I doubt that the legislation is aimed at those who are in the middle lane due to travelling faster than those in the inside lane. What I hope is intended is to cut down on the selfish bastards who are pootling along in the middle lane going no faster than those on the inside (or where there is nobody on the inside - which is even worse), thereby reducing a 3-lane motorway to, effectively, a 1-lane motorway.
You pass your test with no motorway experience whatsoever.
Agree with so many points above - twats in the middle lane completely oblivious. You undertake, or overtake and swing back past to go in the left-hand-lane, they haven't got a clue, think you're a nutter. Cos of the volume of traffic on the roads, they are the cause of slowing motorway driving down. If everyone kept left unless overtaking then delays would ease and things would flow better, no frustration, braking and weaving around.
There used to be a sign at the beginning of the M1 "Keep LEFT unless overtaking" - think it was the only one in the country! Half the public don't even realise the rule. "Oh I'm going too fast for the "slow" lane" etc
In a utopian world that is fine. But in the real world many many people are able to obtain a driving licence who have very low intelligence and will never fully understand what is happening.
And as Seth says, people are just not alert. When wanting to pull out, people should indicate in good time regardless of whether there's a queue going past you or not - as one of them might have some savvy and pull into the next lane to let you out.
A lot of people seem too 'scared' to indicate, just slow down and slow down, waiting for a gap rather than do this, therefore slowing down vehicles behind, sometimes big trucks. As said, drive in Germany etc, there seems to be a hell of a lot more common sense..
Does this happen to anybody else? You're doing 70 in the 'driving lane' and approach a lorry doing 60. So you indicate to go into the middle/overtaking lane, but a car comes up outside/alongside you and stops you from moving out. Surely if you're driving along in the middle lane, and you see an inside lane vehicle indicating, you could consider at least letting them out, or going into the outside lane (if safe obviously) and everybody can continue smoothly. This kind of problem happens a lot when you're approaching a joining slip road, when I see one coming up I am always looking to move to the middle lane in anticipation of somebody joining the motorway. Many times other drivers force you to stay on the inside lane. So called middle lane hoggers are sometimes driving with anticipation and to be safe. If I am getting tailgated I put the hazard lights on, they back off a bit, then overtake at speed gawping at me, I stare straight ahead of course whilst grinning and giving the finger, doesn't everybody? ;-)
No, I usually scream shout and gesticultate whilst driving as fast and as close as I can to their rear bumper, snarling, for at least 10 mles or until I kill them and me, whichever is sooner.
There was a report a few years ago (can't find a link unfortunately) that motorway capacity would be 30% higher if people showed correct lane discipline. With our roads jammed more and more often this become important. Do we spend millions adding a 4th lane to a road (increasing capacity by 30%) or do we just educate drivers better for the same gain at a fraction of the cost. We can't continue widening roads forever, driving standards need to improve.
It's ridiculous that motorways aren't part of the test. In an ideal world an new driver wouldn't be allowed on any motorways, or dual carriage ways with more than 2 lanes. To do so would/should require an advanced driving test pass.
Equally, if you have to stop, or slow to < 5mph, to get through a width restrictor you clearly don't know the size of your car and shouldn't be driving. Those things are designed so a transit can comfortably pass through, idiots in Fiestas shouldn't need to stop to get through.
Shouldn't complain too much, you should see the way Americans drive on motorways, no signalling and lane changes seemingly at random, whether there is a suitable gap or not.
The best way to avoid jams when their is a high volume of traffic is for cars to all drive at a certain speed (say 50mph) and leave a decent gap. It's mathematics - if a car has to brake, then over hundreds/thousands of cars it can have a compound effect resulting in an eventual standstill. So the best driving for busy roads is to avoid the need for cars to brake! Human nature would never allow this to happen though!
I love it when a speck on the motorway horizon within seconds suddenly becomes a BMW just inches from your rear bumper. And I love it even more when they start flashing you, while being inches from your rear bumber. 'Sorry, mate. Thanks for flashing me. I know I was only going 85mph, but If I had known you had a brand new Beamer I would've been sure to allow you to overtake. Please accept my apologies. Here, I'll indicate over to the other lane.'
