Argybargy, i've been in the position of that caravan many a time, but in my lorry, and there might be valid reason i can't pull over, ie vehicles already alongside or approaching the blind side or developing traffic the other side of me you can't see.

Indeed some lorry drivers due to what i shall try to explain will no longer pull over at all, for other lorries included :

not suggesting this is you but, most lorry drivers despite what is said about them go along with a decent travelling distance in front, if you come up the slip road beside a lorry the fastest it can be going is 55mph give or take a couple, most cars can easily accelerate to clear the front of that lorry whilst on the acceration lane, and most people whilst they are stil on the slip road will have been judging the situation and know where to aim for.

Most lorry drivers are very happy for competent car drivers to do this, you might even find a helpful flash from the lorry once you're in front of him and looking to get out into the middle lane and up to speed when a suitable space to do so is there if the lorry now behind is blocking your view somewhat, if a car driver shows themselves competent and not going to mess the lorry driver about most will assist them on their way gladly, it benefits all of us.

The reason many lorry drivers have stopped doing this is because so many other drivers, including sadly an increasing number of attendants of lorry steering wheels, then accelerate to the speed of the lorry itself and leave him sitting out in the next lane unable to go anywhere, so they've stopped giving idiots the opportunity to do this to them.

Some drivers also by sheer ignorance and lack of basic manners, remember those traits?, fail to acknowledge common courtesies of other motorists, so thank the ignorant horde for the general attitude of every man for himself, we're all losers for this lack of courtesy, it's only the thickos can't see it.

As i said i don't for one moment think that i'm suggestting you are one of the blinkered ones who seem incapable of increasing/decreasing speed to merge and then behave reasonably, but there is a hell of large ad increasing minority of berks out there who manage to cause complete mayhem on our roads just by the changing of a lane.

A lot of drivers do not realise that they CAN use the hard shoulder if they run out of the joining run on. I have had to do this a couple of times due to a short run on and a couple of drivers already on the motorway that could not move over.

one time I had a police car behind me (also joining the motorway) and we both had to use the hard shoulder when joining the mnotorway. I had wondered if I would get pulled for it but I didn't.

on reflection, it was the sensible thing to do when building up speed.

The short motoroway run on section in question is :-

www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Stevenage/@51.8890289,...n

That's exactly the same junction I've had problems with (one of them), going northbound. I'll have a look at the HC to so what it says about using the hard shoulder, though I would note that as a regular user of that stretch of the A1 (until recently - I quit my job a fortnight ago so don't need to use it in the rush hour, for the moment) that the hard shoulder between Stevenage North (J8) and South (J7) is littered with debris and has large sections that are very poorly maintained, which may induce a flat tyre or even a blow out - not something I would wish on anyone trying to accelerate to re-join a 70+mph road.

A little while ago I nearly fell badly foul of the refusal of some motorists to deviate from their god given right to sit tight on the inside lane when passing slip roads.

I was joining the 2-lane A55 when a van towing a caravan, despite having oodles of time to move to the middle lane and let me join the carriageway, steadfastly refused to shift and I had to slam on, having foolishly anticipated that he would do the sensible thing and move over.

As my wife often says, and this axiom applies to driving just as much as anything else, don't ever "assume" because it "makes an ass of u and me".

As a caravan is limited to 60, why was it not possible to accelerate up to 70 and join safely in front of it - or slow down and join safely after it.

You can't see through a caravan, or a truck, to know what's outside them preventing them from moving over.

I was joining the 2-lane A55 when a van towing a caravan, despite having oodles of time to move to the middle lane and let me join the carriageway, steadfastly refused to shift and I had to slam on, having foolishly anticipated that he would do the sensible thing and move over.

argy - you have no right to expect any driver to move over, as traffic on the main road has priority. Many drivers (including me, often) wlll do so as a courtesy. But it is foolish to anticipate it as it may be impossible, as others have said. I have also had to resort to continuing on the hard shoulder until a gap appears.

A little while ago I nearly fell badly foul of the refusal of some motorists to deviate from their god given right to sit tight on the inside lane when passing slip roads.

I was joining the 2-lane A55 when a van towing a caravan, despite having oodles of time to move to the middle lane and let me join the carriageway, steadfastly refused to shift and I had to slam on, having foolishly anticipated that he would do the sensible thing and move over.

Say what!? Please try reading the Highway Code before you cause an accident.

Edited by heliboy on 08/04/2017 at 14:10