Motorway driving questions and musings...

[Pinkneonballoon]

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!

Good questions OP, what about people who drive ridiculously close to the car in front? What the point of doing it. If I'm driving along a congested motorway and can't go any faster as there are cars in front of me why would a car choose to drive right up behind me. It's dangerous and it's completely POINTLESS - they won't get to their destination any faster.

I’ve often had these thoughts too OP! I always obey the average speed camera areas but I’m constantly overtaken / feel like I’m the only one. What does everyone else know that I don’t?!
Can I also add people who don’t understand the concept of merging in turn to the list of driving annoyances?

why would a car choose to drive right up behind me.
Slipstreaming. You save petrol and it gives you extra ummph for when you finally overtake. Yes my DH does this, yes he is a dangerous twat, no i can't stop him. I apologise on his behalf if he was behind any of you last week.

Middle lane hogging has nothing to do with speed. If you're passing something to the left, you're overtaking. If there's nothing to your left, you need not be in the middle lane.

Average speed cameras do not require someone to be watching. All registrations are scanned (by computer) as you pass through and timed between cameras. Registrations that appear more quickly than they should are flagged. How well this works in busy traffic I'm not sure but I was 'done' on the way to Manchester Airport at 6am on an empty motorway doing 56mph.

I'm 68, so one of your somewhat older drivers. We were always told about overtaking lanes and staying in lane one where possible and I do do this. Many drivers do hog the middle lane though. For older/inexperienced ones, in many cases, they don't drive motorways frequently so are a bit scared of getting trapped in the inside lane with lorries all around. OR they just are scared of lane changes and sticking in the middle is the 'easiest' option (for them at least).

Others are just arrogant. I'm doing 70 so no one should be passing me anyway. Why should I be inconvenienced by travelling in a lane I may have to move out of.

The other side of it is that many many people drive safely, carefully and follow these rules - but we don't notice these. Hundreds and thousands of cars on the motorway each day and we only really notice the tossers and arseholes.

** I came close to an accident with a middle lane hogger one day. I came up on the inside lane, crossed to lane 3 to pass but intended to quickly go back into lane 1 (to hopefully wake him up). Another driver (going faster than me), decided that as this pillock in the middle lane wasn't shifting, he would pass on the inside. I so, so nearly pulled back into the inside - right into the faster car. Suspect the middle lane twat thought he was clever and we were both stupid.

That’s very unfortunate, as when they existed the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines for prosecution were if speed was >= 10% + 2 mph. So 57 in a 50. But only a guideline and exceeding the limit by just 1mph is an offence. But I think a lot of people go by the 10% plus 2mph guide, and drive along at 55 which is why lorries, which are restricted to 56, are always right up behind people! I set my cruise control to 55 in the average speed sections and haven’t had a ticket yet. I did once get a ticket in a 60mph average speed section of the A14, over the Orwell bridge, but I was going 70mph so a fair cop!

I think I have previously heard apperently humans are just really bad at assessing risk. So maybe people just don't think there's much of a risk? But it makes them feel better. Especially at motorway speeds when stopping distance is quite high it's a big risk.

It's possible that not all the speed cameras are turned on all the time anyway, I was told when they were first introduced onto the M1 around north Nottinghamshire that they couldn't keep up with the admin of the number of speeding tickets that were being produced so they were only turned on at certain times of the day. It sounded plausible though I'm not 100% sure whether it was true. My DB has definitely passed cameras at speed without getting a ticket.

Yes exactly it's not about speed. But this comment makes me think that actually some people may think it is about speed. So if the left lane is clear but you're doing 70 and you know eventually you'll come up behind a lorry doing 65. To me that's not a reason to stay in the middle lane.

Like obviously don't weave in and out. But if its clear and the reasoning is eventually I'll come up against something slower. Then that's lane hogging to me.

I once read on here that people stick to the middle lane as they’re scared to change lane.. the mind boggles

People who don't speed up on a slip road onto the motorway and trundle along at 30/40 mph expecting to ease straight into the motorway lane, we have a slip road leading onto a 3rd lane near us and it's terrifying at times!

Middle lane hogging has nothing to do with speed. If you're passing something to the left, you're overtaking. If there's nothing to your left, you need not be in the middle lane

If there’s something up ahead but not immediately to your left that you know you will be overtaking when you get level with it? Weave in and out or go for it? It’s a judgement call, not black and white.

Average speed cameras do not require someone to be watching. All registrations are scanned (by computer) as you pass through and timed between cameras. Registrations that appear more quickly than they should are flagged.

Now this is all very well, but what about urban average speed cameras? There is one near me, on a 30mph stretch, which includes 2 or 3 traffic lights. Do they monitor the stop lights? Otherwise you could be doing 40mph while you're moving, but due to the lights your average might still be under 30mph.

I came close to an accident with a middle lane hogger one day. I came up on the inside lane, crossed to lane 3 to pass but intended to quickly go back into lane 1 (to hopefully wake him up). Another driver (going faster than me), decided that as this pillock in the middle lane wasn't shifting, he would pass on the inside. I so, so nearly pulled back into the inside - right into the faster car. Suspect the middle lane twat thought he was clever and we were both stupid

Undertaking driver mostly in the wrong here.

I'm 60- we were taught to drive on the left unless overtaking.

I see this all middle lane hogging all the time. No particular demographic. Just bad, oblivious drivers.

Switch off a bit?! Is that common amongst drivers then?!

I think it depends if there's stuff behind you and how long you'd be in the left lane for. So yes definitely not black and white.

What I do think is clear is when the left lane if very empty and people are in the middle lane or even worst the 3rd lane in a 4 lane motorway. It's like they've decided it's the medium speed lane!

Welp that my theory shot to bits. As a pp who was 68 said this too. I was really thinking it must have been a different approach at some point.

I think what a pp said about not driving on motorways much so wanting to just stick to a lane is probs true!

Exactly this.

Middle lane drivers are terrified to move their car at any speed.

It's like their hands are glued to the steering wheel and eyes never leave the road in front of them...ever !
(no checking mirrors)

It's dangerous to keep swapping lanes on a busy m/w and when they are not busy, its piss easy to get past middle lane hoggers.

I would suggest that when you re driving, you focus on your own failings not others.

I always move left as a point of principle, but you can end up stuck there and not able to move out because there's a long line of traffic overtaking nothing in the middle lane behind you without large enough gaps to safely change lanes, so you end up feeling penalised for correct driving.

It’s not dangerous to change lanes.

You are supposed to return to the left lane once you’ve finished overtaking.

If you can’t do that do not drive on motorways.

Middle lane hogging at 55 mph (in a 70 zone) drives me mad! Electric cars are the worst culprits often going slower than coaches!

Wasn't there some study that showed that on busy roads/motorways the road has more capacity if people do the US-style pass either side form of driving? And that what we call lane discipline is only really suitable for when traffic is light? Must have a dig for it

Sorry but lane changes are when almost all m/w accidents happen, any manoeuvre carries risks.

I'm not defending middle lane hoggers on quiet roads but the UKs M/w's are often very busy, with little difference between speeds across the lanes, sometimes its pointless changing back to the left lane only to have to move back out for a lorry or merging traffic again.

But the point here is no one can change others poor driving habits, its best to focus on your own driving, unless of course you re a traffic cop?