Choosing a lane and speed on a wet ring road
You ride a moped on a three-lane section of ring road during light rain at dusk. The right lane has a slow-moving lorry ahead and a bus stopping 80 m further on. The middle lane is clear for about 200 m but a car is approaching from behind at a noticeably higher speed. The left lane carries faster traffic. Your moped's maximum speed is 45 km/h and the ring road limit is 90 km/h. The road surface is wet, with standing water near the kerb, and visibility is reduced by spray. Your destination exit is 600 m ahead on the right. You feel pressured because the car behind is closing and flashing its headlights.
1. Which lane should you use and at what speed, and how should you respond to the car behind?
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Keep right unless overtaking. The right lane is your normal position, but you must plan around the lorry and the stopping bus.
Position. Stay in the right lane, keeping a safe gap behind the lorry and watching for the bus's signals and passengers. Do not drift into the middle lane merely because it looks clear; the middle lane is for overtaking, and a slow moped occupying it obstructs faster traffic and increases risk from behind.
Overtaking the lorry. If you need to pass the lorry, check mirrors and blind spot, signal, move to the middle lane only when it is genuinely safe, pass promptly and return right. With a fast car closing, do not pull out in front of it; wait until it has passed or until the gap is clearly sufficient.
Speed. Ride at a speed suited to wet conditions, spray and your sight distance, not at the 90 km/h limit. Your moped's 45 km/h maximum is not a target either; slower is correct where water and spray reduce grip and visibility.
The car behind. Flashing headlights do not give it priority and do not oblige you to speed or change lane unsafely. Maintain a steady, predictable line and speed, and let it overtake when it can. Do not brake sharply in response.
The exit. With 600 m to the exit, plan early: signal in good time, check mirrors, and move right after the bus stop area, not across a solid line or a hatched area.
2. What hazards should you anticipate in the wet conditions, and how does your vehicle category affect your choices?
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Standing water. Water near the kerb can hide potholes, drains and debris, and can cause aquaplaning or a sudden loss of grip. Avoid deep water where possible, cross it slowly and upright, and avoid braking or steering sharply while in it.
Spray and visibility. Spray from the lorry and other vehicles reduces your view and makes you harder to see. Increase your following distance, use dipped headlight, and keep your visor clean. Do not ride in another vehicle's blind spot.
The stopping bus. Passengers may step into the road, and the bus may pull out. Slow down and be ready to stop.
The lorry. Large vehicles have wide blind spots and long stopping distances; do not linger alongside and do not pass on the left if it may move left.
Vehicle category. A moped is small, light and slow, so it is easily hidden and vulnerable to being cut up. That argues for keeping right, being conspicuous, avoiding fast-flowing lanes and choosing gaps conservatively. Its light weight also means crosswinds and lorry slipstreams affect it more, and its brakes and tyres are less forgiving on wet surfaces, so earlier, gentler braking is required. Your limited maximum speed makes long occupancy of faster lanes inappropriate and increases the need to plan exits well in advance.