I’ve noticed that when driving on the hard shoulder, people seem reluctant to let you change lanes either when the lane is marked ahead with the X or when the instruction “HS junction (whatever) only” is displayed. Do they not like the fact you’re queue jumping or do they not understand what managed motorways are about? Luckily I planned ahead this morning on the M6 as it appeared my indicator was invisible (it is working as I checked later). When I sped up to make a gap, others sped up (including lorry drivers), and on slowing people blatantly matched my speed. I know there are Luddites amongst us who wont use the hard shoulder but don’t make things difficult for those who do.
Good evening. 
Probably don’t read the signs a bit like bus lanes you can use at certain times which I enjoy que jumping in.
be interesting to see how many accidents there are regarding these managed motorways.
Regularly see clowns driving on the hard shoulder when its not lit up Down the M6 though Birmingham. Personally I stay in lane 1 to stay on the safe side, who knows if anyone is actually watching the road on the cameras.
maga:
be interesting to see how many accidents there are regarding these managed motorways.Regularly see clowns driving on the hard shoulder when its not lit up Down the M6 though Birmingham. Personally I stay in lane 1 to stay on the safe side, who knows if anyone is actually watching the road on the cameras.
don’t tell me, you also drive down lanes marked with a red x because you’re “not sure” if anyone is watching 
come on get a grip. Being on the road all day means you are meant to able to recognise signs and act on them before some plum in a Micra. Set an example.
F-reds:
maga:
be interesting to see how many accidents there are regarding these managed motorways.Regularly see clowns driving on the hard shoulder when its not lit up Down the M6 though Birmingham. Personally I stay in lane 1 to stay on the safe side, who knows if anyone is actually watching the road on the cameras.
don’t tell me, you also drive down lanes marked with a red x because you’re “not sure” if anyone is watching
come on get a grip. Being on the road all day means you are meant to able to recognise signs and act on them before some plum in a Micra. Set an example.
nope if there is a red x obviously i won’t drive in that lane.
But just because the overhead sign says the hard shoulder is open to drive down doesn’t mean i am going too! i don’t trust the HA enough to change the sign if someone has broken down in the live hard shoulder.
If thats a problem for anyone…tough! I’m not being in the next motorway pile up 
maga:
F-reds:
maga:
be interesting to see how many accidents there are regarding these managed motorways.Regularly see clowns driving on the hard shoulder when its not lit up Down the M6 though Birmingham. Personally I stay in lane 1 to stay on the safe side, who knows if anyone is actually watching the road on the cameras.
don’t tell me, you also drive down lanes marked with a red x because you’re “not sure” if anyone is watching
come on get a grip. Being on the road all day means you are meant to able to recognise signs and act on them before some plum in a Micra. Set an example.
nope
But just because the overhead sign says the hard shoulder is open to drive down doesn’t mean i am going too! i don’t trust the HA enough to change the sign if someone has broken down in the live hard shoulder.
If thats a problem for anyone…tough! I’m not being in the next motorway pile up
Then I suggest you pay more attention to the road in front of you…
anisboy:
maga:
F-reds:
maga:
be interesting to see how many accidents there are regarding these managed motorways.Regularly see clowns driving on the hard shoulder when its not lit up Down the M6 though Birmingham. Personally I stay in lane 1 to stay on the safe side, who knows if anyone is actually watching the road on the cameras.
don’t tell me, you also drive down lanes marked with a red x because you’re “not sure” if anyone is watching
come on get a grip. Being on the road all day means you are meant to able to recognise signs and act on them before some plum in a Micra. Set an example.
nope
But just because the overhead sign says the hard shoulder is open to drive down doesn’t mean i am going too! i don’t trust the HA enough to change the sign if someone has broken down in the live hard shoulder.
If thats a problem for anyone…tough! I’m not being in the next motorway pile up
Then I suggest you pay more attention to the road in front of you…
thankyou for the advice 
or maybe I could just drive in lane 1 overtaking the people in the hard shoulder as 99% of the time its flowing at 50mph anyway.
some people on this site really do make me smile
maga:
some people on this site really do make me smile
Indeed. We have people posting on a professional drivers forum who seem incapable of using lanes properly on managed motorways.
Not to worry, more empty space for me to go tanking down.
Screwdriver.
