Motorway Rush Hour Time Saving Driving

[M@tt 77]

My daily trek to works takes me on the mighty M1 and over the years i supposed i've just observed the way the traffic generally moves dureing the busy commute period and i suppose i've subconsciously developed a bit of a technique/general rule of thumb for lane selection during rush hour which must save me a good 20min+ on a 20mile journey in rush hour

 

basically when approaching a motorway off junction i usually sit in the inside lane, as generally the traffic is moving at a steadier pace than the outside lane as the dullards aren't driving right up each others arses then slamming on the brakes creating stop/start shock wave. Also the off slip roads are usually long enough to accommodate all the exiting traffic so they aren't backing up onto the actual motor way, this then usually gives you a clear run along the inside lane all the way up to the junctions on slip road, passing a good mile or so's worth of stop start traffic in the middle/outside lanes, then right at the point where the the on ramp slip meets the main motorway i move back across. The trick is not to appear as though you are doing it intentionally and looking desperate as people are all too keen to close up any space and not let you in.

 

I've found people generally move over waay too early when apporaching junctions and hence the middle and outside lanes are really really backed up.

 

I do this pretty much for most junctions and must save myself hours and hours each week

 

I suppose its pretty obvious when you think about it and more so when you drive the same stretch each day. Probably everyone on here does it but just interested so see what people reckon. I know for a fact my missus would just sit in the fast lane and just complain about the stopping/starting

Edited December 20, 2010 by M@tt

[kyepan 291]

Batfink is an expert in these tactics..

 

He has written extensively on the subject.

Edited December 20, 2010 by kyepan

[swordfish210 20]

I never really think about it that much, i guess my time is worthless enough that it doesnt matter how much time i spend on the motorway commuting. I agree with you on the inside lane though, it allways moves faster in heavy traffic.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

I'm guessing you make use of the "second lane" which isn't there on the J35A off slip road?

 

Every time our lass goes mental, yet you can reliably do the usual queue of 10 cars behind an artic.

[Cameron 16]

Yeah I like to use this tactic, but I'll only cruise past people if I'm undertaking so I don't have to brake, I won't accelerate to undertake someone, and I try to only change lane once. Nothing pisses me off more than the dickheads that are constantly switching lanes, accelerating and braking to try and squeeze through the smallest of gaps. I'll always close up the gap if I see someone doing that.

[tomcolinjones 26]

Yeah I like to use this tactic, but I'll only cruise past people if I'm undertaking so I don't have to brake, I won't accelerate to undertake someone, and I try to only change lane once. Nothing pisses me off more than the dickheads that are constantly switching lanes, accelerating and braking to try and squeeze through the smallest of gaps. I'll always close up the gap if I see someone doing that.

me to, i commute to guildford from shropshire most weekends, and i usualy get the said 'dickheads' undertaking when im doing a tad over 70 in the fast lane in a line of traffic, i think its entertaining to slowly creep accross to the middle lane as they are about to pass me on the inside, puts the wind up them quite a bit! ...... only if the road is relitively quiet tho, wouldnt want the car to swerve into the slow lane and wipe out a golf or something.

[swordfish210 20]

I love that sense of camaradary when a bunch of motorists will band togeather to stop one d*ckhead from cutting infront. Stay strong brothers

[Cameron 16]

Yeah I like to indicate then start moving left if I see someone about to undertake like an arse, it's fun to see the front of their car dive down.

[M@tt 77]

yeah sorry i hope that didn't come across as though i'm some sort of manic lane changing twat, i do exactly the same if i spot some bellend undertake during normal driving to save 45 seconds off their journey, its more a case of just strategically picking a lane during busy periods and sail past the queueing masses

[GLPoomobile 958]

When stuck in gridlock, NEVER be in the outside lane, it will always be the slowest. Whether the middle lane or inside lane are faster depends on the circumstances, and you often won't know until you've watched the traffic flow for a few minutes. At least being the middle lane gives you more options if you do decide to lane change out of desperation. But never lane change too often, as this will promote total hatred from other motorists who WILL then try to block you at any opportunity. You are of course free to return the favour

 

Give yourself room to relax. By creating space between you and the car in front you can relax more

1 - Being able to let the car crawl in gear at idle rather than repetative clutching, gear changes and use of throttle. Less wear on your body, less wear on the car, less fuel used.

