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Original poster

To think the majority of England need retraining on how to drive on a motorway

155 replies

afternoonwater · 30/09/2025 15:01

So I've just been on a trip from Dover to the North and back again.
I learnt to drive in England but I have driven more of my life in Europe.
WHY THE HELL DONT PEOPLE MOVE OVER TO SLOWER LANES?!
Honestly, the amount of people that just sit in the middle when the left lane has about 2 miles of nothing in... or are driving slower in one of the middle lanes than the left lane over....
Or just sits in the right most lane for absolutely no real reason other than they can?
It stops people from actually being able to over take safely and just conjests the whole road. No wonder you all have road rage 🤣🤣

OP posts:
Tedsnan1 · 30/09/2025 20:01

LeaAndDer · 30/09/2025 15:12

It seems to me people that drive small cars, have poor driving skills.

😂😂😂😂😂

Kattley · 30/09/2025 19:56

moresoup · 30/09/2025 18:14

I don't understand why motorway driving lessons aren't compulsory

Because there are areas in the UK that have no access to motorways such as the Highlands and Islands and it is not compulsory to learn to drive with a professional driving instructor. Learners can only have motorway lessons with a qualified ADI instructor in a dual controlled car so everyone else has to wait until they passed their driving test and then they don’t think they need to pay someone to teach them.

Lonelycrab · 30/09/2025 19:04

SpigTheFish · 30/09/2025 18:56

I went on a training weekend with a large group and this topic came up.

A lot of people, surprisingly admitted that they did this and when asked why, they said that they were scared to be in the inside (left) lane, due to seeing videos of lorries ploughing into the back of other drivers, so it was a strategy to keep safe in their eyes.

Well you solve that problem by travelling faster than 60mph. Lorries, ime will pretty much never exceed this due to tachos.

You also solve that problem by looking in your mirrors every second or two and being aware of what every single driver around you is going to or trying to do. Ie spatial awareness.

Needlenardlenoo · 30/09/2025 18:59

CoffeeCantata · 30/09/2025 18:42

A few old-fashioned govt information films would be a good start.

These used to be a common feature - but I haven’t seen one for decades. Why not?

Because the COI was disbanded in 2011 by the Coalition. Yep, another super David Cameron legacy!

SpigTheFish · 30/09/2025 18:56

I went on a training weekend with a large group and this topic came up.

A lot of people, surprisingly admitted that they did this and when asked why, they said that they were scared to be in the inside (left) lane, due to seeing videos of lorries ploughing into the back of other drivers, so it was a strategy to keep safe in their eyes.

LlynTegid · 30/09/2025 18:51

I don't agree with the suggestion of re-training for middle lane hoggers. Just a 12 month driving ban, no exceptions for hardship, pass your theory test before you can resume driving. If you do it again and are convicted, the presumption that you are then mentally unfit to drive and never allowed to have a licence again.

FirstCuppa · 30/09/2025 18:51

LivesinLondon2000 · 30/09/2025 18:49

@FirstCuppa I have literally never seen anyone obey that 2 arrow rule and when I try to do it, someone immediately pops into the space I made - on repeat - until I just give up too 😞

It really feels like you've been bullied into dangerous and bad behaviour, doesn't it? Why do these men get so angry about it though, not like they can go anywhere!

LivesinLondon2000 · 30/09/2025 18:49

@FirstCuppa I have literally never seen anyone obey that 2 arrow rule and when I try to do it, someone immediately pops into the space I made - on repeat - until I just give up too 😞

FirstCuppa · 30/09/2025 18:44

ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2025 17:44

While middle lane hogging can be annoying, it’s nothing like as serious an issue as people driving far too close to the vehicle in front. Obviously that’s especially scary if it’s a bloody great big lorry, but sometimes you can get stuck with one close behind because the drivers in the middle lane aren’t leaving gaps big enough for anyone to safely pull out into.
Or if you’re in a roadworks 50 zone… nowhere to go, wtf do these arseholes expect to achieve?

