My observations about Middle-Laners
Discussion
Ok, I know it's been discussed to death but I just need to get this out of my system.
Like the rest of you, I've been getting more and more pissed off with the Middle Lane hogging that seems more prevalent these days. I've noticed this more and more as I spend 60 miles on the motorway during my commute.
I genuinely think that these MLMs get on the motorway and switch off, they select the middle lane and just think to themselves "I will sit in this lane at 68mph until I come up behind another car. If that car is doing 60mph then I'll just sit behind them until they speed up or move over". So not only do they have no intention of moving to the inside lane, but they also have no intention of moving into the outside lane to overtake.
I wouldn't mind so much but when I pull into the inside lane, they increase their speed... marginally... to overtake in the middle lane (because there is now nothing in front!) but in doing so they block me from overtaking and WILL NOT pull in the outside lane to let me out (I appreciate it's not my right to pull out, just expecting some observation and courtesy). And this means that the only way to stop them blocking me in is to anticipate this and pull out much earlier than I previously would.
Anyway, it's not really a rant (...well I guess it is), more of an observation due to the frustration of crap driving.
Disclaimer: I'm an IAM Advanced Driver so I'd like to think my driving standard is pretty high... I may be wrong!
Like the rest of you, I've been getting more and more pissed off with the Middle Lane hogging that seems more prevalent these days. I've noticed this more and more as I spend 60 miles on the motorway during my commute.
I genuinely think that these MLMs get on the motorway and switch off, they select the middle lane and just think to themselves "I will sit in this lane at 68mph until I come up behind another car. If that car is doing 60mph then I'll just sit behind them until they speed up or move over". So not only do they have no intention of moving to the inside lane, but they also have no intention of moving into the outside lane to overtake.
I wouldn't mind so much but when I pull into the inside lane, they increase their speed... marginally... to overtake in the middle lane (because there is now nothing in front!) but in doing so they block me from overtaking and WILL NOT pull in the outside lane to let me out (I appreciate it's not my right to pull out, just expecting some observation and courtesy). And this means that the only way to stop them blocking me in is to anticipate this and pull out much earlier than I previously would.
Anyway, it's not really a rant (...well I guess it is), more of an observation due to the frustration of crap driving.
Disclaimer: I'm an IAM Advanced Driver so I'd like to think my driving standard is pretty high... I may be wrong!
Mag1calTrev0r said:
I wouldn't mind so much but when I pull into the inside lane, they increase their speed... marginally... to overtake in the middle lane (because there is now nothing in front!) but in doing so they block me from overtaking and WILL NOT pull in the outside lane to let me out (I appreciate it's not my right to pull out, just expecting some observation and courtesy). And this means that the only way to stop them blocking me in is to anticipate this and pull out much earlier than I previously would.
This is the bit I hate.Incidentally, whenever anybody on this forum mentions IAM, I instantly switch off. After watching an old people driving documentary, and seeing the oldest IAM member woman in her 80s reverse into a parked car whilst being filmed, those 3 letters don't mean much to me anymore.
Rouleur said:
You've made an error there - these people don't think at all.
I did point out that they 'switch off' 
I realise that a huge percentage of the public don't think at all and just travel along in a bubble (of steel) until they reach their destination. Sticking to the middle lane and following the car in front just means that they don't have to make any manouvers or look in the mirror until it's time to pull off... and even then they probably don't bother looking in their mirrors.
as I'm not permitted in the outside lane. Often end up undertaking them simply by following the flow in lane one, at which point they speed up for a mile then I'll catch them up again
8400rpm said:
Incidentally, whenever anybody on this forum mentions IAM, I instantly switch off. After watching an old people driving documentary, and seeing the oldest IAM member woman in her 80s reverse into a parked car whilst being filmed, those 3 letters don't mean much to me anymore.
Sorry about that I'm not saying that IAM membership makes me a perfect driver or anything like that. I just half expected a load of people analysing what I've written and suggesting that I should drive better. Maybe that's true (again, I'm not perfect), I was just trying to show that I was paying attention as best I could.I won't mention it again
OP, you observation is very much the way I see it.
Sitting in the middle lane means they do not have to look in any other direction other than directly in front of their car, it just shows their inablilty to drive/anticipate other road users and so it is easier for them to sit in the one lane staring ahead of themselves.
I drive with cruise switched on and often find that I will be passed by a MLM, in the middle lane, who comes across a truck or slower car in front of them. I then pass (in the outside lane) both the MLM and whatever is slowing them down and return to the inside lane (all with cruise still controlling my speed) only to then have the MLM pass me again once the slow vehicle has returned to the inside lane. The MLM then moves into position behind the next vehicle in their lane and the whole thing happens all over again.
Sitting in the middle lane means they do not have to look in any other direction other than directly in front of their car, it just shows their inablilty to drive/anticipate other road users and so it is easier for them to sit in the one lane staring ahead of themselves.
I drive with cruise switched on and often find that I will be passed by a MLM, in the middle lane, who comes across a truck or slower car in front of them. I then pass (in the outside lane) both the MLM and whatever is slowing them down and return to the inside lane (all with cruise still controlling my speed) only to then have the MLM pass me again once the slow vehicle has returned to the inside lane. The MLM then moves into position behind the next vehicle in their lane and the whole thing happens all over again.
