Third lane in the roadworks

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

scanny77:
+1
Lane 1 on the M8 through Glasgow seems to be used as an access road to lane 2. I don’t know why but a hell of a lot of drivers will not sit in that lane :confused:

Are you meaning the east bound lane,with the traffic coming down from charing cross? Every single time I come along there the traffic in lane one will move into lane 2,even if nothing in front of them,as soon as they get past the unbroken white lines. No idea why,its a straight bit of road and you can tell its clearly not a slip road

62

3 pages and still nobody has given the correct answer :unamused:

In short, yes, through roadworks, you’re entitled to use the right hand lane where ANY lane is closed, assuming there are no ‘other’ restrictions (width, etc). Also, you can use it to pass exceptionally wide loads. And if a lane turns into an off/on-slip and there’s only 2 other lanes.

Links (my bolding/highlighting):

In Scotland:

The Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995
legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995 … on/11/made

Restriction on use of right-hand lane

11.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a)a goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,

(b)a motor vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects the overall length of which exceeds 12 metres;

(c)a motor vehicle drawing a trailer; and

(d)a vehicle which is a motor tractor, a light locomotive or a heavy locomotive.

(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) below, no vehicle to which this regulation applies shall be driven, or moved, or stopped, or remain at rest on the right-hand lane of a length of carriageway which has 3 or more traffic lanes at any place where all the lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction.

(3) The prohibition contained in paragraph (2) above shall not apply to a vehicle—

(a)while it is being driven on any right-hand lane such as is mentioned in that paragraph insofar as it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven to enable it to pass another vehicle which is carrying or drawing a load of exceptional width; or

(b)so as to prevent that vehicle joining or leaving the motorway by means of a road giving access to or from that motorway on the right hand side of the carriageway.

(4) Nothing in this regulation shall have effect so as to require a vehicle to change lane during a period when it would not be reasonably practicable for it to do so without involving danger or injury to any person or inconvenience to other traffic.

(5) In this regulation—

“goods vehicle” and “maximum laden weight” have the same meanings as in Schedule 6 to the 1984 Act; and

“overall length” has the meaning given by regulation 3(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986(1).

In England & Wales:
The Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982
legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982 … tents/made
The text is only available as a PDF, can be downloaded above.

Page 4, regulation 12. Wording is pretty much exactly as above as per Scotland. There have been various amendments over the years, but none that remove /substantially change this point.

HTH.

63

The-Snowman:

scanny77:
+1
Lane 1 on the M8 through Glasgow seems to be used as an access road to lane 2. I don’t know why but a hell of a lot of drivers will not sit in that lane :confused:

Are you meaning the east bound lane,with the traffic coming down from charing cross? Every single time I come along there the traffic in lane one will move into lane 2,even if nothing in front of them,as soon as they get past the unbroken white lines. No idea why,its a straight bit of road and you can tell its clearly not a slip road

^^This, winds me right up. They will then proceed to “middle lane hog” at about 45. As I’m 99.999% of the time heading for the M80 a few miles later on, I move into the left lane and pass the lot of them on the left (and remaining in the left lane). Note: not under-taking, passing on the left, there’s a subtle difference - for the pendantic :laughing:

64

Chris1207:
3 pages and still nobody has given the correct answer :unamused:

In short, yes, through roadworks, you’re entitled to use the right hand lane where ANY lane is closed, assuming there are no ‘other’ restrictions (width, etc).

Which wasn’t the question. :unamused:

everyone knows you can use the outer lane when lanes are closed making it into a 2 lane motorway, assuming no restriction signs, but the question was about using the outer lane when there are still three lanes open because the lanes have just been shifted over for the roadworks.

A lot of people gave the correct answer to that scenario. :unamused:

65

I didn’t read the post properly
so its now a no from me

66

Coffeeholic:

Chris1207:
3 pages and still nobody has given the correct answer :unamused:

In short, yes, through roadworks, you’re entitled to use the right hand lane where ANY lane is closed, assuming there are no ‘other’ restrictions (width, etc).

Which wasn’t the question. :unamused:

everyone knows you can use the outer lane when lanes are closed making it into a 2 lane motorway, assuming no restriction signs, but the question was about using the outer lane when there are still three lanes open because the lanes have just been shifted over for the roadworks.

A lot of people gave the correct answer to that scenario. :unamused:

So, through said roadworks, there’s no lane closure? If so, then fair enough, and no, you wouldn’t be able to use the outer lane.

I was wondering why everyone was giving the ‘wrong’ answer :laughing: Put that down to it being 4am and reading through sleepy eyes :wink:

67

ORC:
I’m less comfortable with the idea that a temporary roadworks sign saying ‘any vehicle’ means that LGVs are exempted from the usual road rules. Why would they do this? Why do the roadworks make it necessary or appropriate for LGVs to use the third lane which they are normally banned from using?

It’s not appropriate. The problem is the HA assuming people will be able to work things out for themselves. Any vehicle means any vehicle normally allowed to use that lane when no roadworks are present. All that means is there is no width restriction in the outside lane. If it says 6 foot 6 or whatever then anything less than 7.5t and 6 foot 6 wide can use the lane as opposed to the normal situation of just anything less than 7.5t.

Having said that, an ANY VEHICLE sign is just asking for this situation to crop up as there are always folk looking to push things. Like how every year people ask if they can have only 8 hours off when the clocks go forward.

