I had to go to County Court in Leicester today to resolve a "Small claims" matter. Despite starting from my home near Doncaster at 0600 hrs for a journey which was about 70 miles I still encountered heavy traffic on the M1. A lot of freight vehicles -- but generally they were not the problem. It was the frenetic, mad, car driver ( a small but extremely dangerous number) hurtling along, swapping lanes and totally driving in their insulated metal boxes with little regard for the safety of others (or even their own) and with total disregard for speed limits
As a car driver for nearly 40 years I found the journey dangerous in the extreme as 3 lanes of traffic ( especially N and S of Nottingham) travelled along from stationary to 80 mph (+). Trying to keep a reasonable gap between my own car and the one in front was nigh impossible because it was always filled. The worst case was seeing traffic ahead braking and stopping with my eyes frenetically watching the man behind me and hoping he would stop too. I always use the switch for all 4 indicators to show that something was happening!! ( quite a few other vehicles did the same thing too)
So I got back home, garaged up the car ( it normally goes out about once a week to take my 99 year old dad out for a spin) and thankfully got on my velo to go home -- but went for a 20 mile ride instead to shake off the huge amount of tension.
I use my car so little these days I would sell it if it wasn't for my Dad. Too dangerous and too expensive for my liking!
of freight vehicles -- but generally they were not the problem. It was the frenetic, mad, car driver ( a small but extremely dangerous number) hurtling along, swapping lanes and totally driving in their insulated metal boxes with little regard for the safety of others (or even their own) and with total disregard for speed limits
I'm afraid your description is nothing new at all. That's just what motorway driving is like these days. You're lucky that the lorries weren't generally a problem - when you have a 44T artic chopping and changing lanes at 65-70mph without any warning it gets even more fun!
As for keeping a safe gap in front of you, if you do that three cars will fill it. You can't win.
Not looking forward to the M5/M42/M6/M69 journey I have to do tomorrow...
of freight vehicles -- but generally they were not the problem. It was the frenetic, mad, car driver ( a small but extremely dangerous number) hurtling along, swapping lanes and totally driving in their insulated metal boxes with little regard for the safety of others (or even their own) and with total disregard for speed limits
I'm afraid your description is nothing new at all. That's just what motorway driving is like these days. You're lucky that the lorries weren't generally a problem - when you have a 44T artic chopping and changing lanes at 65-70mph without any warning it gets even more fun!
As for keeping a safe gap in front of you, if you do that three cars will fill it. You can't win.
Not looking forward to the M5/M42/M6/M69 journey I have to do tomorrow...
It's surprising how the variable speed limits on the M25 have made using this road more relaxing. Fifteen years ago, I used to drive halfway round twice a week (weekly commuting) and the experience was as Pinky described. On my occasional forays that way recently, the whole thing seems much calmer.
It's surprising how the variable speed limits on the M25 have made using this road more relaxing. Fifteen years ago, I used to drive halfway round twice a week (weekly commuting) and the experience was as Pinky described. On my occasional forays that way recently, the whole thing seems much calmer.
I have had to venture onto the M25 occasionally, and I would agree that these do help things. I think the biggest incentive is that everyone knows that every illuminated gantry has a speed camera on it!
Mad is the only word: I recall over 10 years ago seeing twunts in the outside lane lock-up their wheels under braking in perfect conditions (dry & sunny) - and it's not got any better with mobile phones, sat-nav etc.. 🙁(
"Pinky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I use my car so little these days I would sell it if it wasn't for my Dad. Too dangerous and too expensive for my liking!
Digressing OT even more... when in La Belle France recently, to see Le Tour, the dreaded Chelsea Tractors were noticeable by their absence. Indeed I'm having to think long & hard about whether we saw any at all. Any reasons why French drivers are able to drive motorways, towns, cities, villages without having to resort to driving the type of vehicle that is so beloved of many of their UK counterparts?
Digressing OT even more... when in La Belle France recently, to see Le Tour, the dreaded Chelsea Tractors were noticeable by their absence. Indeed I'm having to think long & hard about whether we saw any at all. Any reasons why French drivers are able to drive motorways, towns, cities, villages without having to resort to driving the type of vehicle that is so beloved of many of their UK counterparts?
Yes but La Belle France has a population density that is almost 2.5 times less that Le yUK.
-- Tony
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory." - Leonardo da Vinci
As a car driver for nearly 40 years I found the journey dangerous in the extreme as 3 lanes of traffic ( especially N and S of Nottingham) travelled along from stationary to 80 mph (+). Trying to keep a reasonable gap between my own car and the one in front was nigh impossible because it was always filled. [etc etc]
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol. Wonder how close you have to be to get some drafting-type benefits?
As a car driver for nearly 40 years I found the journey dangerous in the extreme as 3 lanes of traffic ( especially N and S of Nottingham) travelled along from stationary to 80 mph (+). Trying to keep a reasonable gap between my own car and the one in front was nigh impossible because it was always filled. [etc etc]
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol.
