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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/115529...cedes.html

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Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

They are both wrong, committing the offence of Careless & Inconsiderate Driving, one after the other.


That said - good on him

Not so long ago lorry drivers started 'controlling' traffic like this - driving alongside one another at the same speed then when they reached the merge point one would let the other in. The authorities let it be known that this was frowned upon and could result in prosecution, signs started to appear saying 'use both lanes' and 'merge alternately' and the lorries stopped doing it.

Traffic flow is maximised if both lanes are used right up to the merge point then traffic merges alternately, but with the mix of the polite and the aggressive in the general populace it never actually works like that, unfortunately.

as pab says, the whole queue is driving sub optimally by not using both lanes.

...but when a clear social norm is in play, it's appropriate (IMO) to adhere to that norm (within parameters, of course). FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

It would make sense for everyone approaching a restriction such as this to allow space between themselves & the car in front, form into lines using both lanes & 'alternate merge'. That way the queue would move optimally.

Trouble is that some berks feel slighted if other appear to achieve even the least advantage ina queue & they bunch up, causing an even bigger jam.

It's not gonna get fixed any time soon...

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Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

I think that plod would take a dim view of the jousting that took place. Both drivers could be seen as driving at least carelessly... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

The front guy doing the blocking has created the drama, and 'lowered' himself to the level of the opportunistic one trying to jump the queue. Well, that's my take  FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

From Highway Code...

Merging in turn is recommended ... when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident.

Which is what we have in this vid.

I think the problem is that some folk don't want to be the enabler of the 'first merger-ins'... high dudgeon sets in... but once the pattern has been established - 2 lines, merging sensibly - it all works, people fall in with the new accepted norm. The vid for me is showing the start of a merge situation where the first ones to try and establish a merge scenario are being treated as transgressors.

Having said that, the merc WAS ploughing it a bit so did himself no favours. The Renault was still in high dudgeon mode and would have behaved differently if he was joining the queue AFTER a merge consensus had formed...

I think. ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

is it dudgeon or conformity that's stopping the initial openness to merge? or a bit of both? FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

both are in the wrong however the merc driver, although going too fast really, is allowed to use the inside lane as per the highway code. The Renault driver is doing what a lot of us have done at some point which is to get frustrated at people speeding right up to the first cone and then ramming their way into the queue.
The people in the queue should by rights allow the other lane to filter in alternately but people these days hate the thought of losing one car length when they have been queuing. Thats when you get the stop/start caterpillar effect.

Sad fact of life these days.......... there is little or no courtesy on the roads, and little or no knowledge of the highway code.

+1 to that ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

I suspect it's not a rational analysis of the losing of one car length that drives the frustration and behaviour, but more a sense of injustice and lack of fairness. Is probably habitual for some too. FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

Thats why I like my Freelander - I can intimidate people on the road

They are both idiots. Also Mercedes man is trying to undertake on the hard shoulder as well!!

Easy solution - ride a motorbike, get to the front of the queue and have a laugh at those still stuck in their tin boxes. They are both idiots, equally to blame for irresponsible driving. Look after your own safety, let the other twits do what they must, get out of the way and for heaven's sake keep calm and carry on. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne