middle laners – the shame of it!

"Not bad……… ended up in Hospital for 2 days from Tuesday though with kidney stones" 😯

You're easily satisfied 😕

Never had the condition, but I understand that it can take you to new levels of pain – can't they give you something to dissolve the feckers ? 😐

Pieface – Member
For some reason lane discipline is quite good when there's 2 lanes,

Sadly, not in the UK I feel.

We travel to france usually a couple of times a year and many french autoroutes are two lane. Hogging lane 2 just doesn't happen, but north of Paris, when it does, it is usually a GB-plated car (often a cock-mobile like a BMW/Audi) doing over a 100mph. Same cars are often seen at the next toll area with the driver having a shat in the company of a gendarme. LOL!!

Although British drivers seem to be very critical of the rest of the world when it comes to driving, that doesn't seem to apply on multiple lane roads.

My father-in-law is a true middle lane driver, the type who only uses lane 2 on the slip road, then joins a motorway/dual and is immediately out into lane 2, whether it is safe or appropriate to do so. I've told my wife I'm not going to be driven by him again after he took us to Manchester airport last year, and when we got there confided in me that "I'm feeling a little spaced out, I think it's my pain tablet the doctor has got me on for my back…….". Took a taxi home after that little gem!

British driving standards are woeful.

You're easily satisfied

lol, looking at the people on the ward I got a way ok.

Never had the condition, but I understand that it can take you to new levels of pain – can't they give you something to dissolve the feckers ?

Just unbelievable it put me on the floor in a crying, shivering swearing wreck. Mrs said "If you don't get in the car I'll have to call and ambulance." "Just **** do it" was my answer before forcing myself out of the door.

I'm waiting for follow ups to see what they want to do long term but the condition I found means it will just be self controlled anti-inflammatory and drink gallons of water.

& yet the UK has one of the lowest death rates [on the road] in Europe
certainly lower than the already mentioned Germans & French

dont get me started on mobile phones….. have had 2 incidents of **** on phones not even stopping at roundabouts this week…just glad i was on the ball and watching their approach !!

has anyone noticed that since the highways agency have been sticking one of their vehicles with its lights flashing behind anything that has broken down on the motorway, there has been a lot more slowing down to a stop further back because of rubber neckers near the front thinking there might be something more exiting to look at !!
took nearly 2 and a half hours to get from Exeter to Cribbs, and had 5 instances of this

dont get me started on mobile phones….. have had 2 incidents of **** on phones not even stopping at roundabouts this week…just glad i was on the ball and watching their approach !!

Saw a bloke taransporting his wife, 4 kids in the back of the car whilst smoking and on his mobile – poor kids, if the don't die in a car accident they will die from the effects of passive smoking 😕

There has been some great middle laners out over x-mas! Got called to work on x-mas day, Stoke to Brum on the M6, Must have passed 10 by going from inside lane to middle lane to outside lane the back to the normal driving lane.
Got tired of doing this so just went past them in the left lane – its wrong but I wasn't speeding and I was obviously more aware of my surroundings than the person in the middle lane

Driving without due care and attention – 3 points and a £60 fine is standard if busted for middle lane hogism.

Yeah, I bet all of 3 tickets were issued in 2009 for that.

That might be because they can't give tickets for careless driving.

& yet the UK has one of the lowest death rates [on the road] in Europe

Not really relevant to driving in the middle lane.

And anyway, if the death rate on the M25 is relatively low, then that's probably more to do with the fact you're lucky if you're able to go faster than walking pace, rather than because poor lane discipline is good for safety.

You could argue that if the max speed limit on all roads was 20mph, it would dramatically reduce road deaths – so lets introduce a 20mph max speed limit on all roads. You could also argue that if we had no motorways, there would be no motorway related deaths – so lets scrap motorways……etc, etc

I LOVE driving in France. No outside or middle lane dawdlers. I adore the French in 1 litre Clios givin' it the max.

Not really relevant to driving in the middle lane.

Indeed it isn't
It was more of a reply to the claims the UK driving standards were very poor.

As a result, you would have thought we'd have been nearer to top of the 'death league' rather than pretty much at the bottom of it.

