A14 Southbound

[Dollie]

Travelling southbound this weekend I saw I sign that I didn't really understand and have never seen anywhere else before. Can't remember the exact wording, but it encouraged the over 7.5's to go into RH lane and any vehicle to use LH lane. This was for a short stretch, timewise, maybe a couple of minutes or so and then it ceased. I think it said something like 'time travel guide' or travel time..... can't really remember but wasn't sure of its purpose. Anyone solve this mystery ? TIA

[Littlejohn]

In fact it prohibits vehicles over 7.5t from using the RH lane during certain hours. The start time is 06.00 but I cannot remember the finishing time. It's a total journey time trial, which I understand will last for a period of two years. The thinking behind banning LGVs from the RH lane in this particular section is that this section of the A14 is a long up hill drag and you avoid one lorry passing another one at 0.001mph more and thus taking the whole 2 miles or so to get past. Thus in turn avoiding a long tail back of other vehicles behind the truck in the RH lane. BTW there is another such total journey time trial in the other direction a bit further east of this point where there is a long drag in the opposite direction.

[Dollie]

thanks for that Littlejohn.....you have put me and hubby out of our misery. It makes sense now you have explained it. Cheers x

[sddsddean]

On the continent, no overtaking sections are very common on motorways (sometimes up to 15 miles long) and now we are trying them out. The car drivers may think they are great, but it is bl00dy frustrating when you are following a truck that is only doing 30 mph or similar. When I used to drive on the continent you used to learn which junctions you could come off at and have a reasonable chance of rejoining in front of the slow vehicle! Also the end of sections it was great to see all the trucks pull out and hold the cars up for even longer as they all went past the slow front truck.