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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

272 replies

guiltynetter · 06/04/2018 22:22

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?!

OP posts:
NoSuchThingAsAlpha · 07/04/2018 17:47

Jobjobjob

Nobody likes a smart-arse.

Those of us who drive in the real world know there's a slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane. Anyone who drives differently is either a) a dick or b) a sanctimonious dick.

italiancortado · 07/04/2018 17:53

Nobody likes a smart-arse.

Those of us who drive in the real world know there's a slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane. Anyone who drives differently is either a) a dick or b) a sanctimonious dick.

It's been a while since I read quite such an ironic post

ShotsFired · 07/04/2018 17:53

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

There is MASSIVE difference in how different vehicles speedos are calibrated. What your 50 shows at can be really noticeably different to mine, and so on. So you may have been doing more like 40 or 45. HGV driver knows this and wants to get on with their day but didn't want to undertake your friend until he lost patience with him sat in an outer lane.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 07/04/2018 18:19

She wasn’t middle lane jogging, she was in the correct lane for staying on the motorway and not filtering off to another route.

@puppymonkey thank you 😊 i’ve given up on this thread as i’ve been told i was a middle lane hogger approximately 15 million times now 😂 i think perhaps i was, for around 5 minutes until i came off the motorway using the second lane, and joined another one. also the thread has descended into arguing with each other, good old mumsnet!

the lorry driver undertook in the slow lane (which had cars in) by getting right close up to their bumpers, presumably flashing them! they sped up and he exited the motorway at the same exit as me, but in the first lane, not the second. he was obviously in a real rush :)

i still think it’s a dick move to flash other people, motorway way or not, because you think they should move out of the way. it would never occur to me to do that, but it seems a lot of posters on here definitely would!

OP posts:
Batmanwearspants · 07/04/2018 18:40

guilty I think it’s hard for most posters to get their head around.

If you’d actually driven on that bit of the m60 you’d understand why you didn’t do anything wrong.

Grumblepants · 07/04/2018 19:01

It's completely a dick move to flash other drivers like this and it's generally by limp dicked twats trying to intimidate.
I had this last week and I was beyond angry.
I was on a dual carriageway in the right lane doing 75 (yes speeding, sorry). Some twat was practically on my bumper flashing me to move over. I couldn't because I had half a mile to go before I had to join slip road to turn right, so if I moved over I risked not being able to get back in the right lane in time. Anyway I thought he was going to ram me so I moved and just managed to get back in time to make my turning. I flashed him to slow down as he must have been doing over 100 when he took off....then I saw him put his hand out the window and make wanker gestures at me!,!
WTF did I do wrong??? Big old twattish knob!

bimbobaggins · 07/04/2018 19:11

A slow lane, normal lane and overtaking lane! I’ve heard it all now . On a 3 lane motorway both the middle and right lane are for overtaking although this may explain why so many people think it’s acceptable to sit in the middle lane if they think it’s the “ normal lane”

CatchingBabies · 07/04/2018 19:22

On most motorways, if not all, the speed limit set when reduced is AVERAGE speed, so you can go above 50mph if overtaking etc. but your average speed should be 50mph. And you can legally drive 10% over the speed limit also. They were flashing you to move over, if a faster moving vehicle comes up behind you then you should move over and let them past.

UrgentScurryfunge · 07/04/2018 19:28

When I did pass plus, I was instructed to move back to lane 1 when I could see the overtaken vehicle in my rear view mirror as I had then given them sufficient stopping distance, and also to ensure that I wouldn't have to pull back into lane 2 to overtake within a few seconds. Also to be aware of junctions ahead, so for example pre-emptively moving to lane 2 to facilitate the merging of traffic off a busy slip road.

The lane markings may change at junctions so a less broken line than the usual lane markings will indicate that this is a seperate flow of traffic and a motorway could effectively be split into lane 1, 2, 1, 2.

In heavy traffic conditions it is permissible to maintain your speed regardless of lanes, so if 3 lanes are averaging 50mph for roadworks, someone in lane 1 may be doing 50mph whereas the person in lane 2 may have slipped down to 48mph. The person in lane 1 may retain their speed and continue their course which is different to an impatient driver weaving around different lanes and constantly switching and changing lanes to deliberately overtake.

I'm no lane 2 "middle lane" hogger and am very happy to be in lane 1 when I'm not passing other vehicles, but the busy state and complexities of modern motorway layouts and driving mean that sticking absolutely to the furthermost lane to the left unless you are clearly passing is not always quite so absolute a rule as some posters are making out.

Middle lane hoggers who in standard road conditions drive at their own random pace are very irritating, particularly when they mean that the correct procedure for you to maintain your speed and pass is to go from lane 1, 2, 3, 2 and back to 1 again. Also so are the self important impatient tailgating bullies with no regard for road conditions or stopping distances who again have their own agenda of their own random speed. When they slice around between lanes, they are a greater hazard to other road users than the former kind of irritant.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 07/04/2018 20:15

Those of us who drive in the real world know there's a slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane. Anyone who drives differently is either a) a dick or b) a sanctimonious dick.

That’s a joke right?

Those of us who know the Highway Code know that that is utter rubbish!

Jobjobjob · 07/04/2018 20:28

*Jobjobjob

Nobody likes a smart-arse.

Those of us who drive in the real world know there's a slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane. Anyone who drives differently is either a) a dick or b) a sanctimonious dick.*

Never said this before...but are you on glue??

Totally PMSL at you actually thinking that's the case! I'd say to you ...let the train take the strain!!

PoorYorick · 07/04/2018 20:36

Those of us who drive in the real world know there's a slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane. Anyone who drives differently is either a) a dick or b) a sanctimonious dick.

What are you smoking? And why aren't you sharing?

Jobjobjob · 07/04/2018 20:39

@italiancortado read the posts since your idiotic comment!

You need to revisit the Highway Code...... very soon!!

italiancortado · 07/04/2018 20:54

read the posts since your idiotic comment!

You need to revisit the Highway Code...... very soon!!

What idiotic comment??

italiancortado · 07/04/2018 20:55

I'm slightly confused here?

ToothyMcPuthy · 07/04/2018 20:57

A slow lane, a normal lane and an overtaking lane...?

This comment has got to be a wind up 🙈.

ToothyMcPuthy · 07/04/2018 20:59

Come on Italian. V funny.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 07/04/2018 20:59

I thought I was the loser lane?

NotUmbongoUnchained · 07/04/2018 20:59

It was*

Jobjobjob · 07/04/2018 21:00

@italiancortado the idiotic comment

Was

Slow lane

Normal lane

And

Fast lane

As many other posters have said!

You're confused??? I don't doubt it!

italiancortado · 07/04/2018 21:01

I NEVER said that!!!!!

I said the post was the most ironic I had seen. Ironic because the poster was calling people sanctimonious dicks whilst being totally wrong about lane discipline themselves.

Jobjobjob · 07/04/2018 21:01

Sorry replace fast lane with overtaking lane!

NotUmbongoUnchained · 07/04/2018 21:01

It wasn’t Italian who said that 😂

italiancortado · 07/04/2018 21:02

That was not my comment Confused

Jobjobjob · 07/04/2018 21:03

@italiancortado a 100 percent apology! Please allow me to blame Saturday night wine.

Please share one with me? 🍷

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