"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:11:33 +1030, (Aidan Stanger)
wrote:
I don't like that when driving a slower vehicle (e.g. a minibus)
because it means you are forever moving back and forth.
Only if you stick to the extra lane.
Which, if it is marked as a normal lane and not a sliproad, you are
supposed to do. The designation you suggest, or just marking it as a
sliproad throughout, would of course solve this.
Even with a decent length to do it, merging can be a problem.
Oh, indeed. It's just much more difficult if you're still thinking
about acceleration by the time you should be braking slightly to match
speed and slot in because the sliproad is *far* too short.
The usual practice seems to be to mark the slip lane with long-dash markers
for the last half mile or so before and after the junction. Where you have
junctions close together, like on the M25 near Heathrow, the long-dash lane
separator extends virtually between the junctions. Once you are in that
lane, you are effectively committed to exiting.
I recall one road on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, where the signs say "Right
Lane Must Exit", and they mean it. There are traffic signals on the through
lanes, and no way to merge back in. It's about a 10-mile diversion, I
believe.
--
Terry Harper, Web Co-ordinator, The Omnibus Society
Web Site:
http://www.omnibussoc.org/75th.htm
E-mail:
URL: http://www.terry.harper.btinternet.co.uk/