Middle lane hoggers to be nicked!

[walpurgis]

The government (such as it is), has indicated that amongst other motoring enforcement plans, middle lane hoggers are to be prosecuted.

All well and good, but unless video evidence is used, how do you enforce this. Just the word of a police officer should not be enough. Many accused people could argue, quite justifiably, that they were passing slower traffic at a moderate pace, causing them to spend much time in the middle lane.

Furthermore, if the police start applying this law at every opportunity, it will result in every vehicle being in the nearside lane and quicker drivers constantly playing ' leapfrog' to overtake slower traffic, leading to some dangerous situations. We all know how often drivers swing out to pass somebody without considering what is to their right.

[Tarzan]

The government (such as it is), has indicated that amongst other motoring enforcement plans, that middle lane hoggers are to be prosecuted.

All well and good, but unless video evidence is used, how do you enforce this. Just the word of a police officer should not be enough. Many accused people could argue, quite justifiably, that they were passing slower traffic at a moderate pace causing them to spend much time in the middle lane.

Furthermore, if the police start applying this law at every opportunity, it will result in every vehicle being in the nearside lane and quicker drivers constantly playing ' leapfrog' to overtake slower traffic, leading to some dangerous situations. We all know how often drivers swing out to pass somebody without considering what is to their right.

Motorists are being nicked for going too fast and now are going to be nicked for driving too slow, l cannot keep up.........

[SquireC]

It can be a problem, but people will be hedgehopping all the time - for me a dangerous tactic with the volume of traffic - or staying in the fast lane all the time. I think its completely unenforceable - just the usual Tories saying what they think people want to hear without any thought to how to practically do it.

[Tim]

but unless video evidence is used, how do you enforce this. Just the word of a police officer should not be enough.
All traffic patrol cars have had video cameras in for quite a few years now ;)

[prestonchipfryer]

How can this be enforced? How long are we allowed for overtaking? Is it 10 seconds, 20 seconds? What if you overtake a slower moving vehicle only to find there are more slower moving vehicles than you could not see when you overtook the original vehicle? Who thinks these things up? Load of bollocks IMO.

John

[The Grand Wazoo]

It's not about people who are overtaking. That's the whole point. It's about people sitting in the middle lane who are not overtaking. I can't be the only one who has been on a road having to cope with a half asleep tosser who's pottering along down the middle, causing me to move across two entire lanes and then back again.

[walpurgis]

You get dozy planks like that in the fast lane too. I usually come across a few on my regular A30/A303 drive down to Cornwall.

[Rothchild]

IMO it would be simpler to validate what I treat as a real rule anyway and accept 'undertaking' on motorways. I can't be arsed with all this pulling across three lanes and back to get past someone, if they're clearly just being a 'dozy plank' then I have no issue going past them on the inside, I believe their lane discipline is worse than mine for causing the situation and seeing as they weren't going anywhere anyway what does it matter which side I pass them on?

[synsei]

I'm glad to see this is being tackled at last. I used to do a lot of night driving and the number of tossers I'd see hammering along in the middle lane on an empty motorway at insane speeds and in all weather conditions staggered me. Or, I'd be pottering along on the inside lane doing the speed limit and come across some drongo doing fifty in the middle lane when there is nothing else in sight in any lane. I always make a point to 'undertake' them for effect (as long as it is safe to do so). Inconsiderate drivers make my blood boil :steam:

[Clive]

IMO it would be simpler to validate what I treat as a real rule anyway and accept 'undertaking' on motorways. I can't be arsed with all this pulling across three lanes and back to get past someone, if they're clearly just being a 'dozy plank' then I have no issue going past them on the inside, I believe their lane discipline is worse than mine for causing the situation and seeing as they weren't going anywhere anyway what does it matter which side I pass them on?
Two wrongs don't make a right. Undertaking where it's illegal is incredibly dangerous. The middle lane hogger may simply assume they can pull into the gap on their left, they won't expect someone going faster on their left. Undertaking can result in needing an undertaker.

[Alex_UK]

I move dramatically from lane 1 to 3 and then back to lane 1 again after passing, shaking my head vigorously. I doubt they ever notice but it makes me feel superior. ;)

[walpurgis]

I hate people who undertake, especially at speed. It's dangerous!

[synsei]

I hate people who undertake, especially at speed. It's dangerous!

