Page 10 | STOP HOGGING THE MIDDLE LANE!

Flowers217 · 2022-07-26T18:07:18+00:00

Seriously what is wrong with some drivers?!? I was driving on the m4 this morning. It was pretty quiet and the section I was driving on now has 4 lanes. Oh, but wait - 2 of them are empty because everybody just loves to drive in the third lane. Yes it probably annoys me more than it does but my god it is so frustrating!!! and dangerous too!

LadyDanburysCane · 29/07/2022 18:49

smooththecat · 29/07/2022 16:55

Opinions on this hypothetical please: driving in middle lane at 70, bit of a gap to the next lorry in inside lane. Car coming up behind at 80. If you pull in, the car behind you won’t overtake quickly enough, you’ll be blocked in and you’ll have to slow down until they overtake you. Do you hold your position or pull in and be blocked?

If you are gaining on and will shortly be overtaking the next lorry then just carry on and the other vehicle can move to the next overtaking lane and overtake you.

LittleScottieDog · 29/07/2022 18:55

smooththecat · 29/07/2022 16:55

Opinions on this hypothetical please: driving in middle lane at 70, bit of a gap to the next lorry in inside lane. Car coming up behind at 80. If you pull in, the car behind you won’t overtake quickly enough, you’ll be blocked in and you’ll have to slow down until they overtake you. Do you hold your position or pull in and be blocked?

For me, it depends how busy the road is and how much distance between the two lorries. But if it stops the car from sitting up my arse while he waits to pull into the outside lane and there's enough space between the lorries, I'll pull into the inside lane. I really hate cars driving too close behind me so will do what I can for a more relaxed drive. But if the outside lane is clear and there's not much space between the lorries, I'll just let him move over himself.

It's hard to say on a purely hypothetical situation as there are too many variables!

smooththecat · 29/07/2022 18:57

InMySpareTime · 29/07/2022 17:01

If they're going 10pm faster than you, they'll move past fairly quickly, and if they're in that much of a hurry they're better off past you and away than frustratedly up your rear bumper. Move into lane 1 in that case.

But they will not overtake you before you reach the lorry. You will have to apply brakes. This is the situation I see all of the time in a real world test of the rules. The person in the second car thinks the person in car one ahead should pull over as they are not overtaking right at that moment (but will be in a matter of seconds). Person one pulls over and has to brake and/or immediately signal to get out again, car 2 hasn't overtaken yet and has to pull into the outside lane anyway. As @MsFrenchie states, the judgement is subjective and people have very different views on what is correct. It would be good to have more guidance.

InMySpareTime · 29/07/2022 19:11

You said you just overtook a lorry so should be able to pull in front of it.
Also, you shouldn't need to apply brakes unless the lorries are very slow or very close together (in which case you're not lane hogging because lane 1 is effectively too full to pull into). You should be able to slow down enough by lifting off the accelerator.
Middle lane hogging is a failure to move into an empty lane 1 for a mile or more, not a failure to wedge momentarily into a gap between lorries.
But I wouldn't want an aggressive, fast driver on my tail if I could let them pass.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/07/2022 19:13

smooththecat · 29/07/2022 16:55

Opinions on this hypothetical please: driving in middle lane at 70, bit of a gap to the next lorry in inside lane. Car coming up behind at 80. If you pull in, the car behind you won’t overtake quickly enough, you’ll be blocked in and you’ll have to slow down until they overtake you. Do you hold your position or pull in and be blocked?

Assuming you're driving at true 70 not speedo 70 minus up to 10% ...
The car coming up at 80 should slow down and obey the speed limit. And if they don't want to do that then it's up to them to overtake in lane 3 not tailgate or flash someone doing the speed limit in lane 2 and expect them to get in the gap and have to slow down.

Guidance should be 'don't drive like an arrogant entitled got'

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 29/07/2022 20:57

Shade17 · 27/07/2022 18:26

I drive at 70 on the motorway and I prefer not to be on the inside lane with the trucks. If you are trying to pass me in the middle lane and you are not an emergency vehicle, you are speeding, and therefore breaking the law. So I really don't care what you think about my driving.

Exactly what part of “Keep left unless overtaking” do you not comprehend?

Exactly what part of the speed limit in this country is 70 mph do you not understand?

Manekinek0 · 29/07/2022 21:25

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 29/07/2022 20:57

Exactly what part of the speed limit in this country is 70 mph do you not understand?

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There is normally a buffer on ticketing for those going over the speed limit due to issues with calibrating speedos. Just because your car says you are travelling at 70 doesn't mean mine says the same.

cakeorwine · 29/07/2022 22:13

If I have overtaken a lorry and am coming up on some more, and a car is coming behind me at higher speed, they can wait.

If there is a safe gap to get into, I might do it. But it depends on the gap to the lorry behind and the one in front. I would proceed at a sensible speed to overtake the lorries.

Of course, the speeding car might then decide to undertake in front of the lorry even though the car in the outside lane is not lane hogging but overtaking.

ErrolTheDragon · 30/07/2022 13:31

There is normally a buffer on ticketing for those going over the speed limit due to issues with calibrating speedos. Just because your car says you are travelling at 70 doesn't mean mine says the same.

Yes, I alluded to that. I assume everyone knows this nowadays and if they say 70 they mean 'satnav 70' not 'Speedo somewhere between 63 and 70'. So the person 'doing 80' is likely showing 85mph or so on their speedo - they're speeding significantly and know it.