Yes because I was always told keep left unless overtaking so by continuing in lane 1 instead of the hard shoulder at 56 you are effectively asking for a ticket for hogging a lane. There are cameras every 100 metres and there is at least one person on the CCTV desk so If a car stops, the lane is closed, except of course that people don’t understand open and closed hard shoulders.
Big Jase:
except of course that people don’t understand how to drive on motorways.
FTFY
Another reason why there should be a separate test for anyone wanting to drive on a motorway in the UK.
i think you all are misunderstanding. I AM overtaking constantly when in lane 1 as id rather that than sit at 50 in a lane where a car could be broken down and the HA haven’t put a red x up for whatever reason.
i don’t think I’ve ever been undertaken so my lane discipline aint that bad 
say a car breaks down in lane 1 but the matrix signs all say 60 because they haven’t been changed or whatever and you come up on the broken down vehicle at 56. not very safe is it and you’d probably come on here “nearly hit broken down car because matrix sign hadn’t closed the lane”
Thats exactly the same scenario just one lane across. When the HA manage to use the signs correctly 100% of the time ill happily “tank” down the HS. until then i’ll be overtaking in lane one.
maga:
thankyou for the advice or maybe I could just drive in lane 1 overtaking the people in the hard shoulder as 99% of the time its flowing at 50mph anyway
You managed to get that bit right mate, its just the rest that is rubbish. If you don’t know how a managed m/way works you should not be out on the m/way, especially in a truck. You sat in lane one at 50 means anyone obeying the rule of the road going faster has to either undertake you or pull across three lanes to overtake you. Even my missus understands how these roads work and she is Cornish
maga:
thankyou for the advice or maybe I could just drive in lane 1 overtaking the people in the hard shoulder as 99% of the time its flowing at 50mph anyway
You managed to get that bit right mate, its just the rest that is rubbish. If you don’t know how a managed m/way works you should not be out on the m/way, especially in a truck. You sat in lane one at 50 means anyone obeying the rule of the road going faster has to either undertake you or pull across three lanes to overtake you. Even my missus understands how these roads work and she is Cornish.
People break down all the time - some of them don’t make the h/shoulder. Why should it be different or more dangerous on a managed motorway?
i give up, seems some on here have absolutely no reading comprehension what so ever and think people are passing me from all directions and that I’m lane hogging
-hard shoulder matrix lights up.
-some go into the hard shoulder usually the dawdlers traveling 50<
- i stay in lane 1 doing 50+ so I’m overtaking constantly rather than cruise in the hard shoulder for the reasons I’ve mentioned.
-maybe travelling a couple mph over the speed limit to carry on overtaking those on the HS (going to shoot me down for this too?)
key points
-i’m breaking no lane discipline laws due to traveling faster than the traffic on the hard shoulder
-nobody is undertaking me
lets all get on the bandwagon though ay…
Hard shoulder opens when its busy and lots of traffic ? Usually peak times when people queue on the slips ? Keep well away from the hard shoulder unless you’re coming off soon or the next exit is miles off.
bald bloke:
Probably don’t read the signs a bit like bus lanes you can use at certain times which I enjoy que jumping in.
He he me too makes me giggle the looks you get when you get to the lights having gone past cars sat there lol 
bald bloke:
Probably don’t read the signs a bit like bus lanes you can use at certain times which I enjoy que jumping in.
Problem is my truck is big and red so the people at the stops stand there trying to flag me down.
For all those who don’t use the hard shoulder when it is open because someone may have broke down ahead of you, does that mean you drive along the A1, A19, A46 etc etc in lane 2 in case someone has broke down in lane 1■■
I was taught to read the road ahead !!
Hard shoulders are for emergencies and they should never have been allowed to be used as an extra lane, and the reason for that is the cheapskate council or highway agency thought it a good idea to save a few quid, that driver is right to stay in lane 1, thats what it is meant for, and i know how to read the road as well, its just that i dont act like a sheep looking for its mother and follow everyone else, so long as everyone drives safely, and looks out for hazards then theres no problem, and if you want to drive on the hard shoulder, thats up to you, the same as the guy in lane 1, now if no one used the hard shoulder, something will be done. When motorways are blocked, and people want to get off at the next junction, they use the hard shoulder, but look at how many HGV`s try and block them from doing so, but on the M wherever it is have allowed this with a flashing light, thats ok…in my opinion thats not ok, and thats not ok to make it another carriageway.