To think lane hogging is inconsiderate on motorway?

[MangoMonster]

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 :(

YABU
I stay in the middle lane. Where do you want me to go? The left lane is full of lorries and vans etc - some going really slow. It's also full of people coming and going from the motorway and never settles.
The right lane is full of people going way above the speed limit.

I stay in the middle lane right on the speed limit. It's perfectly legal. What would you have me do? I'm not going slow inspite of whatever you may think.

People swerve round me into the right lane and cut back again in front of me very dangerously. Or they come really close flashing headlights wildly. Obviously they are angry with me for 'hogging' the middle lane - but it's not me doing the wrong thing - it's they who are way above the speed limit and driving dangrously!

I totally and utterly do not understand what Mango is talking about in that case.

I learnt to drive specifically because I need to commute to another city every day now so have already clocked up a fair few motorway journeys, so maybe why I'm coming across this.

I do stay in the left lane as much as possible though because the crazy people doing a million miles an hour scare me! You will find me happily trundling along in the left lane with giant trucks and the elderly

Now the giant lorries that feel the need to overtake other lorries and then can't move back over forever really really annoy me!

sweet grapes... You're also driving dangerously, hogging the middle lane. If everybody did that there would be chaos. You're supposed to pull into the first lane to allow traffic to overtake you, not sit there. Same point as for SingleMan, what about the lorries who might want to pull out? You're then in the way.

"why didn't you just undertake then?"

Erm for the obvious reasons that it's illegal and dangerous!! There was a big queue of traffic behind him so would have had to undertake loads of cars.

So ... why are there generally three lanes then? 2 lanes for overtaking only and one lane for all the traffic to sit in?

But the left lane is full. And I am going faster than them. Why would I slow down and go there just because someone wants to drive in the middle lane at 80 or 90? I am driving at 70.

Ohh, if only there were a compulsory motorway driving test, a lot of contributors here would fail, miserably! Read your Highway Code people...

This from PacificDogwood: "Just drive with consideration for your fellow (wo)man, peeps", that's about the size of it.

singleman Doesn't sound llike you drive on a motorway much; EVERYONE drives at 80mph on the motorway. That's why the speed limit is being increased to 80! The police never stop people driving at 80, because 70 is stupidly slow and people like YOU make motorways dangerous.

Cruise control should only be used on the left lane.

You sound like an irresponsible and selfish driver.

Totally agree Mango. I am such a chilled driver, although very confident (been driving 29 years and have driven 7.5 toners plus company cars etc for a living) but the two things which reeeeally wind me up are idiots who sit in the middle lane-usually hunched over the wheel- and those who pull out on you (when there is nothing behind you normally) and then proceed to do 20 in a 30/25 in a 40 and so on...

Aaaaaargh Mooooove oveeeeer! (Feel better now, rant over)

The speed limit is supposed to be going up to 80 on motorways I hear BTW.

I would have no qualms whatsoever at all about undertaking at 70 if someone was blocking the "overtaking lane" at 55.

at the people who think it's acceptable to just stay in the middle lane for the whole of their journey. It is really selfish driving. Learn to motorway drive FFS!!!

Motorway driving should be part of driving test-theory and practical. But, I can't believe a lot of drivers don't know/understand the drive to the left rule. That is the way to drive. Driving any other way is dangerous. It can't be random. It's a rule for a reason: so that all drivers are aware of it and all drivers follow it.
Pisses me off.

Mindy - why don't you link to the relevant part for the rest of us ignorami.

As I SAID I have always thought the LAW was an ass on this point. But anyway have managed to drive all over this country and many others for 31 years with no accidents to date (touch wood) so hopefully I am a decent enough driver.

Just to clarify, theres nothing wrong with driving in the middle lane when the lane to the left of you is full or going slower! Lane hogging is staying in a lane when the left hand lane is free. Can't believe people don't understand this.

CustardCake... The speed limit is being increased as mentioned further up the thread. It doesn't really matter whether people think they're right to restrict the flow of traffic at the speed limit, it's not their job to do that. I've seen it in the fast lane too, somebody doggedly driving at just under 70mph to hold the traffic back at the speed limit. So arrogant - and wrong. It causes people to undertake and that's really dangerous.

I've seen this more than once and I've seen the fast lane hogger pulled over by the police - and not before time either.

Highway code:

Lane discipline
264

You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.

I will say again that I don't drive. But if someone is in the left lane, and there is a slip road with cars coming down it, wouldn't that person then move in to the middle lane for the benefit of the slower slip road driver, and wouldn't they be impeded from doing so if a car that is not actually overtaking them is sat in the middle lane?

I simply cannot see how middle lane hoggers are holding up everyone else. Everyone (and yes I'm afraid that includes you op) should be driving in the left hand lane, along with all the 55 mile per hour drivers.

Last week, on the M6 and M5, the slow lane was actually the fastest lane to be in at 3pm. Most of the traffic was in the middle lane, slightly less in the fast lane - very little on the slow lane. What does that tell you? People are undertaking because the pull-in rule isn't being followed.

SingleMan; why are you not just as happy to stay in the inside lane and then simply pull out into the middle lane when you need to overtake. That way someone who is already in the middle lane will not need to then pull out into the outside lane to overtake you, you lane hogger you!

I don't particularly like to go into the outside lane but I have to because others sit in the middle lane! And if i choose to do 72MPH it would hardly make any difference to 70MPH but would mean that I had to go into outside lane as you are stuck so rigidly at 70MPH! Quite thoughtless really.