To flash at middle lane huggers?

[WhatMummyMakesSheEats]

it really angers me how many people don’t know how to drive on the motorway. Especially the M25.

Why are there so many people who just sit in the middle lane and don’t move over? I don’t want to undertake people. So if I’m being made to slow down by a middle lane hogger I’ll flash at them to move over. More often than not they will move to the outside lane, so they obviously know where they should be?!

I do want to add that I also hate people who weave and undertake but I think they are just aggressive drivers and also if no one hogged the middle lane they wouldn’t be able to!

I've had it on the M20, M25, M40 and M4 at various times of day. It does happen.

Has anyone mentioned smart motorways because I’m extremely unhappy in the inside lane where someone may have broken down but the electronic signalling isn’t working properly.

I'm the same, I won't use the inside lane if there's no hard shoulder. I work for the ambulance service and there's so many accidents on smart motorways in that lane it's just unreal. Second to that if you break down on a smart motorway the expectation you should have is that someone, likely driving a hgv, will drive into the back of your car. So get clear even if it's pitch black pouring with rain.

Essentially think on a smart motorway the inside lane should still be considered a hard shoulder, the only perk being that it adds capacity if it's slow moving/crawling traffic and safe to drive in.

I am yes but they are overwhelmingly in lane 1.

See also the A13, A2, M2 and M3.

Specifically the A13 where I used to drive regularly between 8-10 at night. I used to watch people join an otherwise empty dual carriage way and immediately pull into the right hand lane. Not so bad when they're speeding as they go off into the distance and don't bother me.

The ones that pull into that lane and then don't achieve 70mph meaning that I either, have to slow down from 70 and not overtake (2 lanes), follow on behind hoping that they'll pull in or, undertake. This is on an otherwise empty section of a major A road.

Just pull the fuck in and drive in the left hand lane unless overtaking.

I know, I only get the motorways where lanes 1 and 2 are completely full of lorries and vans, so cars drive in lanes 3 and 4 and ALL of the lanes are completely full (and driving at the speed limit). I’d love to see these empty motorways some time. <wistful>

Everyone? Or just the aggro self important ones

Anyone who knows how to drive hates middle lane hoggers.

I’ve never flashed another driver in my life (except to say thanks/let out etc). Or driven aggressively. I still think middle lane hoggers are shit drivers. And everyone I know thinks the same.

Presumably 2-lane dual carriageways? That’s probably less annoying than coming up behind 2 lorries “elephant racing” though, doesn’t that drive you crazy?

Make sure to flash those in left lane as well, doing 45mph on motorway 🫣🫠

Yes. Especially on an upwards slope 😑 but that said, I keep my distance and I don’t tailgate and flash them.

No. Everyone.

I don’t do it but I understand why people do. The slow lane is too lane and the fast lane is too fast.

I know right!! I can’t BELIEVE how slow this slow lane was! I made sure I immediately got out of it and went straight to lane 3 to join everyone else! That’s where the party is at!

Just a word of warning, if you get caught flashing your lights aggressively it’s a £1000 fine as it’s seen as Careless Driving. My Dad once did it in a lorry (he was actually warning of an accident he could see ahead) and also got 6 points on his licence.

But if there are vehicles in the left hand lane going slower than you then it’s fine to drive in the middle lane- that’s not hogging. It’s just when the left lane clears you move back over.

Only if you are overtaking them. Not just if you can see them up ahead, however slow they’re going. You sit behind them until you’re actually approaching them, you then pull out and overtake them then pull back in. It’s not about speed at all.

Of course- but that poster said ‘the slow lane is too slow’ which suggested that there was traffic in the left lane. It’s not too slow if it’s clear enough to pull back in. The issue lots of people have when in the left lane is that they wait until they’re up the arse of the car/ lorry in front before they look in their mirrors to move out and overtake. If you actually have some awareness you do the manoeuvre before you need to adjust your speed.

I do but some might be worried about getting caught between two lorries etc and not being able to move out again.

Interesting! I just looked into it and the main one to get that fine is if you are warning people of a speed trap, but yeah if you’re being aggressive technically you could get fined. It also seems to suggest the same if you flash to let someone go ahead of you or say thank you… which is crazy because so many people do that.

the only time you are allowed is to let someone know of your presence. Which, technically, in my scenario I could claim I’m letting someone know I’m behind them as they’ve clearly forgotten to move over. Obviously that is not exactly what I meant though and I have noted your point as that’s a hefty fine 😅 I wonder how they prove why you were flashing when fining someone. A PP said that they were flashed at in the middle lane and it turned out to be the police!

In what world is it “self important” to drive correctly in accordance with the Highway Code. What a weird take.

It’s also “entitled” according to the same poster, utterly bizarre