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Original poster

If you drive in the middle lane, hogging it, when there is absolutely no need to - why?

419 replies

hell091727 · 07/05/2023 20:32

Please stop driving on the motorway and go re-read the Highway Code.

It is dangerous, lazy, and completely disrupts the flow of the traffic.

I have just driven 200 miles and the amount of drivers who just don’t know how to drive is astonishing. And the motorway wasn’t even busy!

OP posts:
Sheepsheepeverywhere · 07/05/2023 21:16

During a driving test it is a fail if you make another driver slow, swerve or stop. Why isn't this the case on roads all round then? Why are drivers 'allowed' to prevent other drivers driving AT the speed limit? If you feel safer driving at 50 don't clog up 70mph roads. Or at least KEEP BLOODY LEFT!

MrsJBaptiste · 07/05/2023 21:17

ClingingOnNow · 07/05/2023 20:58

I agree but you won't get anyone on here who actually admits to doing it.

Exactly. (Fucking stupid) people who do it have no idea they are stupid so carry on oblivious... 🙄

I drove back from Manchester today, Jesus, I could have killed various drivers 😡

FiveShelties · 07/05/2023 21:18

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:10

I do it! Genuinely I do

Why?

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:18

@Sunshineandflipflops that’s nonsensical though - everyone squashed into one lane, popping in and out to overtake.
I know it’s the way it should be but it’s daft.

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:19

@FiveShelties I think because the rule seems daft and my way seems more sensible.

DappledThings · 07/05/2023 21:19

Can I add in as another massive annoyance the people who don't accelerate anywhere near enough to join in the first place. At least once a week I got stuck behind someone doing 40 on the slip road, making zero attempt to match the traffic they are joining. Also really bloody dangerous.

Inyournightgarden · 07/05/2023 21:19

It is a specific offence that carries a £100 fine and 3 points, but as cameras don’t detect it it’s rare people are prosecuted. my neighbour owns a funeral directors company, he is adamant he buries more people due to lane hoggers than he does due to speeders. His words not mine.

I drive a lot and when I see it I do blow my horn/flash my lights and gesture to them, most are oblivious but some move over.

i drive on the continent a lot, the only cars I see doing it in France/Spain have British plates, the Spanish and French don’t do it, ever, without exception.

GCAcademic · 07/05/2023 21:20

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:12

I’m not stupid And I do know it’s not what I’m supposed to do.
I don’t consider myself to be “slow” I suppose so I don’t want to drive in the slow lane.
If the motorway was empty I wouldn’t drive in the middle though.

It’s not a slow lane. It’s the normal driving lane. The other two lanes are for overtaking.

Boujee11 · 07/05/2023 21:21

I saw a thread recently where a poster was asking for tips on driving on a motorway for the first time. One of the pieces of advice was to get into the middle lane so she could then zone out for the rest of the journey 😮

Seas164 · 07/05/2023 21:21

It's so they don't have to change lanes. My mum had a friend who used to drive from the South East to North Wales and back several times a year and she used to get straight in the middle lane and sit there for the whole journey.

It's ludicrous.

itsgettingweird · 07/05/2023 21:23

That's not my general experience with lorries, I find them usually to be good drivers, vans not so much

I drive around Britain a lot as ds is an athlete.

I find it's generally the M3 and M1 that's worst for lorry drivers.

But they certainly swing out very quickly and that does mean on the M1 a lot of drivers who don't like going above 60 are in lane 3 of 4 to avoid having to lane hop around lorries.

itsgettingweird · 07/05/2023 21:24

SurreyWifi · 07/05/2023 20:59

I find with the smart motorways, crap and lazy drivers pick one of the 2 centre lanes and stay there. Infuriating. This means I have to pull out over 2/3 lanes to overtake.

Would love to hear from 2nd/3rd lane drivers as to why they think the rules of the road don’t apply to them.

I don't think it's because they don't think it applies.

I think they think if they aren't exiting they don't use the inside lane.

And they honestly don't seem to notice all the people going around the, from lane 2-4 and back again.

VisionsOfSplendour · 07/05/2023 21:24

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:12

I’m not stupid And I do know it’s not what I’m supposed to do.
I don’t consider myself to be “slow” I suppose so I don’t want to drive in the slow lane.
If the motorway was empty I wouldn’t drive in the middle though.

Come on now, you are stupid, there's no such thing as the slow lane

thenightsky · 07/05/2023 21:25

I once met a chap who lived in Glasgow. He regularly travelled via motorways, to the south coast of England. I said to him... 'that must be quite a stressful drive for you?' No, he said, I just use the middle lane all the way and don't go over 70, ever.

🙄

EmmatheStageRat · 07/05/2023 21:26

@Burnamer either you’re on a wind up or, genuinely, it’s terrifying that you are allowed behind the wheel of a killing machine. Sincerely, I am the single parent of two children and every time we get into our car, we run the risk of utterly clueless dickheads like you putting our lives at risk. Statistically, I would be the most likely to die and my children would be orphans. Please, learn to drive.

SabbatWheel · 07/05/2023 21:26

I’ve been doing 400 mile round trips every fortnight recently. My observation is that smart motorways have led to all-lane driving at whatever speed is the limit at the time, which actually makes efficient use of the space. There has been very little middle lane hogging compared to hears ago.

Apart from one nightmare 6hr journey (needed to sat nav away from mway due to a crash and extensive mway closure), the journey has actually gone smoothly every time.

Inyournightgarden · 07/05/2023 21:27

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:19

@FiveShelties I think because the rule seems daft and my way seems more sensible.

But the law says your way is illegal (£100 fine and 3 points)

stop being an arrogant moron and obey the laws of the road

Ihatepickingausername3 · 07/05/2023 21:28

It really drives me mad… I hate middle lane drivers.

Burnamer · 07/05/2023 21:30

I’m not a Moron and I’m not winding anyone up purposefully. I’m just being honest. Can someone tell me why driving in the middle lane is dangerous?

frankgu · 07/05/2023 21:30

I really don't see many middle lane hoggers, I see everyone just sitting in the fast lane & never moves in.

Spectre8 · 07/05/2023 21:31

DappledThings · 07/05/2023 21:19

Can I add in as another massive annoyance the people who don't accelerate anywhere near enough to join in the first place. At least once a week I got stuck behind someone doing 40 on the slip road, making zero attempt to match the traffic they are joining. Also really bloody dangerous.

Agree but having had an older car that took over 10 seconds to ge to 70mph some slip roads joining aren't long enough to get up to speed esp motorway services one. I've since got a newer car and wow it really moves and I can grt up to speed even on the short ones.

Oakbeam · 07/05/2023 21:32

My mother got pulled over for doing it. Nobody else on the motorway in the middle of the night.

She was indignant, and still is.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 07/05/2023 21:33

It is annoying but it doesn’t frighten me as much as the people on the thread about this the other week who think if someone is middle lane hogging you are allowed to undertake them.

MondayYogurt · 07/05/2023 21:34

It's really hard controlling other people's actions.

Spectre8 · 07/05/2023 21:34

I've heard some say its because they are too scared to move in and out lanes. Basically they cannot drive on motorways with confidence so stay in one lane.

yday it was pretty dead on the m20, yet there were some still hogging middle lane even though for miles ahead or behind barely any cars. Its crazy just move over to the left. There was even one guy driving in the 3rd lane im like why???

And these idiot middle lane 50 or 60mph drivers have ended up forcing me to undertake take them whilst I'm in left lane all because cars are backed up behind them I can properly overtake them.