Have noticed now that if a car breaks down on a “smart motorway” and manages to get to a safety refuge, they park smack in the middle so so if a truck also needs it , basically you’re buggered!
Rich The Stag:
Have noticed now that if a car breaks down on a “smart motorway” and manages to get to a safety refuge, they park smack in the middle so so if a truck also needs it , basically you’re buggered!
The same applies in lay-bys, the “I’m alright stuff you” attitude.
Move over and straddle lanes, yep. Even if the scene seems deserted people have a habit if opening doors onto the carriageway, or squeezing between vehicle and vehicle and live lane. When broken down and stressed peoples common sense vanishes as they worry about being late for Aunt Mauds tea party and forget about traffic and safety.
Fincham:
If that is true then you are just like the majority of road users these days.
Well we simply can’t have that.
I’ll need to try and clip a mirror next time or maybe have a stray curtain buckle break one of their stupid brown plastic windows.
A.
I have always moved over for the same reasons as others. Also, to allow the ■■■■■■ who is tail-gating me a chance to avoid hitting whatever is there. Wonder what the Traffic Police make of those of us who do move over? Have never understood how it can possibly be safe to flash past another stationary truck or car at full speed with a ciggie packets width between both.
What always make me laugh is seeing a pair of legs sticking out from under a vehicle a few inches from the white line, with the owner somehow believing he is safe.
Always do, usually straddle lane 1 and 2 for the same reason people have mentioned above. A lot easier doing this at night though, the rare times i drive during the day I’ve found it impossible to do so.
Do get a thanks every now and then from tyre men, even a policeman put his hand up to me once on the M25 when they were parked behind someone on the shoulder. Im guessing he was saying thanks, or maybe he was pointing at my dvd player/mobile phone/pot noodle/satnav i was playing with at the time 
s3amu5:
While I was cracking on up the M6 last night I was following on behind a double decker and could see further up the road an artic on the hard shoulder, hazards on etc with the tyre fitter in attendance. At this point I moved out into lane 2 and flashed the decker to let them out and they just carried on in lane 1 right past said hazard and about 100m further up the road proceded to drift right onto the hs. At this point I thought “that was zb lucky” but it got me thinking. I always if possible will move over for hazards on the hs whether it be tyre fitters, recovery or just a broken down car but the amount of drivers that don’t is quite high. I’m a night trunker so I appreciate the roads are a bit quieter and more space is available to move over than for dayshift drivers but obviously visibility is better during the day too so you can see if some zb is in a dangerous position or not. Just wondered what everybody else’s thoughts were? I’ve only been driving for 8 months so am I just being over cautious?
This post raises a very good point in my view. I will always move over when feasible when seeing a stranded vehicle on hard shoulder. Granted it can be difficult if road is busy.
But the op makes a good point when he says he saw the truck ahead drift onto hard shoulder. That is quite a common sight. I’ve often thought"poor sod must be due a break". Then when I get alongside them guess what? They’re either on the phone or examining their paperwork!!
Although I think perhaps worn roads and tram tracks do play a part in " drifting".
Butcher:
This post raises a very good point in my view. I will always move over when feasible when seeing a stranded vehicle on hard shoulder. Granted it can be difficult if road is busy.But the op makes a good point when he says he saw the truck ahead drift onto hard shoulder. That is quite a common sight. I’ve often thought"poor sod must be due a break". Then when I get alongside them guess what? They’re either on the phone or examining their paperwork!!
Although I think perhaps worn roads and tram tracks do play a part in " drifting".
There are certainly a few parts of the motorways that drift you in to the hard shoulder. Just like there are a few really bumpy bits.
Quite easy to be caught off guard if you’re just cruising along having a sing-song with the radio.
A.
I’m on nights and always move over…
you just cant see far enough ahead to know whats sticking out…
Rich The Stag:
Have noticed now that if a car breaks down on a “smart motorway” and manages to get to a safety refuge, they park smack in the middle so so if a truck also needs it , basically you’re buggered!
but there is also the thought that a broken down car will need to leave space for the recovery truck to get in front of it…
A few nights ago I had a crappy trailer where the drivers side curtain pole popped out, flapping about in the wind. Pulled over onto the hard shoulder at J49 of the A1(M)/A19 exit going south. High viz on and jumped out to sort it. Nearly all the wagons that came past moved over into the chevrons but none of the cars or vans did.
Fincham:
Adonis.:
Fincham:
Not very professional.You seem to have mistaken me for someone who cares.
A.
If that is true then you are just like the majority of road users these days.
Hey you up there…do you need a hand down from your extremely high horse? 
I remembered this thread on Saturday when I was n/b on the M40 approaching J9, the A34.
About half a mile before the exit ramp there was a police car with his red lights flashing, parked behind a Land Rover on the hard shoulder.
I indicated and started to move towards lane two and was straddling the white line between lanes one and two, and as I looked in my n/s mirror as I passed the police car, some ■■■■ in a Saab ragtop zoomed up my inside with his n/s indicator going because he was coming off at J9.
If the police car or Land Rover had chosen that moment to open an o/s door, I dread to think what would have happened.
Fincham:
Adonis.:
I always try to move over if I can, if not I knock the cruise off and sit as far over to the right of the lane as I can.Same as above I’ll move over a bit if the roads are empty when passing a layby.
I don’t move over for caravans, ever.
A.
Not very professional.
but satisfying… 
mas430:
Fincham:
Adonis.:
Fincham:
Not very professional.You seem to have mistaken me for someone who cares.
A.
If that is true then you are just like the majority of road users these days.
Hey you up there…do you need a hand down from your extremely high horse?
It’s about having respect and consideration for other road users, something I learned a long time ago.
Fincham:
It’s about having respect and consideration for other road users, something I learned a long time ago.
Caravans and caravanners are underclass. Pond life, if you will.
You can’t beat thundering past at 62 and watching the Nigel stumble backwards, clutching his flatcap as he tries to open the door of his beige Citroen.
A.
Adonis.:
Fincham:
It’s about having respect and consideration for other road users, something I learned a long time ago.Caravans and caravanners are underclass. Pond life, if you will.
You can’t beat thundering past at 62 and watching the Nigel stumble backwards, clutching his flatcap as he tries to open the door of his beige Citroen.
A.
Being a caravaner myself and having done more miles on hgv than you will probably ever manage i find your silly comments place you high on the the moderndaymoronsteeringsteeringwheelattendant list of first class pillocks . You won’t pass me as i like to get well in front of your type
rigsby:
Adonis.:
Fincham:
It’s about having respect and consideration for other road users, something I learned a long time ago.Caravans and caravanners are underclass. Pond life, if you will.
You can’t beat thundering past at 62 and watching the Nigel stumble backwards, clutching his flatcap as he tries to open the door of his beige Citroen.
A.
Being a caravaner myself and having done more miles on hgv than you will probably ever manage i find your silly comments place you high on the the moderndaymoronsteeringsteeringwheelattendant list of first class pillocks . You won’t pass me as i like to get well in front of your type
I hate caravans ,I am motorcaravaner
Handbags are out…again…my moneys on the one with the wheel brace in it… 
rigsby:
Being a caravaner myself and having done more miles on hgv than you will probably ever manage i find your silly comments place you high on the the moderndaymoronsteeringsteeringwheelattendant list of first class pillocks . You won’t pass me as i like to get well in front of your type
You empty your own toilet and call it a holiday, you sad, strange little man.
Still, you’ll be dead soon, so it’s all smiles.
A.