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Original poster

STOP HOGGING THE MIDDLE LANE!

249 replies

Flowers217 · 26/07/2022 19:07

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!

OP posts:
Cuddliesrule · 27/07/2022 14:53

I'm a middle Lane driver. On normal, 3 lane motorways, the right hand lane is for speeding and overtaking. The left hand lane is for lorries and caravans. Where are the rest of us supposed to go? I'm happy to do 70-80 in the middle but I'm not happy at 90-100 like everyone on the right.
<blows raspberry >

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 27/07/2022 14:54

I don’t lane hog but I don’t mind other people doing it. Non-irate people driving at 60 miles an hour and sticking to one lane aren’t the ones causing accidents, even if it is the middle lane.

You're wrong.

They are also causing congestion.

SandieCollins · 27/07/2022 15:26

Cuddliesrule · 27/07/2022 14:53

I'm a middle Lane driver. On normal, 3 lane motorways, the right hand lane is for speeding and overtaking. The left hand lane is for lorries and caravans. Where are the rest of us supposed to go? I'm happy to do 70-80 in the middle but I'm not happy at 90-100 like everyone on the right.
<blows raspberry >

That’s completely wrong. Do you need to redo your test?

KnittingNeedles · 27/07/2022 15:29

Flowers217 · 26/07/2022 19:07

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!

I drove south from Glasgow on the M74 yesterday, the first 20ish miles is dual carriageway, then it turns into a three lane. There was someone pootling along happily on the left hand lane, not many lorries, clear road ahead. When the road turned into a three lane, they indicated and pulled out into the middle lane EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD AHEAD WAS COMPLETELY CLEAR.

Sheer incompetence.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/07/2022 15:36

Cuddliesrule · 27/07/2022 14:53

I'm a middle Lane driver. On normal, 3 lane motorways, the right hand lane is for speeding and overtaking. The left hand lane is for lorries and caravans. Where are the rest of us supposed to go? I'm happy to do 70-80 in the middle but I'm not happy at 90-100 like everyone on the right.
<blows raspberry >

If there are lots of lorries and caravans such that you're constantly passing them, the middle lane is fine - you're overtaking. If there are large gaps between them then you can easily go back into lane 1 and out again as necessary.
If people are doing 80-90 in lane 3 then hopefully they'll get caught and fined - lots of average speed cameras around now.

SandieCollins · 27/07/2022 15:36

cakeorwine · 27/07/2022 13:44

To then complain about people who have to drive in ways which are less safe because of their behaviour is ridiculously entitled and possibly verging on idiocy

You think that someone complaining about a lorry undertaking someone because that person is lane hogging is entitled and idiiotic?

Here's a clue - the lorry driver and the lane hogger are both to blame.

But the person undertaking in a lorry is being dangerous. I think it would count as death by careless driving if someone was killed which can lead to long jail sentences.

Maybe you could just wait a bit

You don’t need to give me clues, thanks, I know how to drive.

Im not a lorry driver but I know enough about them to understand that they’re limited on how long they can drive for and their cargo often needs to be in a certain place at a certain time.

Someone hogging the middle lane means that a lorry driver is literally going to have to sit behind them, potentially stop driving before they get to their destination and wait however many hours rest they need to legally take before they can leave again. Purely because someone either doesn’t know how to drive or thinks their right to drive like an idiot outweighs anyone else’s responsibilities or rights.

Nocutenamesleft · 27/07/2022 15:38

Flowers217 · 26/07/2022 19:07

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!

The other day I was driving back at 11pm on a 4 lane motorway. 2 cars in the 3rd lane. Me on the slow lane. I then had to go all the way to the fast lane just to overtake these two cars going 50mph!!!! 50!!!!

ffs! I was so cross!!!

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.

Nocutenamesleft · 27/07/2022 15:43

dolphinsarentcommon · 26/07/2022 20:39

There is no way I'm going to start driving in the inside lane and be constantly weaving in and out on to the middle lane to get past the caravans, lorries and 40mph drivers.

Changing lanes is the most dangerous manoeuvre on the motorway and I'll not be doing it over and over cos I want to keep up a steady 70

I'll happily drive in the inside lane if it's empty.

Seriously?!?

you’re not changing lanes because it’s dangerous?!?

you do realise you’re driving on a MOTORWAY?!? Not a one lane road?!? You should change lanes on a motorway. If you’re worried about it you should take more driving lessons to teach you so…

Nocutenamesleft · 27/07/2022 15:45

PerseverancePays · 26/07/2022 20:46

If the slow lane is empty or has a decent gap, then I can drive in it. But if it is full of lorries why should I weave in and out of the first and second lane so that you lot are unimpeded by me? It’s not like the middle lane makes it easy to come out from in between the lorries.
not many cars drive in the first lane
@MissLucyEyelesbarrow why is it less dangerous for me to be constantly ducking in behind lorries , changing lanes from second to first then back to second so you don’t have to inconvenience yourself using the third lane to overtake me.
I am not a moron, I really don’t get it.

So so so so dangerous.

gatehouseoffleet · 27/07/2022 15:55

I don't know where you all see so many middle lane sitters. Disclaimer - I don't do a huge amount of long journeys.

