Rule 134 of the Highway code is quite clear on the matter, if you lose the game of chicken your insurance premium will rise, suggest it is safer to join the queue ;-)All other things being equal, left lane has priority, and therefore the onus is on the cars in the right lane to use it in a way they can merge without causing bother to those in the left lane (i.e. making those in the left lane change their course/speed significantly).
That said the highway code states that in traffic, both lanes are to be used and traffic should merge in turn (having a big queue in the left lane and an empty right lane makes the queue go back further and so may block a roundabout/other junction). In this case I'd always use the right lane and merge in turn at last minute, even though many ignorant people will get annoyed thinking you are skipping the queue and the extra lane has been created for fun and not to be used.
There's also the common sense/hazard perception/avoiding unesecary trouble/traffic flow angle so, for example, if a car is very slightly ahead of you/completely beside you but going slightly faster in lane 2 as the lanes merge it would be better driving to slow down and merge behind than enforce the supposed "priority" and cause them to be stopped in lane 2 (not safe) or have a scrape. Often in these merge situations junctions once you've chosen your position it's good to make that obvious to others - for example if I'm letting a car go ahead I'll hit the brakes very short and sharpish to get the nose to go down and car to slow to indicate they can go, similarly if I'm going first i'll accelerate a bit to get further ahead. This often avoids confusion and thus avoids both cars having to slow/stop not knowing who is doing what.
Similarly if I have a right to merge in turn (sometimes even under a big sign saying so) and people want to block I won't just force my way in to prove a point, though when I drive my battered W124 in the UK, it's rather tempting to see who would win a game of chicken...
Rule 134 of the Highway code is quite clear on the matter, if you lose the game of chicken your insurance premium will rise, suggest it is safer to join the queue ;-)
Mercedes SL500 R231
I would say common curtesy to allow drivers to move over into the left lane, unless of course the driver in the right lane decides to carve people up and force their way over then road rage kicks in. Are you up a ladder taking that picture.
I agree, I get loads of space around me.I've found Defenders with winch bumpers and tree sliders almost always have right of way.
^+1If you have respect for others you will automatically do whatever helps them.
After all, what helps them also helps you in the end.
And brightens your day!
Whoever is in the AMG has priority
Yeah, but that's usually because they're late for some sales meetingFrom what I've seen, Beemer drivers think they have right of way!
From what I've seen, Beemer drivers think they have right of way!
Well he did indicate....You mean like this jolly fellow?
Well he did indicate....
Well, in a 3 lane motorway there is an inside, middle and BMW lane, you do know that?From what I've seen, Beemer drivers think they have right of way!