76 replies to this topic

[xBR4DLEY]

i could see the faces of people i was passing and there was some genuine shock.

You do get the, “what the ******* is that old, slow piece of crap doing overtaking” occasionally. But it’s simples; if you don’t like being overtaken, try pushing that pedal on the right.

On work experience , this would happen every morning when me and my uncle were going in in his mini. We would just be going down the motorway overtaking them and I was watching their faces , some of them really got rat arsed and just booted it. My uncle was saying how theirs one guy who doesnt like it and does the same , so we over took him. Some of the people try to go on like nothing happened but then get even more annoyed and then they go LOL.

[Carlos W]

I tend to sit in the centre lane anyway so this isn't too much of a problem.

Sitting in the centre lane of a motorway endangers yourself, and others, increases congestion and is an offence (Police can do your for driving without due care and attention)

It also really annoys people, especially if they're in a low powered car trying to overtake you!

Imagine this situation, someone in a fast car coming up in the fast lane, slow moving car which you want to overtake in the middle lane, nothing in the inside lane.

You can't pull out because the fast car coming up behind you will squash you, so, you have to slow down, you then come to a hill and you've lost all your speed!

[Carlzilla]

I tend to sit in the centre lane anyway so this isn't too much of a problem.

Sitting in the centre lane of a motorway endangers yourself, and others, increases congestion and is an offence (Police can do your for driving without due care and attention)

It also really annoys people, especially if they're in a low powered car trying to overtake you!

Imagine this situation, someone in a fast car coming up in the fast lane, slow moving car which you want to overtake in the middle lane, nothing in the inside lane.

You can't pull out because the fast car coming up behind you will squash you, so, you have to slow down, you then come to a hill and you've lost all your speed!

Buy a car with more torque

[mab01uk]

Remember your stopping distances, maintain a safe gap at all times particularly in the wet and remember unlike modern cars you do not have ABS brakes in an emergency they will stop in a shorter distance than you no matter how good you think your brakes are. Try to maintain space around you wherever possible, don't sit in the inside lane inbetween two HGV,s................if everything suddenly has to stop you are the meat in an HGV sandwich!

Let aggresive 'tailgaters' overtake or move away from them if you have the power to do so.........in a rear end accident they will kill your rear seat passengers (no crumple zone) or give front seat occupents serious whiplash injuries as a minimum. (Keep seat head rests/restraints properly adjusted for your height if you have them).

In wet spray conditions put your lights on (many forget) and in fog don't forget your rear fog light (or forget to switch off).

If you break down don't sit in your car while waiting for help on the hard shoulder................switch on hazard lights, get everyone out the car over the barrier, many people are killed while stationary on the hard shoulder each year by dozing tired lorry or car drivers. If you must work on your car wear a high visibility jacket and place a warning triangle some distance behind.
When leaving the hard shoulder accelerate up to traffic speed BEFORE joining the inside lane.

There is no such thing as a 'fast' lane it is the overtaking lane and you should pull back in when safe to do so.

If you see sudden stationary traffic queues and brake lights ahead try to warn drivers behind with your hazard lights and if you have an HGV bearing down on you look for an escape route incase he can't stop in time. Most modern cars now switch their hazard lights on automatically under heavy braking conditions.

If you want to drive slower than the HGV's flash your lights as their trailer passes you when it is safe for them to pull back in front of you..........all lorries do this to help each other and they will usually thank you with a flash of their hazards.

Don't overtake a truck and then pull back in front and slow down...........very frustrating for the driver, they have a lot of gears and need to maintain a constant speed especially up inclines.

In a Mini keep an eye on all your gauges, switch on the heater and fan if the temperature climbs too high and make sure you have enough fuel to get to the next services.

Edited by mab01uk, 04 January 2011 - 08:20 PM.

[and90cooper]

one tip i can add is when joining from a slip road, dont be afraid to accelerate hard to join the motorway-i'm a lorry driver and a downright dangerous habit some car drivers have is to try and join the motorway at the same speed as the traffic already on it!! go a little bit faster than the lorries rather than expect them to brake to let you on.i will always ease off to let another vehicle join,but sometimes they slow down as well !!! get yer foot down when joining the motorway!!

[Carlos W]

I tend to sit in the centre lane anyway so this isn't too much of a problem.

Sitting in the centre lane of a motorway endangers yourself, and others, increases congestion and is an offence (Police can do your for driving without due care and attention)

It also really annoys people, especially if they're in a low powered car trying to overtake you!

Imagine this situation, someone in a fast car coming up in the fast lane, slow moving car which you want to overtake in the middle lane, nothing in the inside lane.

You can't pull out because the fast car coming up behind you will squash you, so, you have to slow down, you then come to a hill and you've lost all your speed!

Buy a car with more torque

Oh yeah, I'll go and buy a new car (or van) because some people can't drive and hog the mddle lane!

