Road position and bus lanes

rab!dmonkey · 21-04-2011 7:48pm #1

I recently started taking driving lessons and for the most part things are going smoothly.
However, two things my instructor told me I'm apprehensive about following.

Firstly, I came to a bus lane with a sign stating its hours of operation. As the bus lane was the leftmost lane and the sign said that it was not in operation, I went to use it. My instructor told me not to, saying not to use bus lanes, even if they display hours of operation. This seems counter-intuitive to me.

Secondly, I was driving along a reasonably wide road, with lanes about 1.5 car widths. I took a position in the centre of the lane, but my instructor told me to move further left. I'm pretty sure the Rules of the Road state 'take a position as far left as possible, without inconveniencing cyclists', or something to that effect. I shortly came to a queue of traffic at a level crossing. The queue had left about 0.8 m of space on their left, while I left about 0.3 m. I must say that as a cyclist, I find drivers occupying such a position highly inconvenient.

In both of these scenarios, who was in the right: me or my instructor (if either)?

21-04-2011 7:51pm

You should use bus lanes if they're out of operation

I'm not sure what you mean in the second one, you should be driving toward the left and keep an eye out for cyclists...

rab!dmonkey · 21-04-2011 10:09pm

Basically, everybody had queued up leaving enough space to allow cyclists pass on the left. I was about to line up directly behind them, but my instructor directed me to mantain my position to the left of the road.

This video suggests that I was right in maintaining a bit of space to the right. I'd just like to know what you guys think.

DrivingTestTips: Brian · 22-04-2011 10:17am

rab!dmonkey wrote: »

Basically, everybody had queued up leaving enough space to allow cyclists pass on the left. I was about to line up directly behind them, but my instructor directed me to mantain my position to the left of the road.

This video suggests that I was right in maintaining a bit of space to the right. I'd just like to know what you guys think.

The position In the video is where the "driver" is in the centre of the lane which will have your car over too the left. please remember this is only where it is safe to do it. Don't go to close too the left.

Davy · 22-04-2011 10:43pm

You should always use a bus lanes that's not in service. Im not sure why your instructor thought otherwise. In a test it will show that you are observant if you do so, at the correct time of course. I had test at 11am a few years ago and drove in a bus lane as the lane was in operation from 7am till 10am, and then from 12pm till 7pm. I was not marked down for it.

As for the later question, you should be sticking to the left. The cyclist should stay back if their isn't room unless their is a dedicated cycle lane. I was thought this when taking preparing for C licence, otherwise you will have cyclists flying up the left side and more likely to cause an incident imo

ADIDriving · 23-04-2011 10:57pm

As I read it, you were correct in both cases.

Davy · 24-04-2011 11:32am

ADIDriving wrote: »

As I read it, you were correct in both cases.

Why wouldn't you use a bus lanes thats not in operation?

**Timbuk2** · 24-04-2011 12:34pm

Davy wrote: »

Why wouldn't you use a bus lanes thats not in operation?

Both cases! In the first case, he was correct as he went to use the bus lane that was out of operation.

In the second case, ADIDriving reckons he was correct by queueing behind the rest of the cars, instead of queueing more left than them, thus inconveniencing cyclists who would otherwise have a free path if the OP's car wasn't at the back of the queue.

Or at least that's how I read it

ADIDriving · 24-04-2011 12:57pm

Davy wrote: »

Why wouldn't you use a bus lanes thats not in operation?

Actual question or misreading?

Davy · 24-04-2011 6:20pm

ADIDriving wrote: »

Actual question or misreading?

Sorry misread it, thought you meant the instructor.

ADIDriving · 24-04-2011 7:27pm

Easily done Davy.
But we have skipped another point here. Dodgy instructor! Giving very starange advice.

Davy · 24-04-2011 11:14pm

ADIDriving wrote: »

Easily done Davy.
But we have skipped another point here. Dodgy instructor! Giving very starange advice.

Ye its hard to have a standard for road users if some insturotrs arent on the sheet as the rest.

The room for a cyclist point, I know im probably wrong going by the letter of the ROTR but from my experience i prefer them not flying up the inside. It might be alright in a car, but in a 16 meter truck I just dont like it

ADIDriving · 24-04-2011 11:21pm

A vehicle of that size, you do have to 'control the road'. The thousands of average car drivers should generally leave the space.

DrivingTestTips: Brian · 25-04-2011 6:29am

@ Davy. Good point about not liking the way cyclists go up the left of a HGV.

This is why you are required to check mirrors so much when driving HGVs.
In a HGV you would position the centre of the truck in the centre of the lane, when turning you move the truck into position which allow you to turn without mounting the kerb. Driving HGVs is not the same as category B.

Cycle lanes are there so that cyclists dont need to use footpaths.

Don't get me wrong. I'm just pointing out that there is a big difference in driving HGVs and Cars/Vans.

stevenmu · 26-04-2011 3:56pm

Could you be marked down for not using an out of operation bus lane?

If not it might be better to stay out just for habits sake. During the test you don't want to risk either misreading the sign, or potentially going into the bus lane out of habit when it isn't out of operation.

DrivingTestTips: Brian · 26-04-2011 4:14pm

stevenmu wrote: »

Could you be marked down for not using an out of operation bus lane?

If not it might be better to stay out just for habits sake. During the test you don't want to risk either misreading the sign, or potentially going into the bus lane out of habit when it isn't out of operation.

This is a very good question!
In a situation where you are abiding by the rules of the road you would not get marked on the test BUT we would always advise local advice based on the area of the test.

You could be marked for progress if you did not move into a lane available to you.

the varg · 26-04-2011 4:23pm

ADIDriving wrote: »

Easily done Davy.
But we have skipped another point here. Dodgy instructor! Giving very starange advice.

I'd change instructors for a start..sounds pretty crappy to me.

Good luck in your test!

Davy · 26-04-2011 4:35pm

DrivingTestTips: Brian wrote: »

You could be marked for progress it you did not move into a lane available to you.

I would agree with this, and it sums it up really. And as I said before I have drove in the lane on test and wasnt marked down for it.

REDLINE@ · 26-04-2011 10:13pm

Where an applicant encroaches unnecessarily for a distance on a bus lane, a fault may be recorded as appropriate, other than 'D1' and 'D' tests.

A fault should not be recorded where a driver does not drive in a bus lane during the relevant hours, including bus applicants

Davy · 26-04-2011 11:29pm

REDLINE@ wrote: »

Where an applicant encroaches unnecessarily for a distance on a bus lane, a fault may be recorded as appropriate, other than 'D1' and 'D' tests.

A fault should not be recorded where a driver does not drive in a bus lane during the relevant hours, including bus applicants

That is more related to being to on or inside the white marking of the bus lane, rather than travelling in it when its not in service. When the lane is in service you should never touch the line as the bus needs all the space of the lane. Even when I was doing the artic I was encouraged to stay out to the broken white lane, rather then encroach on the bus lane.

Road position and bus lanes

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