Re: FAO BMW drivers !

"Chris Lawrence" <news03@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Pine.BSF.4.64.0805182216020.36155@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sun, 18 May 2008, MrBitsy wrote:

In the majority of cases, it is possible for drivers to merge safely into
the flow of traffic, without any need for anyone already on the motorway
to
move right. In some cases, it can be helpfull to move to the right to
help
traffic to merge, if this can be done safely AND doesn't force other
drivers
to change direction or speed.

Are you write-only on Usenet? I asked you about how moving over looks
to other drivers. They cannot know whether it was an automatic
manoeuvre (as many drivers would make) or an informed decision (as you
or I would make).

You make my point for me - they don't know how to join, so don't know if
what they see is correct or not. All a good driver can do is move over when
prudent to do so.

Unfortunataly, it appears to me that many drivers now believe it is the
joining driver who has priority, leading to unsafe and aggressive
joining.

In the past you've claimed that it is what you call "over-courtesy"
which leads to this. People moving over supposedly sends the wrong
message to drivers on the sliproad, who supposedly learn that they're
entitled to barge into the flow of traffic.

Would you care to finally explain the contradiction between your views
that 1) you can move over if it's safe and helps people, and 2) that
moving over is part of the problem?

It is not a contradiction.

Moving to the right is sometimes the prudent thing to do *IF* it is a
considered move. I move to the right if traffic permits, will not cause
others to change speed or direction and I see a need to do so. Moving to the
right shouldn't be required in the majority of cases, but it appears to me
that many drivers think they have to move over. Drivers make crazy moves to
the right to allow others to join - not good when such poor driving
standards are displayed on motorways.

Or, as I suspect, have you dug yourself into a rather large hole by
pursuing this?

FWIW, since I don't believe that moving over somehow sends the wrong
message, I have the luxury of moving over as and when I think it's safer
and helpful to do so. You don't.

Yes, I do. If I judge conditions suitable to enable a driver to merge safely
into the flow, I do not move to the right. However, I also plan for the
joinig driver not to have a clue.

I had two example today on a short trip on the A1.

[snip encounters]

Somehow I just don't seem to have these problems, with flashing lights
and sounding horns, that you have with sliproads either way.

I don't believe you do not see examples of poor driving on motorways.

Nor do I
indicate right when joining, as the information is of little use - the
sliproad may continue into a lane, in which case I should stay in it,
and if not, where else am I going to go?

Agreed.

But they do give a perfect example of why you would want to move over in
advance had you been able to. As I've said before, they're not going to
learn anything from you there and then, and you know nothing about them.

Agreed - I do not try to teach lessons on the road, do not retaliate to poor
driving or indeed get stressed in any way on the road. I plan for a safe
drive.

For all you know they passed their DSA test yesterday and this was their
first time joining a motorway.

Yes, one has that understanding, especially after working as a driving
instructor.

--
MrBitsy.


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