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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:
Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:06

Actually, people swaying who seem to have problems staying inside a lane wind me up even more. Never know if they are drunk, tired or texting etc, very dangerous, not that hard to stay in your lane. Can you tell I've just done a 4 hr trip? :)

OP posts:
Whatmeworry · 29/10/2011 23:08

I'd suspect those are the same drivers who believe they are very considerate around town (based on my experience anyway)

trixymalixy · 29/10/2011 23:09

YANBU. I got stuck behind someone for 10 miles on a 2 lane motorway last week. Atno point did he move over even when there was no-one in the left hand lane. So frustrating and caused all the traffic to bunch up, can be quite dangerous.

Menopause, perhaps you shuld read the highway code...

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:10

Agree whatmeworry town driving and motor driving are two different things.

OP posts:
EllaDee · 29/10/2011 23:18

YANBU. I agree with whoever said if you can't change lanes confidently you should not be on the road.

My dad does it and it is very rude. I don't know if he does it because he's not very aware of other traffic or if he's not very aware of other traffic because he's done it for so long, but either way, it's not good - he's not alert enough to react properly IMO.

DriverDan · 29/10/2011 23:18

The highway code actually says you should avoid weaving in and out of lanes on the motorway, for example, if you move into the middle lane to overtake a lorry and not too far away are another 1 or 2 lorries then you should remain in the middle lane until you have overtaken them all.

I find that I get flashed for doing this in the middle lane at 70. But then I also get flashed for driving at the correct speed in the city as well...and for doing 65 on the motorway in heavy rain (on my first solo motorway drive!)

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 29/10/2011 23:18

I've always thought the law was an ass on this.

According to your rules, Mango, everybody on the motorway should be driving in the left hand lane for their entire journey unless they want to overtake. Well, given that many people drive as slowly as 50mph in the left hand lane, that will mean that say 99% of the other drivers will want to overtake at some point. But they all must overtake and then get straight back into the lh lane, only to need to overtake again in a couple of minutes time. How flippin dangerous is that? To have the vast majority of motorway traffic constantly overtaking?

EllaDee · 29/10/2011 23:22

I always thought 'weaving' meant undertaking as well as overtaking?

IMO if you are in the left or middle lane and, say, a lorry pulls of your lane ahead of you so the lane to your right becomes slower, you should slow down a bit too so you don't end up zooming past on the wrong side, no? Unless you are in a genuine queue where everyone is crawling along.

That's how I was taught but it is 10 years ago now so may be out of date.

MillyR · 29/10/2011 23:23

That is how I have observed safe drivers to behave on the motorway - they pull out then pull back in when they are no longer overtaking somebody.

I think if people consider the law to be wrong they need to come up with an alternative that will not lead to the danger of undertaking and then campaign for a change in the law so that everyone is aware of the rules that you have decided upon in your own head. It is dangerous to decide to follow some entirely other set of rules that other drivers cannot possibly predict simply because your personally think you know better.

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:24

bibbity I think you misunderstand the rules. If you are going faster than the traffic to the left of you, you stay in you lane, you don't weave. This thread has confirmed to me why people can't use lanes correctly. Read the highway code or stay off the motorway. It's not hard. Sorry I know I'll get flamed buy seriously, use the highway code or don't drive... Your a danger to others.

OP posts:
said · 29/10/2011 23:24

"I got stuck behind someone for 10 miles on a 2 lane motorway last week. Atno point did he move over even when there was no-one in the left hand lane." Why didn't you just undertake then?

Lane weavers who do this to prove a point are a complete pain in the arse. People get really worked up about this issue because they think it somehow proves they are good drivers.

PacificDogwood · 29/10/2011 23:24

These are not Mango's rules, bibbity.

I feel her pain - it's the oblivious driver sitting in the middle lane, doing 55 mph, not having a clue what is going on around them.

No, I don't think any reasonable person would interpret the 'stay as far left as feasible' to mean that you bunny hop in and out of the left lane overtaking one lorry after another.

MrBloomsNursery · 29/10/2011 23:24

You're supposed to use the other lanes to overtake, not hog. So YANBU.

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:25

Agree elladee

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 29/10/2011 23:26

Undertaking is illegal, no? If the police see you doing it, they will pull you over.

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:26

Agree milly. I am so shocked at the fact people don't want to follow the rules.

OP posts:
DriverDan · 29/10/2011 23:27

Basically if there are a lot of lorries/trucks etc in the left lane and maybe lots of slip roads as well, you could end up doing the majority of your journey in the middle lane.

As a new driver, I am fine with changing lanes, and driving at the speed limit...but I still find other drivers intimidating, flashing me in the middle lane for doing 70!

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:28

Agree, it's the lack of awareness of the drivers doing 55 in middle lane or the fact they don't care that winds me up.

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 29/10/2011 23:28

DriverDan, harrassing other drivers by that by driving right up to them or flashing them is rude/dangerous and if it isn't, ought to be illegal. Sorry you are coming across this.

PacificDogwood · 29/10/2011 23:29

be that

SingleMan25b · 29/10/2011 23:29

I'm quite happy to drive in the middle lane at 70mph - just put the cruise control on and don't give a fig for anyone who wants to drive faster. The UK speed limit is 70mph like it or lump it.

Anyone who drives faster than 70mph on the motorway is irresponsible with no care for themselves, their passengers or any other road user.

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:30

Flashing in the middle lane for doing 70 is unreasonable.

OP posts:
EllaDee · 29/10/2011 23:30

driver - it is really annoying, isn't it! Mind you, something that (retrospectively) terrifies me is my ex used to flip his mirror up so he couldn't see the driver behind him flashing his lights when he was lane-hogging.

Call me a wuss, but it does scare me how cavalier people can be about driving a ton of metal at that speed - and I got in the car with him. Confused

Original poster
MangoMonster · 29/10/2011 23:31

I'm talking about when the lane to the left is free completely.

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 29/10/2011 23:31

... and when a vehicle on the inside lane wants to pull out, SingleMan, will that upset your cruise control in any way? Middle lane hoggers have no place on the motorway anymore than any other rule breaker.

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