Driving peeves

Do you like it in the middle?

2010-11-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

Everybody knows that we drive on the left in the UK (and occasionally when we forget to keep to the right whilst abroad). Now, if there are multiple lanes on the carriageway, this should not turn your lane use in to a lottery! There are many of you currently thinking 'I know where this is going', and I am not going to try to hide the fact that you're right.

Moving out to the right to overtake a slower moving vehicle is something that most road users have done through their driving history. Moving back to the left after passing that vehicle is something that only some road users have done through their driving history. I am convinced that there are some drivers who continue circling around the ring roads of the country's cities using the right hand lane for days on end because they moved out years ago to overtake a tractor or a learner driver and haven't thought to move back to the left. You must be near completion of your exercise by now so how about moving back in to the left so I can overtake you!

We have all heard about 'middle lane hogs' on the motorway, and this in no way implies the availability of free bacon on the M62, but refers to those folk who sit in a central lane without actually needing to overtake anybody and who are completely oblivious to their surroundings. People need to be able to overtake, the ability to overtake enables a smooth flow of traffic and can reduce congestion. If you sit at 60mph in the middle lane of a three lane motorway there is only one lane to your right where others can pass. Assuming there are two lanes of traffic travelling at 70mph (which as everybody knows is the limit most reps stick to) that want to get past, those two lanes will have to condense to just one and as a result will have to slow down and separate out to do so. If you have finished overtaking...MOVE BACK LEFT!

Unfortunately, not many people receive formal tuition on motorway driving which means there is a degree of incompetence out there. There is a book that people who are uncertain of how to drive on motorways should consult, it's the same one you should have studied to pass your driving theory test, The Highway Code. There is a link on the right of this page if you would like to take a peek to refresh your memory as to what you should be doing on the road.

All those who share my frustration please feel free to leave a comment and spread the word to people who may benefit from some lessons on how to use the road.

To bus or not to bus?

2010-11-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you're driving along and all of a sudden this big broad line pops up on the road and divides traffic in to different lanes. As most people know, this broad line (and usually the writing near the start of it) indicates a bus lane along the carriageway. What most people don't seem to realise, is that many bus lanes are only in operation at certain times of day. Incorrect lane use can bring about confusion, inconvenience and frustration in the road users around you, so if your knowledge of bus lanes is limited to what we have already mentioned (the big fat white lane line) then PLEASE seek help and read on!

Road signs are a valuable source of information on the road, and as such can help you make better decisions about your road position than simply following the road markings, or as many people do...following the vehicle ahead. At the beginning of each bus lane will be a rectangular road sign positioned on a post at the nearside (left) kerb letting us all know at what times the restriction applies. Feel free to check the highway code for the appearance of this sign. If times are displayed on the sign then the bus lane is in operation during these hours, outside of which it is available as a normal driving lane for everyone to use. If no days or times are displayed then the bus lane is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week restriction and as such should not be used other than in an emergency.

Here are just a few of the problems that can arise from poor lane use:

Using the bus lane during it's hours of operation

1) Well this is pretty obvious, you could be holding up buses at a busy time of day and peeing off everybody sat patiently in the correct lane whilst you flaunt the law and cruise past like a smug git. How's this for an elaboration...an oncoming vehicle is wanting to turn right. They see that the queue in the right hand lane is waiting for them and that there are no buses in the nearside lane. They then start to pull across both lanes to make their turn. All of a sudden you show up, probably speeding too because it's just not enough to have a whole lane for yourself to avoid the traffic. Result? Either sudden evasive action or a collision. Whilst we're on this subject, lets not heap all the blame on to the middle manager in their executive saloon with a spare suit hanging up and blocking their blind spot. The person turning right, yes, you, spare a thought for the tree hugging fitness guru who might also be using the bus lane on a push bike. Cyclists are legally entitled to use the bus lane and should be able to do so without the threat of being sideswiped by your car when you assume that one car holding back means that it is safe to turn, it may not be. Please look again at the second lane you cross! I witnessed such an event just weeks ago and could only watch on in dismay as the cyclist hit the deck and slid across the tarmac...and the driver of the vehicle? Yep, you guessed it, not a scratch, but very late for work as they waited for emergency services to arrive.

2) Again we have our company car being illegally driven along the bus lane by someone with an elaborate and somewhat irrelevant job title. A vehicle making correct use of lanes is up ahead wishing to turn left (at this point i'll quietly say that wishing your car to turn is about as useless as asking a mouse to return your emmental, rotating the steering wheel is far more effective). Should the turning vehicle not make thorough checks on his left side before turning...bang. I suppose it's fair that the blame is shared again here. Firstly, any turning vehicle should be making use of the timeless MSM routine on approach to the junction, and should also be aware of what may be in their blind spots. Secondly, bus lanes are for buses and cyclists so keep out until the lane line breaks for the junction.

Not using the left lane when the bus lane is not in operation

1) Normal road positioning and lane discipline is keeping left unless you intend to turn right or overtake. So if the bus lane is not in operation and a vehicle is hogging the right hand lane then there is no option for following vehicles to overtake. Does this mean that overtaking doesn't happen? No! As the following driver becomes more impatient they may decide against better judgement that it will be ok to undertake (overtaking on the left, not looking after dead bodies). This is illegal and shouldn't happen but lets face it, you should be in the left lane so it can't happen.

2) We can repeat number 2 from above now and say that if someone is wanting to turn left and does so from the right hand lane, that manoeuvre could be very dangerous if another road user is making safe progress in the nearside lane close behind as they turn. This would be especially dangerous if no signal were given or if the signal was so late that other road users do not have time to react. However, it is the duty of every road user to look out for signals given by others and to respond appropriately, holding back where necessary.

In summary, stop being a mindless drone in your car and start paying attention to the world around you. One day your safe driving could keep you and your passengers out of trouble.

Any bus drivers reading this? You're welcome!

Dazzling lights

2010-10-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

As the nights draw in for winter and most people are commuting in darkness, our responsibility to be able to see and be seen by other road users is becoming increasingly important. Although street lighting does enable most roads to appear fairly bright, judging the speed and position of vehicles without lights is still a difficult job, not to mention the many monsters lurking in the shadows waiting to jump out on you without warning. Many of us may not have had formal tuition at night and therefore will not be fully aware of the differences from driving in daylight. Here I will attempt to shed some light on the subject. (Pun intended but I appreciate the poor quality of the gag!)

It is a legal requirement that all fitted exterior lights are working, so check them often to make sure you aren't pulled over by police. Your car would fail an MOT test if just one of your vehicles lights are not working, this makes the car unroadworthy and the police can insist that a replacement bulb is fitted before they allow you to drive on. Carrying spares is not necessary but is probably a good idea. There are many unhelpful manufacturers out there who believe that an arsenal of different shaped screwdrivers is necessary to secure your fittings so it is best to check which tools you may require. On my current car you need to dislodge the front bumper and learn how to grow double jointed wrists in order to change any of the lights in the front assembly. So a big thank you to the maker of my car for slapping me with a completely over elaborated 20 minute job every time a bulb dies.

Headlights
If it is dusk, dawn, night or even just heavily overcast...use your dipped headlights. This goes also for heavy rain, sleet and snow storms, as well as fog. I like to know where people are so that I can avoid collisions on my travels. Do you trust the eyesight of every other road user out there? Those of you with automatic lighting controls can breathe a sigh of relief that you do not have to make this rather important decision.
It is worth noting at this point that the majority of vehicles on the road have an adjustable setting for the dip level of the headlights, this is mainly for when there is a greater weight at the rear of the vehicle (possibly after a family trip to the local fast food restaurant, or if you have luggage in the boot). So if you are a heavily laden vehicle, please dip your lights further to avoid glare.

Brake lights
Simple, I need to know that you are slowing down! However, I can see you perfectly well when i'm two yards behind you in a queue of traffic, so please use your handbrake and lift off the brake pedal so that I can keep my eyes open without bringing on an immense headache. I'm sure that many of you reading this will have finished a day at work with a blinding headache and all you want to do is get home and relax, as do most people queueing in the evening rush hour, so consider drivers following and use your handbrake when stationary. Indicators can also be turned off if waiting to turn, but remember to re-apply them as you move away again.

Fog lights
The clue is in the name. If it isn't foggy, you don't need to use your fog lights! I'm talking of course mainly to the boy racers among you who think it looks cool, when really all you are doing is breaking the law and attracting attention to your driving. Yes, you may have driven through mist on your drive, but if it has cleared up, remember to turn your fog lights off. Again, if you are in a queue of stationary or slow moving traffic, it is unnecessary to keep your fog lights on...the driver following will be able to see you and would appreciate not being blinded. There are many drivers who love the first sign of a misty day so that they can turn on their fog lights, but they are only needed when visibility is seriously reduced (less than 100 metres if you check the highway code).

Main/Full Beam
Thankfully I don't need to rant too much with this one, if you can't tell whether or not you should be using your main beam headlights then you are probably a foetus and shouldn't be behind the wheel.

So, if you have gained any useful knowledge from this article then you can drive away a more considerate road user with a smile on your face. The next time you have a headache, let it serve as a reminder about the correct use of lights, especially when queueing at night. By spreading the word as far as you can, you will reach more road users who may be in front of you the next time you drive.

Signalling at roundabouts?

2010-10-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Why is it that so many people refuse to signal at roundabouts? The junction is clearly marked with different directions and although it would be nice to have an ability to predict the future I DON'T!

Signalling on approach

If you would like to turn at a roundabout, good use of the MSM routine (all qualified drivers should not need an explanation of this acronym) suggests that a direction indicator is applied before reaching the junction. This enables other road users to assess your intended direction and make it easier to decide about their own actions. When turning right, for example, as you negotiate the roundabout there will be other road users looking to enter from the other approaching roads. If they see a car without a direction indicator, it would seem like a reasonable assumption that the vehicle in question is taking the route ahead and therefore making it safe to enter. Surely you would wish to avoid this potentially dangerous situation of people pulling out in front of you, and guess what? Yes, it is that easy...use your right indicator!

Now, moving on...if you've read this far then you are already half way to perfection! Read carefully though, because here is the tricky bit.

Signalling to exit

Taking time out from your busy schedule of steering to apply (or change) your direction indicator and show your intention to leave the roundabout would seem like a fairly straight forward activity, but for some this chore would seem immensely difficult. The correct time to indicate left is as you pass the last exit prior to your desired route. This will show other road users at your exit that you are no longer continuing around the junction but are in fact leaving at the next exit, therefore allowing drivers waiting patiently to make a confident decision to enter the roundabout and make good progress to their wife and kids at home (hopefully with tea on the table).

You may now be wondering where the tricky bit was and here's an update on that...there isn't one! Please consider your signals carefully the next time you are driving. Not only will it help to keep you, your passengers and those around you safe, but you will not give others cause to curse your ignorance.

Many thanks:-)