To think it's ok to want to travel at 70mph on the motorway...

[JacquesHarlow]

...or am I now completely unreasonable, and the Highway Code is irrelevant?

Hear me out if you will:

I have done a LOT of driving in the past two weeks. M1, A1, A23, M25, M40, M6, you name it.

I am middle aged, F, live in Surrey, for what any of that is worth. I am also it seems one of the stranger folk...in that when I join a motorway, I drive at 70mph on the dot. I also stay in the left lane until overtaking.

AIBU for doing this?

It seems so, judging by the habits of hundreds of road users I encountered, who come onto the motorway and automatically slide into lane 3 of 4, or lane 2 of 3. And sit there for absolutely ages, at around 60 mph.

I kid you not, 60mph.

It's maddening. I am driving at 70mph, in lane 1. It is clear in front of me.

Next to me is someone doing 60 mph. I know this because I am coming up on them quickly. I cannot however undertake them - this is against the Highway Code.

So I indicate, check it's clear, move out to lane 2 behind them. I then look to move to lane 3 to overtake.

Only I can't move over to lane 3, because there is someone doing 60 (or maybe less), right alongside them. Not overtaking, just cruising next to them in their own little lane.

So I indicate again, move out to lane 4. Where of course it takes me 30 seconds or so to overtake, at which point someone is barrelling down on me wanting to do 80mph in their private fast lane. (I'm fine with this, I assert my right to overtake legally etc).

So that's three lane changes to overtake two cars who due to their speed (and the highway code's rules) should be sitting in lane 1.

Why do people do this?

I notice that when I've brought this up years ago on here, or when I've spoken to folk in real life, people often say

"It's more dangerous to do all that 'weaving about' than stay in a lane"
"I'm not going to get trapped in a lorry sandwich"
"People join constantly on motorways and I don't want to have to move over"

OK, great.

So you're going to make me change three lanes, just because you want your own little personal bubble on the motorway, and are happy to be a rolling roadblock?

I think middle lane hoggers are not only selfish, but actually dangerous.

But AIBU?

So, breaking UK law, not paying attention, possibly an over inflated I know best approach. Think about it. If you are on UK roads, and kill someone because you are speeding, or being inattentive (not watching speedo), could you honestly live with yourself, or face the loved ones of someone you have killed. Would your OH miss you, if you have children, would they miss you, if you killed yourself? That’s the bottom line for breaking the law.

All my recent motorway journies have been at 50mph due to roadworks and average speed cameras, so I'm surprised you expect to achieve 70mph!

In the UK, it is generally illegal to undertake vehicles on the left on motorways and other roads. However, there are some exceptions where it is permitted:

If traffic is moving slowly in all lanes, and the lane to your right is moving slower than your lane, you are allowed to continue moving in your lane, even if it means passing vehicles on your right.

If you are in a lane that is designated for exiting the motorway, and the traffic in the lane to your right is slower, you can pass on the left as you move towards the exit.

Despite these exceptions, it is generally advised to avoid undertaking whenever possible, as it can be dangerous and may confuse other drivers. If caught undertaking inappropriately, you could be charged with careless or dangerous driving, which can lead to fines, penalty points on your driving licence, or even a driving ban.

I've joined motorways before where the left hand lane is virtually empty and then there are cars tootling along at 60 in lane 2 or 3.

People going slowly (for no reason) in the middle lanes, or going at normal motorway speed in driving rain where you can barely see, are my least favourite drivers.

When I mentioned the "no adjustment for wet weather" drivers on another thread I was told that some people are more confident or experienced and you get used to it!

I passed my test a few years ago and as part of the lessons you get taken onto the motorway. It can only be done in a proper dual control car.

Oh dear.

You're right he's wrong

THANK YOU and yes I thought the same 'I don't think the police with their tight budgets employ tea makers anymore' 😄

Saw the same so much over the summer. People sitting at 60 in the middle and some horrible high speed undertaking from the outer lane.

This rule is saying what the traffic cop actually said!!!!

It is worrying that people cant see this and they are driving on the road believing they are right when clearly they are not!

I find most people fly past me when I’m doing 70!

Why the rolling eyes, Martha? I do a huge amount of motorway driving, lots of it on quieter motorways, and I will happily sit at 70 and weave in and out of traffic as required. I don't a refusal to put myself at risk is unreasonable.

I’m genuinely surprised you can get to 70mph on the M25. The NW quadrant crawls along at 50 ish most hours of the working day.

Going on the m25 does my head in thanks to all the middle lane hoggers. Whilst it's now illegal it's not been enough to stop it! How often do people actually get done for it? I'm guessing rarely judging by the amount of people still doing it. I regularly just go past on the inside lane now. Some people get the hint and move over, most just carry on oblivious.

The reason so many sit in the middle lane (although I see very few doing 60 there) is because many can’t be bothered to weave in and out of the inner lane to overtake lorries etc.

The last time I used the M1/M25 I'd have been thrilled to get up to 60mph for more than ten minutes. Of all UK roads I find the M11 most populated with silly driving.

It is so much better in France although on the whole there are fewer cars and better roads.

Was on the motorway over the weekend. The inside lane clear for at least a mile with the 57-60mph crew clogging up the next lane. Maddening.

You should shoulder check in both directions. Absolutely no one should move left without checking their side mirror and over their shoulder.

Calling 70mph "bombing" drips with self-righteous disapproval and suggests that you might be one of the people hogging lane 2 at 60.

If so, learn from this thread that you are 100% in the wrong and you should change your attitude.

Going on the m25 does my head in thanks to all the middle lane hoggers. Whilst it's now illegal it's not been enough to stop it! How often do people actually get done for it? I'm guessing rarely judging by the amount of people still doing it. I regularly just go past on the inside lane now. Some people get the hint and move over, most just carry on oblivious.

I always thought the M25 was the exception as every lane is normally chockablock so there isn’t space for much movement.

I see as many people in the fast lane as I do the middle 🤷🏻‍♀️

Just wanted to back up what others are saying about undertaking. It's absolutely fine so long as you not changed speed or direction to do it. Overtaking on an inside lane Is not legal, but that is where speed and direction is changed to carry out. I bloody love undertaking and will often give a wave or a smile at the idiots on my outside. Oh, and I drive professionally for a living.

You can undertake them if you are doing the legal limit. My father is a police officer and this is what he has told me, you are driving legally.

Same. The amount of people who come up behind me when I'm doing 70 and actively overtaking a lorry and think it is acceptable to tailgate and flash at me is far greater than the number of drivers I've encountered doing 60 in the middle lane. Yes I see a few but nowhere near as many as the former scenario. And I drive on the motorway at least three times per week.

Speed is determined around road conditions. Road design isn’t identical between countries (age of road, local safety standards), so what is safe on one country’s motorway isn’t necessarily safe in another.