I guess that's me off your Christmas card list Geoff. So, which manoeuvre is inherently more dangerous, crossing two lanes to the right and back again, or cruising gently past on the inside at 70mph? Remember, we are talking about an empty motorway with just me and the twat in view.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Trouble is, 'the twat in view' is blissfully unaware of anything and probably won't look in his left hand wing mirror or check the left hand blind spot, should he suddenly decide to get into the lane he's supposed to be in.

[Stratmangler]

You get dozy planks like that in the fast lane too. I usually come across a few on my regular A30/A303 drive down to Cornwall.

Which lane is the fast lane?
Lanes 2 and 3 are overtaking lanes by definition.
OK, doesn't often work out like that, but on Britain's roads there are no fast lanes.

[synsei]

Trouble is, 'the twat in view' is blissfully unaware of anything and probably won't look in his left hand wing mirror or check the left hand blind spot, should he suddenly decide to get into the lane he's supposed to be in.

That's a good point Chris. I don't know whether it is still the case today but many years ago I remember reading that the German driving test included a section which assessed an applicants psychological ability to drive. I always thought this was a good idea.

[Marco]

The fact is, you should understand what all the lanes on a motorway are there for and USE THEM appropriately! You shoudn't be hogging ANY of them... Fact: all lanes on a motorway, other than the inside lane, are overtaking lanes!

Therefore, if the inside lane (lane 1) is significantly clear of traffic (I realise that this is rarely the case, especially in the south of the UK), then that should be your default position on any motorway, until it becomes necessary to move into lane 2 (if it is clear of traffic), in order to overtake a slower moving vehicle in front of you. Once you've carried out the manoevre, then it's back into lane 1, again providing that it's not clogged up with trucks and other slow moving vehicles.

Lane 3 (the 'fast lane') should only be used if absolutely necessary (when lane 2 is full), in order to overtake traffic in lane 1 and lane 2 as quickly as possible, before defaulting again into lane 1, via lane 2, where due to traffic comditions, the same process will most likely be repeated later. Lane 3 should strictly ONLY be used for short spells when overtaking traffic in lanes 1 and 2. No-one should be parking their arses there for long spells, just because they feel that they're 'entitled' to be there as they're doing the speed limit (or faster)! :nono:

Similarly, no-one should be hogging lane 2, simply because it 'feels safer' to be there, or because they're too lazy to use lane 1 for spells, when it's clear. The main point I'm making here is that there is only one lane on a motorway it's justified to occupy for prolonged periods of time - and that's lane 1!! Like I said before, the key is to USE ALL THE LANES on a motorway, in the appropriate way, based on traffic conditions (on a busy motorway, you should be moving around constantly, not keeping still), but the problem is that people are too bloody lazy to do so..........! :rolleyes:

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Which lane is the fast lane?
Lanes 2 and 3 are overtaking lanes by definition.
OK, doesn't often work out like that, but on Britain's roads there are no fast lanes.#

Up to your ped antics again Chris? :)

[Stratmangler]

#

Up to your ped antics again Chris? :)

Not really.
Just pointing out the highway code, which is something that every driver needs to pay attention to.
Marco's post is about the same thing.

[Tim]

Reading some of the answers in this thread makes me think some of you guys should either be handing in your driving licences, or maybe going for some tuition :lol:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Reading some of the answers in this thread makes me think some of you guys should either be handing in your driving licences, or maybe going for some tuition :lol:

!!

[synsei]

The fact is, you should understand what all the lanes on a motorway are there for and USE THEM appropriately! You shoudn't be hogging ANY of them... Fact: all lanes on a motorway, other than the inside lane, are overtaking lanes!

Therefore, if the inside lane (lane 1) is significantly clear of traffic (I realise that this is rarely the case, especially in the south of the UK), then that should be your default position on any motorway, until it becomes necessary to move into lane 2 (if it is clear of traffic), in order to overtake a slower moving vehicle in front of you. Once you've carried out the manoevre, then it's back into lane 1, again providing that it's not clogged up with trucks and other slow moving vehicles.

