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Original poster

Motorway driving questions and musings...

119 replies

Pinkneonballoon · 17/07/2023 19:49

I've recently done a lot of motorway driving alone so I've had a bit of time to muse on a few things....

The 50 limited zones for roadworks with the average speed check cameras. Do people know something I don't? As in they don't actually don't monitor your speed? Just loads of people don't stick to the limit. Or maybe I don't understand how they work and you just have to be doing 50 when you go past a camera?

Also middle lane hogging. I know people have talked about it on here a lot, but I think it's so common I'm now starting to wonder if it's a thing about how people were taught to drive? Like did rolling along in the middle lane used to be a thing? I've been driving for 20 years and although it wasn't part of my test it was made clear you move over if poss. But I'm feeling this must have not always been the case can anyone comment? As it's so common!

Anyone's thoughts or answers would be great!

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 17/07/2023 19:56

With the cameras I think people gamble on their speedo slightly unreading plus the error margin on the camera.

With the middle lane... some people ate just oblivious to their surroundings

CalistoNoSolo · 17/07/2023 20:12

I always stick to the 50mph speed camera areas on motorways, ime most people do. Middle lane hoggers are really fucking annoying, but there are so many unaware, dithery drivers on the roads these days, its just another hazard to negotiate.

MurielThrockmorton · 17/07/2023 20:16

I seem to do a lot of overtaking middle lane hoggers from the LH lane into the RH lane and back without them seeming to notice, as they're still trundling along in the middle lane even afterwards. There doesn't seem to be any particular demographic though, young to old, men and women.

ShadowPuppets · 17/07/2023 20:18

Haha - maybe I’m projecting but are you regularly doing the M25/A3 junction at the moment? The difference of opinion on the average speed thing is fascinating!

Original poster
Pinkneonballoon · 17/07/2023 20:19

MurielThrockmorton · 17/07/2023 20:16

I seem to do a lot of overtaking middle lane hoggers from the LH lane into the RH lane and back without them seeming to notice, as they're still trundling along in the middle lane even afterwards. There doesn't seem to be any particular demographic though, young to old, men and women.

I developed this theory that it might have been die to a different way of driving at some point as the people I noticed on these journey's were mainly older. Like 60 plus. I would say that this was just a snapshot of what I noticed on a journey! So not a scientific sample!

OP posts:
CopperSeahorses · 17/07/2023 20:19

I think some drivers are banking on the average speed check cameras not being adjusted down to the new speed restriction that applies in roadworks, they assume the cameras are still set to 70mph.

HeddaGarbled · 17/07/2023 20:24

the people I noticed on these journey's were mainly older. Like 60 plus

Sigh ☹️

Original poster
Pinkneonballoon · 17/07/2023 20:25

HeddaGarbled · 17/07/2023 20:24

the people I noticed on these journey's were mainly older. Like 60 plus

Sigh ☹️

I don't mean I think all people this age drive badly! Just this was what I noticed on the journey after deciding to pay attention.

OP posts:
Alexandra2001 · 17/07/2023 20:26

Motorways are so busy nowadays, its often pointless (and dangerous) continually swapping from nr side to middle and back again.

I do understand why some just chose to stay in the middle lane.

People should focus on their own driving rather than policing others.

ValBiro · 17/07/2023 20:29

I think middle lane driving is just the easier option on a motorway, people do it so they can switch off a bit while they're driving! A bit lazy perhaps. And maybe it feels safer than a lot of lane switching?

I am hyper aware of NOT being a middle lane hogger though, and yes, I have to be more alert, concentrating a lot more, and it can be unnerving having to move around unpredictable drivers from lane to lane, moving aside at merging junctions etc.

So i do understand why people hog the middle lane!

Original poster
Pinkneonballoon · 17/07/2023 20:30

Alexandra2001 · 17/07/2023 20:26

Motorways are so busy nowadays, its often pointless (and dangerous) continually swapping from nr side to middle and back again.

I do understand why some just chose to stay in the middle lane.

People should focus on their own driving rather than policing others.

So it's cool for people to make driving more dangerous for others then?

Also how is asking about this on an online forum policing others?