2 - By leaving spaces for other motorists to move in to, should the decide they need to, you feel more in control and more relaxed. By doing this, it's an attitude of "there you go son, I made that gap for you, you are welcome to it", rather than feeling that someone has barged in front of you, and the anger and competativeness that goes with it. Find a happy place Although this does carry the risk that if too many people take your space, you are going to end up going postal, so be clever about how you control your space.

 

Also, on the subject of lane changing, the other reason NOT to do it is because in my experience you usually end up getting shafted by the odds. Many a time I've seen another lane moving faster so changed, only to end up at a stop and seeing the other lanes breeze past, so changed again and had the same happen. It's inevitable. Stay in one lane and relax.

 

If you've got tinted windows it also helps to pass the time by cracking one off

Edited December 20, 2010 by GLPoomobile

[SurGie 54]

The people in the know about traffic jams say that there is no point keep changing lanes, you will only end up the same place either way, unless you need to take the next juntion. Bottle necks are caused by the drivers drivng too fast then usung the brakes too often, so i try to keep a good distance between cars and keep a good pace and more often than not the other cars behind me do the same which keeps the jam moving even if it is at a slow pace.

[Cameron 16]

I have to agree, I play a little game in traffic jams and pick a car that I know I'll recognise in the other lane(s), then I watch out for it to see how far ahead / behind it gets if I just stick in one lane. More often than not if the car passes me I catch it up within a few mins and vice versa. You just seem to see-saw through the que as the concertinas in the traffic open and close.

[welshpug 1,657]

I just avoid motorways whenever I know there's congestion anywhere in particular when at all possible

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

When towing I do find the nearside lane flows well and I can get quite a way ahead of the other 2 lanes, To the extent I now use it whenever the roads get busy as all the other numpties are trying to overtake

[tri_longer 25]

I seem to remeber a Top Gear episode where all three of them sat in a queue on the motorway and deployed different tactics to see which resulted in the quickest time to reach said destination and i'm sure the end result was that staying where you were was just as quick and lane hopping into every available gap.

[feb 47]

The people in the know about traffic jams say that there is no point keep changing lanes, you will only end up the same place either way, unless you need to take the next juntion. Bottle necks are caused by the drivers drivng too fast then usung the brakes too often, so i try to keep a good distance between cars and keep a good pace and more often than not the other cars behind me do the same which keeps the jam moving even if it is at a slow pace.

 

I do the same and try to use a good distance from the car in front and go steady rather than having to accelerate and brake again but I hate people who see a gap and try to squeeze through, you are not going to be any faster being in front or behind me when there is a queue of 100's cars in front.

Even my wife tells me I drive too slowly/lazy, I must be getting old, I just don't see the point in changing lanes many times and prefer to be relaxed and stay on a lane going steady rather than trying to shave off 1sec off my journey. I agree though that the inside lane is always faster in traffic jams.

 

Besides changing lanes too often unnecessarilly there is more risk of an accident.

 

The same goes for traffic jams in towns, I'd rather leave a couple of cars distance from the car in front and let the car coast in 1st gear steadily and continuously without pressing the throttle, rather than start/stop, press the clutch/neutral continuously.

But people don't see it like this and when there is more than enough gap to squeeze in they will do it!

Edited December 21, 2010 by feb

[notamondayfan 44]

I commuted from Huddersfield to Leeds via the M62, and tried all sorts and eventually just ended up sticking to the middle lane. I couldnt be arsed with changing lanes, waiting for people to let me out etc.

Eventually I gave up driving and took the train. Atleast I could grab a coffee, a seat (if lucky) and could do something constructive such as reading. I think I read about 5 books just from the time communting in a few months, which has gotta be far more useful than sitting on my arse moaning about the traffic!

