I am increasingly a middle lane hogger for H&S reasons!
27 February 2008, 10:56 PM
#1
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I am increasingly a middle lane hogger for H&S reasons!
Today, looking like I was going to be very early for a meeting, I decided to see if I could get 50 mpg out the car by joining lane 1 on the M5 and going at abouT 56 mph for the distance.
My God! It was a horrendously dangerous experience! Not only had I to concentrate even more on safety, I was repeatedly boxed in, cut up and tailgated by MASSIVE vehicles whilst locked off at 56mph (via Sat Nav) on cruise control the whole car was tugging and meandering due to the ruts in the road. Changing lane was a hairy tuggy experience as you stepped out the ruts!
Wide tyres probably dont help, but I cant believe the rutted state of Lane 1 now that 80 ton trucks have been permitted.
I'm not going again, sorry and will keep my speed up and my mpg to a MUCH LESSER 40!
d
My God! It was a horrendously dangerous experience! Not only had I to concentrate even more on safety, I was repeatedly boxed in, cut up and tailgated by MASSIVE vehicles whilst locked off at 56mph (via Sat Nav) on cruise control the whole car was tugging and meandering due to the ruts in the road. Changing lane was a hairy tuggy experience as you stepped out the ruts!
Wide tyres probably dont help, but I cant believe the rutted state of Lane 1 now that 80 ton trucks have been permitted.
I'm not going again, sorry and will keep my speed up and my mpg to a MUCH LESSER 40!
d
Last edited by Diesel; 27 February 2008 at 11:02 PM. Reason: only one 'o' in too
27 February 2008, 11:04 PM
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I decided to see if I could get 50 mpg out the car
Many parts of the M25 and M3 are now out of bounds to cars in the inside lane too because of the massive grooves in the tarmac caused by the lorries
27 February 2008, 11:07 PM
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27 February 2008, 11:09 PM
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D
27 February 2008, 11:15 PM
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Rutted lanes is a strange phenomenon that in my experience only occurs in our country, it is caused by improperly constructed roads done on the cheap.
In germany there are many motorways that have not been repaired or replaced since they were put down in th 1940's.
In southern France and Spain they don't suffer this and they have much hotter weather and similar traffic to us.
In germany there are many motorways that have not been repaired or replaced since they were put down in th 1940's.
In southern France and Spain they don't suffer this and they have much hotter weather and similar traffic to us.
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27 February 2008, 11:23 PM
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Rutted lanes on m-ways in the UK have been a problem for decades, even with transport authorities claiming they test materials before deploying them.
Yes, eveything done on the cheap! I recall in 1995 the uk Govn't received 22bn pounds from road tax for private vehicles. That worked out to be just under the GDP figure for NZ at that time. 5bn was spent on roads that year.
Yes, eveything done on the cheap! I recall in 1995 the uk Govn't received 22bn pounds from road tax for private vehicles. That worked out to be just under the GDP figure for NZ at that time. 5bn was spent on roads that year.
27 February 2008, 11:27 PM
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Pmsl most trucks tend to be limited to 56mph 
strange they all should be doing it then really ... 
dont really understand why you`d want to travel that slow on the motorway if i were early i`d just pull up at a service station for a break or stop somewhere closer to my destination to kill the time.
strange they all should be doing it then really ... dont really understand why you`d want to travel that slow on the motorway if i were early i`d just pull up at a service station for a break or stop somewhere closer to my destination to kill the time.
27 February 2008, 11:34 PM
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Pmsl most trucks tend to be limited to 56mph strange they all should be doing it then really ... dont really understand why you`d want to travel that slow on the motorway if i were early i`d just pull up at a service station for a break or stop somewhere closer to my destination to kill the time.
strange they all should be doing it then really ... dont really understand why you`d want to travel that slow on the motorway if i were early i`d just pull up at a service station for a break or stop somewhere closer to my destination to kill the time.I did encounter the tailgaiting thing as some trucks can do 56.3mph (and dont they know it and nail it) but still, I'm talking about the road WW1 trenches here. This seems fine by you?
D
28 February 2008, 12:11 AM
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Thanks for the rolleyes but its news to me! Was there a Press release I missed orf something? Seriously.
as if to say "poxy lorries" . Having said that, i'm sure there was a press release somewhere.......
