To say the fast lane doesn’t bloody exist?

[Brigleylake]

I’ve been driving back to work recently on an A road with two lanes, usually doing 70-75 max. I don’t want to drive in the “slow lane” and do 50/60 with tractors and lorries etc but I don’t want to be doing 90 either.

For the last week, every single day I’ve been tailgated dangerously and swore at twice! Doing 70 in the “fast lane”. Friend says it’s because that lane is for doing 80 plus!

That isn’t the law though, 70 is the law, and the “fast lane” doesn’t exist. I’m really sick of feeling forced on the other side to trudge along slowly when all I want to do is abide the law!

AIBU?

70mph motorway.70 duel.60 single carriage unless otherwise directed on all roads. standard highway code. if you are overtaken @ 70 ,they are breaking speed limit,there is no fast lane whatsoever.

@honeybuns007

People who are calling it the 'overtaking' lane are technically correct but are failing to acknowledge that traffic is so dire these days that often both lanes are completely full. There is no way people would be able to pull back into the 'slow' lane as that lane is completely full as is the 'fast lane. Just two lanes of constant traffic

Yeah I actually drive six days a week on major roads in and around London ....

...:but keep telling yourself this if it justifies the wrong lane position

Every fucking lane apart from the left hand one is an overtaking lane! Idiots like you and middle lane hoggers, break the Highway Code rules. FFS you and people like you cause more accidents than the equally stupid people flashing you.

Don't stay in the lane for 5 mins that's too long!!!

Whoops also read that as motorway! Still stands though. Use the left to drive in and the right for overtaking only.

@ThePlantsitter

* "Changing lanes is when accidents happen" is the mantra of poor drivers who don't want to make decisions and actually learn road craft hmm* yup, there's the unnecessary anger. As it goes I've been driving 25 years on all types of roads (including the autobahn) and have never had an accident but that's beside the point. Accidents do happen when people change lanes without looking properly -- which I do, but I would rather have to wait behind somebody for a moment than have somebody plough into me because they were panicking about 'road craft' whatever the fuck that is.

@ThePlantsitter

Why do some users on here have to attribute extreme emotions to posts just to discredit them?

Firstly I don't "panic" about road craft. I never said I panicked. I don't worry about driving. So don't characterise me such.

Secondly where is the anger in my post? I said I don't want to go from lane 1, to lane 4, and back to lane 1, just to overtake some fools who sit at 65 in lane 3 because they're terrified of lorries and lane 2 is going even slower.

Why does that automatically make me a white Audi RS3 with the full beam xenons flashing right up your tailgate driver??

Just because I called out poor driving that contravenes the Highway Code?

This site seems riddled with folk that have to say "you're getting emotional", or "you're angry" when they want to discredit someone.

I'm all good.

You overtake and pull back in.

Yeah, I’d never always hog the overtaking lane.

I’m usually in hogging the right hand lane for on average about 5 minutes a time.

Fixed that for you, OP.

@donquixotedelamancha

Yeah, I’d never always hog the overtaking lane.

I’m usually in hogging the right hand lane for on average about 5 minutes a time.

Fixed that for you, OP.

So what about the drivers (and there are many of them) that drive the whole way of their journey for miles and miles down the right hand lane?

So what about the drivers (and there are many of them) that drive the whole way of their journey for miles and miles down the right hand lane?

But that's irrelevant. Both you and the other drivers are doing the wrong thing.

@Notjustanymum

OP, have you been overtaking at the times you have been tailgated? If not, YABU, but if you haven’t pulled in because there is a steady stream of slower traffic on the inside lane, YADNBU. You shouldn’t have to brake if you pull in, so unless there is enough room to pull in and continue with a two-second gap between you and the next car in the inside lane, then you shouldn’t do so. If you are doing 70-75mph and there isn’t enough room to pull in without braking, you’re doing nothing wrong.

I’ve been tailgated when there’s absolutely no way to get over to the left- small gap between lorries for example or a build up to the left (or queuing to get onto slip roads which happens around here) I’m guessing the person behind becoming infuriated it’s taking so long?

As a side note, I do think it’s a shame that they don’t do motorway lessons for learner drivers because people pass their test knowing zilch about a motorway.

@Brigleylake

I’ve been driving back to work recently on an A road with two lanes, usually doing 70-75 max. I don’t want to drive in the “slow lane” and do 50/60 with tractors and lorries etc but I don’t want to be doing 90 either.

