What drivers don't realise...

dang65

There's a few things you come across when cycling which I think that non-cyclist drivers (i.e. most drivers) genuinely don't see as a problem. I wish they were more publicised, but I never see them referred to specifically.

For example:

1. Overtaking

As a cyclist you get used to close overtaking, and barely notice it consciously after a while. It's bad practice by drivers, but so are many things, and cyclists get used to positioning themselves so that they have some leeway even in a close overtake.

The really big problem, as I see it, is that pretty much no one indicates as they overtake. The reason this really worries me is that if, say, a van comes up behind you and there's a car directly behind him, then the van edges out a fraction and does a close overtake without indicating, the car behind may not even be aware that there's a cyclist on the road. The driver can't see because he's sitting on the right and the van is blocking his view to the left. With no indication there is no warning. I've certainly had some very close shaves with that one, and the really horrible thing is that I don't think there's a way of being prepared for it with defensive riding.

2. Tinted "privacy glass" windows

The reason that completely blacked-out windows are banned is, apparently, because they may reduce the vision of the driver of the car. What isn't ever stated is that even legally tinted windows can stop you making eye contact with a driver who is waiting to pull out of a side turning, or is coming onto a roundabout. Eye contact is obviously one of the great defensive options for a cyclist.

I was actually waiting to turn right out of a junction once, when a blacked-out car on the main road coming from my left indicated to turn into the road I was on. He then stopped before turning. I waited, not knowing what he was up to. Eventually he wound down his window and shouted, "I'm letting you out!" Well, thanks mate, but I had no idea if you were even male, female or a flippin' robot in there, let alone that you were waving to me!

Also, tinted rear windows, which are legal (I think), are a major hazard in parked cars as you can't tell if there's anyone in there, about to open one of the doors, or about to drive off without indicating.

Any other examples like this, where the drivers simply don't realise the hazards?

NorwegianBlue

dang65 wrote:

The really big problem, as I see it, is that pretty much no one indicates as they overtake. The reason this really worries me is that if, say, a van comes up behind you and there's a car directly behind him, then the van edges out a fraction and does a close overtake without indicating, the car behind may not even be aware that there's a cyclist on the road. The driver can't see because he's sitting on the right and the van is blocking his view to the left. With no indication there is no warning. I've certainly had some very close shaves with that one, and the really horrible thing is that I don't think there's a way of being prepared for it with defensive riding.

I agree entirely with this, however the lack of signalling is something that applies equally to cyclists. Ovrataking, changing lanes, turning, it seems that there is virtually no maneuvre that will cause most cyclists to indicate these days. I get the impression that most road users, whatever their chosen vehicle, feel that signalling is something you only do to protect yourself, so if you don't feel that failing to signal will make you vulnerable then you don't signal. People don't seem to realise that you signal not for your own convenience, but for that of others.

It doesn't seem so long ago that British road users were head and shoulders above the rest of Europe for their standard of driving. These days however whenever I travel in Europe I am staggered by how much better behaved most road users are than they are in Britain. For example I feel much safer cycling or driving in Ireland than I do in England, and yet Irish drivers still have a reputation among the English for being dangerous.

Having said all of that a plea in mitigation for the great (?) British road user. Bad driving habbits seem to vary from region the region. One particular evil round here seems to be turning right at roundabouts from the left lane, sometimes with no use of the indicators at all, an absolute nightmare for cyclists. However fifty miles away this doesn't seem to be a significant problem. So your indicating problem may be a huge issue where you live and not so bad hereabouts, equally my problem with non-signalling cyclists may not be a problem where you live.

3wheeler

In keeping wth the spirit of the thead:

3 - the speed bikes travel at.

As a driver I would slow down if I see a cyclist ahead and it's not clear to overtake, But, most drivers won't appreciate the speed they should slow down to if they just want to follow the bike until it's clear to pass. I think this is worse on A roads where they may have been going at 60, and the bikes is maybe doing 15 - 20 mph. If they don't slow down enough they catch up the bike too quick and possibly force themselves into overtaking even though it might be a solid white line. Or they do slow down, and then realise how slow they're going and get impatient to get past.

Regarding your #1 - really nothing you as the cyclist can do! The car driver should be furher back from the van, but that's not how 'normal' people drive.