I was following one doing ~70 last weekend. They were encouraged to move over into lane 1 by a flash of lights and verging on tailgating for about 30s. As soon as the car overtaking them had gone past they moved back out and continued there for the next few miles....until they came to their junction where upon they cut straight across L1 and up the slip road- only just missing the chevrons at the end of the slip lane.
Out here in Dubai there are almost no rules on lane discipline. If it's a dual carriage way, you are supposed to overtake in the outside lane but if the road has 3+ lanes, you just overtake in whatever lane you like.
Granted, road safety stats are pretty poor but there's certainly no frustration with the middle lane crew.
You also need to be aware that you'll only be in the fast lane for a max of 10 seconds before there's a Land Cruiser in your rearview mirror flashing you to GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Granted, road safety stats are pretty poor but there's certainly no frustration with the middle lane crew.
You also need to be aware that you'll only be in the fast lane for a max of 10 seconds before there's a Land Cruiser in your rearview mirror flashing you to GET OUT OF THE WAY!
What doesn't help is the lack of education for these people, they used to use the matrix sighs to say "keep left when not overtaking" but I haven't seen this done for a while.
Also Radio 2 doesn't help, bear with me, every time Radio 2 does a traffic article discussing anything to do with driving they refer to lane 1 & lane 3 as the slow & fast lanes. Jeremy Vine did it the other week & that Tarbock women did it just the other day. I don't think this helps because people will never change their views that the fast lane is for when you're in a hurry, the slow lane is for lorries so the middle lane must be for them, because they're not in a hurry & are not a lorry.
If people could get used to using their real names as in lane 1, lane 2 etc. then people might start to get it into their heads that there isn't a specific lane for specific speeds.
Edited for the spelling Nazis.
Also Radio 2 doesn't help, bear with me, every time Radio 2 does a traffic article discussing anything to do with driving they refer to lane 1 & lane 3 as the slow & fast lanes. Jeremy Vine did it the other week & that Tarbock women did it just the other day. I don't think this helps because people will never change their views that the fast lane is for when you're in a hurry, the slow lane is for lorries so the middle lane must be for them, because they're not in a hurry & are not a lorry.
If people could get used to using their real names as in lane 1, lane 2 etc. then people might start to get it into their heads that there isn't a specific lane for specific speeds.
Edited for the spelling Nazis.
Edited by 109 Bob on Thursday 5th August 19:26
8400rpm said:
[
Incidentally, whenever anybody on this forum mentions IAM, I instantly switch off. After watching an old people driving documentary, and seeing the oldest IAM member woman in her 80s reverse into a parked car whilst being filmed, those 3 letters don't mean much to me anymore.
Perhaps the poor driving of an 80 year old woman could be as result of the effects of age rather than driving training?Incidentally, whenever anybody on this forum mentions IAM, I instantly switch off. After watching an old people driving documentary, and seeing the oldest IAM member woman in her 80s reverse into a parked car whilst being filmed, those 3 letters don't mean much to me anymore.
Say what you will about the IAM but I guarantee if you took a random sample of IAM vs. Non-IAM drivers the standard of driving would be better on average in the former.
An IAM membership is indicative of a better driver, not proof in itself.
(... and yes I am a member!)
Edited by G_T on Thursday 5th August 13:59
I agree with the OP.
I can kind of understand if they are nervous of overtaking why they would want to take the easy (but selfish) route of sticking to the middle lane.
But the people who really boil my p!ss are the ones who stick to the middle lane when the road is 99% empty, e.g. late at night or on quiet stretches.
I also think that the miles and miles of average speed cameras don't help. It forces everyone to the same constant speed and people forget that a motorway is actually designed for overtaking!
I can kind of understand if they are nervous of overtaking why they would want to take the easy (but selfish) route of sticking to the middle lane.
But the people who really boil my p!ss are the ones who stick to the middle lane when the road is 99% empty, e.g. late at night or on quiet stretches.
I also think that the miles and miles of average speed cameras don't help. It forces everyone to the same constant speed and people forget that a motorway is actually designed for overtaking!
supertouring said:
...I drive with cruise switched on and often find that I will be passed by a MLM, in the middle lane, who comes across a truck or slower car in front of them. I then pass (in the outside lane) both the MLM and whatever is slowing them down and return to the inside lane (all with cruise still controlling my speed) only to then have the MLM pass me again once the slow vehicle has returned to the inside lane. The MLM then moves into position behind the next vehicle in their lane and the whole thing happens all over again.
As I've already said, I find myself having to pull out early (borderline MLM myself) or tapping CC off and then back on 5sec later to then be able to pull out.I had a quite amusing thing happen the other day. Travelling along at dead on 70mph (CC on) and I overtook some girl in her Clio around 5 times. Each and everytime I could see her pointing me out to her boyfriend (I assume) passenger getting more and more annoyed. After the fifth time I couldn't stand it any longer and just booted it for a minute or so before activating CC again. Moron!
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