Shade17 · 30/07/2022 15:28

Yes, I alluded to that. I assume everyone knows this nowadays and if they say 70 they mean 'satnav 70' not 'Speedo somewhere between 63 and 70'. So the person 'doing 80' is likely showing 85mph or so on their speedo - they're speeding significantly and know it.

80 on the motorway is not “speeding significantly”. I’d think 120+ falls into that category!

HeleenaHandcart · 30/07/2022 15:43

Lately (I’m in an area with shed loads of cameras so no real speeding) I just enjoy the empty right hand lane, cruising at 70.

After Dartford is the worst, miles and miles of lorries in the 3 left lanes ding within 2mph of each other.

CounsellorTroi · 30/07/2022 15:44

I drive in the middle lane if I know the motorway is going to be splitting and I want to be sure I’m in the right lane.

thing47 · 30/07/2022 15:50

CounsellorTroi · 30/07/2022 15:44

I drive in the middle lane if I know the motorway is going to be splitting and I want to be sure I’m in the right lane.

But when you're a mile or two away from that happening, it's clearly signed. So that's the point at which you move into the right lane, not 10 minutes earlier.

Fritilleries · 30/07/2022 15:54

PerseverancePays · 26/07/2022 20:12

I drive in the middle lane. There, I said it.
I find the articulated lorries intimidating with their constant weaving in and out often with none or minimal indicating of their intentions. I overtake in the fast lane, and if there’s big gaps in the slow lane I’ll travel in that one.
if I’m in the middle lane driving along at 65, what’s to stop you overtaking in the fast lane, I don’t get what the fuss is. I don’t get why speedy drivers come screaming up behind me flashing their lights when there’s plenty of space in the fast lane to overtake .
if its busy then you’re driving along at the same speed as everyone else, looking out for the ‘weavers’ , thinking of the M25.
The slow lane is for trucks, the middle lane is for people observing the speed limit, the fast lane is mostly for people exceeding the speed limit, sometimes by a lot, and for overtaking the lorries when they are doing their own overtaking manoeuvres.
On my last trip down to Stanstead, I decided to drive at 55 to save on fuel, and it was very nice; I drove in the slow lane all the way and everyone went round me. I had loads of space in front of me and nobody hassled me at all.

You're a muppet. Learn to drive.

Flaunch · 30/07/2022 16:04

Mainland Europeans know how to drive on their motorways. It only seems to be here that some people have appalling line management. Motorway driving really is some of the easiest driving and If people can’t manage to do it without inconveniencing other road users they should be banned from the roads.

Fritilleries · 30/07/2022 16:20

It always boggles the mind when people driving powerful cars hog the middle lane, like, you're driving a Range Rover why can't you accelerate and overtake? Why is my little car doing the work for you?? rage Same also for old people driving at stupid hours per mile.

LittleScottieDog · 30/07/2022 18:23

CounsellorTroi · 30/07/2022 15:44

I drive in the middle lane if I know the motorway is going to be splitting and I want to be sure I’m in the right lane.

Well, obviously, sitting in the middle lane when the signs say the left and middle go left and the middle and right stay ahead is what you're supposed to do!

As long as it's when the signs tell you the road splits and to get in lane, and not before unless you're overtaking.

JohnsShirt · 31/07/2022 16:45

Fritilleries · 30/07/2022 16:20

It always boggles the mind when people driving powerful cars hog the middle lane, like, you're driving a Range Rover why can't you accelerate and overtake? Why is my little car doing the work for you?? rage Same also for old people driving at stupid hours per mile.

I drive a Mini and go past them all in the outside lane!

CallmeAngelina · 31/07/2022 17:37

There seem to be an awful lot of people on this thread who are just making up their own highway code.
"The slow lane is for trucks, the middle lane is for people observing the speed limit, the fast lane is mostly for people exceeding the speed limit, sometimes by a lot, and for overtaking the lorries when they are doing their own overtaking manoeuvres."
FFS, SINCE WHEN?????

Fritilleries · 31/07/2022 18:04

KnittingNeedles · 27/07/2022 15:42

What REALLY pisses is me off is when you do the 1-2-3-2-1 maneouvre to get past the middle lane hoggers and even though they clearly see you pull back into a clear lane 1, they pootle on, oblivious.

This gives me absolute rage.

RollerCoaster2020 · 06/11/2022 10:45

It's actually illegal to not move over onto the inside lane when it's empty. Anecdotally a friend had intention of prosecution from police for doing it when there was nothing in the inside lane.
www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1382789/driving-law-fine-motorway-lane-hogging-road-safety-uk

jollygreenpea · 06/11/2022 11:59

RollerCoaster2020 · 06/11/2022 10:45

It's actually illegal to not move over onto the inside lane when it's empty. Anecdotally a friend had intention of prosecution from police for doing it when there was nothing in the inside lane.
www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1382789/driving-law-fine-motorway-lane-hogging-road-safety-uk

Good I hope they are prosecuted for it, along with everyone else that does that.

PerseverancePays Get off the roads until you have had some more lessons, you're a terrible driver.

KindergartenKop · 06/11/2022 12:19

Is it illegal to use lane 1 or 2 if they are empty and just drive at 70 there. It's only undertaking if you pull in front of them straight away isn't it?

KatherineJaneway · 06/11/2022 15:57

RollerCoaster2020 · 06/11/2022 10:45

It's actually illegal to not move over onto the inside lane when it's empty. Anecdotally a friend had intention of prosecution from police for doing it when there was nothing in the inside lane.
www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1382789/driving-law-fine-motorway-lane-hogging-road-safety-uk

Maybe, but no one is patrolling the motorways enforcing this