To wonder wtf has happened to the standard of driving

[Sidking]

I do a fair bit of motorway/duel carriageway driving, drove 200 miles last night (A14, M6 & M54) and the standard of driving on the motorways is shocking and seems to be getting worse, or is it just me?

Apparently lane 1 just doesn't exist, and last night lane 2 didn't seem to be an option for most either. I done almost the entire M6 stretch in these 2 lanes without coming across any traffic, it was all in lanes 3 & 4! (I wasn't undertaking, just staying in my lane at a consistent speed, which is perfectly legal)

The time I was in lane 4 when it got a little busier, I had no choice but to actually undertake someone who just sat in front of me at 68mph, lane 3 next to them and lane 4 in front of them both completely clear. Tried to give them a little flash and nothing, all the traffic behind me also had to overtake them.

I want to get an LED text display for my back window that I can programme to say 'keep left you absolute pleb!'

No one seems to know how to use roundabouts either!

The time I was in lane 4 when it got a little busier, I had no choice but to actually undertake someone who just sat in front of me at 68mph

You did have a choice.

But generally, you're right. Motorway driving standards, in particular, are horrific. They made lane hogging an offence but it's never enforced which infuriates me.

If you're not confident on the motorway, stick in lane 1!

Sitting in the middle lane(s) on the motorway says to me that a driver either doesn't know how motorways work, is a lazy / passive driver, is inattentive, or lacks confidence.

But whatever the reason, it says to me that they shouldn't be on the motorway.

They should put so many lessons on the motorway as a condition to pass. I do think that more people think that rules don't apply to them, across all parts of life. Also there's more aggressive driving going on.

My theory: modern cars are more insulating to the driver and this adds to a sense of subconscious 'removal' from the immediacy of the road and road conditions.

The combination of cars being much bigger than they used to be, stuffed full of crash protection and automated driver aids like lane assist and cruise control, means people feel less 'connected' to traffic conditions and other drivers.

I don't, by any stretch, think this is the entire picture but it's a factor.

Well yes technically I could have just sat there, but if I had just sat there everyone behind me would have just gone round anyway. I didnt go straight around them either, I moved over, sat behind for maybe a minute then started upping my cruise. Not sure if that's still undertaking or just making progress in my lane or not but it make more sense than all sitting in lane 4 with lane 3 completely clear 😂

I agree - however - in defence of some Lane hoggers - I’ve found that Lane 1 is often in much worse condition. Weight of HGVs, and poor infrastructure repair have left Lane 1 more bumpy and full of potholes in my experience, so maybe some people have a very small excuse