I asked this last time this was discussed so I'll do it again: what is the minimum amount of time you would pull into the left lane for?

I ask because IMO far worse than middle laners are the pious numpties that always insist on returning to the left lane, even if they can only do so for 5 seconds before they have to pull out again. 🙄

If you're going to have to pull out again in anything less than thirty seconds then I really don't see the point in pulling in (unless you need to let someone past obviously).

I suspect that that's half the problem GrahamS – what to one person would be middle lane hogging will be quite reasonable to another person.

As for how long you stay out, for me it would depend on how much traffic there was. Nearly all my motorway driving these days is overnight, in very light traffic, so staying in the middle lane for a bit longer between HGVs has no effect on anyone else. I'd pull in more when there's more traffic.

you would have thought we'd have been nearer to top of the 'death league'

If it was all down to just "driving standards" then yes, you would expect that. But it isn't all just down to that. France has twice as many deaths due to drink driving as Britain – so "law enforcement" is obviously a very important issue. Then there are other considerations which contribute to the variable death stats in different countries, eg, quality of road surfaces, sign posting/road markings, vehicle testing (MOT) standards, speed limits, etc, etc. And finally, a 60 year old woman might well be considered a low risk driver by an insurance company, but that is no guarantee that her "standard of driving" is any better than that of a 40 year old male driver – only that, for whatever reasons, she is less likely to have an expensive accident in the course of one year.

LOL@ whining…

I guess when you overtake a lorry doing 60 and you're doing 75, you get these middle laner's going up to your bumper who can't be bothered to go in the 3rd lane lol.

I've seen good and bad drivers but life is too short to be bothered by it!

Drive in London, Italy and India and you'll see that the rest of the U.K. isn't so bad.

http://lum.co.uk/mloc/

The "Overtaking" link is a work of genius!

I asked this last time this was discussed so I'll do it again: what is the minimum amount of time you would pull into the left lane for?

Fairly simple answer to that – long enough for somebody to overtake me. If there's not enough time for that then it's not worth bothering. If there is then you should pull over and let somebody past.

I suspect that that's half the problem GrahamS – what to one person would be middle lane hogging will be quite reasonable to another

yep. I had some idiot nearly cause a pile up last month as he tried to show me the error of my "lane hogging" ways: Usual maneouvre: pulled from right lane, across my nose and into left lane 🙄 ; but then he had to slam on his brakes to avoid going straight into the back of the guy I was overtaking (that he obviously hadn't seen); pulled back out to the middle causing me to brake hard, then straight back to the right lane without looking, where he nearly collected someone in his boot.

Yeah, well done mate, your exemplary driving skills have taught me a valuable lesson. 🙄

Give me a middle lane hog any day over one of those 'teach them a lesson' types.

I had people do the hogging the middle lane maneuver around me, the road temperary empty, i'm in a slow car but a line of lorries are coming up and dont want to be stuck in the left lane, 3rd lane is clear so not holding th em up but they have to make the point.

I asked this last time this was discussed so I'll do it again: what is the minimum amount of time you would pull into the left lane for?

I don't think anyone has a problem with people who overtake in the middle lane and then stay there because they will be overtaking something in the next 30 seconds or so

The ones that do my head in are the ones in the middle lane when the left lane is clear of traffic. I mean totally clear of traffic. The main time to see this are early weekend mornings, 65mph in the middle lane – suppose they think its the safest place to be??

Also on 2 lane motorways they sometimes stay in the outside lane. Nothing on the inside for miles – they just seem to like it.

Rant over

tom : I agree, its 30 secs for me but thats too short for some and too long for others

My theory on it (and I know someone has mentioned the L word) is that its only drivers that have (a) lived in London (b) currently live in London (c) are in a relationship with someone who drives in/around London that turn out to be center lane freaks.
It happens to be my biggest driving infuriation, dont get me wrong moving at speed on a three lane motorway with only constant gaps in the inside lane of 100metres no problem but when there is **** all for the next 400metres then just tilt the steering wheel slightly to the freaking left and get the **** out the road aaaarrrrggggghhhhh!

are you the guy that does 85 in the middle lane suggsey and reckon he's right as he is going faster?

