dual, which changed to a permanent single. On a morning, a queue always built up, but everyone simply used both lanes, and did a perfect, none stop merge, 20yards before.

 

[dishman]

Last year I encountered a ghost queue on the motorway. It was actually the most bizarre thing I have experienced while driving.

The overhead gantry indicated all lanes except the outside lane was closing in a few miles.

As per usual, everyone was already queuing in that lane. The tail back went on for miles.

I stayed in the still open middle lane.....alone..... expecting to meet up with a merge at some point, and must have driven past 5 miles of solid queue.

When I got to the end, it turned out there was no longer any lane closure.....but only the people at the front were starting to notice.

I literally just avoided perhaps 30minutes or more waiting in phantom traffic jam.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Sure but the lane would not be misused if it was actually used though, which was mine and dishmans point.

It doesn't make misuse correct.

I am sure you have seen people accelerate and almost race down the outside merge lane to basically overtake, not join