But recently we drove from Hampshire to Yorkshire and barely saw any middle lane sitters at all (ie people who sit in the middle lane for miles and miles regardless of whether the inside lane is empty).

If of course you are referring to any of the below, that is not middle lane sitting:

Moving out of the inside lane because it will disappear and become a slip road (and keeps doing it eg M25 people tend to use the next lane along to avoid constant lane changes)
Moving out of the inside lane (in plenty of time) because the road splits and you need a right hand lane
Moving out of the inside lane because someone is joining (and then the buggers won't let you back in and you are stuck in the middle)
Staying in the inside lane after overtaking because you can see further vehicles ahead you want to overtake and like the first example don't want to keep changing lanes.

And we absolutely do NOT need to legalise undertaking. Motorways are dangerous enough as it is.

gatehouseoffleet · 27/07/2022 15:57

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.

Yes - THEY are middle lane sitters. Not my examples.

Cuddliesrule · 27/07/2022 15:57

Nope @SandieCollins I'm just telling you what actually happens! I know what the rules are. But then there's reality.

locomocol · 27/07/2022 16:00

I can't get annoyed about this, there is very little lane discipline in general. Most motorways I'm on are super busy in the fast lane because none can be arsed to come in & out.

locomocol · 27/07/2022 16:02

I do find these threads odd though because I very really see middle lane hoggers

locomocol · 27/07/2022 16:05

i've never undertaken on the slow lane but have done it on a few times in the middle because people do 70 & just sit there

locomocol · 27/07/2022 16:07

It's only when a super fast car appears & drives up their arse that all the cars in the fast lane move in!

Shade17 · 27/07/2022 16:50

I drove south from Glasgow on the M74 yesterday, the first 20ish miles is dual carriageway, then it turns into a three lane.

I’m not sure you understand what dual carriageway means, do you mean a 2 lane motorway? All motorways are dual carriageway.

cakeorwine · 27/07/2022 17:13

Someone hogging the middle lane means that a lorry driver is literally going to have to sit behind them, potentially stop driving before they get to their destination and wait however many hours rest they need to legally take before they can leave again

That's why lorries have loud horns. If you are middle lane hogging and notice a lorry behind you, beeping its horn and flashing its light and doing 60 , whilst you are doing less than that, then hopefully you will realise your error and move to the inside lane.

A lorry has no excuse to undertake anyone. If you are a good driver, you will recognise how dangerous that is.

whatdoidonowffs · 27/07/2022 18:02

cakeorwine · 27/07/2022 17:13

Someone hogging the middle lane means that a lorry driver is literally going to have to sit behind them, potentially stop driving before they get to their destination and wait however many hours rest they need to legally take before they can leave again

That's why lorries have loud horns. If you are middle lane hogging and notice a lorry behind you, beeping its horn and flashing its light and doing 60 , whilst you are doing less than that, then hopefully you will realise your error and move to the inside lane.

A lorry has no excuse to undertake anyone. If you are a good driver, you will recognise how dangerous that is.

So if you saw me doing that to a car in the middle lane you’d be fine with that and not think I was in any way being intimidating?
obviously it’s better to harass and potentially frighten other drivers than undertake and be gone in seconds 🤔

cakeorwine · 27/07/2022 18:04

whatdoidonowffs · 27/07/2022 18:02

So if you saw me doing that to a car in the middle lane you’d be fine with that and not think I was in any way being intimidating?
obviously it’s better to harass and potentially frighten other drivers than undertake and be gone in seconds 🤔

Show quote history

Depends how close you were

BogRollBOGOF · 27/07/2022 18:11

A lorry is within its rights to continue at a steady pace in lane 1. It should not have to leave a clear lane with good stopping distance to get into lane 2 because an idiot with the intellect and urgency of a slug is loitering in lane 2. The lorry can not pass the middle lane hogger anyway.
If the lane hogger can not use their mirrors to work out that there is a lorry gaining up on them on the left and they should either actually over take properly or pull in to lane 1 to allow faster traffic to overtake, then they are an absolute liability. It is the lane hogger being dangerous and compromising the driving behaviour of other road users.

If traffic is congested, traffic may move faster on lanes to the left. This can often happen because more traffic moves right in the hope of overtaking so loses stopping distance and can be more reactive to changes in speed whereas lane 1 maintains a steady speed.

In heavy traffic, it's often easier staying in lane 1 with a decent stopping distance than having to be hyper alert, nose to tail with a lack of distance. In free-flowing conditions I'm happy to be as far left as is necessary to maintain a pace I deem comfortable to road conditions. I often drive dual carriageways so I'm happy to move left to let traffic free behind me.

There is a certain joy in moving back to lane 1 to let the tailgater behind me give strong hints to the lane 2 hogger and vent their frustration on the actual cause of the rolling road block, rather than me (who believes in the value of a stopping distance). Funny how the lane hogger finally tends to shift when there's an Aldi 6" off their rear bumper.

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 27/07/2022 18:17

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.

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?

ivykaty44 · 27/07/2022 18:34

I am not a moron, I really don’t get it.

because it causes congestion, bottle necks traffic from 3 lanes to 1 lane and thats why it can be dangerous