I was going to comment, using my extensive driving experience (especially motorway)to cast some light on this situation. Then I decided that it is better to let those of you who want to be wrong learn from your own mistakes. No good arguing with someone who knows not whereof they speak.

Not that I'm perfect, but I'm getting there.

Nonk, no not at all, can never condone speeding but when the muppet in the centre lane is doing 60mph thats when it gets frustrating.
I certainly try not to drive agressively as thats what causes accidents and errors of judgement, a flash of the headlights on approach from the rear once is all that I resort to and then sit seething two to three car lengths back if I cant move into the offside lane and overtake safely.

Just a point but Ive had to use the middle lane on an empty motorway as the car tends to tramline where HGVs have grooved the road. The wider the tyres the worse it is and at times quire dangerous.

Other than that if people want to use the middle lane they can you just go past them in the outer lane.

no worrys mate i was just pulling you leg i should have put a 😉
one of those on it.

I had people do the hogging the middle lane maneuver around me, the road temperary empty, i'm in a slow car but a line of lorries are coming up and dont want to be stuck in the left lane, 3rd lane is clear so not holding th em up but they have to make the point.

The worrying thing there is you're using exactly the sort of phrases the MLOC use to justify themselves – "dont want to be stuck", "3rd lane is clear so not holding th em up". Just how soon was the line of lorries coming up? If the road was that empty why exactly were you so worried you were going to get stuck? Are you really sure you're not one of them? The thing is I've never had anybody do that sort of manoeuvre round me.

I had people do the hogging the middle lane maneuver around me

Are you sure it wasn't just someone driving properly ? After I overtake someone sitting in the middle lane, I pull back over, and if the inside lane is clear, I will move into that. What am I supposed to do – sit on the outside lane just to make them feel better about their driving ?

I don't do dangerous manoeuvres to "make a point" – it's my life as well, which I would be risking. And I also don't set the speed limit on motorways either – if someone wants to do 90/100mph, then I let them through – I don't block their way, unlike a lot of lane hoggers who seem to like to "make a point". In fact the sooner the nutters are away from me, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

And btw, the reason I like driving in the inside lane isn't just because of 'lane discipline', but also because I consider it to be the safest lane in the event of mechanical failure or a pile up – you stand less of a chance of cars and lorries hurtling past/ploughing into either side of you, than if you are in the middle lane. And less chance of bouncing off the barriers, than if you are in the outside lane. I prefer, if possible, to cruise in the inside lane and have access to the hard shoulder – if necessary. Think about that if I overtake you and then move into the inside lane, instead of assuming that I'm trying to making a point.

Also on 2 lane motorways they sometimes stay in the outside lane. Nothing on the inside for miles – they just seem to like it.

I once had to sit behind somebody in the right lane of 2 flashing at them for ages before they noticed me and moved over. Once I was past them and back in the left lane (with the road still empty in front as far as I could see) they moved back into the right lane!

perhaps I have been, think I'll be in the left lane for 30 secs and it would have been more so MLOC

temporary empty meaning there is a wall of traffic approaching from behind
in 30 secs or so.

stuck : slow cars cant accelerate into the middle lane.

The maneover envolved distances of less than a cars length between our cars behind and in front

stuck : slow cars cant accelerate into the middle lane.

I don't accelerate when pulling out into the middle lane, simply hold a constant speed and pull out into a gap. Is your car really so slow that you can't hold a steady 70/75mph?

I'm in the lorry lane doing 60 and the car lane is doing 70/75

ps I cant use the fast lane as I drive a diesel car and thats petrol only

Drive in London, Italy and India and you'll see that the rest of the U.K. isn't so bad.

You've forgotten to add Belgium.

Ah, so it's you that's slow, morpheus – can't think of a diesel car which can't do 75. Very interested now in how far away the lorries were, given that in 30s you'll only close ~50m at 4mph differential speed (or even less than that if 60mph is a speedo reading).

so thats 150m perhaps, I misjuduge the distance coz I'm from devon and i'm
in me desiel with huge big back wheels and sitting high in me cab dreaming
of driving a harvester

Oops! had this very same argument with Mrs Kerv yesterday.
"We drive on the left in this country dear"
"would you like a punch in the ear p*sshead"
point taken.

😆 at kerv