Why Divers Stay in the Middle Lane

[Swanny87]

bimsb6 said:

Surely most drivers do use the motorway at busy times or they wouldn't be busy? My mrs stays away from the inside lane do to the number of accidents she sees where foreign plated hgv's are involved pulling out into people

The jist of what I was saying is that yes, this problem doesn't really apply to busy motorways as L1 use is brief. If you're travelling at non busy times then there isn't an excuse to be in the middle lane really.

I don't understand what you mean re your Mrs and middle lane. I would imagine the trucks pull into lane 2 from lane 1. I think what you mean is that she is in L2 overtaking them which would be right.

What I find useful and that will help your wife is to minimise your time in the trucks blindspot (or any vehicles for that matter) by hanging back or flooring it when you see them closing a gap or take lane 3 if it's available.

Could be a lifesaver

Edited by Swanny87 on Monday 29th September 22:15

Edited by Swanny87 on Monday 29th September 22:15

[theboss]

Bebee said:

Make it legal to pass on the inside, as they do in the US&A.

I drove a couple of hundred miles in the states in convoy with American relatives, a good hundred of which was spent on a stretch of freeway. The relatives stayed in L3 ('their' L3, leftmost) the whole time at a modest pace, overtaken constantly, and despite knowing the rules over there, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I got asked several times later on "how come you kept driving on the right, is that a UK thing?". If only they could have appreciated the irony...

[delboy735]

It's not just your standard motorists that stick to the middle lane either. Yesterday travelled back home from Oban, after Glasgow heading south on the M74, a very nice policeman and his colleague used the middle lane for approx 30 miles, despite most of the time, the inside lane being devoid of traffic.Kept him in view of rear view mirror....wouldn't have been prudent to accelerate away from him now would it ???

[anonymous-user]

Am I in the right place for middle lane drivers thread 1001?

[rxtx]

Mr2Mike said:

The reason drivers stay in the middle lane is very simple; ignorance and selfishness.

Sure is. Any other explanation is pure bullst. Both of mine will tramline like a train given a chance, but does that ever happen on the M25, or any other M road I drive on? Nope, and it never has. Utter rubbish.

[delboy735]

theboss said:

Bebee said:

Make it legal to pass on the inside, as they do in the US&A.

I drove a couple of hundred miles in the states in convoy with American relatives, a good hundred of which was spent on a stretch of freeway. The relatives stayed in L3 ('their' L3, leftmost) the whole time at a modest pace, overtaken constantly, and despite knowing the rules over there, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I got asked several times later on "how come you kept driving on the right, is that a UK thing?". If only they could have appreciated the irony...

I think part of the logic is to do with some junctions onto the freeways.They occur quite regularly, whereby you have to cross a carriageway, then turn onto the freeway.....if you can legally overtake on both sides, it means you can turn onto the freeway using what we call the overtaking lanes...if they are free of traffic of course, and vehicles using the other lanes don't need to slow down and wait for you to get in the correct lanes. Maybe.

[Hoofy]

Laziness has a lot to do with it. Many cars don't experience the tramlining you describe. Only one of my cars in my 20+ years as a motorist has really been affected by tramlining in the left lane due to the suspension being set up for racing.

[Blib]

I put it down to fear. They feel safer being further from the 'edge' of the road. Of course, their actions put them in more danger on occasion.

[Pit Pony]

ShaunTheSheep said:

The rutted lane one thing has always been horsest.

I drive in lane one mostly and I can't tell the last time I drove into a rut.

I noticed it the other morning on the M57. The car was unsettled going into lane 1 and unsettled going out of it. Like going over the boats wake when water skiing although not quite at painful.

I do 450 motorway miles most weeks, and have never had a problem getting back into lane 2.

[luckystrike]

Blib said:

I put it down to fear. They feel safer being further from the 'edge' of the road. Of course, their actions put them in more danger on occasion.

I'd say this is a significant part of it. It's the same fear that makes them accelerate up to your blind spot then sit there - I need to be near other traffic so I can go to sleep and vaguely mimic the actions of the other vehicles near me, for being forced to make my own decisions on the road is a scary prospect.

