Dissertation survey

[Another Bill]

For all its faults, when heading towards south coast on A34, thing I dislike most is getting to the end of it - M3 Junction at Winchester.

When the lights on rbt turn green you’re faced with a yellow box junction stretching nearly 150 ft into the distance ( measured on Google maps), a challenge for anybody who takes pride in making progress as well as staying legal. And then you join M3 and all its traffic, often a bit aggressive, after which the memory of A34 doesn’t seem so bad.

[jont-]

And some of the A34 off-slips are ridiculous. If you go A34 North to the A4 West, many people have visited the Armco ...

Off slips are fine, most cars are competent at stopping. Joining there heading south is much dodgier, especially if you find someone dithering down the slip road and expecting to join the main carriageway at 40

[Horse]

A nasty type of crash (not that there are 'good' ones) happens when a driver sees tail lights on a car in a layby and 'follows it'.

There's a move towards having an island to separate layby from carriageway.

[Horse]

And some of the A34 off-slips are ridiculous.

Off slips are fine, most cars are competent at stopping.

Sometimes exiting can need a choice: where do I slow, main carriageway or off slip?

https://earth.app.goo.gl/Ycp2zh
If the link works, A34 Sbound off to A343 Newbury-Andover road. If not, you'll just have to believe me or go check.

From camera location, to the hatching separating slip road from main carriageway / start of bend is about 60 metres.

Slow in the main carriageway, risk of being tail-ended, or someone swerving into lane 2.
Slow in the slip has to be firm.

Ok, I usually compromise there. But, sometimes, I look in the mirror at the cavalry charge behind ...

[Strangely Brown]

Do you treat that junction differently in a car to on a bike?

[Horse]

I can't walk straight, let alone ride a bike!

When I could, I would rarely, if ever, use that junction.

However, short slip + tight bend into [unsighted] downhill right is a good reminder to drive or ride to what you can see.

[Gareth]

where do I slow, main carriageway or off slip?

I suppose the first question is where you start indicating?

The next might be how far back you lift off a touch, to let your speed to fall to that of HGVs.

After that I'd almost certainly be doing firm+ braking into the offslip.

[Horse]

where do I slow, main carriageway or off slip?

I suppose the first question is where you start indicating?

Quite a long way back.

The exit is around a LH bend, poorly (IMHO) signed too, the countdown markers start before the direction signs.

This location from the NB carriageway to get a wider view (and there's an artic blocking view in the SB lane!):
https://earth.app.goo.gl/T6Ge7T
Zoom in, the /// board just visible

[crr003]

where do I slow, main carriageway or off slip?

I suppose the first question is where you start indicating?

Quite a long way back.

The exit is around a LH bend, poorly (IMHO) signed too, the countdown markers start before the direction signs.

This location from the NB carriageway to get a wider view (and there's an artic blocking view in the SB lane!):
https://earth.app.goo.gl/T6Ge7T
Zoom in, the /// board just visible

Why've they got MIDAS loops cut in it?
https://goo.gl/maps/Mdd82Jj1zHmXyftB8

PS - a lack of signs would imply not much happens at that junction? So maybe not that exciting.
PPS - well done for using a 70mph road with no hard shoulder.

[jont-]

From camera location, to the hatching separating slip road from main carriageway / start of bend is about 60 metres.

HC says braking distance at 70mph is 75m (which a modern car on decent tyres should exceed). I'd assume you're not stopping completely, and there shouldn't be any reaction time as you're anticipating it. Doesn't seem like rocket science to me.