28 February 2008, 07:24 AM
#12
I have tried this before and it is quote a scarey feeling siting in the inside lane stuck in said ruts..
years ago on the main from road from felixstowe (when it was a rollonrolloff ferry port) on the then named A45, the road was so heavily rutted from all the lorries, that if you stayed in the inside lane, you could quite happily take your hands off the steering wheel and just follow the ruts
only problem was you couldnt turn left or change lane so you ended up where the lorries went
years ago on the main from road from felixstowe (when it was a rollonrolloff ferry port) on the then named A45, the road was so heavily rutted from all the lorries, that if you stayed in the inside lane, you could quite happily take your hands off the steering wheel and just follow the ruts
only problem was you couldnt turn left or change lane so you ended up where the lorries went
28 February 2008, 11:12 AM
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28 February 2008, 11:30 AM
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If so, I was referring to the other wombles, though the argument still stands
28 February 2008, 11:30 AM
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I used to drive a motorhome towing a box trailer when we were kart racing, mainly in the slow lane.
You certainly see driving from a different perspective there, but I gained a new respect for truck drivers who showed unexpected courtesy to us. Which is more than can be said for some crazy car drivers. But getting stuck in a rut sharpens your concentration no end!
Richard.
You certainly see driving from a different perspective there, but I gained a new respect for truck drivers who showed unexpected courtesy to us. Which is more than can be said for some crazy car drivers. But getting stuck in a rut sharpens your concentration no end!
Richard.
28 February 2008, 11:42 AM
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them
28 February 2008, 11:51 AM
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I like the trenches / ruts, as I can set cruise control to 56mph and get comfy and have a kip
28 February 2008, 12:19 PM
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I think the OP's problem is the 56mph bit. It's too similar to the speeds used by most trucks. Hence, it irritates the fsck out of them. Plus, use of CC means your speed is far more rigidly set than if you approximated a speed with your right foot. It all has an impact and leaves a different impression on other road users.
In my furby diesel, I tend to set the CC @ say 65. If I need to overtake, then I speed up if needed (usually have to on M25, M40, M4). Pull back in and let the CC take over again @ 65mph. At that speed, I find I'm not inconveniencing lorries and the workload is light as it takes a while to catch up to the next one. (No-one ever drives in lane 1 other than VW campers, lorries and caravans, oh, and Nissan Micras, limited to 40mph ).
Agree with the road rut problem. It's a disgrace and they are lethal when it rains.
J.
In my furby diesel, I tend to set the CC @ say 65. If I need to overtake, then I speed up if needed (usually have to on M25, M40, M4). Pull back in and let the CC take over again @ 65mph. At that speed, I find I'm not inconveniencing lorries and the workload is light as it takes a while to catch up to the next one. (No-one ever drives in lane 1 other than VW campers, lorries and caravans, oh, and Nissan Micras, limited to 40mph
).Agree with the road rut problem. It's a disgrace and they are lethal when it rains.
J.
28 February 2008, 12:32 PM
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My God! It was a horrendously dangerous experience! Not only had I to concentrate even more on safety, I was repeatedly boxed in, cut up and tailgated by MASSIVE vehicles whilst locked off at 56mph (via Sat Nav) on cruise control the whole car was tugging and meandering due to the ruts in the road. Changing lane was a hairy tuggy experience as you stepped out the ruts!
28 February 2008, 01:44 PM
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28 February 2008, 03:52 PM
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I think the OP's problem is the 56mph bit. It's too similar to the speeds used by most trucks. Hence, it irritates the fsck out of them. Plus, use of CC means your speed is far more rigidly set than if you approximated a speed with your right foot. It all has an impact and leaves a different impression on other road users.
In my furby diesel, I tend to set the CC @ say 65. If I need to overtake, then I speed up if needed (usually have to on M25, M40, M4). Pull back in and let the CC take over again @ 65mph. At that speed, I find I'm not inconveniencing lorries and the workload is light as it takes a while to catch up to the next one. (No-one ever drives in lane 1 other than VW campers, lorries and caravans, oh, and Nissan Micras, limited to 40mph ).
Agree with the road rut problem. It's a disgrace and they are lethal when it rains.J.
In my furby diesel, I tend to set the CC @ say 65. If I need to overtake, then I speed up if needed (usually have to on M25, M40, M4). Pull back in and let the CC take over again @ 65mph. At that speed, I find I'm not inconveniencing lorries and the workload is light as it takes a while to catch up to the next one. (No-one ever drives in lane 1 other than VW campers, lorries and caravans, oh, and Nissan Micras, limited to 40mph
).Agree with the road rut problem. It's a disgrace and they are lethal when it rains.J.
It is far safer to be in lane 2 or 3 at seventy something mph, having to change lane now and again. The going slower option means much more proximity to other vehicles, tailgaiting, rutting (!) and a total zig zag indicator fest between lanes 1 & 2.
D
