What about "slip-lane sidlers" who force you to speed up, slow down or move over?

Question

Excuse me, but why should there be any slamming of brakes necessary? Surely the purpose of the slip road is for those joining the main road to adjust their speed?

Answer 1

According to the Highway Code, when entering a motorway or dual carriageway on a slip road, you must:

Give priority to traffic already on the motorway.

Check the traffic on the motorway and adjust your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane.

Not cross solid white lines that separate lanes.

Stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway.

Remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic, before considering overtaking.

Answer 2

I decided to read the responses prior to answering this question. I saw a lot of proper answers. By the book answers. Yes in the US it is the responsibility of the driver on the slip ramp (on-ramp) to yield to the motorists in the through lane. Why is this? It is easy to complain about the motorists that are in the through lane, but the reality of the matter is that most people do not come up to full speed until long after the on ramp. One thing that most people are not thinking about is that there are typically other drivers around the cars that are not moving over. The reasons that the person on the right in this situation has to adjust is that 1.) They are going slower. 2.) If they make an erratic move in the merge lane they are usually the only ones that are involved. If the person in the through lane makes an erratic movement (slow down, swerve, etc.) then their actions can be more tramatic involving more drivers at higher speeds.
So why is it that this is an issue. Most people wait until they are at the bottom of the ramp where they are quickly running out of room before they begin to look for an opening. If you are at the bottom of the ramp before you even start looking then you are being careless even dangerous.
One person referred to the large semi-trucks and the problems that they believe those drivers cause by not moving over. You know something, truck drivers are among the most courteous drivers out there. But we expect them to be able to do things that only cars can do. They're about four times longer than the average car and typically outweighs cars by more than 20 times. They spend eight hours or more a day on the road where as we spend about 2 and we are the ones complaining about them?
The answer is that we should all be more courteous of other drivers and we should always leave ourselves on out route.

Answer 3

Its a common courtesy to move into the next lane to let people off a slip road.

There is a good chance that you will be moving faster than them and will pull over to overtake anyway if they join in front of you.

Its the same with a lot of things on the road though. I have to make a right turn on a busy road every morning, and more often than not, someone will flash me so I can turn. They don't have to, but it helps.

If we all tried to let each other out of turnings and off slip roads when its convenient and won't cause a hold up in the traffic, then I think that our driving experiences would be a lot more pleasant as a whole.

Answer 4

Some people should read the Highway code. The vehicle joining has to do all the adjusting!! The old "Courtesy" given of moving over in lighter traffic days has become a demand in spite of no room in the outer lanes in these crowded days and causes a lot of near misses in the outer lanes and sometimes not near misses but fatalities.

Answer 5

I always look to the slip lane to see if I can move over a lane to allow people out. then the tosspots shoot out and cross in front of me onto the outside lane, often leaving the motorway at the next junction. And my doctor says I should try to keep my equilibrium and not get over excited.................... Yesterday a ten hour drive home, and more idiots per mile than normal... too fast in the rain, no lights, using mobile phones, etc. Why do more people use mobile phones on motorways than normal roads?

Answer 6

The Highway Code quite clearly states that traffic on a slip road should adjust their speed to that of traffic already on the motorway. It's the same basic rule as any traffic joining a major road. You give way to traffic already there.

Tall Paul should give up driving. he's obviously a selfish git who shouldn't be allowed anywhere a wheeled vehicle.

Answer 7

frustrating isnt it, you will notice that most big rig drivers do not move over, and so people joining the motorway are forced to adjust their speed to join. as in the highway code

might I sugest a driving test for some of the less knowledgeable answerers of this question.

Answer 8

What about the morons who *don't* move over on an empty road when you're trying to join, forcing you to slam your brakes on at the last second? Oh how hilarious they are.

Additional:
Do you not drive much? Slip roads aren't infinite. By the time you realise the jerk you can see in your mirror catching you up fast *isn't* going to move over into that empty lane to let you join the main road (despite the fact he can see you and you are indicating), the slip road has finished. I'm in the UK. Maybe you have infinitely long slip-lanes where you are.

Additional II:
Yes, I'm well aware of the highway code. I was referring to the specific yet common occurrence of a car not having the courtesy to move into the empty lane to let you join. Simple as.

Additional III:
I wasn't referring to trucks or lorries. More the 80mph driver who won't move over when you've just reached 55 to 60mph and you're fast running out of slip road.

I live in a village and the main route in and out is via a dual carriageway. At times of almost no traffic, you'd be surprised how many drivers forget how their indicators and steering wheel works to move over a lane for 10 seconds...

Answer 9

as a car driver you are responible for the safty of you & those in your car and those around you, so do not be put under persure to move over, slow down or speed up. if the other driver is in so much of a hurry, they should leave more time for thier journey

Answer 10

i drive trucks for a living,paid by the hour so i dont hurry,therefore i have the time to be polite and considerate to other road users, but certain ones take it to far,as if they have the right to be first or ahead in a queue, they are the ones that instigate bad manners, cos by thursday i,ve had enough,then its do unto others before they do it to you, sorry about that but contempt breeds contempt,therefore good manners on the road has to start someshere, but who is prepared to make the first move ??????????? why me !!!!