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AIBU?

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To expect people to drive in the correct lane on the motorway?

214 replies

Sidge · 27/08/2007 21:42

Drove back from Yorkshire today - 250 miles, most of it on the M1.

Couldn't believe how many people seem incapable of driving in the correct lane - often there was a virtually empty inside lane, then the traffic was all stacked up in the outer two lanes.

What's that all about? Is it because there's a lorry about a mile and a half ahead that you might have to pass in a couple of minutes, so they just sit in the middle lane instead to save having to actually steer the car?

Or is there an invisible force field surrounding the inside lane that only certain cars can break through?

Grr, bloody idiot drivers.

And don't get me started on how many knobheads still use their mobiles whilst driving...

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 28/08/2007 14:06

I did an advanced driving course after I got my driving licence. My instructor told me not to change lane unnecessarily and that I should only move in if there was a faster car coming up behind me. I think that makes sense as the most dangerous time in motorway driving must be when people change lane. So I think sitting in one lane is fine, provided you keep an eye on your anterior mirror and pull in as and when another vehicle is catching up with you.

policywonk · 28/08/2007 14:11

Winestein - the M-what?

Seriously, it's not in my road atlas (which is, admittedly, several years old). I am cognisant with the M6, however. Now, the M6 toll - that's a quite motorway. I definitely drive in the outside lane on that one.

policywonk · 28/08/2007 14:12

Where were you guys last night? I was taking a beating!

policywonk · 28/08/2007 14:13

Sorry, INSIDE lane. (That is completely counter-intuitive. The inside lane is SO on the outside of the road.)

Tinker · 28/08/2007 14:15

Agree with Mumpbump - I've done a defensive driving course and was told it's far more dangerous to keep changing lanes. I don't sit in teh middle lane but I'll stay in it if I can see that by teh time I've changed lanes I'll need to move out again because of slow moving vehicle

FioFio · 28/08/2007 14:16

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Tinker · 28/08/2007 14:16

I do enjoy undertaking though.

oliveoil · 28/08/2007 14:18

I am never going on a motorway EVER

hideous things

I am going to get a horse and cart for the school run

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:22

Oi, Policy - I is your damsel in shining armour last night - I save you!
But I is gonna ditch you if you are agree with Orm...

The M69 run between the M1 and the M6 near Coventry. It a 3 lane motorway which more than adequately caters for the 3 vehicle an hour what uses it.

I found the thread to what you referred and am trying to use the principle to what it refer. Am not sure I is up to speeds on it though.

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:24

Yes, will you all stop this silly inside and outside lane as they are too subjective. It's offside and nearside if you would be so kind

littlelapin · 28/08/2007 14:25

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oliveoil · 28/08/2007 14:25

I say fast lane and slow lane

FioFio · 28/08/2007 14:25

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OrmIrian · 28/08/2007 14:26

winestein - why the . Sounds eminently sensible to me. 1/2 mile is not far when you are travelling at 75 mph for eg.

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:33

Orm - the was aimed at Policy but in any case 1/2 a mile is more than enough time to safely manouevre into the nearside lane and then manouevre back into the offside lane as off the top of my head, at the speeds you quote a half a mile takes in the region of 25 seconds to travel. May not sound like a lot but it is in terms of overtaking

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:34

Actually I don't Fio :- p

I call what people call bollards "islands"

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:35

you might come unstuck on a 4 lane carriageway with that one Olive

Mumpbump · 28/08/2007 14:35

LL - I think the point is that there is nothing wrong with sitting in the middle lane as long as you are going at an appropriate speed. But if you're one of the slower cars on the motorway, you should naturally end up in the slow lane, rather than the slow lane being completely unused which is silly, I agree, and drives me up the wall!!

littlelapin · 28/08/2007 14:35

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FioFio · 28/08/2007 14:36

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winestein · 28/08/2007 14:37

erm, think you will find you got your maffs wrong there Lapin

littlelapin · 28/08/2007 14:38

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winestein · 28/08/2007 14:38

lol Fio. I refuse to explain myself as you are goading me

winestein · 28/08/2007 14:39

pmsl Lapin

littlelapin · 28/08/2007 14:41

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