They shall not pass...or shall they

[Ridgeway]

We always pull over in the van, i often do it in the car as well. I drive in the Alps most weeks so it's standard practice and appreciated by others, besides i'd rather have tossers in front of me where i can more easily see them than behind with their lights buried into my bike rack

I must have pulled over 5 times on the Simplon on Monday morning this week, just a quick duck in to let the nutters past.

 

[Badknee]

Maybe I should have said most 3500kg motorhomes with around 500 kg Payload I sometimes forget that there are motorhomes longer then the 6m we are limited to due to the drive length lol

I think that with all the toys, bells and whistles that we absolutely desperately need these days unladen weight is creeping up. Most seem to have about 200/300kgs now including the driver and passenger, water, fuel etc. That’s why many upgrades to 3850Kgs are done.
Ours completely empty, 1/4 tank fuel, no water, no gas was 3600kgs.

 

[tonyidle]

Be careful about indicating (left flasher) to vehicle behind to overtake as if they have an accident during this procedure you could be held to have contributed to the accident by your actions

Not really. If a vehicle indicates to pull in or turn left the decision to overtake or wait is entirely the following drivers' responsibility.

 

[tonyidle]

I think that with all the toys, bells and whistles that we absolutely desperately need these days unladen weight is creeping up. Most seem to have about 200/300kgs now including the driver and passenger, water, fuel etc. That’s why many upgrades to 3850Kgs are done.
Ours completely empty, 1/4 tank fuel, no water, no gas was 3600kgs.

Unladen weight is not Max Laden Weight minus Payload. Unladen weight can only be determined by the base vehicle manufacturer and is rarely available (or useful) to the driver or the authorities.

 

[Southdowners]

We've just returned from Scandinavia and there if you're going slower than the speed limit and there's two or more vehicles behind you have to pull over to let them pass. It works well.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vanderek]

I got stuck behind this the other day ..obviously going to a Funster gathering

 

[Eggs]

It's called considerate driving.
Do it when driving a car up in the lakes.
I go on single lanes enjoying the views and pleasure of driving.
If a car gets behind me I happily pull over and let it pass.
Also expect the reverse if I am wanting to make good speed.

I do the same in my work van. I do some sub contract work for one company, if I have to go to their yard I'm 20+ miles through country lanes. Virtually every time I go that way I see a lady in a BMW if she is behind me I pull in when I can to let her zoom past. Back in the summer I got a puncture going that way, you can guess who stopped to ask if there was anything she could do.

The argument about commercial drivers earlier in the thread doesn't stand up for me. They have a bus stop to get to get to or a HGV will have a slot to tip, or run out of driving hours, motor homers, if anything like me move at our own pace most of the time.

 

[Vanman]

Lost the will to live looking for it but there used to be a 'countryside code' to pull over if you had a queue of x6 vehicles behind you ... this from the Highway code says similar but less specific -

Rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

 

[mike mcglynn]

I recall back in the 70s most foreign wagons had a red and green light on the rear for overtaking purposes and when I visited Spain in 1971 they were in use mostly on the mountain roads to good effect.I think that practice has been stopped by some EEC rule or Insurance stipulation .

 

[Tea Bag]

True, New Zealander’s are on the ball as well

Hi.
Just back from a SAGA Aus/NZ holiday. Lots of signs about with "Consider other road users" But the best one, on entering an Animal park..." If you can read this,you are going the wrong way..TURN AROUND " This was on a bit of Dual Carriageway inside the park in Aus ?
Oh the holiday ? Jennifer loved Aus,but to my surpise,i loved NZ,its a sort of Yorkshire on Steroids and it seemed everybody wanted to Talk(Yawp) with me whenever i was just sat/stood about,very friendly lot.
Tea Bag

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[two]

I recall back in the 70s most foreign wagons had a red and green light on the rear for overtaking purposes and when I visited Spain in 1971 they were in use mostly on the mountain roads to good effect.I think that practice has been stopped by some EEC rule or Insurance stipulation .