NorwegianBlue

Further to your #3 there is the issue that some drivers also don't seem to realise quite how fast a bike can be travelling. As we all know a fast cyclist can be travelling very fast indeed and drivers often don't realise the distance they need to overtake, often putting people in danger as a result. This combines with the view that it's compulsory to overtake cyclists to create the situation when a driver will overtake a cyclist who is already travelling at or above the speed limit.

I have actually heard the comment: "I had to do 45 in a thirty limit to get past them" when referring to a group of riders. Scary isn't it? The guy "had to" go fifteen miles an hour over the limit to overtake the bunch. Or he could have just followed them.

fluff.

dang65 wrote:

2. Tinted "privacy glass" windows
I was actually waiting to turn right out of a junction once, when a blacked-out car on the main road coming from my left indicated to turn into the road I was on. He then stopped before turning. I waited, not knowing what he was up to. Eventually he wound down his window and shouted, "I'm letting you out!" Well, thanks mate, but I had no idea if you were even male, female or a flippin' robot in there, let alone that you were waving to me!?

Windscreen and front windows should allow > 70% light transmission, any less is illegal and would invalidate their insurance, you should of been able to at least see the driver if his windows were legal.

The issue of cars misjudging bikes speed causes of most issues I have with cars.. people left turning right infront of you, pulling out of sidestreets directly into your path, trying to squeeze through gaps that aren't really there because they_must_overtake_bikes, all in the name of shaving 30 seconds of their journey which is somehow more important than anyone elses.

Cunobelin

Some motoring organisations do have an idea and promote lot of these ideas with their mambers....

SHARING THE ROAD WITH CYCLISTS
Cyclists all travel at different speeds and have different levels of road experience. As a driver, you will need to take care to judge their speed as well as the road and weather conditions from the cyclist'spoint of view.

Remember too that some cyclists, particularly younger ones, have never driven a car,
and so don’t recognise the problems that they can cause car drivers.

In an accident involving a car and a cyclist, whoever is to blame the cyclist will always be the more vulnerable to a serious injury
.
The following tips for motorists have been prepared with the National Cycling Strategy Board to avoid adding to the 2,500 cyclists killed or seriously injured each year.

Cyclists don’t have steel armour round them like we do. Passing them at speed within a foot of their elbow may feel perfectly safe from where you are, but it is very disconcerting when you are the cyclist.

Sounding your horn when you are close will startle them, maybe into swerving in front of you. Theywill usually be aware of you already!

Slow down around cyclists and drive smoothly.

Keep within the speed limit. In traffic, make sure that you don’t cut up a cyclist who is about to pass you on the near side.

Don't try to cut across a cyclist when you need to turn left at a junction. Wait behind the cyclist until the cyclist has either turned left or passed the junction.

Park with care and prevent any passengers from opening a door until you are sure that there is no cyclist coming up on either side. Likewise, check over your shoulder to see there’s no cyclist approaching before opening the driver’s door

Cyclists are advised to take a prominent position in the road well ahead of any manoeuvre to ensure they are in the right place at the right time. If they ride in the middle of the road it is probably not to obstruct your path, but to ensure that they are seen by you and by other motorists.

Cyclists often ride at some distance from the kerb to avoid drains and potholes and to discourage motorists fromsqueezing them on narrow roads. It is not in their interest to delay motorists deliberately.

Remember too that their ability to signal is limited compared to ours, so try to anticipate what they might do from the position they have taken on the road. Please be patient.

Advanced stop lines are for cyclists alone and should be respected, so leave the space between thetwo sets of stop lines empty, whether or not cyclists are occupying it when you arrive. Be aware of where cycle lanes terminate, because this often means road space is more scarce and that in turn can make a cyclist more vulnerable.

Give young riders even more space than older ones; both old and young riders may swerve suddenly to avoid debris or potholes, but young people are more prone to forget your presence when they do.

Remember to use all your mirrors with extra care before changing direction when there are cyclists about. There might be a cyclist in your blind spot. Pay particular attention on roundabouts, as many accidents to cyclists happen at these junctions. Always signal at roundabouts.

Finally, every motorist has seen some irresponsible cyclists use the pavement, road and zebra crossings, seemingly at random. This is not only dangerous for pedestrians but unlawful, and the police can and do issue penalty notices for such offences. The police take a serious view of such careless or dangerous cycling, particularly when it puts other road users at risk. Responsible motorists give such irresponsible cyclists a wide berth.

For information on any other aspect of driving or riding please contact the IAM on 020 8996 9600 or visit iam.org.uk.