[Cameron 16]

I do the same and try to use a good distance from the car in front and go steady..

 

Grrrr I hate it when people leave a massive gap! It just gives a space for the frantic lane changing bell-ends to hop in, then you can see the driver think "ooh this is a little close" and drop back even more!!

 

If you don't like people constantly switching lanes in front of you, keep the gap to the minimum possible while moving smoothly.

[feb 47]

Grrrr I hate it when people leave a massive gap! It just gives a space for the frantic lane changing bell-ends to hop in, then you can see the driver think "ooh this is a little close" and drop back even more!!

 

If you don't like people constantly switching lanes in front of you, keep the gap to the minimum possible while moving smoothly.

 

If I keep the distance to a car's length I will have to mimic what the front car is doing i.e. brake, clutch, neutral, stop and there we go again. Why having to change gears when you can avoid it? By keeping a minimum of 2 cars lengths behind and going steady, the guy infront can do his start/stop routine while I am coasting on a steady speed without having to brake once or accelerate at all.

 

I don't see the problem with this.

 

It is impatient people who think, "oh there is a space I will arrive faster at my destination". This is a typical argument with my wife who says another car is getting in front of us and we are getting delayed . My reply is when you drive you can do what you like, this is how I like to drive so you have to enjoy.

 

If people thought like this then you wouldn't have to start/stop and flow at a steady rate.

 

The nervoussness is caused by start/stop, if you relax and take it steady it would be much better (for both your clutch and your nerves).

 

The study above has shown that it doesn't matter how many times you change lanes, you will arrive at the same time at your destination +/- 40s maybe

Edited December 21, 2010 by feb

[kyepan 291]

and i usualy get the said 'dickheads' undertaking when im doing a tad over 70 in the fast lane in a line of traffic,

you can undertake if your lane is going quicker than the one with all the dickheads doing a tad over 70 in.

 

 

, i think its entertaining to slowly creep accross to the middle lane as they are about to pass me on the inside, puts the wind up them quite a bit! ......

if you do that, your a MASSIVE weapon... and you give me THE RAGE.

 

that is all.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Grrrr I hate it when people leave a massive gap!

 

I agress and it unnecessarily makes the traffic jam a lot longer.

[Anthony 1,003]

Would you rather roll along at a constant speed, or constantly stop and start?

 

I'll leave a modest gap in front of me and keep moving at a constant speed, allowing the traffic behind to keep moving. Driving 2" from the car in front and having to constantly stop and start cripples traffic flow, puts more wear and tear on the car, and ultimately prolongs the traffic jam. Unfortunately, many people - including people on here seemingly - haven't realised this and get angry that they can't be a couple of metres further forwards in the queue such is their short-sighted view of "progress"

 

My attitude is this - if you have to routinely use your brakes on the motorway, then you're driving badly and not looking/planning far enough ahead.

[kyepan 291]

My attitude is this - if you have to routinely use your brakes on the motorway, then you're driving badly and not looking/planning far enough ahead.

 

They also did some statistical modelling and simulation on traffic flow and proved that braking causes a concertina effect, more psychological that actual. That all volume (not incident) traffic jams on motorways were actually down to the distance between cars, keep this slightly higher, and traffic flows. There was a tipping point of traffic densitiy for any given speed, and a reduction in speed limit allowed higher traffic volumes to keep moving.

 

So it's statistically proven and modelled using simulations, hence the variable speed limit section of the M25.

 

I make a point of staying off the brakes and if the traffic way ahead slows, i just roll down to a crawl and try my damnedest not to actually stop, it really works to keep things moving.

 

so that was not quite all.

Edited December 21, 2010 by kyepan

[SurGie 54]

My point as well, slow and steady gets everyone there much quicker in the long run.

[swordfish210 20]

I like to just roll along at a constant speed too rather than keep stopping and starting. You can see it all the time on the motorway, one car brakes and and the car behind brakes too whether it is necessacary or not and so on and so on...