Matt62 wrote:I tend to leave a really long gap between myself and the next vehicle on entry slip roads, and extend it even further if I think I have identified a potentially problematic driver in front (someone who is very slow off the mark at a preceding roundabout etc.). Although this possibly means temporarily annoying any following traffic, it then gives you a clear and fast run down the sliproad, using enough acceleration to lose/appease the following traffic.
triquet wrote:Yep, that's my tactic as well. It's particularly useful on the evil short slips onto the A34.
JMac wrote:Hi, I'm a relatively new driver looking for some advice from my superiors!
Silk wrote:JMac wrote:Hi, I'm a relatively new driver looking for some advice from my superiors!
I'm sure one of those will be along shortly but, in the meantime, here's my view: -
The trick with slip roads, and pretty much everything else for that matter, is getting as much information as possible as early as possible. This means gauging the volume of traffic on the main carriageway, and spotting the potential gaps as early as possible. As has already been said, you must treat the merge line as the line where you must stop until such a time as you're sure it's safe to go - you should never rely on traffic on the carriageway letting you out. You want to have a clear run at the carriageway - this means if there is a vehicle ahead of you on the slip road, let it join first so you don't end up in the scenario described. Depending on view and density of traffic, you can always join straight into lane two and get ahead of the dawdler in front, but you have to be absolutely sure you're not going to end up in conflict with other road users before committing to this.
Mr Cholmondeley-Warner wrote:I think it's been said in one way or another by various posters but basically, if there's someone else on the slip road with you, you need to be either in front of them (if there's space to overtake them) or far enough behind them that you can do your own thing without them affecting you - so either, get past, or leave a BIG gap behind them.
JMac wrote:I can't say for sure how far behind the car ahead of me on the sliproad I was, but I tend to leave at least 2 seconds gap.
akirk wrote:.....and then look to increase speed at a less hazardous moment - reality is it will make virtually no difference to your journey other than to make it more relaxed!
Alasdair
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