IAM Factsheet 17/001 - Sharing the road with cyclists

always_tyred

Another thing drivers don't realise is that overtaking head on into another car STILL isn't safe, even if they've given you 20 feet of room.

I just thought of another one - drivers don't realise that bike don't have to slow down for speed humps.

Agent57

I don't think some drivers realise how fast cyclists can be going. Many seem to assume we're pottering along at 10mph, and completely misjudge the time they have for manoeuvring, particularly when emerging from or turning in to junctions on the left.

I had one such incident on my ride yesterday. I was riding down a hill at an indicated 36mph (national speed limit road) and a motorbike of all things pulled out in front of me. It may have been a case of SMIDSY (somewhat ironic if so) or he didn't think I'd be going so fast but either way I had to haul on to avoid him.

Alibran

dang65 wrote:

The really big problem, as I see it, is that pretty much no one indicates as they overtake.

This is an interesting one. I read your example of the van and the car, and I agree there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the van should indicate in this situation because the car driver can't see past him. However, when I was doing the driving part of my driving instructor training a few years back, I signalled to move out and pass a cyclist, and was told by my trainer, "Don't do that." When I asked whyever not, I was told that other road users could see the cyclist, and would know what I was going to do, so it was an unnecessary signal. Complete madness!

BUICK

I second that Agent57. Am rapidly losing count of the amount of times a car comes to an intersection with the road I'm travelling on, the driver looks right at me (and surely should gather from having any kind of reasonable spatial awareness that I'm going fast) then after hesitating decides to abruptly pull across my path. I had a 4x4 cut across me turning right from the other side of the road and I was literally millimetres off crashing into him despite having started pulling the brakes BEFORE he made the manoevre - having anticipated that the unthinkable was about to happen. He carried on up the road either having not seen or not cared what happened despite pedestrians at a nearby busstop shouting at him to stop and looking angry and upset on my behalf.

Also - drivers should be made aware that it is their responsiblilty to not allow a passenger to get out of the car onto a cycle lane. If you are dropping someone off you check that the path is clear, indicate to pull in and then park. You don't just decide seeing as you are stuck in traffic to launch the door open and get out

hoathy

Alibran wrote:

dang65 wrote:

The really big problem, as I see it, is that pretty much no one indicates as they overtake.

This is an interesting one. I read your example of the van and the car, and I agree there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the van should indicate in this situation because the car driver can't see past him. However, when I was doing the driving part of my driving instructor training a few years back, I signalled to move out and pass a cyclist, and was told by my trainer, "Don't do that." When I asked whyever not, I was told that other road users could see the cyclist, and would know what I was going to do, so it was an unnecessary signal. Complete madness!

thats not true though is it, other road users don't know what you are going to do at all. you might be in the mood for going slow and hang back, or you might be waiting to turn left i a minute and not see fit to overtake. my driving instructor told me the same thing and i was like "well, i want to anyway..."

Alibran

Hoathy wrote:

Alibran wrote:

This is an interesting one. I read your example of the van and the car, and I agree there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the van should indicate in this situation because the car driver can't see past him. However, when I was doing the driving part of my driving instructor training a few years back, I signalled to move out and pass a cyclist, and was told by my trainer, "Don't do that." When I asked whyever not, I was told that other road users could see the cyclist, and would know what I was going to do, so it was an unnecessary signal. Complete madness!

thats not true though is it, other road users don't know what you are going to do at all. you might be in the mood for going slow and hang back, or you might be waiting to turn left i a minute and not see fit to overtake. my driving instructor told me the same thing and i was like "well, i want to anyway..."

Oh, I totally agree, but it is a bit worrying when it's what the examiners, employed by the driving standards agency, expect drivers to do.

ddraver

BUICK wrote:

I second that Agent57. Am rapidly losing count of the amount of times a car comes to an intersection with the road I'm travelling on, the driver looks right at me (and surely should gather from having any kind of reasonable spatial awareness that I'm going fast) then after hesitating decides to abruptly pull across my path. I had a 4x4 cut across me turning right from the other side of the road and I was literally millimetres off crashing into him despite having started pulling the brakes BEFORE he made the manoevre - having anticipated that the unthinkable was about to happen. He carried on up the road either having not seen or not cared what happened despite pedestrians at a nearby busstop shouting at him to stop and looking angry and upset on my behalf.

