Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane

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Sun 26 Nov 2023 17:10
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - NBUK

Hello. I am new to UK and got my car 4 months ago and practicing with it. I have not driven for 25 years. I only used the motorway a few times and each time drivers on the motorway were very considerate to let me merge. I have a few questions (experienced drivers might find the silly) hope to get some advice.

1) Merging: If I match the speed (50-60mph) of motorway, what is the safe gap to merge to main traffic?

2) Changing lane: People say if I can see the car in my centre mirror, it is enough. As I measure, it is only about 15 meters in my mirror set up.

If 2 seconds rule is observed, I need a gap over 100 meters to slot to middle of 2 cars either merging or changing lane. Any shorter, I will need to slow down after merging or changing lance just to maintain the 2 seconds rule and force others behind to slow down as well. However, people tell me that I should not make others to brake or slow down for my actions.

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Sun 26 Nov 2023 18:00
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - Metropolis.
Welcome to the UK!

Given you are considering these points, you are probably ahead of a good 70% of UK drivers anyway.

1) try to match the speed of the motorway traffic by the end of the slip road, that way when you join the motorway it is seamless. The gap between you and the car behind is less important then.

2) That is enough.

3) Try and maintain a good distance as you are doing, it’s not always possible but better to try.
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Sun 26 Nov 2023 19:19
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - Grenache

Yes, good advice there.

My driving instructor always said when moving back after overtaking check the rear view mirror and only pull in when you can see the car's number plate in your mirror

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Sun 26 Nov 2023 22:18
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - bathtub tom

I aim to join at 60MPH, as that's the limited speed of LGVs and means I have the option of either slowing or accelerating to make a smooth transition into the traffic.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 09:07
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - John F

I have a few questions (experienced drivers might find silly)

Certainly not, your post suggests you are well above the level of stupidity you will often encounter on th M1.

...... people tell me that I should not make others to brake or slow down for my actions.

Good advice. Also, when changing lanes, always indicate before you actually do so. Beware the blind spot when overtaking, a car can disappear from your offside mirror before reappearing alongside you; a fat B pillar can obscure side vision. Be aware of others - don't hog the outside lane at an indicated 70mph. And if you are in the middle lane chugging along at 67mph past the lorries, if a car in the inner lane needs to overtake a lorry, move out to the 'fast' lane if clear to let it do so. On a good (usually a week-) day, a crowded motorway will be a ballet of give and take - apart from selfish HGV 'elephant races'.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 09:16
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - catsdad

Signalling before moving is essential but do not do so before there is a gap to move into. I regularly find myself about to pass a slower car only to find them indicating as I get level with them. This causes confusion and can be dangerous.

The order is Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 09:49
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - daveyjp

Motorway driving is all about being fully aware of what is around you and planning for your next change of lane.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 18:17
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - NBUK
Thankyou for all the advices.
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Mon 27 Nov 2023 19:27
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - Manatee

You will find it a great help to adjust your door mirrors properly. Almost nobody does. They want to see the side of their own car in the mirror, which is unnecessary on the move.

Angle the mirrors further out, so you can see into what would otherwise be a blind spot. As long as objects appear in the door mirror before they disappear from the interior mirror, you have it covered.

If you need to see the side of the car e.g. when manoeuvring slowly, just move your head.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 10:34
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - gordonbennet

On a good (usually a week-) day, a crowded motorway will be a ballet of give and take - apart from selfish HGV 'elephant races'.

You won't have to wait too long before car drivers can show us selfish HGV drivers how to not elephant race when cars get limited electronically to the given road speed limit with variances of around 2mph.

It would be an interesting experiment to test a 4 lane section, two left lanes being HGVs and coaches only and the two outside lanes being cars/vans/motorycles only, albeit with crossover allowances for joining and leaving the motorway.

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Mon 27 Nov 2023 13:25
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - Metropolis.
I cant see the problem with lorries on a motorway, just use the third lane? When there are only two lanes, it is an inconvenience for less than a minute but chances are their journey is more important than ours as they ars against the clock.
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Mon 27 Nov 2023 23:03
Suzuki Vitara - Join motorway and changing lane - alan1302
I cant see the problem with lorries on a motorway, just use the third lane? When there are only two lanes, it is an inconvenience for less than a minute but chances are their journey is more important than ours as they ars against the clock.

On the A1 it's often for miles and miles...and I'm on the clock as well.

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