pwa wrote:Cyril Haearn wrote:Bonefishblues wrote:I missed a speed limit change in a variable speed limit area of the M42 a couple of weeks ago. I have no defence, but I do have an explanation:
I was in L2, with a foreign reg LHD artic alongside in L1 matching my speed, indicating his intention to move to my lane. A Rover 25 with a blue bonnet and silver wings to my right rear corner, certainly too close to move right into L3, and another car very close behind me, but nothing ahead, mercifully. I was more intent on accident avoidance than noticing that the limit had stepped down by 10 mph. I was just below the last indicated speed limit. I haven't received any NIP as yet, so I may have been lucky.
You may gather that I have a detailed recollection of the incident and that I have replayed it many times in my head to wonder how I could have managed it better. Any thoughts?
Drop back, slow down, leave gaps
Do not drive beside another vehicle!
Keep at least 10 mph below the maximum limit
Actually I would say that Bonefishblues was focusing on the main safety issue at that moment, the change in speed limit being of secondary importance. If Bonefishblues had registered the limit change in time, simply easing off the accelerator would have been the correct thing to do, and the car behind would just have had to live with it.
Indeed. My brain at least has a finite processing capacity and was full of HGV, as it were, as they have something of a reputation for side-swipes. In many respects the best course of action would have been to just accelerate slightly to remove the overlap, but of course I didn't have that option as I was within c2mph or so of what the last gantry had advised
Driving at sub 40mph on the M42 at 5.30pm on a weekday (50mph variable limit in force, heavy traffic in all 4 lanes, incl the hard shoulder as a running lane) would be actively dangerous IMHO, BP, but thanks for the advice.