Also - drivers should be made aware that it is their responsiblilty to not allow a passenger to get out of the car onto a cycle lane. If you are dropping someone off you check that the path is clear, indicate to pull in and then park. You don't just decide seeing as you are stuck in traffic to launch the door open and get out

police van did exactly that to me........That was my closest near miss in a year of London cycling

djkmtb

dang65, they just don't care. Motorists, generally speaking, just do not care. They are not going to change their lives or habits to accommodate bicyclists.

I figured that out long ago when I lived in the states, and as a sober observation over here, it's even worse. "Don't get in my way and I won't nail you," seems to be exactly what they think. They are not going to tolerate you for more than 15 seconds in their entire day.

IMHO, to think otherwise is just a delusion.

hoathy

Yeah, thats true of alot of people, but its nice when you come across a driver who clearly is paying attention and does care... i guess a lot of these are just cyclists who happen to be in a car...

djkmtb

Hoathy wrote:

Yeah, thats true of alot of people, but its nice when you come across a driver who clearly is paying attention and does care... i guess a lot of these are just cyclists who happen to be in a car...

That would be my closest assumption.

I always acknowledge bicyclists when I drive even. I don't honk my horn, but will wave out of the sunroof or flash my lights. Horns are to indicative of danger, so I don't toot at them.

dang65

djkmtb wrote:

dang65, they just don't care. Motorists, generally speaking, just do not care. They are not going to change their lives or habits to accommodate bicyclists.

I'm not sure about this. There are plenty of loonies out on the road, sure, but they are a tiny minority really. If they weren't then it would be genuine carnage on the roads, (rather than just being bad). If everyone, generally speaking, jumped red lights, drove way over the speed limit, pulled out without looking, cut other people up... well, the combination would mean constant collisions at the very least.

I do think that a lot of the things that we as cyclists observe as awful driving are simply down to ignorance of other types of road user. It's like when you're driving down the motorway and an HGV suddenly indicates and pulls straight out and you think "what a maniac!" But if you drive a lorry then you find that slowing down and getting up to speed again is a long drawn out (and fuel expensive) process. If car drivers realised this then they would know to just move into the outside lane or slow down a bit themselves to allow an HGV to pull out smoothly.

I heard an article on the radio recently about how to save fuel when driving, and the big emphasis was to drive in such a way that you don't have to brake or change gears very often. Which is exactly what cyclists do all the time of course. Braking is a massive waste of energy, it's just that car drivers don't notice it in the way that cyclists and HGV drivers do!

The best solution, of course, would be to make all car drivers cycle as part of their driving test, and ride in HGVs, in tractors, on horses, in a car towing a trailer or caravan, in a bus. And walk a bit to see what cars do to pedestrians. Without any experience or knowledge of how other vehicles operate, or why they peform in the way they do, you're bound to get impatient and ignorant driving.

dirk_van_gently

Best riding/driving advice I ever got, was from my Dad. "Everyone else on the road is an idiot,
Expect them to act like idiots no matter what".
Genius my Dad, he's absolutely right, and I do.

robmanic1

Just ride expecting people to do something stupid, they generally won't disappoint you.

ratty2k

Dirk Van Gently wrote:

Best riding/driving advice I ever got, was from my Dad. "Everyone else on the road is an idiot,
Expect them to act like idiots no matter what".
Genius my Dad, he's absolutely right, and I do.

Yup, same philosophy here!

I was told "you're not safe" by some guy in a Focus- As I rode in the middle of the road, before turning right on a mini RAB I must of delayed him by ohh, 10 seconds?

Bassjunkieuk

Hoathy wrote:

Yeah, thats true of alot of people, but its nice when you come across a driver who clearly is paying attention and does care... i guess a lot of these are just cyclists who happen to be in a car...

It's people like that who remind me there are some decent drivers out there. Just last week I was coming home from work, having just crossed Tower Bridge I was approaching the lights ahead and was trying to position myself a bit better in the traffic. I got tooted by some tit in his tinted-window Golf and thought the usual "impatient moron" , moved over a bit (I was in primary approaching a queue of cars) and carried on. A bit further down the road tho who should move over a tiny bit to let me past in the traffic queue? The same guy :-) He didn't move over much, but knowing that he couldn't make any progress due to the cars in front of him he did choose not to hinder me! I gave him a thank you wave as I passed to show I had seen what he had done.

