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Original poster

Why can SO many people not drive properly on the motorway?

296 replies

londongirl993 · 12/08/2021 19:22

I don’t know why this annoys me SO much, but the amount of middle lane / third lane hoggers on motorways is actually getting ridiculous. There needs to be some sort of surveillance / fines for poor (and v.dangerous) motorway driving because it is getting so much worse!

There is literally no point having 4 lane motorways because nobody drives in the slow lane, or even the second lane. No point having 3 lane motorways either really because they are basically just 2 lanes of traffic.

It’s not only hugely frustrating for those who actually follow the Highway Code (like me), but also disrupts the traffic flow so much. And it’s so dangerous!! I honestly believe that if everybody / 90% of drivers actually drove on motorways like you were supposed to, traffic would flow so much better.

Okay, rant over. Anyone else agree with me? Can anyone give me an insight as to why people just don’t drive properly on the motorway?

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 13/08/2021 17:10

@Comedycook do you have a driving licence?

ineedsun · 13/08/2021 17:11

Jeez, it’s no wonder the roads are a nightmare. It’s not hard…

Left lane unless you’re actually overtaking.
If you don’t feel comfortable changing lanes get off the motorway / dual carriageway.
If someone undertakes you, you’re in the wrong lane not them.

Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:12

My point and question is more philosophical than practical. Are motorways designed with the thought that people will break the speed limit?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:14

Left lane unless you’re actually overtaking

Yes but if everyone stuck to this, you'd only need two lanes wouldn't you?

NoWordForFluffy · 13/08/2021 17:19

@Comedycook

Left lane unless you’re actually overtaking

Yes but if everyone stuck to this, you'd only need two lanes wouldn't you?

It's been explained above. Why are you struggling to understand?
ineedsun · 13/08/2021 17:20

No. Have you ever been on a road? Different vehicles travel at different speeds.

E.g. Left lane, lorry doing 55, middle lane, van doing 60, third lane, car doing 70.

icedcoffees · 13/08/2021 17:23

@Comedycook

Left lane unless you’re actually overtaking

Yes but if everyone stuck to this, you'd only need two lanes wouldn't you?

No.
Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:23

@ineedsun

No. Have you ever been on a road? Different vehicles travel at different speeds.

E.g. Left lane, lorry doing 55, middle lane, van doing 60, third lane, car doing 70.

Yes but then why are people in the middle lane told they shouldn't be
icedcoffees · 13/08/2021 17:31

Yes but then why are people in the middle lane told they shouldn't be

They should only be in the middle lane if they're over-taking people in the left hand lane. Once you've over-taken, you should move back over, not sit in the middle.

NoWordForFluffy · 13/08/2021 17:34

@icedcoffees

Yes but then why are people in the middle lane told they shouldn't be

They should only be in the middle lane if they're over-taking people in the left hand lane. Once you've over-taken, you should move back over, not sit in the middle.

Jesus wept. This is painful! 🙈🤣
Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:35

@icedcoffees

Yes but then why are people in the middle lane told they shouldn't be

They should only be in the middle lane if they're over-taking people in the left hand lane. Once you've over-taken, you should move back over, not sit in the middle.

Yes I know...that's my point!
ineedsun · 13/08/2021 17:36

Exactly what @icedcoffees said, I was being tongue in cheek before but I really hope you don’t drive. This is really basic common sense stuff.

Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:39

I know it is...but the highway code says that you should stay in the left hand lane unless you're overtaking and once you've overtaken you move back to the left. I know this. Therefore if everyone stuck to this then surely you don't need a fast lane? It's more a philosophical question than me not understanding the rules...I do understand them.

ineedsun · 13/08/2021 17:42

There are more than two cars on the motorway usually, you do get that don’t you?

sanityisamyth · 13/08/2021 17:43

@Comedycook

I know it is...but the highway code says that you should stay in the left hand lane unless you're overtaking and once you've overtaken you move back to the left. I know this. Therefore if everyone stuck to this then surely you don't need a fast lane? It's more a philosophical question than me not understanding the rules...I do understand them.

Two vehicles might be overtaking simultaneously? Vehicle A overtaking a lorry/horse box/slow moving vehicle. Vehicle B overtaking vehicle B. Both should move further left when they have finished their manoeuvre. My 7 year old can understand this?

NoWordForFluffy · 13/08/2021 17:45

Do we need a picture?!

NoWordForFluffy · 13/08/2021 17:48

OK, picture time.

Red and blue card are overtaking the car on the left. The white van is overtaking the red and blue cars.

This pattern will repeat all the way along the road, with all 3 lanes in use.

Why can SO many people not drive properly on the motorway?
sanityisamyth · 13/08/2021 17:48

@NoWordForFluffy

Do we need a picture?!

I don't know but I need more alcohol ...

sanityisamyth · 13/08/2021 17:50

@NoWordForFluffy

OK, picture time.

Red and blue card are overtaking the car on the left. The white van is overtaking the red and blue cars.

This pattern will repeat all the way along the road, with all 3 lanes in use.

That looks like a right hand drive road, as there is a slip to the right, but yes, the principle applies. Why is this so hard to understand?

Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:51

@NoWordForFluffy. Yes I understand that but theoretically you could then need four lanes of five. Plus some dual carriageways are 70mph yet two lanes. Plus I rarely see people in the fast lane move over back left

sanityisamyth · 13/08/2021 17:52

[quote Comedycook]@NoWordForFluffy. Yes I understand that but theoretically you could then need four lanes of five. Plus some dual carriageways are 70mph yet two lanes. Plus I rarely see people in the fast lane move over back left[/quote]

Some motorways DO have four or 5 lanes! The arseholes in the outer lanes who stay there are just as bad as middle lane drivers, especially if they're dawdling along and there is no way of getting around them.

sanityisamyth · 13/08/2021 17:54

Also, all dual carriageways are 70mph unless otherwise indicated, or you are driving a vehicle that is not allowed to travel this speed.

Comedycook · 13/08/2021 17:54

Some motorways DO have four or 5 lanes! The arseholes in the outer lanes who stay there are just as bad as middle lane drivers, especially if they're dawdling along and there is no way of getting around them

Yes this is my confusion. I see people drive the entire time in the right hand lane sometimes

MurielSpriggs · 13/08/2021 17:55

[quote Comedycook]@NoWordForFluffy. Yes I understand that but theoretically you could then need four lanes of five. Plus some dual carriageways are 70mph yet two lanes. Plus I rarely see people in the fast lane move over back left[/quote]
Some busy motorways do have four lanes.

Some less busy routes manage with just two lanes, or indeed one in the case of single-carriageway roads.

Hogging the outer lane if you're not overtaking is no better than hogging the middle one.

MurielSpriggs · 13/08/2021 17:56

@Comedycook

Some motorways DO have four or 5 lanes! The arseholes in the outer lanes who stay there are just as bad as middle lane drivers, especially if they're dawdling along and there is no way of getting around them

Yes this is my confusion. I see people drive the entire time in the right hand lane sometimes

Why is this confusing you?
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