This website has entertained me for many years.

My link

Great link, very funny and true!!

As per the highway code - if I find traffic in the lanes to my right starts to slow down to below my speed, I maintain my speed if safe to do so. Me slowing down so I don't end up overundertaking is only going to cause more backlog.

Edited 12 May, 201115 yr by rosswm

If the road is totally empty and your not going to p**s off even more people, I choose option 4. (theoretically of course, as this option could be considered dangerous driving)

4. Overtake legally in the right hand lane at no more than 70 mph, indicate and move into lane 2. Then reduce my speed to around 10 to 20 mph below what the middle lane hogger is doing. This lets them see the obstruction they have been causing to other traffic, usually for many miles and oblivious to other road users. They then have to make a choice, option 1, 2 or 3.

4. Overtake legally in the right hand lane at no more than 70 mph, indicate and move into lane 2. Then reduce my speed to around 10 to 20 mph below what the middle lane hogger is doing. This lets them see the obstruction they have been causing to other traffic, usually for many miles and oblivious to other road users. They then have to make a choice, option 1, 2 or 3.

Hmmm....

If the road is totally empty and your not going to p**s off even more people, I choose option 4. (theoretically of course, as this option could be considered dangerous driving)

4. Overtake legally in the right hand lane at no more than 70 mph, indicate and move into lane 2. Then reduce my speed to around 10 to 20 mph below what the middle lane hogger is doing. This lets them see the obstruction they have been causing to other traffic, usually for many miles and oblivious to other road users. They then have to make a choice, option 1, 2 or 3.

See my earlier comment about "lapping" the CLOGie.

The middle lane hoggers are also commiting an offence as you should move over to the L1 when not overtaking.....ie if you have an oppurtunity to undertake them then it is impossible for them to be overtaking. Rule 238: You should drive in the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear. Return to the left-hand lane once you have overtaken all the vehicles or if you are delaying traffic behind you.

Err... while this might be 'offensive' to other motorists this is not illegal. Neither is overtaking on the left (or undertaking as most people call it). The highway code does not form the basis for any laws and if you check the introduction section you'll see the following statement:

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the abbreviations can be found in 'The road user and the law'.

The courts do however tend to use the highway code as a benchmark in careless driving cases.

Err... while this might be 'offensive' to other motorists this is not illegal. Neither is overtaking on the left (or undertaking as most people call it). The highway code does not form the basis for any laws and if you check the introduction section you'll see the following statement:

The courts do however tend to use the highway code as a benchmark in careless driving cases.

Yes exactly and i see driving in the middle lane as careless driving or driving with undue care and attention...

Interesting, I feel that the issue with the new on the spot fine system is that there are many situations where the police' decision as to whether a driver is being careless or not is going to be quite subjective. With the ever troubling issue of when to be in the middle lane and the subtle judgement that might be needed to decide if passing on the left took place due to slowing flow of traffic or deliberate undertaking might be open to dispute. You are going to be permitted to contest the on-the-spot fine if you think the Police have been over zealous or mistaken, but isn't that going to be one of those things where you end up paying double if you contest and lose. I tend to move to the middle, if it safe etc, near junctions to allow traffic to join more easily, whilst advocated in advanced driving my concern would be that Police could make the subjective decision that you didn't need to because there wasn't enough traffic joining, or you did it too soon etc etc... They always could stop you for what they considered careless driving which of course includes lane discipline but now they will be able to fine you on the spot and give you points on that basis.

Useful to relect on our own driving of course and refresh the brain on the highway code, and lane discipline of course.

See my earlier comment about "lapping" the CLOGie.

Using your method of returning to lane 1 leaves them free just to continue on their previous lane choice whereas stayin in lane 2 as they have chose and slowing down forces them to make the same choices as they gave you.

One excuse I've heard a good few times for folks doing this deliberately is that the inside lane is often more potholed due to heavier HGV use (& this is prior to the worsening of our roads n recent times). I don't buy it myself.

Last time we were on the M5 around Exeter lane 1 with the caravans and lorries was quicker than both the other lanes.

Oh the dirty looks we got from the BMW and Audi drivers!!

If I'm going along at 70 & come across (not literally) someone in the middle lane doing 60 on a clear road, I just carry on in my lane. The other option is to move to the outside, then cut them up, while tapping the brakes to wake them up a little, followed by the hand gesture

Matt

It's a pity that motorway driving is not covered prpoperly in the driving tests - both theory and practical.

IMHO a lot of drivers hog the middle lane ( effectively reducing a 3 lane motorway to 2 lanes) because they don't feel comfortable in changing lanes. Until the police start issuing on the spot fines for this behaviour I'm afraid they will just carry on. The best way to combat this ( & other similar offences) is to have smart cameras. These could check that the inner lane is free for say 500M ( or more) and that a driver has been in the middle lane for say 300M or more without making any attempt to move to the inner lane.But I guess that the programming of the cameras would be too difficult for the highway authority. Same goes for tailgating and last second exits across 2 or 3 lanes of traffic . We can send men to the moon but don't seem to able to apply a liitle logic to traffic control / discipline.