I also do have to agree with previous posters tho that drivers seem to have it set in there heads that they must overtake any cyclist in front of them. I have a nice hill just round the corner from my house and usually come (flying) down it on my commute home if the route permits. I've had to slam the anchors on a good few times as drivers pull out of side roads, which have excellent visibility all things considered, and had a few very close overtakes when strictly speaking they shouldn't be able to get past me - if they stuck to the 30 limit!

Cunobelin

Cyclists can be worse!

I had an incident where a car overtook me at a chicane and cut in.

A short while laterI came across the car and politely asked if he knew just how close he was...

The reply was " I'm a cyclist as well you know - that's why I know how closely I can drive safely."

Gobsmacked!

highwaymunky

Re: #1 I always try to keep as straight a line as possible on A roads, But car's and vans do not seem to get that on the flat / down hill on a road bike you can be going 30 - 40mph.
I have found that being assertive in my road position helps.

Claim the lane folks.

Although I generally find most Lorry / HGV drivers will wait for me before over taking & I always wave thanks.

Best riding/driving advice I ever got, was from my Dad. "Everyone else on the road is an idiot,
Expect them to act like idiots no matter what".
Genius my Dad, he's absolutely right, and I do.

My dad says the same and he's a driving instructor!

Surf-Matt

I find angry and aggressive drivers are usually a bit overweight and never cycle anywhere.

With IAM driving you expect stupid driving from others - when cycling, I take this to an even larger degree of "stupidity expectation."

Interesting IAM guidelines - been a member for almost 10 years now but never seen those before!

cee

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I also do have to agree with previous posters tho that drivers seem to have it set in there heads that they must overtake any cyclist in front of them.

Definately.

This morning, I was in a bus lane (taking up the whole lane!!) going at a reasonable pace and approaching a set of traffic lights, which were green.

I overtook (under??) a chappy in a green van who was in the car lane. He obviously thought that shouldn't have happened so accelerated to pass me again, but failed to realise that there was a car in his lane stopped trying to turn right at the lights. :oops:

Can you guess how broad my smile was when he had to slam on the brakes, causing much screeching and various looks of bewilderment from the various passers by who were there. :P :P :P :P

Bassjunkieuk

highwaymunky wrote:

Claim the lane folks.

!

When I'm coming down the hill I mentioned in my previous post I usually start in a primary, come out wide on the corner as I turn in and then allow any cars who have followed me in to pass as the steepest part is at the top and then move over to a primary again to draft behind the last car and ensure I'm not hidden by any parked cars for people joining the road. By the time I get to the problem junctions I'm normally still in primary but still get people pull out as they obviously don't think a cyclist can be going that fast!

Treating every other driver as an idiot is pretty good advice, I think the biggest problem is people rushing everywhere! Once people learn to realize that traffic happens and racing towards a traffic jam doesn't actually get you anywhere quicker I think the roads would be a much safer place! I have 2 days of commuting by car to Woking this week and I'm fairly sure I'll spend a good amount of time in traffic that I really can't do much about - so I'll just relax, put some calm music on and watch the world go by :-)

snooks

dang65 wrote:

It's like when you're driving down the motorway and an HGV suddenly indicates and pulls straight out and you think "what a maniac!" But if you drive a lorry then you find that slowing down and getting up to speed again is a long drawn out (and fuel expensive) process. If car drivers realised this then they would know to just move into the outside lane or slow down a bit themselves to allow an HGV to pull out smoothly.

No one should "suddenly indicate" :evil:

I spend too much time on motorways and as you say they "suddenly indicate" and, more often than not, start the maneuver at the same time..Therefore not using their indicators as they were intended..to indicate to others what they're about to do.

Given an indication I'll pull out if the lane to my right is clear...if it's not I'll speed up/slow down as appropriate. But I can only do that if I get a warning, and for the record I need more than 0.1ms warning at 70mph before a truck sideswipes me

An indicator is an indication of intent, not an acquisition of right

On my bike I make my hand signal as clear as possible, and give anyone around me enough warning to see what I'm about to do. I don't "expect" anyone to see me, but I make myself seen when I need to.

But like drivers and cyclists there are good truck drivers out there as well, like the guy in a arctic with pallets on the back going along Chelsea embankment this morning, out into the right hand lane (of two), overtaking me and leaving a whole lane to myself...It wasn't a fluke either, cos they did it again after I'd left them in traffic at the lights...Cheers fella

dang65

snooks wrote:

I spend too much time on motorways and as you say they "suddenly indicate" and, more often than not, start the maneuver at the same time..Therefore not using their indicators as they were intended..to indicate to others what they're about to do.