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 17/07/2023 20:36

I have noticed a lot more aggressive driving in recent years. I used to drive all over the place, up and down the M1 regularly, round the M25, kids in the car, I never worried. Now, I find it stressful because of the racing, the tailgating, general complete incompetence and madness of other drivers. Even DH, who is very laid back, is hypervigilant about aggressive, mainly young male drivers. We have a huge problem where I live with young men driving under the influence of nitrous oxide and it is very scary.

onitlikeacarbonnet · 17/07/2023 20:39

Middle lane hoggers are just bad drivers. I mean, everyone’s attention wavers at times, especially, for eg, on familiar roads or if you have dc in the car; I’ve caught myself at it but immediately corrected. Nobody’s perfect.
But…
The people who I consistently notice (from decades of driving) are usually in one of 3 camps.
BMW/Audi/Vauxhall drivers (just twats).
Cars with international plates (at least have the excuse they may have learned to drive elsewhere in the world and we are very different from 90% of other places therefore it may be simpler to stick to one lane).
Men wearing a hat of some sort (older/elderly flat cap/bunnet wearers most common).
These are obviously my own personal observations and others may disagree based on their own experiences.

allthewaytobeanotown · 17/07/2023 20:42

My old commute to work involved the M1.

I would sit in the left hand lane - which was restricted to 50 miles per hour for the full year that I worked there - and lorries would constantly flash at me for....I don't know what? NOT middle lane hogging? There was no point me trying to overtake the fuckers because I could only go at 50 anyway so I have no idea why they used to sit behind me flashing their headlights.

I can understand why people drive in the middle lane to avoid twattery like that.

GiddyGladys · 17/07/2023 20:44

DH got a ticket last week for going 56 on the m1 in a temporary 50. No roadworks set up, just a random sign.

PuttingDownRoots · 17/07/2023 20:46

I drive a lot on the A1 which is two lanes... the middle lane hoggers just sit in the second lane instead, usually at no more than 65mph while traffic builds up behind them despite plenty of opportunities to move into the other lane between lorries

Krustykrabpizza · 17/07/2023 20:46

Alexandra2001 · 17/07/2023 20:26

Motorways are so busy nowadays, its often pointless (and dangerous) continually swapping from nr side to middle and back again.

I do understand why some just chose to stay in the middle lane.

People should focus on their own driving rather than policing others.

But it impacts on everyone else!

Krustykrabpizza · 17/07/2023 20:47

I notice people not using slip roads correctly a lot at the moment. Pootling along at 40mph to join a road where everyone is going 70mph.

C1N1C · 17/07/2023 20:49

The 50 mph areas are governed by the same rules as the gatso cameras... I.e. 10%+2... so you can see people going up to 57 mph. Sometimes people join the motorway in-between the average speed checks so can go at 70 until they hit a camera.

Middle-lane hoggers I think are lazy as someone else said. I typically see it as lorry lane, lorry overtaking lane and slow lane, middle lane for fixed 70 mph, and fast/overtaking lane.

CountTo10 · 17/07/2023 20:54

We were discussing middle lane hogging only the other day. It's definitely got worse in recent years. Our theory was that during covid roads were much quieter so people just went in the middle (to avoid oncoming traffic in the near side lane) and because it isn't too much of issue if there are few cars on the road. Unfortunately post covid they've stuck with the habit. It's infuriating and they're oblivious (& in my experience there is no age profile. All ages and sexes do it). They're always oblivious too. You're forced to undertake them despite the fact you're doing 60 because you want to come off at the junction and it just doesn't seem to register they're in the wrong.

MurielThrockmorton · 17/07/2023 20:59

The only thing worse than having to cross too many lanes to overtake a middle lane hogger is being in the car with a middle lane hogger. It's unusual that I'm not driving, but when I am with someone who is just sitting in the middle lane I find it excruciating!

Blanketenvy · 17/07/2023 21:01

I also think that the middle lane thing has got worse since 4 lane motorways are more popular. So people perceive it as LL-RR so a lot of people are just coasting along in the middle lane at 65 but see themselves as in the far left lane as.

ImDoingThisNow · 17/07/2023 21:15

Define middle lane hogging -

50 in a 70 area = not too and should move over to the left (or 60 in a 70 area etc)

70 in a 70 area when other drivers seem to want to do 80+, then I’ll sit in the middle lane to overtake lorries who are travelling more slowly. This avoids multiple lane changes in and out as I pass those who have speed limiters on.

I sometimes wonder what people think of this, but 70 is the limit.

ImDoingThisNow · 17/07/2023 21:15

Not too should read not good.

Gravitatio · 17/07/2023 21:17

Alexandra2001 · 17/07/2023 20:26

Motorways are so busy nowadays, its often pointless (and dangerous) continually swapping from nr side to middle and back again.

I do understand why some just chose to stay in the middle lane.

People should focus on their own driving rather than policing others.

Nope to all of this.