There's a 2 lane stretch like this near me where they have painted arrows in the road and put up signs saying to keep 2 arrows clear between each car. Every single time I have been on it no one sticks to this and all insist on being nose to tail. It is terrifying as being aware this is clearly an accident hot-spot or the signs wouldn't be there and then being wedged in by a truck or van up your bum flashing and pushing you closer to the car in front, or suddenly swerving into the 2 arrow gap in front of you to prove a point, makes me really nervous.

CoffeeCantata · 30/09/2025 18:42

A few old-fashioned govt information films would be a good start.

These used to be a common feature - but I haven’t seen one for decades. Why not?

LivesinLondon2000 · 30/09/2025 18:42

I’m quite jealous that you even get to see middle lane hoggers. The nearest motorways to me are nearly always full in every lane - sometimes you even get up to 70 mph if you’re lucky.
But what you do get are lots of the lunatic drivers who switch back and forth like crazy between lanes using any tiny available bit of space. I can’t believe any of them have ever taken a UK driving test

spoonbillstretford · 30/09/2025 18:41

Driving in France is easier. Having said that I saw the closest near miss on a fast overtaking manoeuvre that I've ever seen, just in front of me, in Bergerac on a rural road 😱

Crazycatladywithnocats · 30/09/2025 18:37

What about those twits who pull out from the acceleration lane into the traffic stream and just expect people to jump out of their way? They don’t seem to adapt their speed when joining, but go their own sweet way and pull out.

Zebedee999 · 30/09/2025 18:34

moresoup · 30/09/2025 18:14

I don't understand why motorway driving lessons aren't compulsory

I'm just curious what you do differently on an Mway that you don't do on normal roads (A, B, dual etc)?

Zebedee999 · 30/09/2025 18:29

Southshore18 · 30/09/2025 15:06

the issue is that drivers don't have motorway driving lessons in the first place. every civilised country makes motorway driving part of driving lessons. It's no wonder it's often so substandard here.

I don't see Mway driving any different from any other roads. You still need to mirror signal manoeuvre. Keep your distance etc etc??

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 30/09/2025 18:29

Horsehow · 30/09/2025 16:05

It’s BMWs that are the worst drivers by quite a long way.

Show quote history

If you ever feel one day like your job is pointless, just remember that there are some poor sods out there whose jobs are to fit indicator stalks on BMWs.

Libertysparkle · 30/09/2025 18:26

After I passed it took extra lessons with my instructor to do motorway driving. Money well spent id say.

clipboardz · 30/09/2025 18:24

@ReadingSoManyThreads good to know!

Unpaidviewer · 30/09/2025 18:17

I agree. I'm waiting for the "if I'm drinking at 70 then you shouldn't be overtaking me" morons.

People also need to learn how to merge in turn. Use both lanes all the way and merge like a zip at the end. You don't all queue in the left lane and refuse to let people merge. Theyre not cutting in, theyre just driving properly.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 30/09/2025 18:17

The majority of England need retraining on how to drive.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 30/09/2025 18:16

clipboardz · 30/09/2025 18:06

I sometimes undertake in the slow lane, I know it's bad but sometimes that lane is empty whereas the other two are busy

You are allowed to pass on the left as long as you are not going above the speed limit and not changing lanes.

I pass on the left when driving in the left lane of the motorway when the middle lane hogger is driving below 70mph and is not overtaking anything. It's legal.

moresoup · 30/09/2025 18:14

I don't understand why motorway driving lessons aren't compulsory

ReadingSoManyThreads · 30/09/2025 18:14

The 12% voting YABU are clearly the middle lane hoggers! MOVE OVER dickheads!

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TheWildZebra · 30/09/2025 18:11

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clipboardz · 30/09/2025 18:06

I sometimes undertake in the slow lane, I know it's bad but sometimes that lane is empty whereas the other two are busy

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