To think people should move to the left lane when not overtaking on the motorway?

[AnotherMalbecPlease]

I’ve been doing a lot of motorway driving recently and have noticed that so many drivers to not move over when they can. On a 4 lane stretch of the M25 today, there was a driver doing 50 in the third lane - massive gap in the second lane - it caused chaos - why not just move over?

My thoughts exactly,

I agree. I'd also make all lorries stay in the inside lane because they cause chaos driving parallel to each other.

Why not just move over

Because they're crap drivers and don't understand how motorways work.

I don't drive but could you not all leave them to it crawling along in their lane and use the two inside ones? Sounds annoying.

Do people not read and abide by the Highway Code? *

Rule 264
Keep in the left lane unless overtaking.

If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so (see also Rules 267 and 268).

• That was a rhetorical question. Or patterned on the Latin question expecting the answer "no".

Because that's undertaking...

This is my hatred of motorway driving

So much congestion caused by middle lane hoggers

Given that there's so many statistically there must be some people on MN that do this and feel it's ok

Drives me mad. I use the M4 a lot on a reasonably quiet stretch and I'm always having to zig zag across into the outside lane to go round some moron messing up the system by relentlessly driving at 60 in the middle lane. I don't know how they don't notice!

I undertake a lot now, it's ridiculous

It's not undertaking if you're already in the inside lane. Undertaking would be sitting behind the car, moving left, passing them, then moving back right.

Undertaking is also not illegal, although it can constitute dangerous driving.

Drivers who don't move over are a hazard, and I'm glad the police are clamping down on it. If you're not moving back in after overtaking, it suggests you either don't know (or care) how motorways work, you're not paying attention and driving passively or being lazy, or you lack confidence. Regardless, it makes you dangerous.

As some one who drives on the motorway as part of there job, lorry's and wagons that pullout from the inside lane with little to no warning forcing cars to make emergency lane changes is a bigger issue I see it every day. May be some people try avoid that.

My husband wants to install cameras on every motorway bridge and parapet to combat this. He’s going to low level fine everyone who lane hogs. He also tells me this same plan every flippin time we encounter a lane hogger. Every. Time. In fairness, it does seem more noticeable that a small minority of people just have no self awareness about this.

Actually ignore me on that first part (I've had a long day...) it is technically undertaking, but it's more dangerous to stop making progress in your lane because there's a slower moving vehicle to your right. It's not dangerous driving to keep making progress in your lane in that scenario.

I call it the “elephant parade” of lorries … with 2 lanes being used by lorries, as one is going 2mph faster than the other.

Not forgetting the other lorry drivers trick of driving so close to each other in the slow lane, that you can’t move over to exit

… and pulling into your lane, regardless of where you are

This 100% ☝

@Lockheart I didn't realise it wasn't illegal, I obviously knew it was frowned upon but that's it. Interesting!

There's a 4 lane bit of the M62 between the M60 and the M6 that seems to be a magnet for oblivious idiots. Pretty much every time I'm driving on it I tootle along at 70 in the inside lane, the 2nd lane is practically empty, and the 3rd lane is full of drivers doing 50. I have no idea what is going through their heads.

Is it undertaking if you don't move into the lane they are in? So like just ignore that whole lane?

Arghh this is one of my many pet peeves! I absolutely hate this and end up crossing 3 lanes to overtake some bumblingly oblivious fool 🤬 I give them a hard stare too usually.

We've noticed middle lane hogging is getting worse. I put it down to the advent of smart motorways - there's only those short pull in areas to 'escape' to now on some of the busiest motorways so people feel safer in the middle lane and not so hemmed in.

It's annoying if the inside lane is actually clear but far less dangerous than other shit people pull on motorways

I just undertake.

It can be illegal in that it can be classed as dangerous driving, but there are many scenarios where it is necessary so there's no blanket law.

For example, I love near an a-road where there are right turns across the oncoming lane. Cars have to slow down to turn and sometimes there is a small queue in the outside lane. You couldn't make it illegal for traffic in the the inside lane not to pass because then the whole road would be blocked. Similarly in slow moving or busy traffic the flow may mean the inside lane moves faster than the middle or outside lane.

That is undertaking still. According to the Highway Code you should not pass on the left, unless it’s slow moving traffic, even if you’re already in the left hand lane:
“Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake.”

That said, with drivers going at 50mph in the middle lane, I will definitely pass them wherever I feel is safe.

*live. I am not having a good day!