Are Middle Lane Morons Breeding?

[bigothunter]

Topic of MLMs arose on another thread but it was out of context. It's worth discussing so I've started this thread.

Another PHer mentioned that motorway lane discipline is getting worse and MLMs are breeding fast.

I had noticed MLMs breeding but thought it was just me becoming even more grumpy.

Is the go slow, brain dead driving 'safety' culture taking over? Are we actually encouraging MLMs? Should motorway lane discipline be abandoned with all lanes running at 55mph like some freeways in the States?

Feels like we are going that way, encouraged by popular opinion.

Your opinions are valued

[Canon_Fodder]

Most of them look to me like they're frozen in fear and think that sticking to a middle lane will mean they never have to overtake which is a step too far for their confidence and competence.

Hey ho, a mild annoyance but worse - IMV - are the impatient 'lesson-givers' who undertake them

[Pica-Pica]

bigothunter said:

“Your opinions are valued”

Are you sure?

[Theraveda]

bigothunter said:

Should motorway lane discipline be abandoned with all lanes running at 55mph like some freeways in the States?

Most States in the US have "both sides passing" on freeways, so the issue of MLMs never arises.

[Arnold Cunningham]

While I acknowledge the test is a bit harder now than when I did mine, I think the abundance of driver aids now encourages drivers to "switch off" more and just sit in adaptive cruise control in the middle lane with the lane warning system on and generally paying less attention.

So maybe not breeding - but I think the "real" skill of drivers now is lower than it's been for a long time. And it will continue as cars become more and more automated.

[MC Bodge]

For some reason Lane 3 on 4 lane and "Smart" (4 lane, no hard shoulder) motorway is a popular haunt for some people.

Maybe these people are unaware of the use of "the lane formerly known as the Hard Shoulder"?

[MC Bodge]

Canon_Fodder said:

Hey ho, a mild annoyance but worse - IMV - are the impatient 'lesson-givers' who undertake them

If travelling in a lane to the left of a lane hogger, then a driver should not be required to move to a lane to the right of them to pass them.

[croyde]

If someone undertook me, I would hand my licence in at the nearest police station.

[freedman]

MC Bodge said:

If travelling in a lane to the left of a lane hogger, then a driver should not be required to move to a lane to the right of them to pass them.

IIRC, you don't need to

As long as you were in that lane originally and travelling within the speed limit

[Vasco]

It's a combination of things.

Many 3-lane motorways are full of lorries in lane 1. Despite the Highway Code most car drivers won't go in and out (and it's probably safer for all if they don't)

Too many now use cruise control set about 70, which may be 65 in practice

Those doing 85-90 in lane 3 make the lane 3 cars appear slow

[bigothunter]

Pica-Pica said:

bigothunter said:

“Your opinions are valued”

Are you sure?

Maybe there are some exceptions

[Steve Campbell]

Theraveda said:

Most States in the US have "both sides passing" on freeways, so the issue of MLMs never arises.

What is the risk assessment for "undertaking" in the UK v the US perspective ? Is it such a bad thing ? Why do we consider it so dangerous we actually have it written into the highway code with advise not to do it whereas it's perfectly acceptable in US ? Don't want to de-rail this thread though....this one might be another thread :-).
MLM's are a special breed....I pity them rather than try and get too annoyed....I've even been known to "tut" as I pass them ;-)

Edited by Steve Campbell on Wednesday 30th March 11:49

[joropug]

On the topic of undertaking MLMs , I would and do so if I can remain in lane 1 after . If I need to then move to the middle I’ll go round them.

In my head i do a bit of a risk assessment , but logic says if they haven’t moved for miles they aren’t suddenly going to have a change of heart. I don’t sit in their blind spot.

Biggest peeve for me is when you’re in lane 1 and someone in lane 2 doesn’t anticipate your need to overtake a slower moving car or lorry so just sit blocking you

[bigothunter]

Theraveda said:

bigothunter said:

Should motorway lane discipline be abandoned with all lanes running at 55mph like some freeways in the States?

Most States in the US have "both sides passing" on freeways, so the issue of MLMs never arises.

Although on the higher speed non-urban freeways, many States encourage lane discipline. "Both sides passing" works at 55mph but is less safe as speeds rise.

[bigothunter]

Arnold Cunningham said:

While I acknowledge the test is a bit harder now than when I did mine, I think the abundance of driver aids now encourages drivers to "switch off" more and just sit in adaptive cruise control in the middle lane with the lane warning system on and generally paying less attention.

So maybe not breeding - but I think the "real" skill of drivers now is lower than it's been for a long time. And it will continue as cars become more and more automated.

Maybe fully autonomous cars (Level 5) can't come soon enough...

[Shnozz]

Definitely think the problem is getting worse. The building of smart motorways also now seems to mean the MLM have now turned into the one inside of the outside lane - as in they sit with 2 empty lanes to their left. Absolutely shocking.

Seems very much a UK issue and one I never encounter to any great extent abroad.

[MC Bodge]

joropug said:

Biggest peeve for me is when you’re in lane 1 and someone in lane 2 doesn’t anticipate your need to overtake a slower moving car or lorry so just sit blocking you

A good indicator of a competent, attentive, driver is how they anticipate that sort of thing.

[Arnold Cunningham]

bigothunter said:

Maybe fully autonomous cars (Level 5) can't come soon enough...

I reckon autonomous cars will pretty much only sit in the inside lane. Can't imagine an autonomous car dropping 2 gears and nailing the throttle to do an overtake. Maybe that's not quote the optimal way to overtake, I dunno.

[TheDrownedApe]

Whilst i don't think they are breeding they are fricking annoying. However as has been mentioned, there are so many bad drivers on motorways nowadays it amazes me there are not more accidents.

just a quick worcester to warwick yesterday and i came across:

Middle lane owners at 70
Middle lane owners at 80 that won't change lanes but slow down until the car infront has pulled over then speed up again
Drivers altering their speed between 70-85 for no reason - when travelling at 78 with CC this is infuriating
Drivers that don't pull out to let you out when next lane is empty and you are indicating
Drivers pulling out then indicating
Drivers pulling out into your 2 sec space
Drivers pulling out thinking they have right of way

However it's no different from 10 years ago and there is no one demographic to blame

Saying that i was in my "not normal" car and happy to speed along at 78. The advent of me buying an electric car and forcing myself to stick to 70 has resulted in me not seeing a lot of these idiots. as i'm plodding along in the inside lane.

[s55shh]

increase the speed limit then there won't be loads of traffic all sat on cruise control at similar speeds. The problem I see is that the traffic densities often mean that if you move left after an overtake, you get delayed in moving out again for the next one by some numpty sitting 0.5mph faster sitting next to you.