That tends to be my favoured technique these days - nobody wants to be in the 'slow' lane, so you usually have plenty of room except at junctions and roadworks.
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol. Wonder how close you have to be to get some drafting-type benefits?
Used to do that a lot on motorbikes. Find an inter city coach, drive up it's backside and coast along on tickover!
After getting over the novelty of unlimited speeds on German autobahns, I now tend to just "sit in" behind an HGV and leave the Porsches and Mercs to it.
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol. Wonder how close you have to be to get some drafting-type benefits?
Used to do that a lot on motorbikes. Find an inter city coach, drive up it's backside and coast along on tickover!
Cyclists (I use the term loosely) can often be seen doing similar things on many busy dual carriageways. i think its called bringing the sport into disrepute or something ;-)
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol. Wonder how close you have to be to get some drafting-type benefits?
Used to do that a lot on motorbikes. Find an inter city coach, drive up it's backside and coast along on tickover!
Cyclists (I use the term loosely) can often be seen doing similar things on many busy dual carriageways. i think its called bringing the sport into disrepute or something ;-)
There was one steep hill on the way to work where I used to sometimes grab a tow from HGVs - by hanging on to the back of them :-) (I should probably be ashamed to admit this, but it was a long time ago)
There was one steep hill on the way to work where I used to sometimes grab a tow from HGVs - by hanging on to the back of them :-) (I should probably be ashamed to admit this, but it was a long time ago)
AOL. I only did it once as the hill in question flattened out gradually towards the top with the result that by the time I needed to let go the lorry was doing a frightening speed. Scared the bedeity out of me.
Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as Pinky <[email hidden]> gently breathed:
Quoted message said:
I had to go to County Court in Leicester today to resolve a "Small claims" matter. Despite starting from my home near Doncaster at 0600 hrs for a journey which was about 70 miles I still encountered heavy traffic on the M1. A lot of freight vehicles -- but generally they were not the problem. It was the frenetic, mad, car driver ( a small but extremely dangerous number) hurtling along, swapping lanes and totally driving in their insulated metal boxes with little regard for the safety of others (or even their own) and with total disregard for speed limits
The M1 is always like that. The solution is to stay in the inside lane, in between the trucks, at a steady 56mph. Much less stressful and by and large the trucks are well driven.
The lunatics doing nose-to-tail stop-start in Lane 3 I leave to their own devices.
There was one steep hill on the way to work where I used to sometimes grab a tow from HGVs - by hanging on to the back of them :-) (I should probably be ashamed to admit this, but it was a long time ago)
AOL. I only did it once as the hill in question flattened out gradually towards the top with the result that by the time I needed to let go the lorry was doing a frightening speed. Scared the bedeity out of me.
This one ended in a 30mph limit with a pedestrian crossing, and there was often traffic waiting to turn right too - if I was feeling energetic I could pull past the truck as it neared the top and be off down the other side, which was a nice smooth twisty descent, before the truck got out of the 30mph limit.
As a car driver for nearly 40 years I found the journey dangerous in the extreme as 3 lanes of traffic ( especially N and S of Nottingham) travelled along from stationary to 80 mph (+). Trying to keep a reasonable gap between my own car and the one in front was nigh impossible because it was always filled. [etc etc]
Drove from Manchester to Exeter the other week. Did the whole thing at 60mph - find a lorry, tuck in a safe distance behind it. They're limited to 60 so rarely overtake anything (if they do it's another lorry, just tuck in behind that one). Relaxing, easy driving and a big saving on petrol. Wonder how close you have to be to get some drafting-type benefits?
I drove up from Southampton to Dundee yesterday. Unlike the journey down I had a boat (Topper) on the roof. I was expecting a big increase in fuel bills. But - because I was doing 60-65 with the odd foray up around 70, instead of the 70ish on the way down[1], I actually used less fuel despite the increased cross section. That extra 5mph (ish) made about 30% difference on the central stretch..
Now back home and went sailing with the dolphins on the Tay today. Great fun.
...d
[1] not due to a lack of power, I have a strong dislike to losing the load off the roof and it is only rated to 70 so I was being on the safe side.
Much less stressful and by and large the trucks are well driven.
Yeah, my only complaint with them is when I'm cycling on a dual carriageway they tend not to pull out as much as other traffic, and the sideways push of air can be quite disconcerting. On the other hand it's quite exciting and appears to give a nice little boost to your speed.
Much less stressful and by and large the trucks are well driven.
Yeah, my only complaint with them is when I'm cycling on a dual carriageway they tend not to pull out as much as other traffic, and the sideways push of air can be quite disconcerting. On the other hand it's quite exciting and appears to give a nice little boost to your speed.
When I was time trialling up the dual carriageway I'd get annoyed at the HGVs that left too much room :-)
