Do the Left Thing
It's not just in the UK that poor lane discipline infuriates
Looking at American TV you might think that US motorists don't give a stuff about lane discipline and that cruising about in whatever lane you want is the order of the day.
Not so. The National Motorists Association has designated June as Lane Courtesy Month with the slogan "Do The RIGHT Thing!"
According to the organisation, lack of lane discipline has a powerful influence on highway safety, traffic flow, and congestion. They point out that its effect is potentially more important than speed limits, traffic enforcement, or any other attempt to control driver behavior.
The NAM state in their briefing, "This act of courtesy will significantly improve highway safety. By not obstructing other drivers, we are allowing traffic to flow more smoothly. When traffic flows smoothly, there is less tailgating, less weaving in-and-out of traffic, and therefore fewer accidents."
Meanwhile in the UK police are content to point laser guns at the outside lane whilst the inside lane remains empty...
Encouraging numpties to pull out of the way requires some care however. The NAM advocate a brief flash of the indicator to convey the desire to get past as this is the most non-confrontational approach. A slight change in horizontal road positioning can also be more apparent than moving closer to the car in front.
The other useful piece of advice offered by the NAM is to make no assumptions about cars trying to get past: "The motorist seeking to pass in the left (USA) lane may be responding to a family or health emergency. Another possibility is that faster left lane vehicles are preceding an emergency vehicle and are seeking an opportunity to merge right. The bottom line is that no valid purpose is served by blocking the left lane when other vehicles wish to pass. Let the police sort out the reckless and irresponsible drivers."
Link : www.motorists.org
P.S. listen out to PistonHeads.FM at PistonFest
for our own ditty on the matter 
another funny thing I have noticed on motorways is a lot of people appear to be scared of the fast lane . they will come up behind and rather than go round you sit there behind you. then when you do move out of the way they will go past. has anyone else noticed this?
RB Will said:
another funny thing I have noticed on motorways is a lot of people appear to be scared of the fast lane . they will come up behind and rather than go round you sit there behind you. then when you do move out of the way they will go past.
Now, don't get me wrong here ...
But it's a bit of a gender thing. Blerks work on speed priority (maintain speed, change lanes to suit); gurls work on position priority (reluctant to change lane, adjust speed to suit).
Must be a spatial awareness thing.
Try this gender test. Travelling on DC or M'way, closing on traffic in a lane to your left. Rearmost car in said leftward lane is closing on the vehicle to its front.
Invite car in left lane to join your lane ahead of you. Male driver maintains speed, moves out and acknowledges your thoughfulness; female driver slows down and stays put.
Not an infallible test, but reliable enough to win bets with your passengers.
This is an observation on my experience, not a rant against any particular gender.
zumbruk said:
I don't know why the septics are making a fuss anyway - they have "both sides overtaking" on Freeways in most States. I'd suggest we had it here, but I suspect that your average numpty couldn't cope with it.
I stayed in the left lane alot on my way to Santa Pod on Saturday. It seemed to be the only one that was empty, and I don't see the point of queuing up in the right lane, when you can get there alot quicker and piss more people off.
Of course I only undertake when they are braking, and I'm not.
Only thing that gets me is that no fecker wants to let a Mk2 Cavalier move into the outside lane and as sooon as they see that right indicator they accelerate into the gap.
EnDubya said:What lane are you in? You are overtaking cars in the lane to your left aren't you? Not just hogging the outer lane because you're driving fast.
Try this gender test. Travelling on DC or M'way, closing on traffic in a lane to your left. Rearmost car in said leftward lane is closing on the vehicle to its front.
EnDubya said:How do you invite the car to join the lane? Is it a recognised signal in the Highway code. Flashing your lights could mean "do join us in this lane and overtake the car in front" or "watch out I'm coming through so don't pull out until I've passed"
Invite car in left lane to join your lane ahead of you. Male driver maintains speed, moves out and acknowledges your thoughfulness; female driver slows down and stays put.
What do PHs do when they come up to a tail of ten or more cars in the outside lane of a two lane DC or MW when the inside lane is empty?
FlossyThePig said:
What do PHs do when they come up to a tail of ten or more cars in the outside lane of a two lane DC or MW when the inside lane is empty?
I use the free lane, and slowly undertake the first (back of the queue) car, who will speed up to close the gap. Then he will have to brake, cause he's got too close. As he brakes I floor it and start the process again with the next car. When I get to the front and there's a micra or horse box in front of me, I just barge back in to the right lane. It's all in the Highway code if you look carefully, but if you can't find it it may be that I'm developing my own Jacko Lah's version of the highway code. Called : Driving, how to drive like your car was free and you don't give a stuff what anyone else thinks.
Oh dear I'm becoming like the chavy scum that I hate.
It would probably help if the government did something to sort out the shocking state of the inside lanes on most of the motorways! Sometimes you don't have a choice other than use the middle lane as the inside lane decides to tram line you into oblivion (although this only really applies to cars with wider tyres!)
Phil S said:
It would probably help if the government did something to sort out the shocking state of the inside lanes on most of the motorways! Sometimes you don't have a choice other than use the middle lane as the inside lane decides to tram line you into oblivion (although this only really applies to cars with wider tyres!)
I'm pretty sure the Four could get to Heathrow down the M4 without me touching the steering wheel, such is the way it tramlines.
Partially lorry ruts, partially fig 8 joints with 60K on them......
FlossyThePig said:
How do you invite the car to join the lane? Is it a recognised signal in the Highway code. Flashing your lights could mean "do join us in this lane and overtake the car in front" or "watch out I'm coming through so don't pull out until I've passed"
In accordance with Rule 90, flashing my headlights only means one thing -- "I am here".
People just simply will not get over, and move out of the outside (supposedly fast) lane. It's usually some dolt in an SUV or pickup truck as big as an army tank, yapping on his mobile phone.
You can flash all day long, but they will not get over. Sometimes, all they do is slow down even more!
And people wonder why LA is the land of road rage !!
It's so bad that normally I just put on the local smooth jazz station, and poke along with the folks in the slow lane and not worry about the rest of the world. I do have to maintain my sanity after all....
I will have to admit that mabe the UK has it right. If you can pass that F*@king UK driving test, you obviously know how to drive. Here, it's once around the block. If you don't wipe out a couple of cars and run over a little old lady, you pass.
hedgetrimmer said:Sounds like a suggestion for Monster Garage
Has anyone built an 80 mph snowplough??? That'll fettle the buggers.
Coming through !!!!!!!
www.ridedrive.co.uk/tipoffs15.htm
please feel free to takea look.
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