For the last week, every single day I’ve been tailgated dangerously and swore at twice! Doing 70 in the “fast lane”. Friend says it’s because that lane is for doing 80 plus!

That isn’t the law though, 70 is the law, and the “fast lane” doesn’t exist. I’m really sick of feeling forced on the other side to trudge along slowly when all I want to do is abide the law!

AIBU?

Wow.

Lanes don't have designated speeds. The "fast lane", as you call it, is for overtaking. You don't drive in it unless you are overtaking someone. You must alway be in the leftmost lane possible. How did you pass your driving test?!

@spanieleyes

Heaven, please don't ever drive in France. There you drive in the inside lane, pull out to overtake and pull straight back in. If you don't and stay in the outside lane 5 seconds longer than necessary, you will have lights flashing and horns blaring!

So true! Belgium is even worse, the flashing starts after about 3 seconds

Lane hoggers

Just move over

Think yourself lucky you don't live in th country I do. Using mirrors before pulling out is apparently optional here! Dashcams all the way!

As a side note, I do think it’s a shame that they don’t do motorway lessons for learner drivers because people pass their test knowing zilch about a motorway
Dual carriageways follow the same drive left principle as motorways.

It's fairly simple: drive as far left as you can and don't hog middle or outside lanes.

As with many things in life, if something is happening to you repeatedly then it's time to consider your own actions. In this case you seem to be getting regular hassle from other road users as you hog the outside lane for 5mins at a time, which I'm guessing from your posts you probably spend a lot of time cruising in the outside labe because you don't want to be in the slow lane.

So what about the drivers (and there are many of them) that drive the whole way of their journey for miles and miles down the right hand lane?

I'm not sure what your point is. Just because someone else is doing it doesn't mean you should. Or are you assuming that the people overtaking you don't move in?

If you are routinely getting flashed, tailgated and sworn at and you've had an overwhelming response that YABU then clearly something is the matter.

Just use the right lane for overtaking and move in when you can.

As a side note, I do think it’s a shame that they don’t do motorway lessons for learner drivers because people pass their test knowing zilch about a motorway.

No, duel carriageway works similar, plus to practice for the the theory test, there is an entire section that you learn on about how to drive on a motorway.

This kind of comment causes utter mayhem on my local fb Road group. Yes, they exist.

I drive on a single lane, v busy road. Lorries etc. Roads are v narrow and you can't overtake or move over. It's bergen 50 and 60mph.

Sometimes, at 730am, a cyclist will go to work on this road.
Tailbacks can stretch for miles, as no one can overtake.

I’ve been tailgated when there’s absolutely no way to get over to the left- small gap between lorries for example or a build up to the left (or queuing to get onto slip roads which happens around here) I’m guessing the person behind becoming infuriated it’s taking so long?

If you can see you can't overtake because there's no space on front of the car your overtaking then why attempt to overtake in the first place?

*you're

As a side note, I do think it’s a shame that they don’t do motorway lessons for learner drivers because people pass their test knowing zilch about a motorway.

I'm in Scotland so may be different in other places but a couple of years ago they changed it here so that learners can drive on the motorway with a driving instructor. It's not in the actual exam but it is now allowed in lessons.

I’ve been tailgated when there’s absolutely no way to get over to the left- small gap between lorries for example or a build up to the left (or queuing to get onto slip roads which happens around here) I’m guessing the person behind becoming infuriated it’s taking so long?

If there's no room to move back over, you shouldn't be overtaking in the first place!

@sunflowersandbuttercups

I’ve been tailgated when there’s absolutely no way to get over to the left- small gap between lorries for example or a build up to the left (or queuing to get onto slip roads which happens around here) I’m guessing the person behind becoming infuriated it’s taking so long?

If there's no room to move back over, you shouldn't be overtaking in the first place!

By that logic nobody else should be overtaking either, so surely you'd end up with all the traffic in the inside lane, no traffic at all in the outside lane, and journeys taking much longer than needed. It would be pointless it being a dual carriageway.

137
On a two-lane dual carriageway you should stay in the left-hand lane. Use the right-hand lane for overtaking or turning right. After overtaking, move back to the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so.
138
On a three-lane dual carriageway, you may use the middle lane or the right-hand lane to overtake but return to the middle and then the left-hand lane when it is safe.

This is what the Highway code says about overtaking on dual carriageways and motorways. There's nothing about only overtaking if you can see there is room to move back into the left hand lane. You move over when it's safe to do so, which could be once you've overtaken one car, or once you've overtaken lots of cars and lorries which had no space for you to move into.