To ask WHY do so many people hog the middle lane of the motorway?

[Ginuwine]

I realise with a global pandemic etc this is small fry, but I couldn't believe my journey to and from Dorset this weekend. I drive an awful lot for work, but Saturday was an outlier in how many mouthbreathers were on the roads.

Sitting just below 70 mph in the middle lane, junction after junction. Never ever moving back over despite a huge clear inside lane.

Why does this bother me?

Well, when a car is racing up the slip road, the Highway Code says I don't have to give way. They have to match traffic speed and then merge when safe.

However sometimes it would be nice to change lanes to allow them to. Except I can't...because the busiest lane in this three lane motorway is the middle one. Full of people dawdling - not speeding up, not going past, just sitting there in their own world, oblivious.

Worse, I then move across into lane 3, go round, then come back into lane 1.. by which time they've sped up to my position. If I want to go around the lorry in front of me - nope! Rolling roadblock in the way - have to move to Lane 3 just to do it again. And so on..

The funniest are the ones who merge from the motorway and cut up everyone just to get into their favoured lane IMMEDIATELY. Then sit there without question, blocking legitimate overtakes, for eight or nine junctions.

Why?? Why do people do this?

I have three theories:

• People think the left lane is for "lorries" and want a superior position on the road. The "fast lane" (ugh) is for the Porsches and Range Rovers. So middle it is.

• People won't tell you their real reason is laziness. They just say "it doesn't matter anyway - I'm doing the speed limit - people can just go round me. Anyway, tailgating is worse go and shout at them"

• like reversing, some people hate the driving discipline of changing lanes. They want to limit it as much as possible and believe the act of changing lanes causes accidents.

So tell me please - why do so many people hog the middle lane when the Highway Code and all driving instruction tells us to keep left? The congestion caused by middle lane hogging is so frustrating.

@saraclara

In answer to the question in the OP, I stay in the middle lane a lot of the time because sandwiched between two lorries doing 56 is a vulnerable place to be.

The stretch of the M1 that I have to travel on several times a week is full of lorries. I stay out off their way as much as I can.
I do, however, travel at a sensible speed for the lane, and when the inside lane is surprisingly less 'nose to tail' with trucks, I use it.

Can I ask what makes you feel you have to be sandwiched in between lorries if you're in the left hand lane?

Yes there are times when there are lots of HGVs, but rarely nose to tail. I often overtake four, five or six in a row, meaning I spend a few mins in the middle lane - sure. But then a space opens up (usually huge because of the middle lane phenomenon) and I can move back over. No lorry sandwich.

I've heard the "sandwich" reason used a lot on this thread and others and I'm just trying to understand it.

Is it a "lorry might join behind me while ones in front of me, and then it's a problem" thing?

I suspect that it depends on the motorway. I live near one of the busiest stretches of the M1. It's pretty much is nose to tail lorries on weekdays. When I join the motorway, I am virtually always between two lorries, so I quickly get myself out of that situation as soon as I can.
There is little incentive to get back into the nearside lane when it would put me back in that position again. If I do find a quiet stretch I'll move back, but very quickly find myself behind another.

It will depend on my mood, sometimes I'm in 'active' driving mode so choose to make the driving interesting, for want of a better word. But other times I just want to chill a bit more. But I'm pretty much always travelling at just under 80 if I'm in that mode in the middle lane.

This morning I drove down a narrow road with cars parked on both sides (my right of way as the road was clear) and another (huge) car drove up in the opposite direction when I was already halfway down. He wanted me to reverse (about 10 metres behind) rather than wait for me to get to the most obvious passing point (about 8 metres further on) and when I didn’t, he tried to drive round me whilst shouting and gesticulating at me, and scraped his car against something on the far side.

We both wound our windows down I said “I had right of way as I’d already driven halfway down before you arrived” and he got out of his car and screamed back - literally screamed - at me “fuck off you silly bitch”.

I don’t think people have the slightest clue about the Highway Code - they just think they’re entitled to be wherever they want to be.

Sorry to hijack the thread but a bit shaken!! This literally just happened.

You also get the same on the M5 near Exeter at the A30/A38 junction where people go in the middle if they want the A38. And then again when the A38 splits into the A380 and the A38.

This is THE worst when you’re trying to build momentum to get up the relatively steep hill but there’s 6 (understandably) slow moving lorries in the left lane and someone going 50mph in the middle lane. I’m considering going no contact with my parents so I don’t have to use that part of the M5/A38/A380 anymore.

Only joking of course… 👀

My brother is a middle lane hogger. He says it’s because he’s frightened of being sandwiched between two lorries. I just think it’s because he’s a knob.