Given an indication I'll pull out if the lane to my right is clear...if it's not I'll speed up/slow down as appropriate. But I can only do that if I get a warning, and for the record I need more than 0.1ms warning at 70mph before a truck sideswipes me

An indicator is an indication of intent, not an acquisition of right

Well, yes, this is exactly what I'm pointing out. That because you don't know why they do that, your impression is that they are maniacs, when in fact it's just the way that heavy trucks are driven.

They "suddenly indicate" (i.e. indicator is off, and then it is on) and pull out as soon as they can. I'm not sure about this statement of intent in that case (as opposed to turning into a side road for example). When you are driving at speed on a motorway, do you indicate a long time before you pull out/in? That can be very disconcerting to other road users. "Is he moving out, or not? Has he left that on by mistake, or should I move out to give him room?" etc. On a motorway, I tend to watch for a suitable gap, then indicate and pull into it, same as trucks do basically.

I don't know what the AIM has to say about that though??!

Surf-Matt

dang65 wrote:

snooks wrote:

I don't know what the AIM has to say about that though??!

I don't represent the IAM but have been a member for ten years.
As long as the gap you move into is big enough, then you are fine.

I always anticipate slow laners and pull out into the overtaking ("fast") lane when I see one closing on another vehicle - quite amusing to anticipate so far in advance that you actually pull out before the car indicates - a light traffic move only though and I often get a little wave in thanks too

snooks

dang65 wrote:

snooks wrote:

I spend too much time on motorways and as you say they "suddenly indicate" and, more often than not, start the maneuver at the same time..Therefore not using their indicators as they were intended..to indicate to others what they're about to do.

Given an indication I'll pull out if the lane to my right is clear...if it's not I'll speed up/slow down as appropriate. But I can only do that if I get a warning, and for the record I need more than 0.1ms warning at 70mph before a truck sideswipes me

An indicator is an indication of intent, not an acquisition of right

Well, yes, this is exactly what I'm pointing out. That because you don't know why they do that, your impression is that they are maniacs, when in fact it's just the way that heavy trucks are driven.

Thankfully not all trucks are driven like that Many of the trucks I see (on my 20,000 miles a year) give some sort of warning, but it's the ones who pull out with no warning that I remember, not the "good" ones...

dang65 wrote:

They "suddenly indicate" (i.e. indicator is off, and then it is on) and pull out as soon as they can. I'm not sure about this statement of intent in that case (as opposed to turning into a side road for example). When you are driving at speed on a motorway, do you indicate a long time before you pull out/in? That can be very disconcerting to other road users. "Is he moving out, or not? Has he left that on by mistake, or should I move out to give him room?" etc. On a motorway, I tend to watch for a suitable gap, then indicate and pull into it, same as trucks do basically.

I don't know what the AIM has to say about that though??!

I know why some do it (to get further down the road ), but I don't know why some leave it so late to let everyone around know they are about to perform a maneuver they have been thinking about for a while. It's almost as if the indicator is flicked as the wheel is turned....Which is why it seems like they are leaving it to the last moment to let others around know what they are going to do.

As for what I do on a motorway, I'll usually (conditions vary) check mirrors and blind spot, indicate for around 3 flashes, perform the maneuver into the right lane, leaving my indicator on until I've finished moving to the outside lane, once the maneuver is finished
I'll flick off the indicator. Sounds long winded, but it's more me trying to be clear in writing what I do naturally when I'm driving.

Having just typed that I thought I'd better check to see what the highway code says:

267
remember that traffic may be coming up behind you very quickly. Check all your mirrors carefully. Look out for motorcyclists. When it is safe to do so, signal in plenty of time, then move out

Then again it says the maximum speed is 70mph and I've been caught going faster than that :roll:

snooks

Surf-Matt wrote:

I always anticipate slow laners and pull out into the overtaking ("fast") lane when I see one closing on another vehicle - quite amusing to anticipate so far in advance that you actually pull out before the car indicates - a light traffic move only though and I often get a little wave in thanks too

Yep...two ways to see if someone is going to overtake/pull right..one is to look ahead of them and see what they haven't

The other is to look at them, and if their car weaves slightly to the left, within around10 seconds they'll usually indicate right. Not always, but 9 times out of 10....It's usually the bit where they are looking in their rear view mirror and the car drifts while they aren't looking at the road ahead

Sounds mad, but it's true