I used to slow down a bit and pull towards the side, indicating that direction briefly to suggest that it was clear to overtake. Then I thought that I may become accountable for an accident, if things went wrong, for having invited the manoeuvre.
Now I leave all the decision-making to the drivers behind. I still slow and pull-in a little. If they are impatient to get past, they can. ~ And then they're out of my way, too.

 

[Paul and Val]

I have no control over whats behind me so dont worry about it
They have their own set of pedals

Sorry to be blunt but..............

If you have no consideration for other road users you should not be driving and you should return your licence. I certainly would not be boasting about it. If I was so inconsiderate I would keep it quiet.

Common politeness and good manners are as important as general driving skills. Nobody is saying that you should drive faster than you judge to be correct but please move over and let other drivers past.

I am sorry if that is too direct for you but I really feel strongly that drivers should assist everybody else on the road not cause problems and delays because of a lack of manners.

Perhaps the picture you have chosen to represent your pen name, of one of the rudest men on the planet is no coincidence? I bet if Trump drove a motorhome he would never move over!

 

[Puddleduck]

I always pull over, and often get a wave or toot as a "thank you".

I remember being asked about the pulling over bit as part of the Highway Code questions during my driving test

"When you are driving a tractor or a similar large or slow vehicle....."

 

[nicholsong]

I do indicate a willingness to be overtaken with a couple of flashes of the nearside light, accompanied with slowing, not braking.

If challenged about my signal, I believe it would be correct to say that I indicated that I was pulling close to the kerb, whether stopping or not.

Most HGV drivers, of all nationalities, seem to understand, as they do with a flash from me when they are past me, mostly acknowledged by them.

I think French car drivers do acknowledge, but only with a quick indication of pulling in - which they might not have done without the invitation to overtake.

Just my observations.

Geoff

 

[Paul and Val]

I do indicate a willingness to be overtaken with a couple of flashes of the nearside light, accompanied with slowing, not braking.

If challenged about my signal, I believe it would be correct to say that I indicated that I was pulling close to the kerb, whether stopping or not.

Most HGV drivers, of all nationalities, seem to understand, as they do with a flash from me when they are past me, mostly acknowledged by them.

I think French car drivers do acknowledge, but only with a quick indication of pulling in - which they might not have done without the invitation to overtake.

Just my observations.

Geoff

I quite agree. Technically it is not correct to flash a turn signal or flash your lights but has become common good practice. I trained as a driving instructor when I was a young man and we were lectured over and over again never to flash our headlights as it should indicate your position not a direction to other road users. I have always felt that was nonsensical and I would do exactly the same as you do.

Be warned that here in France flashing headlights is technically a signal that you are proceeding forward not flashing the other driver to proceed. An important difference but fortunately rather like the 'priority from the right junction' it is steadily becoming obsolete.

You can write all the rules that you want but common god manner couple with good sense always works well.

The important thing is to let other drivers past when you can.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Eggs]

Sorry to be blunt but..............

If you have no consideration for other road users you should not be driving and you should return your licence. I certainly would not be boasting about it. If I was so inconsiderate I would keep it quiet.

Common politeness and good manners are as important as general driving skills. Nobody is saying that you should drive faster than you judge to be correct but please move over and let other drivers past.

I am sorry if that is too direct for you but I really feel strongly that drivers should assist everybody else on the road not cause problems and delays because of a lack of manners.

Perhaps the picture you have chosen to represent your pen name, of one of the rudest men on the planet is no coincidence? I bet if Trump drove a motorhome he would never move over!

Is it me who's got in a mucking fuddle about pen names/avatars here, or you?

I do agree with most of what you say mind

 

[Paul and Val]

Is it me who's got in a mucking fuddle about pen names/avatars here, or you?

I do agree with most of what you say mind

Thank you. Sorry. I think that I am in error. What! I hear my wife say. That has never happened before! She can be very sarcastic.

I can't find the post that I responded to originally but thought that it was the forum member who uses Trump as his avatar (is that the right name for the chosen picture?). I thought is was funny but if it was a different person, first of all sorry and secondly, I think it may have fallen a tad flat.

I still feel that slow drivers should move however!

