Motorway etiquette?

[Plocket]

I was driving on a motorway recently at 70mph in the left-hand lane, in very heavy traffic. There was a sliproad coming onto the motorway from the left, a lorry uncomfortably close behind me and a small gap in front of me. A car came hurtling down the sliproad faster than my 70mph (it soon moved alongside me) and obviously wanted to get onto the motorway, but I felt unable to break because of the lorry behind me, and I wasn't able to move into the middle lane. The car drove onto the hard shoulder to get infront of me and onto the motorway, and started waving at me suggesting that I was a maniac driver.

Now could someone please tell me what was right or wrong. I felt that the driver should have slowed down to come onto the motorway because it was a junction, and that drivers were supposed to wait for a space, not force their way onto the road potentially causing accidents. Thank you for any comments.

[Eddiecurrent]

The white lines that can be seen on a slip road mean 'Give Way' they don't mean barge your way on! If you have to stop on the slip road then you have to stop it's as simple as that!

The driver coming on has the responsibility to merge safely it is not the responsibility of the motorists already on the motor way to give way. If there is now way the cars already on the motorway can move to allow a car on then the car wishing to join the carriageway must vary his /her speed so as to join safely. Icidentally I never brake to let anyone on as to do so may cause an accident from behind which in court could be classed as dangerous or careless driving.

[Gef]

Sorry Eddie but I disagree. It is the responsibility of the driver behind you to maintain a safe distance to ensure that they can stop if you slow down.