Lane 3 (the 'fast lane') should only be used if absolutely necessary (when lane 2 is full), in order to overtake traffic in lane 1 and lane 2 as quickly as possible, before defaulting again into lane 1, via lane 2, where due to traffic comditions, the same process will most likely be repeated later. Lane 3 should strictly ONLY be used for short spells when overtaking traffic in lanes 1 and 2. No-one should be parking their arses there for long spells, just because they feel that they're 'entitled' to be there as they're doing the speed limit (or faster)! :nono:

Similarly, no-one should be hogging lane 2, simply because it 'feels safer' to be there, or because they're too lazy to use lane 1 for spells, when it's clear. The main point I'm making here is that there is only one lane on a motorway it's justified to occupy for prolonged periods of time - and that's lane 1!! Like I said before, the key is to USE ALL THE LANES on a motorway, in the appropriate way, based on traffic conditions (on a busy motorway, you should be moving around constantly, not keeping still), but the problem is that people are too bloody lazy to do so..........! :rolleyes:

Marco.

:clapclapclap:

[Marco]

Reading some of the answers in this thread makes me think some of you guys should either be handing in your driving licences, or maybe going for some tuition :lol:

Indeed - no wonder the roads these days are full of muppets!! :doh: :D

Marco.

[Marco]

The other thing is, no cars should be driving on a motorway at any less than 50 MPH, and at that speed, there's only ONE lane that they should be occupying: lane 1 (fighting for space with trucks, which is what they deserve, out of the way of everyone else)! ;)

They most certainly should NOT be hogging lane 2!!!! :guns:

That also applies to the '70 MPH crew' ('I'm doing the speed limit, so I'm not shifting out the way for anyone') hogging lane 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :guns: :guns:

Self-appointed traffic police officers are extremely irritating... I'm also shocked at people's general lack of confidence, when driving on motorways. However, I blame the totally inadequate driving test that we have here in the UK, where motorway driving and lane discipline is not practiced and part of the test!

How the fook are you supposed to know how to drive properly on a motorway, once you've passed your test, if you've never done it before?? BONKERS!! :mental:

Furthermore, muppets who don't use acceleration (note the meaning of the word) lanes properly (joining motorways at a slower speed than the oncoming traffic) should be shot on the spot immediately, although unfortunately carrying out that action may cause traffic jams!!

However, most of the time, it's probably because they've never been taught how to do it properly in the first place!

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Have you noticed how many F***ing stupid C***s are zooming down the on slip road and expecting traffic on the main highway to give way? I ask you! Several times I've been forced off lane and potentially into traffic on my right side by jokers doing this. They deserve a serious beating.

(yes, I do have 'road rage' issues, I try to drive considerately, so when somebody takes the piss the red mist comes down)

[Marco]

Yup - the object of the exercise is to MERGE safely with traffic already travelling on the motorway, by matching their speed.

Regarding your point, something that annoys me just as much are the tossers who, when travelling along the inside lane of a motorway, notice that there is someone about to join the motorway from the acceleration lane on the left, and in order to let them in (but ensure that they don't get in front), immediately just pull out into lane 2, regardless of if someone else in lane 2 is approaching them fast from behind, forcing that person to break suddenly (in reality, good drivers can see it coming and prepare for it), instead of simply staying in lane 1, slowing down, and allowing the person joining the motorway to merge safely in front of them, without disturbing anyone else.

The situation is made even worse, when the knock-on effect of the driver's inconsiderate/impatient actions in lane 1 (because he or she doesn't wish to have their progress impeded by allowing new traffic, entering the motorway, to get in front of them), causes the driver in lane 2 to do the same thing (in an effort to avoid sudden braking and/or a potential collision), and thus pulls out on someone on lane 3, belting along at the speed limit (or more), causing them to brake suddenly and avoid a VERY dangerous collision!! :doh:

Yes, always allow people to merge onto and join the motorway, from the acceleration lane, but before moving out from lane one to lane 2, to allow for that to happen, look in your rear view mirror and check what's happening BEHIND you!!

Only pull out from lane 1 to lane 2, when allowing new traffic, entering from the left, to merge with existing traffic, *IF* lane 2 is CLEAR - otherwise, stay put and lower your speed, in order to allow the new traffic, entering from the left, to merge onto the motorway in front of you, safely, whilst not impeding the progress of traffic in lanes 2 or 3! :exactly:

It's simple common sense. However, sadly common sense seems painfully lacking these days...

Marco.

