For those that undertake, is it....

[VladD]

mattman said:

300bhp/ton said:

Mazdarese said:

5pen said:

I never move to a left hand lane to overtake, but if I'm in lane 1 travelling at, say 70, and some knob is in lane 2 unnecessarily and travelling at, say 60, then I will pass them on the left.

What would you do, out of interest, if you came across a vehicle sat at 50mph in lane 2 who won't move, and you wanted to travel faster?

You have three options:

1 - Move over to lane 1 and slow down so as to not undertake them - Crap, the whole road is now blocked.
2 - Sit behind them in lane 2 at their speed - Crap, you're now the same as them.
3 - Move over to lane 1 and pass them on the inside - This is what I'd do, but it's viewed by many as illegal.

You can't win. The world's a mess. Nu Labia etc Winky Mcfknugget

I have to say, having driven many 1000's of miles (like many) since passing my test in 1997. No idea how many miles, but suspect averaging 18-20k a year.

I honestly would say I find this situation very, very, very rare. So much so that I'd say it almost never happens. At least not for anything that last longer than 30 seconds or so. So nothing that should cause any sane person an issue.

In fact the only time I can truly recall it happening (not being racist, just stating an observation) is when you have an indian/Pakistani of around 50 who evidently has never taken a UK Driving Test. And they just sit in the wrong lane at low speed and have no clue that they shouldn't.

Blimey - wish I drove on your roads - happened to me twice on the M1 last saturday when both lanes 1 and 2 were clear but the twonk sat in lane 3 at 65-70mph - within the space of 20miles - tried moving across their field of vision from a safe distance, friendly flash, etc but nothing - moved over to lane 1 passed and stayed there until i needed to use lane 2 again and they still sat there not moving over.....

Ditto for me. Lane discipline is shocking in this country. It used to wind me up massively and I would to try and get the offenders to move over, but now I just pass them and let them get on with it.

[kambites]

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

[300bhp/ton]

RobM77 said:

In November I changed my daily practical car for something really slow, and it's subtley changed my driving, and I can now appreciate an understand things that used to annoy me. With regard to undertaking, if I come off a roundabout at 60mph (same speed as in my Elise) and accelerate to 70, what am I supposed to do about someone in the outside lane of an empty dual carriageway doing 50mph? In the Elise and my previous daily driver (Z4 Coupé) I would slow to 50 behind them, patiently wait for them to move, then squirt up to 70 again, move back to lane 1, thank them, and move on my way; but now that I've got such little power I'm afraid to say that I take the cheaper and less arduous option and just drive past (if safe) at 70... I would only do this if there was a lane between us though, or a very wide road with lots of room. It is annoying though if you're in something slow! Maybe the OP should try driving a slow car to see how it changes things? Still illegal of course, but it does change one's outlook.

Thanks Rob, but I've got and driven plenty of slower cars.

I guess the situation I'm meaning isn't a deserted dual carriage way with only you and one other car on it. I suspect for most, this is a rare or never occurrence.

I mean more like driving a 100 miles on a motorway, using cruise control and having tts weaving in and out from all directions cutting you up.

In one instance the other week, I'm in the middle lane, easily running at higher speed than the vehicles on my left and running at a slower speed to the vehicles on my right.

A car comes up behind and tailgates me (despite there being a car on my left, so I had nowhere to go). They could have overtaken on my right though as the traffic was light enough to easily pull out.

I pass the car on my left, check the mirror and make to pull into the left lane, but before I can do so, the idiot behind speeds up and dives into the left lane (causing me to have a wobble on the steering wheel while I don't drive into them, despite me indicating to pull into the left lane).

However it doesn't end here, there was still traffic in the left lane, traffic which was going slower than me. This idiot manages to pull just about level with me/ half a length a ahead before they have to slow down due to the slower traffic. So I stick on cruise control and continue to overtake the slower traffic that is in the left lane, as the car behind me. Eventually the idiot pulls back out to the middle lane and then after all this faffing and dangerous driving do they decide to pull into the right lane. By this time I've passed the other slower traffic and I'm now happily sitting in the left hand lane on cruise control at the same speed still. They eventually pass me with an empty middle lane between us....

[G0ldfysh]

300bhp/ton said:

kambites said:

I think it's just frustration with the idiots who wont let you overtake. If there is room to undertake, then the person you want to pass should have moved left so you didn't have to.

Not always.

Over New Year I went on rescue mission to collect someone from Brighton. Mostly motorway (3/4 lane) and dual carriage way.

There were some total dickwads about, weaving in and out of the traffic as though it was some sort of grand prix. And in most cases they'd have got just as far down the road had they stuck in a single lane.

Yup because spanners just sitting in one lane not using the road properly and pulling into lane 1 clog it up.
Over the holidays with less traffic would expect to make better progress.

[RDMcG]

RobM77 said:

CampDavid said:

RobM77 said:

In November I changed my daily practical car for something really slow

Maybe the OP should try driving a slow car to see how it changes things? Still illegal of course, but it does change one's outlook.