 

[Silver-Fox]

As a slight side step.
On motorways I’ve noticed less lorry drivers “flash” you in when when overtaking.
Personally I always “flash” in large overtaking vehicles.

 

[Paul and Val]

As a slight side step.
On motorways I’ve noticed less lorry drivers “flash” you in when when overtaking.
Personally I always “flash” in large overtaking vehicles.

You are absolutely correct. We battered along fairly well on our recent spell back in the UK and overtook quite a few lorries. Only one flashed us in. As I recall when we lived in the UK it was common. I wondered if the law had been changed/reinforced or there had been some sort of campaign. It seemed rather strange.

When we get overtaken by large vehicles (which is not very often), I like you flash them in. I think it is best practice. It is far easier for the driver being overtaken to see the position of the rear of the other vehicle than the other driver can.

 

[Eggs]

As a slight side step.
On motorways I’ve noticed less lorry drivers “flash” you in when when overtaking.
Personally I always “flash” in large overtaking vehicles.

It's just common courtesy in my mind, give way to bigger vehicles, reverse, if you can safely to let them pass, why people are so bloody minded is beyond me.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Chris]

I pull into a lay-by and let cars pass.

While I empty my grey water

 

[DBK]

I pull into a lay-by and let cars pass.

While I empty my grey water

Do you get out first?

 

[Paul and Val]

Leaving a junction or roundabout it doesn't accelerate as well as a car; that's what tends to make car drivers impatient thinking they must get in front otherwise we are going to hold them up. Some drivers just hate following a campervan or MH

As a car driver I hate following motorhomes. I like to see the road and motorhomes, lorries and vans especially those vans with blacked out windows are particularly dangerous.

We motor home drivers need to realise that we ARE hazards due to our size and the fact that we cannot be seen past. That is precisely why wee should all move over when we have other traffic behind us.

As a new motor home driver I still (quite rightly I think) curse when a large lorry or especially a motor home pulls out in front of us.

 

[gus-lopez]

It's like the flashing of headlamps. It has only one meaning within the Highway Code, ie, "To warn others of your presence", however, most of us use the facility to give the "all clear", or the "come on through" at junctions or obstacles, to oncoming road users. I know I am guilty of that one, however, it's the recipient's responsibility, to decide whether a manouvre is safe or not.

Which means the complete opposite in Spain. As in, I am coming through , do not even think about it.
I try to be as helpful as I can but I have found that most people have no idea these days how to overtake on single lane roads.
Here I don't bother whatsoever. I used to but gave up. Most are too stupid to appreciate it, they will climb all over the back of you as though wanting to get past & then turn right ??Or left.. & even if they overtake they will then think nothing of indicating to turn left or right immediately forcing you to stop if there is traffic from the opposite direction.

 

[Vanman]

It's not written down anywhere (so far as I know) but generally if you flash a lorry that's just overtaken you to let them know they are clear, they will respond with either a single flash left and right of their indicators or a single flash of their hazard warning lights.

I have taken to doing the hazard flash - no one can see my wave of thanks behind so a single flash is what I give

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JockandRita]

Just my observations.

Mine too Geoff.

On motorways I’ve noticed less lorry drivers “flash” you in when when overtaking.

I wondered if the law had been changed/reinforced or there had been some sort of campaign. It seemed rather strange.

A possible reason for your observations gents, is that many many HGVs operated here in the UK are driven by Eastern Europeans, who in their own countries do not use the practice of "flashing you in", after overtaking, so what was a traditional HGV and PSV driver gesture of "safe to pull in now" has slowly diminished over recent years. Certainly the Dutch and many German truckers use and appreciate the gesture, but it's not common amongst non Brit commercial drivers.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Louis]

As a slight side step.
On motorways I’ve noticed less lorry drivers “flash” you in when when overtaking.
Personally I always “flash” in large overtaking vehicles.

Deleted

 

[tonyidle]

 

[RioRob]

Yes, anyone who can't see past the vehicle in front of them or can't see to admire the scenery is driving too close. One of the biggest cause of collisions.

 

[JaG]

I carry on for about 5 minutes, then pull over if I am holding them up but....if I am travelling at the legal limit then I am a bit mean and stay put.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}