turning left on red?

[securespark]

Have driven the Czech Chariot (110 TDi) on the continent at an indicated 126 @ an indicated 4000ish revs.

The book says 119@ 4150rpm.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm afraid I don't agree with you on this ban, providing its safe to do so (and I accept it might not always be so), then you should move back to the left when you have finished passing whatever you want to pass,

as I said, I don't agree with deliberately holding people up, i.e. not moving over when this causes no inconvenience,

.

(and I do mean is safe to do so, as opposed to 'the road is so empty that I can slowly drift back without much observation and timeing at all')

Do the sums - if I'm doing 80mph in the RH lane, and the traffic on my left is doing 60mph, and you want to do 90mph, then I need a gap on my left 380 yards long if it is to be both safe for me to move into and to not force me to slow down.

If I want to speed up the outside lane, then its my choice to do so, and it is not your responsibly to stop me doing so,

So does there never come a point where a person's actions on the road become so outrageous that other citizens have the right to try and stop them?

anyway, if you don't move back in when it is safe to, what happens if an ambulance or fire truck wants to get past when its not safe for you to move back over

as I said, I don't agree with deliberately holding people up, i.e. not moving over when this causes no inconvenience,

.

 

[Softus]

...they can then do the selfish dangerous git for overtaking on the left...

Out of interest, what would the charge be, in those circumstances?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Dunno - speeding, plus whatever it is for overtaking on the left-hand side contrary to section blah-blah of the Road Traffic Act somedate.

 

[empip]

...
Motorway Driving

Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are considering action against the practice of drivers on motorways with carriageways cutting in from the right hand lane, overtaking one or more vehicles on the left, and cutting back into the right hand lane.[HL2352]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Although the Highway Code states that overtaking should always be carried out on the right, overtaking on the left is not a specific offence. Use of the motorway network is governed by the motorway regulations. Enforcement of the law is of course a matter for the police who will make their decisions on whether to prosecute in the circumstances of each individual case. Police have the power to prosecute for dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without reasonable consideration....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

overtaking on the left is not a specific offence.

Well, I never knew that.

OK, then, being seen to cut from the RH lane to the left in order to exceed the speed limit will not make it less likely that the police would take action against the speeder, and could make it more likely.

 

[Softus]

...whatever it is for overtaking on the left-hand side contrary to section blah-blah of the Road Traffic Act somedate.

I believe that the legislation doesn't define overtaking on the left as an offence, per se. However, one school of thought is that other drivers don't expect it because the Highway Code makes it taboo, therefore it's potentially dangerous in any circumstances, even if there was no speeding.

I once reported an unmarked police car that undertook me on a two-lane stretch of the A1M, and was told it wasn't illegal, and that the driver was under training for "Royal protection duties".

When I pointed out that he also braked after pulling back in front of me, quite deliberately, the tack quickly changed to "do you want to press charges or would a robust disciplinery conversation with the driver be adequate?".

I plumped for the latter. I mean, I'm not vindictive, am I?

 

[JohnD]

I've heard that the stiff-talking-to goes "ha, ha, I talked him out of making an official complaint"

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I once reported an unmarked police car that undertook me on a two-lane stretch of the A1M

"Undertook" - what does that mean?

 

[Softus]

"Undertook" - what does that mean?

Slang for 'overtook by passing on the left'.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

That's not slang - that's one of the stupidest misnomers I've ever heard, as though half of the verb "overtake" has to be separated off, changed to a possible opposite and then stuck back on, just because the overtaking happens on a different side to usual....

 

[JohnD]

That's not slang -....

yes it is.

 

[Softus]

That's not slang - that's one of the stupidest misnomers I've ever heard

The relevance of that judgement (stupid misnomer) depends on how widely the word in question is used. That it is slang is an immutable fact, however.

I should add that the senior policeman who took my statement regarding the incident (oh yes - it's all on record) recognised and used the same word. Not a justification for my usage you understand; just a point of interest.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

That's not slang - that's one of the stupidest misnomers I've ever heard

The relevance of that judgement (stupid misnomer) depends on how widely the word in question is used. That it is slang is an immutable fact, however.

It's not compulsory to use slang words that you know are stupid misnomers, nor is it wrong to challenge such usage and attempt to educate people about using our language properly.

 

[markie]

I'm in shock bas and softus having a domestic,

PS I've heard of undertook, and say it at times,