[synsei]

Another pet hate of mine are the idiots who think it is hilarious to change lanes right in front of you without signalling. Watch out for these Looney Toons the next time you are on the motorway (someone must be breeding them somewhere as their numbers are on the increase). I have had several such encounters with these idiots, one of which would definitely have resulted in an accident had the outside lane not been clear :mental:

[Puffin]

I love the ones who accelerate towards slower cars in lane1 as you are overtaking the car in front of them in lane 1 with the intention that they will pull out in front of you before you have been able to get past the car in front of them (hope that makes sense) In these circs I accelerate to stop their antics and hem them in, they then swing out violently behind you, at which point I lift off the gas until they have swung out violently again into lane 3 to carry on their merry way.

[electric beach]

It can be a problem, but people will be hedgehopping all the time - for me a dangerous tactic with the volume of traffic - or staying in the fast lane all the time. I think its completely unenforceable - just the usual Tories saying what they think people want to hear without any thought to how to practically do it.

It's worked perfectly well in Belgium for years. Unmarked patrol cars slither about like sharks and dish out on the spot fines. Your car is held ransom or they'll even escort you to a cash point. Well, they think it works.

[ceejaydee]

.......How the fook are you supposed to know how to drive properly on a motorway, once you've passed your test, if you've never done it before?? BONKERS!! :mental:.......

.........However, most of the time, it's probably because they've never been taught how to do it properly in the first place!........

Marco.

I agree....
Supervised Motorway driving experience should be mandatory after passing the driving test or consideration should be given to changing the test method to a two stage practical test where the initial test qualifies for driving on all roads except Motorways then a second test to confirm aptitude for Motorway and multi-lane carriageway driving.

I paid for several hours of Motorway driving tuition with my driving instructor after passing my test and feel it was worth every penny and some twenty years on I still find it of value every day I am out on the now much busier roads.

[Marco]

Supervised Motorway driving experience should be mandatory after passing the driving test or consideration should be given to changing the test method to a two stage practical test where the initial test qualifies for driving on all roads except Motorways then a second test to confirm aptitude for Motorway and multi-lane carriageway driving.


Spot on, Christopher - not to mention teaching new drivers how to drive properly on snow or ice, and also to have a rudimentary understanding of basic mechanics, including how to perform routine car maintenance. It always shocks me when some drivers don't even know where the lever is in their car to pop open the bonnet, and worse, when some haven't even been underneath there at all - even to top up the windscreen washer fluid reservoir or oil!! :doh:

Some folk just full their car up with fuel, drive it and that's it - and expect it to perform optimally all by itself. Females are the worst culprits... It's a joke.

Marco.

[Marco]

It's worked perfectly well in Belgium for years. Unmarked patrol cars slither about like sharks and dish out on the spot fines. Your car is held ransom or they'll even escort you to a cash point. Well, they think it works.

I'd be all for that, Steve! Thing is, it's not JUST the middle lane hogs that should be getting fined, but also the 'fast lane' hogs, who in my opinion, are 100 times worse!! Those wankers really get my goat :steam:

At least you can overtake someone hogging lane 2, if lane 3 is clear to use, but if there's some stubborn fucker in lane 3, sat there at 70 MPH, thinking that he or she 'owns' that lane, simply because they're doing the speed limit, other than undertaking them, there's fook all you can do to try and get past them, apart from flashing the fuckers and, erm, 'gesturing' to them to move over and let you pass!

Undertaking on a motorway, however, is not something I'd ever do. That's why the 'fast lane' hogs should also be fined - and I'd include truckers in that ruling, who discourteously and often without indicating, suddenly pull out on you from lane 2, onto lane 3, when attempting to overtake another truck on lane 2, doing 3 MPH less than it is (usually up a hill), thus taking some 5 mins to pass the other truck, subsequently holding everyone up and causing a huge tailback on lane 3!!!

Apart from a fine, those twats deserve a right good cock-punching! :punch:

Marco.

[morris_minor]

I love the ones who accelerate towards slower cars in lane1 as you are overtaking the car in front of them in lane 1 with the intention that they will pull out in front of you before you have been able to get past the car in front of them (hope that makes sense) In these circs I accelerate to stop their antics and hem them in, they then swing out violently behind you, at which point I lift off the gas until they have swung out violently again into lane 3 to carry on their merry way.So it's not just me, then. Pheww! :D