Horse boxes on motorways

T

throwawayaccount

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2021
Messages
865
Visit site
Re. Horse boxes on motorways, 3.5’s & 7.5’s.

I was driving on the m56 today and saw at least 3 horse boxes in the middle lane going slowly & causing traffic flow problems ..

I thought boxes were meant to be in the left lane if they had a horse in (I could tell there were horses in the 3.5’s, obviously couldn’t for the 7.5 I saw). Or am I mistaken??
 
Tiddlypom

Tiddlypom

Carries on creakily
Joined
17 July 2013
Messages
23,891
Location
In between the Midlands and the North
Visit site
Whilst there is no excuse for middle lane hogging, any vehicle can use lane 2 for overtaking and 3.5t and under can use lanes 3+.

No weird additional rules if carrying horses or livestock.

I actively avoid towing on motorways if possible, but though I try to minimise lane changes when towing I can and do overtake on them if necessary.
 
F

Fieldlife

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2022
Messages
1,669
Visit site
I thought 50mph speed limit for trailers but lorries (especially 3.5 tonnes) can do 70mph if they can.

I have a 5.5tonne lorry, which cruises at about 50mph. I drive in slow lane, unless other slower, or some motorways merging etc. #
 
conniegirl

conniegirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 November 2004
Messages
9,092
Visit site
throwawayaccount said:
my horse transporter says you’re always meant to stick to left lane if laden, as that’s what she does and other transporters I’ve used. I never knew it was anything other than that.
Click to expand...

I’d use a different company! God knows where they got that from, horseboxes do not need to stick to lane 1 when laden. They can also do exactly the same speeds as other vehicles of the same class

If there were car vehicles behind why on earth didnt they just go round in lane 3?
 
T

throwawayaccount

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 February 2021
Messages
865
Visit site
conniegirl said:
I’d use a different company! God knows where they got that from, horseboxes do not need to stick to lane 1 when laden. They can also do exactly the same speeds as other vehicles of the same class

If there were car vehicles behind why on earth didnt they just go round in lane 3?
Click to expand...

thank you for explaining, I honestly never knew otherwise haha.

No idea, they were just braking. :S
 
Rowreach

Rowreach

Adjusting my sails
Joined
13 May 2007
Messages
17,851
Location
Northern Ireland
Visit site
Tiddlypom said:
Some posters urgently need to revise their knowledge of the Highway Code ?.

It is perfectly legal to tow at 60mph on 70mph motorways.
Click to expand...

I was just about to post that! Scares the life out of me that people don't know their speed limits on all roads when towing any sort of trailer/driving a truck.
 
Green Bean

Green Bean

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 February 2017
Messages
673
Visit site
My 3.5t horsebox has a speed limiter at 60mph built in. I presume it was from its pre-horsebox days. Gives me an awful fright when the beeper goes off! There are rules for everything on the road except common sense and courtesy. I stay in the 'slow' lane on any road 2 lanes or more as that is where I should be unless the need to pass arises and then am only in that lane for passing purposes.
Lane hoggers are the absolute worst as they create irritation for slow lane drivers as it reduces the ability to pass other vehicles when the traffic has built up behind them.
 
H

humblepie

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 February 2008
Messages
7,150
Visit site
My lorry is pre-speed limiters and it is quite nice to be able to overtake a line of HGVs doing 54 mph and to be able to overtake them efficiently. It is generally the trailres being towed at over 60mph on dual carriageways that worry me.
 
M

mutley75

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 November 2011
Messages
415
Location
surrey/sussex
Visit site
throwawayaccount said:
my horse transporter says you’re always meant to stick to left lane if laden, as that’s what she does and other transporters I’ve used. I never knew it was anything other than that.
Click to expand...
Maybe your transporter should do a day or two’s training with someone who has the first idea of rules of the road before they dish out advis.
 
paddi22

paddi22

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2010
Messages
6,362
Visit site
I stay in the middle lane when driving long distances. the reason I do, is that I had a few near misses with cars merging onto the slow lane to join the motorway. I got sick of cars flying up the slip road to try and get in front of me and nearly clipping me.I find it easier to keep a good regular speed in the centre and if people want to overtake me they can.
 
M

maya2008

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 August 2018
Messages
3,452
Visit site
I follow normal rules - lane 1 when it’s clear ahead, 2 for overtaking. 2 also if I have lorries coming up behind me too close as I have seen some spectacularly horrible accidents from vehicles being bumped from behind by lorries. Also 2 when going past on ramps for the same reason.
 
FestiveG

FestiveG

Over the hill and far awa
Joined
14 September 2006
Messages
16,216
Location
West Yorkshire
Visit site
paddi22 said:
I stay in the middle lane when driving long distances. the reason I do, is that I had a few near misses with cars merging onto the slow lane to join the motorway. I got sick of cars flying up the slip road to try and get in front of me and nearly clipping me.I find it easier to keep a good regular speed in the centre and if people want to overtake me they can.
Click to expand...
Then you may find yourself with a fine! It is not legal to lane hog. If you need to adjust your speed, or position when there is a slip road, then you should do those things.
 
ihatework

ihatework

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2004
Messages
22,413
Visit site
paddi22 said:
I stay in the middle lane when driving long distances. the reason I do, is that I had a few near misses with cars merging onto the slow lane to join the motorway. I got sick of cars flying up the slip road to try and get in front of me and nearly clipping me.I find it easier to keep a good regular speed in the centre and if people want to overtake me they can.
Click to expand...

This is poor driving.
 
scats

scats

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2007
Messages
11,315
Location
Wherever it is I’ll be limping
Visit site
paddi22 said:
I stay in the middle lane when driving long distances. the reason I do, is that I had a few near misses with cars merging onto the slow lane to join the motorway. I got sick of cars flying up the slip road to try and get in front of me and nearly clipping me.I find it easier to keep a good regular speed in the centre and if people want to overtake me they can.
Click to expand...

Im fairly sure that’s not legal.
 
A

Annagain

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 December 2008
Messages
15,785
Visit site
j1ffy said:
The lack of knowledge about basic road rules is pretty scary ?

All vehicles should be in the left lane unless overtaking. A vehicle over 3.5T can’t use the right-most lane of a motorway. Laden or unladen makes no difference!
Click to expand...

Same with a towing vehicle. Lanes 1 and 2 only. It's scary the number of people you see towing (not necessarily horseboxes) in lane 3 at at least 70mph.
 
G

Grassy

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 June 2020
Messages
169
Visit site
paddi22 said:
I stay in the middle lane when driving long distances. the reason I do, is that I had a few near misses with cars merging onto the slow lane to join the motorway. I got sick of cars flying up the slip road to try and get in front of me and nearly clipping me.I find it easier to keep a good regular speed in the centre and if people want to overtake me they can.
Click to expand...

But surely you just slow down slightly or move into the middle lane to let them out? Lane hogging is dangerous & you can be fined.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top