The best way to avoid jams when their is a high volume of traffic is for cars to all drive at a certain speed (say 50mph) and leave a decent gap. It's mathematics - if a car has to brake, then over hundreds/thousands of cars it can have a compound effect resulting in an eventual standstill. So the best driving for busy roads is to avoid the need for cars to brake! Human nature would never allow this to happen though!
Maybe in theory but in practice it would never work. For a start German car manufacturers do not make cars that go below 55mph anywhere. :-)
Something needs to be done about the middle lane hoggers - the A2 is notorious for it. It's so clear to see that it adds to congestion, but like someone said, there's no intelligence test to get one's driving licence. I see Henry Irving is a fan of Hancock (I can't recall his first name). And I thought it was just me noticing BMW drivers lack of indication and those idiots that come up right behind you if the middle lane (whilst you're overtaking) seemingly too timid to go into the outside lane.
After passing the driving test no-one should be allowed to drive on a motorway until they have some lessons with a driving instructor. When I learned to drive I used to be taken on the section of the A2 which is of motorway standard. I learned how to drive on that sort of road before going onto a motorway. When I passed my test I was then prepared for driving on a motorway.
Mind you some driving instructors need to be taught how to drive properly first! Many a time I have seen them driving or signalling incorrectly, so presumably they pass on their bad habits to their pupils. Perhaps that is the problem - some driving instructors are being allowed to drive without knowing the rules of the road themselves.
Can't believe this has all become big news , what is more of an issue and a danger is people who are too old & past it to drive being able & allowed to drive , is there a resit test past 70 years old , if not there should be one, if it achieves anything at least it will fill up public transport and make our roads safer ( in theory).
I think people's character changes as soon as they start to drive. They become totally immersed in their little metal cocoons and are invincible, King of the road, aggressive and better than any F1 driver. Some of the manoeuvres I see on a daily basis are pretty scary to say the least. These are not only carried out by boy racers but a whole range of ages. I start to get pretty nervous when I see a 70 + year old 5 foot off my rear end. Really don't think their reflexes are that good to drive that close.
I think people's character changes as soon as they start to drive. They become totally immersed in their little metal cocoons and are invincible, King of the road, aggressive and better than any F1 driver. Some of the manoeuvres I see on a daily basis are pretty scary to say the least. These are not only carried out by boy racers but a whole range of ages. I start to get pretty nervous when I see a 70 + year old 5 foot off my rear end. Really don't think their reflexes are that good to drive that close.
I think people's character changes as soon as they start to drive. They become totally immersed in their little metal cocoons and are invincible, King of the road, aggressive and better than any F1 driver. Some of the manoeuvres I see on a daily basis are pretty scary to say the least. These are not only carried out by boy racers but a whole range of ages. I start to get pretty nervous when I see a 70 + year old 5 foot off my rear end. Really don't think their reflexes are that good to drive that close.
you shouldn't be hogging the middle lane then.
Why not, that's what it's there for isn't it? I do get awfully confused when it widens to 4 lanes...... which one is the middle lane?
In all honesty, Middle Lane hoggers are not a massive problem from my experience. Yes there are a few, but not silly numbers who actually slow traffic down! People are very elitist when it comes to driving - they are fantastic and everybody else is rubbish! I suffer from this affliction myself on occasions to be honest although I do have the awareness to spot it and correct myself.
My last points were for speeding on a motorway! in 2002 and I have adjusted my driving style and learned my lesson. The worst drivers have th emost points - and the ones with the most points tend to do the most moaning!
In all honesty, Middle Lane hoggers are not a massive problem from my experience. Yes there are a few, but not silly numbers who actually slow traffic down! People are very elitist when it comes to driving - they are fantastic and everybody else is rubbish! I suffer from this affliction myself on occasions to be honest although I do have the awareness to spot it and correct myself.
My last points were for speeding on a motorway! in 2002 and I have adjusted my driving style and learned my lesson. The worst drivers have th emost points - and the ones with the most points tend to do the most moaning!
We obviously don't drive on the same roads. EVERY time I drive on a motorway there are lane hoggers. Perhaps I notice them more than you because they annoy me so much.
This is great news as long as it is enforced. Those who hog any lane except lane 1 are a menace. People only undertake if there is an idiot sitting in the wrong lane. If you can be undertaken then you are in the wrong lane and should have moved over. I find there are long stretches of road when you could remain in lane 1 but have to move out to overtake a lane hogger who is totally oblivious to those around them.