[rocky79]

I suspect it mainly because people can't be are to keep changing lane rather than ignorance.

My lane discipline is pretty good but sometimes I get fed up moving in and out especially on semi busy bits where you in wbyou will catchbthevhgv in l1 pretty soon, just because someone feels like they want to drive at 90+ in the middle lane. Do a reasonable speed and you won't catch most people.

If the road is empty fair enough or they are dawdling along but that rarely happens.

What's is irritating though is people in l3 of a 4 lanes with nothing in l1 or 2.happens all the time between j3 and 1a on the m40. I suspect most people are lining up 4 miles before the m25 slip.

[Martin_Hx]

I find the over taking / keeping to the left thing keeps me alert and occupied! While looking for anyone driving badly of course :-)

[Who me ?]

I saw "divers" and then M69 and thought things might get hairy. Being serious, IMHO ,it's lack of traffic police to guide the unknowing and bother the "take the pee merchants". All these TV programs showing us the PR on how criminals are being denied the use of the roads is great, but unfortunately the motorist who wants to drive sensibly is also being denied the use of motorways etc, by the thoughtless and not so thoughtless with no chance of detection,or enforcement.

[DukeDickson]

Bebee said:

Make it legal to pass on the inside, as they do in the US&A.

I take it that I'm the first then.

No issue this side of the world, bar any debate around what speed you pass at.

[Bebee]

delboy735 said:

theboss said:

Bebee said:

Make it legal to pass on the inside, as they do in the US&A.

I drove a couple of hundred miles in the states in convoy with American relatives, a good hundred of which was spent on a stretch of freeway. The relatives stayed in L3 ('their' L3, leftmost) the whole time at a modest pace, overtaken constantly, and despite knowing the rules over there, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I got asked several times later on "how come you kept driving on the right, is that a UK thing?". If only they could have appreciated the irony...

I think part of the logic is to do with some junctions onto the freeways.They occur quite regularly, whereby you have to cross a carriageway, then turn onto the freeway.....if you can legally overtake on both sides, it means you can turn onto the freeway using what we call the overtaking lanes...if they are free of traffic of course, and vehicles using the other lanes don't need to slow down and wait for you to get in the correct lanes. Maybe.

My logic, is that it will send the middle lane dreamers over, they won't like under passing, irrespective of it being legal to do so, they'll put a stop to it, move over, thus leaving the middle lane free as we would like.

[dublove]

I prefer the middle on an open motorway simply because its the middle of the road with space either side of me. I don't hog if there is other traffic and abide by our lane rules.

However. Making the lanes equal and allow overtaking on the left, like in the USA - slows the traffic down across all lanes as a whole. It would effectively eliminate our 'fast lane' so I am surprised this has not been implemented in the UK.

[trashbat]

dublove said:

I prefer the middle on an open motorway simply because its the middle of the road with space either side of me.

Why? Do you expect your car to fall apart? Or some sort of lateral ambush?

All you're doing is creating more areas that you have to survey in order to know what's going on around you.

[Hol]

After reading some of the odd' comments so far, I have three observations to share:

1. I cant actually remember the last time one of my sports suspensioned cars has been caught in tranlines in lane one!! Not for a long time - years.

2. If someone leaves it so late in lane one to indicate their intention to pull out to lane two, before they risk driving into the car in front - then they obviously havent been using their mirrors, as they could/should have planned it sooner based on thge traffic.

3. I have been stuck in a few traffic jams, but I dont think I have ever 'personally' seen a foreign lorry hit a car in lane one? - let alone a trend??? This could be blind luck in being in the wrong place at the right time, but I would guess the odds ARE really that remote.

[Dracoro]

dublove said:

I prefer the middle on an open motorway simply because its the middle of the road with space either side of me.

Eh? In lane 1, you have ONE lane to the left (HS) and TWO to the right. If you are in the middle lane, you have TWO lanes to your left and ONE to your right.

So, in other words you prefer having fewer lanes to your right than your left. How odd.

[Dracoro]

As for ruts in the road, well, sections that do have them some drivers may prefer to move over but that doesn't excuse it where the inside lane does NOT have ruts (most motorway lane 1s are OK and do not have these ruts).