68

I won’t go into a contraflow if it goes into the outside lane of the other carriageway.

69

Own Account Driver:
I won’t go into a contraflow if it goes into the outside lane of the other carriageway.

What do you do if faced with that then?

70

ORC:
I think it is the M621 as you approach Leeds city centre where there is a sign that specifically says LGVs can use the outside lane.

This is a specific signed exception to the normal rule. I would take comfort from it as it is explicit, I’m less comfortable with the idea that a temporary roadworks sign saying ‘any vehicle’ means that LGVs are exempted from the usual road rules. Why would they do this? Why do the roadworks make it necessary or appropriate for LGVs to use the third lane which they are normally banned from using?

Well in roadworks generally a speed limit of 50mph or below is in force and also enforced with average speed cameras. If a lorry does go in the outside lane there’s unlikely go be fast moving overtaking traffic barrelling towards it at 90mph.

With it being fashionable for firms to fit limiters to sprinter vans or smaller it possibly should be made the case no vehicle, fitted with a limiter, should ordinarily be permitted in the outside lane.

71

the maoster:

Own Account Driver:
I won’t go into a contraflow if it goes into the outside lane of the other carriageway.

What do you do if faced with that then?

Reverse, a long reverse…

72

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

73

Chris1207:

The-Snowman:

scanny77:
+1
Lane 1 on the M8 through Glasgow seems to be used as an access road to lane 2. I don’t know why but a hell of a lot of drivers will not sit in that lane :confused:

Are you meaning the east bound lane,with the traffic coming down from charing cross? Every single time I come along there the traffic in lane one will move into lane 2,even if nothing in front of them,as soon as they get past the unbroken white lines. No idea why,its a straight bit of road and you can tell its clearly not a slip road

^^This, winds me right up. They will then proceed to “middle lane hog” at about 45. As I’m 99.999% of the time heading for the M80 a few miles later on, I move into the left lane and pass the lot of them on the left (and remaining in the left lane). Note: not under-taking, passing on the left, there’s a subtle difference - for the pendantic :laughing:

The point where the 1st lane becomes the 2nd lane at which point they should move over after the solid white line ends but a lot of them don’t. They stay in what is now the 2nd lane. They will not move over even through j15 - j13. Then the M80 splits off and they still plod along in lane 2. I pass on the left quite often on the flyover before the 5 lane bit. I used to run out of livi but now I head for the M80 on my return journey

Nice to see I am not the only one to notice this

74

sbhep:
Just throwing this over to all you experts

Drive through the roadworks on the M1 daily jc 28 to 33

Cars doing 46 / 47 in middle lane refusing to pull into lane one drive me mad

a couple of weeks ago an instructor on a course told us on entering the roadworks

if it states any vehicle on the lane 3 with no width restriction then its ok to use lane 3

so for last couple of weeks been plodding down lane 3 when lane 2 is on the go slow

boy…do I get some stares and shocked looks when the 40 ft curtain comes along side

yesterday the pretend police ( traffic officers ) in their disco flashed me and flapped their arms like I was a nutter I just plodded on at 50 - 52

question abit late if am wrong and been sold duff info…ooops

is it right can we use lane 3 in the roadworks ■■?

cheers

Simon

oh my days, you are obviously one of the tailgating knuckle dragging retards I often see through the various roadworks, desperate to shave minutes off their journey.

You need to get an hourly paid job and relax.

Then again it may not be your fault, some people are just born stupid.

75

Wildy:
So when the original application was made to the secretary of state to carry out the roadworks on the motorway, were the motorway regulations suspended to allow the roadworks to be carried out? Is the roadworks section still classified as ‘motorway’?

Are you serious? :astonished:

76

Gembo:

Wildy:
So when the original application was made to the secretary of state to carry out the roadworks on the motorway, were the motorway regulations suspended to allow the roadworks to be carried out? Is the roadworks section still classified as ‘motorway’?

Are you serious? :astonished:

They don’t just rock up and drop cones…

77

Wildy:

Gembo:

Wildy:
So when the original application was made to the secretary of state to carry out the roadworks on the motorway, were the motorway regulations suspended to allow the roadworks to be carried out? Is the roadworks section still classified as ‘motorway’?

Are you serious? :astonished:

They don’t just rock up and drop cones…

Although it seems like it sometimes!

78

Can’t believe the OP is even let out in an LGV, if he doesn’t know this. So would you go down the 3 rd lane if there were no roadworks,No, so why do you think it is ok when there is roadwork, ffs.

79

If, and I stress if, as the OP stated there is a specific sign stating “Any vehicle”, rather than a plain black arrow and no sign, then either one of two things is going on:

  1. Some numpty in a high-vis used the wrong sign.
    or
  2. Some “exceptional circumstance” caused the persons planning the works to conclude it was a good idea to allow “Any vehicle” to use that lane.

Now, my money is on the first one if there’s nothing untypical about the works themselves, however, given the second case is possible, how are they supposed to convey this information?

a) put up a sign
or
b) stop every truck driver and explain to them

My conclusion, if a driver believes the sign and uses the lane signed “Any vehicle” and that wasn’t the intent, the problem is with the signage and not the conclusion the driver drew from it.

80

So when you see a National Speed Limit sign would you do 70 mph in your truck, if it was capable of reaching that speed?

National speed limit is 70 mph in this country, and there’s nothing on the sign to indicate some vehicles can’t do that legally, or do you realise there are other factors at play than just the sign?