The OP wishes half his cars were as quick as your BM

Really? I'll have a look at his profile!

I just thought I'd post because the slow diesel thing has really changed my driving. It's all about keeping up momentum now, and numpties stuck in the outside lane (and various other people who unexpectedly get in your way through poor driving and not following the Highway Code), have become much more annoying now that I don't have the power to recover so quickly from losing all that speed (and even enjoy it with a lovely engine note!).

Very good point. I just spent a few weeks driving the Autostrada with an Audi A3 diesel 5 speed. I had forgotten about the whole "planning for speed" world. The car was plenty fast in terms of higher speed cruising, but it sure took its time getting there.

[944fan]

kambites said:

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

So are a lot of things. Any the highway code advises against it, doesn't prohibit it.

[VladD]

kambites said:

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

So is speeding, so it's lucky none of us do that either.

[Scamper]

300bhp/ton said:

mattman said:

300bhp/ton said:

Mazdarese said:

5pen said:

I never move to a left hand lane to overtake, but if I'm in lane 1 travelling at, say 70, and some knob is in lane 2 unnecessarily and travelling at, say 60, then I will pass them on the left.

What would you do, out of interest, if you came across a vehicle sat at 50mph in lane 2 who won't move, and you wanted to travel faster?

You have three options:

1 - Move over to lane 1 and slow down so as to not undertake them - Crap, the whole road is now blocked.
2 - Sit behind them in lane 2 at their speed - Crap, you're now the same as them.
3 - Move over to lane 1 and pass them on the inside - This is what I'd do, but it's viewed by many as illegal.

You can't win. The world's a mess. Nu Labia etc Winky Mcfknugget

I have to say, having driven many 1000's of miles (like many) since passing my test in 1997. No idea how many miles, but suspect averaging 18-20k a year.

I honestly would say I find this situation very, very, very rare. So much so that I'd say it almost never happens. At least not for anything that last longer than 30 seconds or so. So nothing that should cause any sane person an issue.

In fact the only time I can truly recall it happening (not being racist, just stating an observation) is when you have an indian/Pakistani of around 50 who evidently has never taken a UK Driving Test. And they just sit in the wrong lane at low speed and have no clue that they shouldn't.

Blimey - wish I drove on your roads - happened to me twice on the M1 last saturday when both lanes 1 and 2 were clear but the twonk sat in lane 3 at 65-70mph - within the space of 20miles - tried moving across their field of vision from a safe distance, friendly flash, etc but nothing - moved over to lane 1 passed and stayed there until i needed to use lane 2 again and they still sat there not moving over.....

Sorry, am I reading this right?

You drove for 20 miles on the M1 with no traffic in lane 1 and 2????? And only a single car in lane 3?

Me thinks you are not telling all.

I think you need to drive the M4 during the week for some really spectacular MLM driving...i have also encountered MLM's who have occupied the middle lane for 8/10/13 miles of my commute. All whilst i was using the correct lane, moving from L1 to L2 and back again.

Just because you never see it on your limited motorway driving doesnt mean it does not exist! It does and is a real pain for those who commute on a daily basis.

[kambites]

944fan said:

kambites said:

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

So are a lot of things. Any the highway code advises against it, doesn't prohibit it.

Put it this way, if you did it and someone pulled left into you, I suspect the insurance companies would view it as 100% your fault, or at least 50/50.

Edited by kambites on Monday 10th January 14:11

[RobM77]

300bhp/ton said:

RobM77 said:

In November I changed my daily practical car for something really slow, and it's subtley changed my driving, and I can now appreciate an understand things that used to annoy me. With regard to undertaking, if I come off a roundabout at 60mph (same speed as in my Elise) and accelerate to 70, what am I supposed to do about someone in the outside lane of an empty dual carriageway doing 50mph? In the Elise and my previous daily driver (Z4 Coupé) I would slow to 50 behind them, patiently wait for them to move, then squirt up to 70 again, move back to lane 1, thank them, and move on my way; but now that I've got such little power I'm afraid to say that I take the cheaper and less arduous option and just drive past (if safe) at 70... I would only do this if there was a lane between us though, or a very wide road with lots of room. It is annoying though if you're in something slow! Maybe the OP should try driving a slow car to see how it changes things? Still illegal of course, but it does change one's outlook.

Thanks Rob, but I've got and driven plenty of slower cars.

I guess the situation I'm meaning isn't a deserted dual carriage way with only you and one other car on it. I suspect for most, this is a rare or never occurrence.

I mean more like driving a 100 miles on a motorway, using cruise control and having tts weaving in and out from all directions cutting you up.

In one instance the other week, I'm in the middle lane, easily running at higher speed than the vehicles on my left and running at a slower speed to the vehicles on my right.

A car comes up behind and tailgates me (despite there being a car on my left, so I had nowhere to go). They could have overtaken on my right though as the traffic was light enough to easily pull out.

