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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's ok to want to travel at 70mph on the motorway...

459 replies

JacquesHarlow · 12/08/2024 10:51

...or am I now completely unreasonable, and the Highway Code is irrelevant?

Hear me out if you will:

I have done a LOT of driving in the past two weeks. M1, A1, A23, M25, M40, M6, you name it.

I am middle aged, F, live in Surrey, for what any of that is worth. I am also it seems one of the stranger folk...in that when I join a motorway, I drive at 70mph on the dot. I also stay in the left lane until overtaking.

AIBU for doing this?

It seems so, judging by the habits of hundreds of road users I encountered, who come onto the motorway and automatically slide into lane 3 of 4, or lane 2 of 3. And sit there for absolutely ages, at around 60 mph.

I kid you not, 60mph.

It's maddening. I am driving at 70mph, in lane 1. It is clear in front of me.

Next to me is someone doing 60 mph. I know this because I am coming up on them quickly. I cannot however undertake them - this is against the Highway Code.

So I indicate, check it's clear, move out to lane 2 behind them. I then look to move to lane 3 to overtake.

Only I can't move over to lane 3, because there is someone doing 60 (or maybe less), right alongside them. Not overtaking, just cruising next to them in their own little lane.

So I indicate again, move out to lane 4. Where of course it takes me 30 seconds or so to overtake, at which point someone is barrelling down on me wanting to do 80mph in their private fast lane. (I'm fine with this, I assert my right to overtake legally etc).

So that's three lane changes to overtake two cars who due to their speed (and the highway code's rules) should be sitting in lane 1.

Why do people do this?

I notice that when I've brought this up years ago on here, or when I've spoken to folk in real life, people often say

"It's more dangerous to do all that 'weaving about' than stay in a lane"
"I'm not going to get trapped in a lorry sandwich"
"People join constantly on motorways and I don't want to have to move over"

OK, great.

So you're going to make me change three lanes, just because you want your own little personal bubble on the motorway, and are happy to be a rolling roadblock?

I think middle lane hoggers are not only selfish, but actually dangerous.

But AIBU?

OP posts:
Moier · 12/08/2024 11:01

It's illegal to hog/ cruise in the middle lane .
Last week on the local news a reporter was out and about asking people about this and 89% didn't know . Said they like to cruise at @ 60mph in the middle lane .
They should be cameras capturing and giving them fines.

Businessflake · 12/08/2024 11:01

I have no issue with people driving at 60mph on the motorway. But I do have an issue with anyone using the right hand lands for anything other than overtaking. Middle lag hogging is the worst.

alwaysmovingforwards · 12/08/2024 11:00

Honestlynotsure · 12/08/2024 10:58

You don't need to overtake them. The definition of undertake is if you use the left lane to go past someone in the middle lane then cut back in front of them. Just keep moving along at your pace in your clear lane, no need to overtake them at all. For reference I work within the police.

Yup, I'd just stay in the left lane at 70mph.

Magnastorm · 12/08/2024 11:00

As above, you don't need to fanny about changing over lanes in this situation. Just go past them.

GasPanic · 12/08/2024 10:59

Lot of people around on the motorways at this time of year that are not professional drivers/used to the motorway network who are going on holiday.

The "sunday driver" thing is real.

People get in a lane and then grip the wheel tightly going slowly forward at constant speed and are too scared to change lanes at all.

Sirzy · 12/08/2024 10:58

Lane discipline seems to be getting worse! Too many drivers seem to pick a lane and then stay in it no matter what. I agree it’s maddening.

Honestlynotsure · 12/08/2024 10:58

You don't need to overtake them. The definition of undertake is if you use the left lane to go past someone in the middle lane then cut back in front of them. Just keep moving along at your pace in your clear lane, no need to overtake them at all. For reference I work within the police.

CocoDolphin · 12/08/2024 10:56

Unfortunately, lane discipline on the motorway is not something that is always taught. I think it’s slightly better now, although my dds’ instructor wasn’t interested in giving them a (paid for) lesson after they passed their tests. So very often, kids teach themselves how to drive on the motorway. Unless they have a parent / mentor there to tell them what to do I think a lot of people are ignorant and have no idea what to do.

AlwaysFreezing · 12/08/2024 10:55

I have also done some mway driving recently and found the same. I do not undertake.

But chatting to some people about it, they suggested fuel economy as a reason for 60 speed. Cruise control and most economical speed.

My car doesn't have cruise control and it doesn't tell me whether my driving is fuel efficient, so I hadn't even considered this!

But yeah, always go back to the inner most lane, even if you're cruising.