@PaleGreenAndBrightOrange

This morning I drove down a narrow road with cars parked on both sides (my right of way as the road was clear) and another (huge) car drove up in the opposite direction when I was already halfway down. He wanted me to reverse (about 10 metres behind) rather than wait for me to get to the most obvious passing point (about 8 metres further on) and when I didn’t, he tried to drive round me whilst shouting and gesticulating at me, and scraped his car against something on the far side.

We both wound our windows down I said “I had right of way as I’d already driven halfway down before you arrived” and he got out of his car and screamed back - literally screamed - at me “fuck off you silly bitch”.

I don’t think people have the slightest clue about the Highway Code - they just think they’re entitled to be wherever they want to be.

Sorry to hijack the thread but a bit shaken!! This literally just happened.

I have to drive through 5 miles of narrow country lanes every day. I always reverse, even if it would be easier for the other person to do so. Its so much quicker than having to wait for the other person to dither about and then usually reverse very badly zig zagging from one side of the lane to the other, then looking furious as they finally make the passing place.

I think the prior that drive in the overtaking lane are the same people that park in cycle lanes.

My personal theory in this is that we were never taught. Learners aren't allowed on the motorway so the first time most of us use it (obviously I know you can do pass plus courses which include motorway driving) is when we have passed.
I personally think motorway driving should be part of driving lessons. They are such dangerous roads they need to be used safely.

@Bryonyshcmyony

I don't believe someone would get caught that many times in 6 months, take the points and not the driver awareness course and still carry on doing it?!

Which Driver Awareness Course would apply, in your esteemed opinion?

The one that the government website says would be offered in lieu of points.

@kimfox

Totally agree op. If you drive in Europe (I'm thinking of France / Switzerland) you will notice they always drive to the right and only use other lanes for overtaking. Always indicate properly. It's much better. I can only assume this is part of their driving test & it's certainly the norm. Makes it even more annoying when you get back here and people just sit clogging up the middle lane doing 67mph, because they just can't be bothered!!!. For the love of Jesus Mary Joseph and the wee donkey - why?!?

Yes they're very good at it in France, and surprise surprise the roads flow much more freely! They're so obsessed with it that they'll keep an indicator on if overtaking three or four cars, I guess so no one jumps to the conclusion they're going to stay in the overtaking lane. I LOVE driving in France. Hitting the English side of the channel tunnel is so depressing.

@Bryonyshcmyony

The one that the government website says would be offered in lieu of points.

They don't have to be offered and depend on what offence the officer stipulates, also not available in all areas.

Because they are entitled arseholes.

@SoupDragon

So you answered what you think they are not for - what do you think they are for?

You already know what the Highway Code says they are for, as do I. However, you also think they are for telling people to move over - flashing them behind a car in the middle lane doesn't just mean "I'm here" no matter how you try to spin it. It means "move out of the way". Which is not what they are for despite your insistence that it is.

You are the only one "spinning". Are you saying there are no valid circumstances for using headlamp flash on a motorway? If not, what are the valid reasons?

Motorways aren’t ‘such dangerous roads’ they’re statistically a lot safer than A roads. I learned that on a speed awareness course!

PaleGreen - sorry that happened to you. I’m glad the prick scraped his car though

Yes they're very good at it in France, and surprise surprise the roads flow much more freely! They're so obsessed with it that they'll keep an indicator on if overtaking three or four cars, I guess so no one jumps to the conclusion they're going to stay in the overtaking lane. I LOVE driving in France. Hitting the English side of the channel tunnel is so depressing.

I agree about France but part of it is that their motorways are so much less busy and they much better maintained. Not excusing hoggers but some of it is a symptom of our poor and overcrowded motorways.

@saraclara

I suspect that it depends on the motorway. I live near one of the busiest stretches of the M1. It's pretty much is nose to tail lorries on weekdays. When I join the motorway, I am virtually always between two lorries, so I quickly get myself out of that situation as soon as I can. There is little incentive to get back into the nearside lane when it would put me back in that position again. If I do find a quiet stretch I'll move back, but very quickly find myself behind another.

It will depend on my mood, sometimes I'm in 'active' driving mode so choose to make the driving interesting, for want of a better word. But other times I just want to chill a bit more. But I'm pretty much always travelling at just under 80 if I'm in that mode in the middle lane.

What's "active" driving mode?

I'm always active by default. There's too many people moseying around at serious speeds for me not to be actively looking and checking.

I'm not being pedantic or difficult but the idea of a "passive" driving mode where someone sits in one lane and switches off as to what's around them, terrifies me a bit.

I’ve commuted on the M25 for years, Eastern stretch. Problem is that the inside lane can get congested and if you come up behind a car doing, say, 55mph, and the traffic in the middle lane is going at, say, 65, it’s as rare as hen’s teeth for any of the buggers to let you out to overtake!
As a result, I either resign myself to a 55mph commute, and risk the idiots who want to come from 80+mph in the outside lane to cut me up to get off at their slip-road, or stay in the middle or outside lane as long as I’m exceeding the speed of those to the left of me.
I think a good start to enable people to use the lanes correctly would be the French-style chevrons on each lane: you have to keep 2 of these between you and the car in front, which can allow for easier lane-changes and remove the temptation to hog a lane...