I admit that I frequently flash my lights at lane hoggers if I come up behind them and immediately move back to lane 1 in front of them, but unless someone lets them know they will just continue to sit there.
Usually tailgaters do so because of lane hoggers who won't move over when there is plenty of room on the lane to their left.
Trouble is on motorways such as the M25 it is so choka that you can't move into the inside lane especially when it's full of HGV's.
Middle lane hoggers are a pain no doubt but in my experience there are far worse things going on and most of them are not on the motorways, which in theory and statistically (I think) are our safest roads.
Hopefully the new law will enable the police to do something immediately about the absolutely appaling levels of lane discipline at roadabouts for example, those drivers who cut you up or drive up your backside even in queues...you know the sort of people who drive around followed by a cacophony of car horns wherever they go.
Do they think this is normal and everyone else gets the same treatment or is it just a case of them realising they are selfish, ignorant twunts and not really caring?
BTW how many posts in are we and no one has admitted to being a middle lane hogger yet. Someone on here must be.
The evidence is gonna have to be good to prosecute this one. Quite often when driving you are chasing down a vehicle on the inside lane and tend naturally to maintain the middle lane even if take a while for the approach. This is only going to work if there are no vehicles outright on the inside lane and a vehicle is clearly hogging the lane. Does the same apply to the outside lane reserved for Bentleys only?
Comments
Agree with so many points above - twats in the middle lane completely oblivious. You undertake, or overtake and swing back past to go in the left-hand-lane, they haven't got a clue, think you're a nutter. Cos of the volume of traffic on the roads, they are the cause of slowing motorway driving down. If everyone kept left unless overtaking then delays would ease and things would flow better, no frustration, braking and weaving around.
There used to be a sign at the beginning of the M1 "Keep LEFT unless overtaking" - think it was the only one in the country! Half the public don't even realise the rule. "Oh I'm going too fast for the "slow" lane" etc
In a utopian world that is fine. But in the real world many many people are able to obtain a driving licence who have very low intelligence and will never fully understand what is happening.
That's just about spot on!
A lot of people seem too 'scared' to indicate, just slow down and slow down, waiting for a gap rather than do this, therefore slowing down vehicles behind, sometimes big trucks. As said, drive in Germany etc, there seems to be a hell of a lot more common sense..
It's ridiculous that motorways aren't part of the test. In an ideal world an new driver wouldn't be allowed on any motorways, or dual carriage ways with more than 2 lanes. To do so would/should require an advanced driving test pass.
Equally, if you have to stop, or slow to < 5mph, to get through a width restrictor you clearly don't know the size of your car and shouldn't be driving. Those things are designed so a transit can comfortably pass through, idiots in Fiestas shouldn't need to stop to get through.
Shouldn't complain too much, you should see the way Americans drive on motorways, no signalling and lane changes seemingly at random, whether there is a suitable gap or not.
I see Henry Irving is a fan of Hancock (I can't recall his first name).
And I thought it was just me noticing BMW drivers lack of indication and those idiots that come up right behind you if the middle lane (whilst you're overtaking) seemingly too timid to go into the outside lane.
Mind you some driving instructors need to be taught how to drive properly first! Many a time I have seen them driving or signalling incorrectly, so presumably they pass on their bad habits to their pupils. Perhaps that is the problem - some driving instructors are being allowed to drive without knowing the rules of the road themselves.
I do get awfully confused when it widens to 4 lanes...... which one is the middle lane?
My last points were for speeding on a motorway! in 2002 and I have adjusted my driving style and learned my lesson. The worst drivers have th emost points - and the ones with the most points tend to do the most moaning!
Hopefully the new law will enable the police to do something immediately about the absolutely appaling levels of lane discipline at roadabouts for example, those drivers who cut you up or drive up your backside even in queues...you know the sort of people who drive around followed by a cacophony of car horns wherever they go.
Do they think this is normal and everyone else gets the same treatment or is it just a case of them realising they are selfish, ignorant twunts and not really caring?
BTW how many posts in are we and no one has admitted to being a middle lane hogger yet. Someone on here must be.