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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think lane hogging is inconsiderate on motorway?

358 replies

MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 22:41

why do people hog the middle lane or even worse the third lane on a four lane carriageway? If you're scared to change lanes, stay in the slow lane? Sorry but it does wind me up, especially on a long drive. One of the fee small annoyances that get to me :(

OP posts:
Haggyoldclothbatspus · 01/11/2011 22:16

Ok, so we are saying that people are unreasonable for driving at the legal speed limit? It's unreasonable to drive in a lawful manner and obstruct people from breaking the law? Seems quite reasonable to me! Hmm
How about this, if there are three lanes, save the left for lorries, pensioners and people towing stuff, save the middle lane for people driving legally and have the outside lane for people who want to break the law and exceed the legal limit. We could even add an extra lane, for law breakers to overtake each other!

Original poster
MangoMonster · 01/11/2011 22:21

Please someone explain to me why using lanes correctly according to the highway code = speeding?

Don't get why people keep posting about speeding? Confused. Read the highway code.

OP posts:
Original poster
MangoMonster · 01/11/2011 22:24

This thread is starting to remind me of the nightmare journey I had on day night where several people were lane hogging and oblivious...please don't make me relive it ;)

OP posts:
Original poster
MangoMonster · 01/11/2011 22:25

Excuse typo, Saturday not day...

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 01/11/2011 22:38

Absolutely not! I don't think anyone is advocating speeding. What we are saying is unreasonable is people thinking because they are driving at the speed limit they can drive with no consideration for other road users and lane hog.

Unfortunately a lot of people do drive at ridiculous speeds and the combination of speeders and lane hoggers makes the motorways less safe for everyone. Both should desist, but this thread is particularly about lane hoggers.

Watch the video clip.

mercibucket · 01/11/2011 22:40

someone far far further up the thread described the motorways near us perfectly, left hand full of lorries/caravans/old codgers doing 60, middle lane full of people overtaking them but doing 65 or 70 and even more people fuming cos they want to be driving faster than that, 'fast lane' a mix of nobbers who want to drive at 100+ and normal people (obv that is me Grin) who quite like driving in the magic zone between 70 and 79 but find themselves having to dice with death in the 'fast lane' to do so.

my most annoying type of driver is the one who flashes lights and tailgates in the inside lane when in fact the road is just busy and no-one can go any faster. dickheads.

mercibucket · 01/11/2011 22:42

forgot to mention - someone said it's surely safer to let bad drivers go ahead of you - no no no - you should stay ahead of them at all costs - pile ups happen behind not ahead - keep the bad drivers behind you! overtake the texters/drinkers/mysterious lane weavers as quickly and safely as possible then put as much space and distance between you as possible

Whatmeworry · 01/11/2011 23:04

Always get in front of bad drivers IMO

PigletJohn · 01/11/2011 23:33

why? so they can crash into the back of you when you brake for fog/water on road/pile-up/obstruction/person pulling out?

PigletJohn · 01/11/2011 23:35

/road works/warning sign/bollards/accident ahead/cow in road/sharp bend?

startail · 01/11/2011 23:44

People who drive at 30 on a perfectly good A road and still break for slow down signs as if they were doing 60 mph, grrrrrrAngry

Minus273 · 01/11/2011 23:46

I like to let speed freaks get as far in front of me as possible. However slow, erratic, wobbly drivers I would prefer to get past and I have in the past pulled out to the third lane to give them as wide a berth as possible.

CocoPopsAddict · 02/11/2011 00:05

Lane hogging is just appalling driving, sorry. It is lazy and shows a lack of judgement.

BUT if the left-hand lane is genuinely packed full of lorries, then by staying in the middle lane for a while you are not 'lane hogging', just overtaking a large number of vehicles. So long as you pull to the left when there is clear road there, it's all good.

AnyFucker · 02/11/2011 00:05

I had a lane weaver for a couple of hours on Sunday

a blue truck

am assuming a bloke driver (but could be wrong of course)

it stayed in the left lane, but repeatedly veered onto the hard shoulder, then into the middle lane

I was too scared to overtake, so I just sat behind him at 60mph and kept a massive distance between us and my eyes out on stalks

I felt sure police cameras would pick him up and intercept...but nope, not for 2 hours anyway

what should I have done folks ? (genuine question)

startail · 02/11/2011 00:14

Oh and indicators, has the bit about mirror, signal, manoeuvre been removed from the highway code?
There is such a outbreak of this at the moment that the DDs have joined in spotting it too!

Haggyoldclothbatspus · 02/11/2011 00:21

"Lane hogging is just appalling driving, sorry. It is lazy and shows a lack of judgement."
Yes, it may be so. But so is tailgating, exceeding the speed limit and flashing your lights to make someone get out of your way. This thread is about 'lane' hoggers, but they are by far the less dangerous!

youngermother1 · 02/11/2011 00:45

In the US, the rules are different and they do not have overtaking lanes, just lanes, so no undertaking. Also if someone undertakes you, you are in the wrong lane.

purits · 02/11/2011 01:01

I had to cope with a special sub-category of lane hoggers today. You know when a motorway splits and they tell you to 'get in lane' ... that means 'when you get to the road markings, get in lane'. It doesn't mean 'do it far too far in advance and hog that lane for the next five miles'.Hmm

NhameCage · 02/11/2011 01:17

I know in theory everyone should pull in after overtaking but in practice the road is much safer if everyone keeps lane changing to a minimum. Thus, if the road is busy it is better to use all the lanes and if you can see cars ahead that you are going to overtake you should stay in the middle lane. It is a dangerous way to drive to weave in and out of traffic and pull in right in front of every car immediately after you have overtaken. I see lots of people doing this and it is frankly dangerous and antagonistic.

MrHeadlessMan · 02/11/2011 01:22

AF... Pull out your MN "You Are Being Unreasonable" rocket launcher, of course

This thread reminds me why I am so happy not to drive that often in the UK anymore.

AnyFucker · 02/11/2011 07:04

that was a nice thought, MHH but not much practical help, really Smile

NorfolkNChance · 02/11/2011 07:10

Were you on a 3 laner AF?

If yes what I would have done personally is pull back, move to middle lane to build up speed and briefly switch to outside to clear him then pull back.

I'd also make a note of the reg and give the police a call, sounds like a drink driver.

AnyFucker · 02/11/2011 07:14

yes, it was a 3 laner, but busy , busy and with lots of 90mph+'ers whizzing up the fast lane

so wasn't happy to give him a really wide berth

I was thinking more "tired" driver

trixymalixy · 02/11/2011 07:57

Nhame, I think you need a motorway driving lesson.

trixymalixy · 02/11/2011 08:00

Anyfucker, I would have done as Norfolk suggested as well. I'm also of the opinion that getting in front of poor drivers is the best course of action, as long as you don't break the limit to do so of course.

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