@Notjustanymum

This is a very accurate description of the problem, but it's depressing that the solution is to stay in the middle lane as a kind of "default safety" due to other perceived or potential infractions (person might come flying off lane 3 at their exit) .

I'd love to think that the way forward is for people to actually follow the behavioural guidance that helps traffic flow - namely keep left until overtaking - but it's clear from posts above that this is naïveté at best.

What's really the case is that folk find one thing that bothers or unnerves them ( changing lanes, lorries, speed ) and then find whatever emotional reason to then occupy the lane with the least resistance so to speak.

@saraclara

I suspect that it depends on the motorway. I live near one of the busiest stretches of the M1. It's pretty much is nose to tail lorries on weekdays. When I join the motorway, I am virtually always between two lorries, so I quickly get myself out of that situation as soon as I can. There is little incentive to get back into the nearside lane when it would put me back in that position again. If I do find a quiet stretch I'll move back, but very quickly find myself behind another.

It will depend on my mood, sometimes I'm in 'active' driving mode so choose to make the driving interesting, for want of a better word. But other times I just want to chill a bit more. But I'm pretty much always travelling at just under 80 if I'm in that mode in the middle lane.

The idea that some road users have an 'inactive driving more' is pretty chilling tbh. It also seem to be completely accurate.

@Ginuwine, agree totally, but the “real” problem is that people drive too close to the car in front precisely to prevent others from pulling out (or in), so I can see why nervous drivers might dislike changing lane. I believe that ANPR has enabled some Police forces to start a trial where drivers receive a written warning, then points, if they tailgate on the motorway - if that is adopted, maybe people will be able to change lane without the worry of missing something, on either the near side or off side, that has crept into their blind spot while disregarding the left lane, speeding or tailgating rules...

I stay in the middle lane on the M8 through Glasgow as its always busy, not much scope for overtaking and even on the 30 minute stretch I regularly use you'd be swapping lanes constantly or you'll end up on the wrong road.
I'm up and down there between Erskine/Braehead/Springburn/Paisley several times today and tomorrow so I'll be closely observing whilst attempting to avoid rush hour/Braehead closing/Shift change at QEUH.
The poster up thread who described it as Wacky Races is spot on.
You soon learn to stay put until approaching your exit!

I'm not being pedantic or difficult but the idea of a "passive" driving mode where someone sits in one lane and switches off as to what's around them, terrifies me a bit.

I've not explained myself well

Pre covid I had to undertake very long motorway journeys as an obligation once a fortnight. I used to drive rather too fast (to get it over with) and I used to do a LOT of lane changing. It was intense.

After being pulled up by a family member on my speed and driving style, I changed to more zen frame of mind. That doesn't mean that I'm remotely switching off to what's going on around me. But I realised I didn't have to be a 'busy' driver. I can have the radio on to keep my mind busy rather than having to drive aggressively or constantly lane change across all three lanes to keep myself actively stimulated during a boring drive.

And as I said, I don't 'hog' the middle lane by driving slowly or without consideration for or attention to other drivers. But I do choose to avoid the inside line when it's mostly lorries, and I don't intend to feel guilty about that.

If not hogging the middle lane, he will sit on the inside lane at 60

But 60 should be fine - 70 is the limit.

And if someone wants to get onto the motorway it's up to them to zip. Yes ideally you'd move out to let them on (although in my experience they then "punish" you for your consideration by undertaking you and refusing to let you back into the inside lane) and so sometimes it's easier to stay put.

@Bryonyshcmyony

The one that the government website says would be offered in lieu of points.

If that is the speed awareness courses, in this area that is limited to one every three years at the most, so it wouldn't have been offered for at least two of three driving offences in six months. I have a feeling too that those courses are only applicable when you have been exceeding the speed limit and are caught by a speed camera, so they won't have been offered for poor lane-discipline.

Could you give a link so we can see what you are actually talking about?

I stay in the middle lane a lot of the time because sandwiched between two lorries doing 56 is a vulnerable place to be.

But you don't need to stay in the middle lane. You move into the middle lane to overtake the lorries and move back to the left lane once you have done so. Nobody is asking you to 'sandwich' yourself between slow lorries.

Bear in mind that for people joining the motorway who find themselves in that situation, it's hard for them to move out when people are hogging the middle lane. You believe they're in a vulnerable position stuck between two lorries, but you also think it's reasonable for people to clog up the middle lane meaning they can't get out. So can you see how sauntering along in the middle lane is inconsiderate to other road users?