[and90cooper]

being your typical white van man bullying other motorists can be very amusing/entertaining, especially when its some moron in an Audi on his laptop, texting on his phone whist in the fast lane, (true story)
lorry driver too also enjoy making other road users life awkward,
best tip I can give for driving a Mini on the motorway would be stick with the lorries, most have to drive a 57 any,

also put your head lights on,

also make sure your wheel nuts arnt loose, mine were, realized just in time before the wheel came off

in what way do lorry drivers enjoy making other road users lives awkward? from someone who admits to fiding it amusing/entertaining to bully other road users? and your such a professional you nearly lost a wheel because the nuts were loose !!hhmmm a proper white van man obviously...

[1984mini25]

One thing that really gets on my ... is, when there’s an accident on the other carriageway and you don’t need to, DON’T bloody slow down so you can have a have a bloody good look.

Edited by 1984mini25, 04 January 2011 - 08:23 PM.

[and90cooper]

One thing that really gets on my ... is, when there’s an accident on the other carriageway and you don’t need to, DON’T bloody slow down so you can have a have a bloody good look.

i agree completely.

[Carlos W]

One thing that really gets on my ... is, when there’s an accident on the other carriageway and you don’t need to, DON’T bloody slow down so you can have a have a bloody good look.

i agree completely.

Me too, epecially when they go and crash into the car in front by rubber necking!

[1984mini25]

One thing that really gets on my ... is, when there’s an accident on the other carriageway and you don’t need to, DON’T bloody slow down so you can have a have a bloody good look.

i agree completely.

Me too, epecially when they go and crash into the car in front by rubber necking!

Or you then get stuck in a slow moving tailback, for what???

[danrock101]

The worst that will happen is you'll annoy a few people you'll never see again.

want to bet? lol
I don't use my mirrors on the motorway I look over my shoulder,
Indicate in advance too to give people a chance to move out of the way.
Just keep alert and enjoy it!

[Jacko-lah]

After 26 years of driving I get to impart my wisdom. ha Ha

I'm doing about 250 motorway miles a week in a 1.8 cavalier, and if I had to travel in a mini (I'd like to but it's my fun car) I'd attempt to find a route which minimised the motorway. For instance Liverpool to Brum, is almost as quick, via the M53, and A41, and you can get to southwales quicker (in any car) down the A5. past wrexham, and ludlow etc. I perfected these routes when I had a motorbike in the 80's because there's nothing worse than doing 95 Mph in the fast lane on a fast bike, with some demented sales rep 2.5 mm behind your back wheel and nothing better than blasting past a sales rep on an A road and overtaking the 7 lorries he didn't have the bottle to overtake. Once I got the mini, it just seemed more fun to find A and B roads and take a bit more time

However if you must :

In the cavalier on the M6 northbound on Friday afternoon, I've perfected the perfect mini methods.

Okay, Lorries are limited to 56 MPH, so if you keep in the slow lane at 56 to 60 you'll be fine. If you must venture out into the middle lane to overtake, get it up to 70 please, and indicate well in advance, and watch out for 'Mr Gap Closer' : Unlikely to meet him in a mini, but he's the guy that spots you indicating and accelerated into the gap.

My real pet hate is the middle lane moron. Get out of the middle lane as soon as possible. MLM drives at an indicated 65 (actually 59) in the middle lane, and wonders why lorries tailgate him or undertake him.

If the traffic is heavy and you never go over 60 you'll still beat the fast lane to your destination. Especially if traffic is nose to tail, and stop start.

On the subject of safety. the 2 second rule is hard to follow but I'm telling you it works. If you have to brake then you are too close.

[Jacko-lah]

I tend to sit in the centre lane anyway so this isn't too much of a problem.

I may have this out of context so bear with me please. So this might not be you, too scared to pull into the slow lane for fear that you might be stuck there forever ?

Okay. I tend to sit in the inside lane, unless I need to overtake. So I'm doing 70 in the inside lane, you're doing 69 in the middle lane, and the outside lane is full of reps and white van men, doing what appears to be 120, 3 foot apart in a sort of unofficial train.

Shall I ?

a) commit a moving traffic offence and undertake you,

or

b) Attempt to mix it with the nutters in the fast lane, which to do safely I'll need to get up to 90 mph, before I can slot in.

or

c) Tail gate you.

I'm not a saint, it'll be A. Then I'll move to the middle lane and give you a blast of neat wash fluid and then slow down to 65 next time I'm overtaking a lorry, forcing you to overtake (see b above) - except that once you are along side I'll floor it again.

I hate MLM's so much, I'd make it a law that they get an instant motorway ban for life.

[danrock101]

I'm not a saint, it'll be A. Then I'll move to the middle lane and give you a blast of neat wash fluid and then slow down to 65 next time I'm overtaking a lorry, forcing you to overtake (see b above) - except that once you are along side I'll floor it again.

I hate MLM's so much, I'd make it a law that they get an instant motorway ban for life.

Bit harsh LOL but yeah it's the reason why I just join the unofficial train, it's lovely when the motorway is empty though