to wonder why other drivers think they can bully you?!

[guiltynetter]

i need a rant!

Driving home down a major motorway a few weeks ago, there are temporary speed cameras and a 50mph speed limit all the way down it. it’s been like this for quite a long time, so it’s not a new thing. A car behind me was driving right up to my bumper and intermittently flashing me, presumably telling me to speed up (even though i was driving at probably just over 50) i ignored but felt really angry and just thought...what a dick head.

Driving down the same motorway tonight (my friend driving this time) exact same situation! a lorry this time, driving along flashing us, when we ignored him he eventually undertook in the slow lane.

I just don’t understand, how you can have the nerve to flash another driver when they’re going the speed limit, and also, to be arrogant enough to think that the other driver is going to think ‘oh no, somebody is flashing me, i better speed up!’

Am i missing something here? Do you not need to stick to the speed limits on motorways with temporary speed limits?!

YABU
As others have said there is no such thing the slow lane.
50 mph limit, yes stick to it but it’s not up to you to police others.
Move to the inside lane and get out of the middle lane.

You are in the wrong lane.

Speedos are calibrated slightly differently, 52mph on your speedo might only be 49mph on another. Therefore the lorry driver isn't speeding to overtake you.

Just to let you know as well, I know it may seem silly, but middle lane hogging is an offense (it comes under careless driving) and you can be pulled over for it so be careful!!!

This is what the highway code says about which lane you should be in “You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slow-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.”

if there is a 50mph speed limit, that is the maximum you can drive. surely?

Oh the niavety 🙄

If I am driving on one of those speed restricted stretches and want to drive at the speed limit (which I generally do) then I drive in the left lane, unless it's rammed and everyone's moving at a snail's pace anyway. Then I can go at the limit and not have to worry about people who want to go faster.

Grrr...2 lanes, 3 lanes, 4 lanes...if the lane to your left is clear for a spell (not the hard shoulder (just to be clear)) in a speed restriction or not, you should be in it.
Overtaken a vehicle? Space to pull into the left lane before coming up behind the next slow mover? Pull into the left lane. Its not rocket science and really grinds my gears.

YABU. It does matter which lane you were in. You should use the inside lane unless you are overtaking, no matter whether it's national or variable speed limit. He wouldn't have been able to undertake you if you were using the motorway properly. Drivers who think they can use any lane they like at exactly 70 are the reason bunched traffic happens on the motorway.

I get bullied like this in town, non motorway roads. I sometimes slow down, sometimes pull over. They think their journey is more important that yours and they own the road! So many people do it, there must be a decent proportion on here. I'd be interested in knowing that they think they're achieving.

I must be very naive, yes 😂

i do understand what everybody is saying about middle lane hogging, i don’t actually think we were doing it (in either of the circumstances) it’s hard to explain without posting the road layout, but both of the 2 first lanes come off onto another motorway, if you carried on the motorway and didn’t come off, that 2nd lane we were in would change into the slow lane of the ongoing motorway. i’m sure that doesn’t make sense...

To those saying that the OP was in the wrong lane if people could undertake - actually many sets of roadworks tell you to not to change lanes but to stay in lane.

In any case, if the speed limit is 50 and you are travelling at the maximum allowable speed of 50, then it doesn't matter what lane you are in.

Very unreasonable, you were in the wrong lane. Hate selfish drivers.

Drive in the left hand lane if you want to drive at the speed limit.
Do not attempt to police or 'parent' those who wish to drive faster.
Allow them to make their own mistakes.
The middle lane has always been an overtaking lane. It is not a lane for travelling at a medium speed. Drive on the left.

BTW I'm not a fast driver as most of my life is spent in heavy traffic where reaching 20mph is an excitement. But I took a course a few years back. I was a smug slow driver, but I learned a lot about being a better driver.

silverbirches, you and i are DEFINITELY the only people who think that if the speed limit is 50 it doesn’t matter what lane you’re in 😊

"bullied"?
I think you might want to check the definition...

Its very dangerous to be a fast lane hogger, it can cause accidents. Some refresher driving lessons needed.

When people drive up my arse, I go as slow as poss.

Gives me great pleasure, holding the cunts up.

The lorry drivers speedo would be spot on and yours could be up to 10% off. So even if you thought you were doing 50 you might actually only be doing 45

to clarify i only mean when the speed limit is a temporary, speed camera controlled one.

Sometimes I want to spray paint a massive message on the left hand side of my car that says "WHO ARE YOU OVERTAKING?!?"

Why do you think that the rules of the motorway don't apply in controlled/variable/average speed areas...?

applesauce because the speed limit is 50? so why shouldn’t everybody be doing 50? i really can’t get my head round this!

Generally if theres road works or traffic is being slowed you should stay in lane otherwise it will slow down the traffic even more. OP didn't deserve it, it's a hell of a lot more dangerous to tailgate someone than it is to go the speed limit in the second lane. And you cant say ops behaviour is illegal but give a little chuckle to speedimg which is also illegal. Middle lane hogging is annoying (although if roadworks could argue not middle lane hogging) tailgating and undertaking could kill someone.

I had this he other day op..was it the m4? Theres a section where you are slowed to 50 but the lanes arent narrowed yet. Was in the second lane, first lane full with lorries, I was going just above 50 and a lorry was right up my arse and flashing me, I couldn't go faster as there was more lorries in front couldn't go into the outside lane because it was completely full with lorries and going slower than me. In these situations I always think the only option is to slow right down, because if they are that close there's no way they can brake in time to not go into the back of you so the slower you are the less likely you are to die.

I get what you mean OP. Where you've got 4 lanes and the 2 on the left go onto one motorway at the junction and the 2 on the right go onto the other, so if you were on the actual left hand lane but wanted to be on the right hand motorway it would be MORE unsafe to swing across 2 lanes of traffic at the last minute!

Like on the M25 anticlockwise at jct 12 where the M3 filter starts 2 miles before the turnoff. You are directed to the filter ages before the junction; if you stayed in the true LHL and actually wanted the M25 you'd have to swing across a load of traffic at the last minute to get there and potentially cause more of an accident. Even though the filter looks like it's about to happen but really doesn't.

And yes if the limit is 50 then you oughtnt to be going more than 50. Not sure how that's hard to understand.

A lot of

A lot of accidents are caused by people lane hogging and not allowing other drivers to pass.(source:- my brother in law, traffic cop)