Is it you driving in the middle lane of the motorway or outside lane on a dual carriage way?

[muchalover]

Nobody is a perfect driver, including me.

But, why do people drive in the middle lane when they could easily pull in and stop the chaos they are causing behind them? Or pull in instead of driving in the outside lane of a dual carriageway when there is a large gap. On the M25 much of seems to be a fancy dual carriageway with 3 empty inside lanes. Why?

It's like advertising you're a crap driver and not willing to pay attention.

Or am I being unreasonable?

Sometimes there's no choice but to undertake. I mean in the situation where you're basically going faster than the others lanes because everyone is crammed into them and the left lane is empty. I've had many occasions joining a motorway and the middle and right lanes are full of people doing 50/60. And the left lane I've just merged onto is totally clear in front of me. Am i supposed to either slow down to under 60 so I'm slower than them or squeeze into a non existent gap to join the rest of the motorway doing 60 behind each other with no way to overtake. I know the rules don't really apply when there's high traffic volumes and your lane happens to be faster. But I see this a lot where the left lane has nobody in it at all and all the other lanes are crammed in and slow.

Much of the M25 is 4 lanes now and these muppets poodle along in lane 3 effecting making it a 2 lane road.

They really are the worst type of drivers.

Just got in from the M25 - and got stuck behind some twat who was driving parallel with a huge truck. Either tuck in behind him or overtake - two lanes going at 50mph. Next lane over to the right going at 70/75 and busy so I couldn't move out as I was going too slow. Finally managed to pass the guy who was in his own little world utterly oblivious of what was around him. Not checking his mirrors, nothing.

And the inner lane is never so busy that people can't join it - it doesn't need to be left empty!

It depends on the lane set up.

Smart motorway death lane? I stay out of it. The signs are frequently inaccurate or not working. Risk ploughing into a broken down vehicle? You'd be the idiot.

Know that a lane is soon to become an off slip? Move over in good time. See also drivers who stay in the outside lane then cut in across 2/3 lanes to exit the motorway.

Remember that many drivers use routes regulated and can therefore anticipate and position themselves accordingly. And that includes anticipating how drivers unfamiliar with the road layout are going to react.

Etc

The wallies are those that get in lane 2 and are OBLIVIOUS to what is going on around them.

You can undertake you’ll cause an accident or get points. Many don’t even know they are doing it ~because they are dumb irresponsible bastards~

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/undertaking/

Agree that undertaking is always a no-no.

Is there not a 10% leeway so I'm not breaking it?

Please tell us you’re joking?

There is a belief that there is a 10% leeway in terms of prosecution or fines because of calibration of speedometers and cameras… However, going above the speed limit is going above the speed limit, even if you’re within 10%. It’s really quite worrying you don’t know that.

The M25 is annoying anyway but due to the amount of HGV I do find it hard to drive in the inside lane without having to weave in and out constantly - if you can even get in the middle lane! But I always move to the left when I can and sometimes (even on the M25) that lane is moving faster than cars in the middle?!
I was on the M6 toll road recently and almost everyone was in the left lane as it wasn’t too busy - but there were still a few cars that wouldn’t move from the middle even though they could

@BeeEyeEnGeeOh Maybe have a look in the highway code. It also explains correct lane use.

Some police forces may choose not to prosecute unless you're going more than 10% but there's no law which says you can drive 10% over the speed limit. There's a stretch of M4 that's smart motorway and the cameras on it defintely aren't giving 10% leeway.

I genuinely recommend some refresher lessons for you, you shouldn’t be scared to move lanes, or come out with this 10% leeway stuff. All cars are built differently, your speedometer may not even be accurate, you’re probably doing 60. If you are still afraid after motorway lessons, consider that motorway driving probably isn’t for you.

No. While it's true that most cameras (and police) will ignore someone doing 32 in a 30 or 75 in a 70 its still over the limit and you could still get done for speeding. The speed limit is the speed limit.

There is always an alternative to undertaking. Slow down.

Surely if it's too risky to change lanes you never leave the inside lane?

You're already speeding and breaking the highway code...

The M25 is the worst for this and my god, why does no indicate any more? It’s unbelievably dangerous and I’m perpetually amazed there isn’t a safety campaign about it.

YANBU.
The M25 is the worst for this too!
And when you look 3 across, it's nearly always male drivers.
Having driven extensively in France over the summer, I can safely say that although aggressive, the French know how to drive on a motorway.

I drive home from Gatwick to Essex at 3am but long ago. There were a handful of cars on the road and yet still a few idiots poodling along in the middle lane doing no more than 60.

I was doing 75 in the inside lane most of the way without needing up move out more than a few times as it was that quiet.

I stand corrected on the limit then! Will reduce accordingly.
I didn't say I was scared to change lanes. It's a fact that that's when accidents are more likely so better if everyone's not moving across every couple of minutes?

I still don't see what's wrong with it if I'm going at the speed limit. Pretty sure my speedometer is not that inaccurate going by what it says when I drive past those signs that light up with your speed.

But that will just cause more issues. As I said before, if you join a motorway in the left lane and the other 2/3 lanes are all doing 50 and very busy it isn't wise to slow down to 45 just to go slower than them when your lane is empty. That will cause more traffic issues. Maybe it is what you should do but I think it's ridiculous to slow down to 45 in an empty lane because all the other drivers are driving in the middle and right lanes unnecessarily.

If I am driving along at 70 mph on the inside lane of a motorway and come across someone doing less than that in the middle lane, then you are making things difficult.

Don't you realise the inside lane is looking empty and that's where you should really be?

I see it loads. Are people just afraid of the inside lane?

If you look at the lane markings they change as s you approach junction to long dash short gap. Which means you should only cross the line if essential and safe to do so.

Or people learn to drive in the correct lane negating the need for others slowing down or undertaking.

Yes! It's me!!!

So speeding is fine but changing lanes is risky?
its completely safe to change lanes if you are a competent driver and you can drive in the left lane and move over when needed - except everyone else can’t move over because you’re hogging the middle lane