I pass the car on my left, check the mirror and make to pull into the left lane, but before I can do so, the idiot behind speeds up and dives into the left lane (causing me to have a wobble on the steering wheel while I don't drive into them, despite me indicating to pull into the left lane).

However it doesn't end here, there was still traffic in the left lane, traffic which was going slower than me. This idiot manages to pull just about level with me/ half a length a ahead before they have to slow down due to the slower traffic. So I stick on cruise control and continue to overtake the slower traffic that is in the left lane, as the car behind me. Eventually the idiot pulls back out to the middle lane and then after all this faffing and dangerous driving do they decide to pull into the right lane. By this time I've passed the other slower traffic and I'm now happily sitting in the left hand lane on cruise control at the same speed still. They eventually pass me with an empty middle lane between us....

I'm totally with you on that.

With regard to my post though, I do spend a fair amount of time on fairly empty dual carriageways at night, and frequently get the situation that I described. Often if you slow to their speed and follow them, they refuse to move over anyway, so there's nothing gained!

[VladD]

kambites said:

944fan said:

kambites said:

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

So are a lot of things. Any the highway code advises against it, doesn't prohibit it.

Put it this way, if you did it and someone pulled left into you, I suspect the insurance companies would view it as 100% your fault.

That's a massive if though and coonsidering that the driver is a MLM, pulling into the left hand lane is very unlikely. It's all about percentages and common sense.

[doodles19]

Roberty said:

adycav said:

Worst poll ever.

What about a "stuck for miles behind tt who won't move despite numerous friendly/less friendly flashes" option?

This Option

This.

[kambites]

300bhp/ton said:

...
A car comes up behind and tailgates me (despite there being a car on my left, so I had nowhere to go). They could have overtaken on my right though as the traffic was light enough to easily pull out.

I pass the car on my left, check the mirror and make to pull into the left lane, but before I can do so, the idiot behind speeds up and dives into the left lane (causing me to have a wobble on the steering wheel while I don't drive into them, despite me indicating to pull into the left lane).

However it doesn't end here, there was still traffic in the left lane, traffic which was going slower than me. This idiot manages to pull just about level with me/ half a length a ahead before they have to slow down due to the slower traffic. So I stick on cruise control and continue to overtake the slower traffic that is in the left lane, as the car behind me. Eventually the idiot pulls back out to the middle lane and then after all this faffing and dangerous driving do they decide to pull into the right lane. By this time I've passed the other slower traffic and I'm now happily sitting in the left hand lane on cruise control at the same speed still. They eventually pass me with an empty middle lane between us....

It's not the undertaking that's dangerous there though, it's the weaving in and out of lanes. What he did would have been just as stupid if he'd been on the other side of you.

[kambites]

VladD said:

That's a massive if though and coonsidering that the driver is a MLM, pulling into the left hand lane is very unlikely. It's all about percentages and common sense.

There is some truth in that, but it's a risk that I'd rather avoid if reasonably possible.

[Tunku]

It is an overtake, even if it is on the left - FFS!

[Pints]

Daft options. Skip voting.

[RobM77]

kambites said:

VladD said:

That's a massive if though and coonsidering that the driver is a MLM, pulling into the left hand lane is very unlikely. It's all about percentages and common sense.

There is some truth in that, but it's a risk that I'd rather avoid if reasonably possible.

Sometimes though it's more dangerous to move all the way from lane 1 out to 3 and then back to 1 again, and not just the manouvre, but the knock on effect it has behind you. I agree though, that is what I would normally do on a motorway, and I'd judge it far enough ahead to flow with the traffic. I must say though, moving out to lane 3 can be especially hard when about 50% of cars seem to accelerate to close the gap as soon as you indicate.

[Vipers]

kambites said:

944fan said:

kambites said:

944fan said:

Why not? It is not illegal.

Well it's in breach of the highway code, except in slow moving traffic.

So are a lot of things. Any the highway code advises against it, doesn't prohibit it.

Put it this way, if you did it and someone pulled left into you, I suspect the insurance companies would view it as 100% your fault, or at least 50/50.

Edited by kambites on Monday 10th January 14:11

What ever happened to "Mirror, Signal, then manouevour", and as for the HC term "Slow moving traffic", what is slow? me thinks only a judge can decide on that.

[DannyVTS]

[RobM77]

Buggles said:

VladD said:

Ditto for me. Lane discipline is shocking in this country. It used to wind me up massively and I would to try and get the offenders to move over, but now I just pass them and let them get on with it.

Exactly this, I get bored with getting the coffee beans now for having the audacity to perhaps give people a wee flash to let them now that they aren't the only vehicle on the carriageway. Much easier and less stressful to cruise past in Lane 1.

Edited by Buggles on Monday 10th January 14:28

I prefer not to initiate a confrontation if I can. The other danger with hanging behind a lane hogger is that it can promote dangerous undertaking, and by that I mean desperate swinging and then charging left, rather than a measured mirror check, MLM driving check, and cautious undertaking pass. I've seen MLMs cause lots of chaos further down a queue as it builds, but normally when I come across a MLM on my own there's nobody behind me at that stage.