This problem of drivers not using the inner lane ( applys to 2 lane dual carriageways as well) does seem to be a British disease as the Germans appear to have solved it many years ago as anyone who has driven in Germany will testify.

Edited 12 May, 201115 yr by vwcabriolet1971

Yes exactly and i see driving in the middle lane as careless driving or driving with undue care and attention...

Out of interest are you a police officer, or a judge?

Out of interest are you a police officer, or a judge?

No but wish I was sometimes

I have done my advanced driving though which just highlights more, everyone else's errors.

Yes exactly and i see driving in the middle lane as careless driving or driving with undue care and attention...

It's only a basis for "driving without due consideration..."

The A9 is not so bad as roads go! and motorways are much over rated and over subscribed;-)

Just be glad you have Motorways to drive on.... were not so lucky up here!

Agree with kenfowler3966 - No articulated vehicle is permitted to use lane 3, including cars towing trailers.

They are if it's an "A" road, like the A2 in Kent, but then they are only allowed to do 50mph.

AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH !!!!!!! :@ :@

Something I've noticed on this thread !!!

THERE IS NO FAST LANE or SLOW LANE on motorways. It's either lane 1,2,3 etc or inside lane, middle lane, outside lane.

FFS this is why some people insist on being in the middle/outside lane all the effing time because they don't want to be in the "SLOW" lane as they stupidly see it. Even though if the road is clear you can do just the same speed in the left/inside as you can in the middle or outside.

</end rant>

Wooo sar

Woooo sar

AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH !!!!!!! :@ :@

Something I've noticed on this thread !!!

THERE IS NO FAST LANE or SLOW LANE on motorways. It's either lane 1,2,3 etc or inside lane, middle lane, outside lane.

FFS this is why some people insist on being in the middle/outside lane all the effing time because they don't want to be in the "SLOW" lane as they stupidly see it. Even though if the road is clear you can do just the same speed in the left/inside as you can in the middle or outside.

</end rant>

Wooo sar

Woooo sar

very true and rofl at wooo sar - classic film!

No but wish I was sometimes

I have done my advanced driving though which just highlights more, everyone else's errors.

Haha yes me too! Although I personally don't see a problem with staying in the left hand lane if everything else is moving slower...but that's just me, and I'm not perfect. There's no such thing as the perfect driver...

The A9 is not so bad as roads go! and motorways are much over rated and over subscribed;-)

The A9 is a disgrace.

It's ok when it's empty, but the amount of times I've nearly been wiped out by folk pulling off suicidal overtakes is unbelievable. It should have converted to dual carriageway 20 years ago. I've seen the aftermath of too many accidents on it. I've seen remains being shovelled off the road on more than one occasion :( and I've only been driving for 3 and a half years. It just seems to bring out the worst in the maniacs, who have to get past the snaking queue of traffic behind the HGV's (and it's not the fault of the HGV's either, they have to stick to a set limit) at any cost. Plus the constant dual/single/dual/single nature of the road confuses tourists, which is also to blame for some of the head-on collisions.

Like I said, dual carriageway A9 would be good for moving a larger volume of traffic, more safely and faster, whilst leaving the A82 more free for people like me who enjoy driving :p

Try the M2 in kent: lorries heading to the port in lane one and always one self righteous twit in lane two doing 70 and holding people up ggggrrrr :(

Try the M2 in kent: lorries heading to the port in lane one and always one self righteous twit in lane two doing 70 and holding people up ggggrrrr :(

Er...that's the law. Unless it's different in Kent ? :wonder:

The A9 is a disgrace.

It's ok when it's empty, but the amount of times I've nearly been wiped out by folk pulling off suicidal overtakes is unbelievable. It should have converted to dual carriageway 20 years ago. I've seen the aftermath of too many accidents on it. I've seen remains being shovelled off the road on more than one occasion :( and I've only been driving for 3 and a half years. It just seems to bring out the worst in the maniacs, who have to get past the snaking queue of traffic behind the HGV's (and it's not the fault of the HGV's either, they have to stick to a set limit) at any cost. Plus the constant dual/single/dual/single nature of the road confuses tourists, which is also to blame for some of the head-on collisions.

Like I said, dual carriageway A9 would be good for moving a larger volume of traffic, more safely and faster, whilst leaving the A82 more free for people like me who enjoy driving :p

I've done a few miles on the A9, and IME it's dawdlers in cars that are the problem: they hold up the HGVs which in turn hold up the traffic.

I've done a few miles on the A9, and IME it's dawdlers in cars that are the problem: they hold up the HGVs which in turn hold up the traffic.

Perhaps it's like that during peak time (which I usually avoid) but...either way, it's hardly safe is it?