Picture this.
You’re coming up to your motorway off slip, traffic is very busy but still moving at high speeds. No hard shoulder on this section.
The off slip is controlled by lights and from your elevated driving position you can already see its backed up right to the broken white line. Would you stop on a live lane to wait in the queue or carry on to the next junction will add around 4 miles to your journey.
Come on what would you do?
You should carry on to the next junction as coming to a halt on a live lane could potentially be disastrous. However, back in the real world, if it’s as busy as your scenario states then the six cars that have just barged in front of you and the three sat up your ■■■ are all going to bring the carriageway to a halt anyway as they exit, so personally I’d come to a controlled stop.
When I have been in this position people normally end up queuing in the hard shoulder to keep lane 1 live.
mrginge:
When I have been in this position people normally end up queuing in the hard shoulder to keep lane 1 live.
+1. Seems to be commonplace on the M4 around Bristol and Swindon.
the maoster:
You should carry on to the next junction as coming to a halt on a live lane could potentially be disastrous. However, back in the real world, if it’s as busy as your scenario states then the six cars that have just barged in front of you and the three sat up your ■■■ are all going to bring the carriageway to a halt anyway as they exit, so personally I’d come to a controlled stop.
So what happens at the next exit where your in the same position 
I’d queue in the live lane, no other practical choice (an 8 mile round trip isn’t practical). Slow down nice and early, keep checking the mirrors to check the people behind are sorting themselves out, no sweat.
As someone who lives and works ‘Up North’ (Inverness is regarded as ‘South’), I only have one question: What is a ‘Motorway’?
It’s not your fault the traffic system doesn’t work. The lights should be changed or removed if they are causing tailbacks on to the motorways.
Stop in the live lane, everyone else will.
This happens daily at the M5 Tewkesbury junction.
It depends, in a lorry I would join the queue, I would keep sat well back in the seat, possibly flash brake lights on and off and not feel entirely comfortable until a few others had joined behind. In a car, unless it was obvious a few other were also going to join the queue immediately behind me, I may just carry on, don’t think I would be even remotely happy in a little car sat at the back of a queue on a motorway.
mrginge:
When I have been in this position people normally end up queuing in the hard shoulder to keep lane 1 live.
There is no hard shoulder in the OPs scenario
I’d expect those who watch the cameras all day to have already got the situation under control
and have a “queue ahead” or similar sign working.
axletramp:
I’d expect those who watch the cameras all day to have already got the situation under control
and have a “queue ahead” or similar sign working.
scanny77:
mrginge:
When I have been in this position people normally end up queuing in the hard shoulder to keep lane 1 live.There is no hard shoulder in the OPs scenario
Your clearly safer then me then as you are the more observant one between us. 
As the driver of a large vehicle there is some responsibility to protect other motorists, so as theres no hard shoulder bringing the live lane to a controlled stop would work, unless you have seen the slip road fiasco far to late to do this then just crack on or anchor up and pucker up.
Or if you have a tipper up your chuff wanting the same exit, accelerate then lurch out at the last second and watch the carnage in your nearside mirror.
I perform similar shenanigans in my car when another car is up my bum by lurching out to overtake parked cars in a sweeney-esk type manouvre or get incredibly close to cyclists then lurch out, bit of a 2 for the price of one scenario.
I also like to indicate right and turn left, other roadusers love this.
Hmmm im not very safe at all.
Javiatrix:
I’d queue in the live lane, no other practical choice (an 8 mile round trip isn’t practical). Slow down nice and early, keep checking the mirrors to check the people behind are sorting themselves out, no sweat.
+1,from a selfish point of view though,when I stop in a situation like that I hope there is a big queue behind cos if anyone gets hit it will be them
Win-Stone:
As someone who lives and works ‘Up North’ (Inverness is regarded as ‘South’), I only have one question: What is a ‘Motorway’?
you don’t need a motorway up there , the roads are brilliant and speed cameras are like hen’s teeth , why would you want a motorway ■■
It was just a thought i had today as i seen this very scenario happen on the opposite carriageway.
And i seem to remember someone getting done for manslaughter because they parked on dangerous twisty part of the A68 whilst looking for a entrance to a farm or summit. Does anyone recall this story it was a few years ago, think it was a little puddle jumper type vehicle
Dipper_Dave:
As the driver of a large vehicle there is some responsibility to protect other motorists, so as theres no hard shoulder bringing the live lane to a controlled stop would work, unless you have seen the slip road fiasco far to late to do this then just crack on or anchor up and pucker up.Or if you have a tipper up your chuff wanting the same exit, accelerate then lurch out at the last second and watch the carnage in your nearside mirror.
I perform similar shenanigans in my car when another car is up my bum by lurching out to overtake parked cars in a sweeney-esk type manouvre or get incredibly close to cyclists then lurch out, bit of a 2 for the price of one scenario.
I also like to indicate right and turn left, other roadusers love this.Hmmm im not very safe at all.
+1…man after my own heart… 
mrginge:
scanny77:
mrginge:
When I have been in this position people normally end up queuing in the hard shoulder to keep lane 1 live.There is no hard shoulder in the OPs scenario
Your clearly safer then me then as you are the more observant one between us.
I dont disagree with your answer. I see it a lot at j6 of the M8 and it looks a lot safer than blocking lane 1 of 2 (although there are the cotton wool heads who will block a live lane to cut in)
Good question. I’d like to say I’d move on, clock whats happening at the opposte carriageway exit for the same junction, spin around at the next split then head back up to join from the other side if safer. But we all know what it’s like. Mm. Trying to put this in my mind’s eye, I’d say I’d be so un comfortable about being stationary on a live lane with running adjacent lanes I’d zoom up to the next.
Complete, back-of-a-que standing traffic across all lanes is more safe as its visible, the flow generally slows down towards it. Whereas someone blocking one lane in a otherwise running motorway is liable for a high speed shunt. Not least explained by some of the examples from earlier posters mentioning those Sweeney manoeuvres.
A more violently dangerous position to be in on a road I could not imagine, apart from hanging off a bridge. In fact, pretty much a good “meet the reaper” token on any afternoon when, you’re sitting there busy thinking about going for a beer later or taking a ■■■■■■■ a date. In a second too soon and it’s all over. Mm. Not worth it for me. Would you pull over in lane 1 for no reason with no actual exit, with running 70/80/90 mph traffic? Just pull up and stop and sit, and wait inside? It’s the same thing if you think about it.