Middle lane cruisers

[swindorski46]

Is it illegal to be in the "wrong" lane on a motorway/dual carriageway?

Or am I just going to have to live with idiots who don't even have the confidence in their own ability to change lanes occasionally?

Think of the release of congestion if people actually used 3 lanes of the motorway.......

[tuffer]

I like the middle lane, it gives me plenty of room to weeve about, I feel safer because the lorries don't use it much, I can stay at a steady 65mph without having to keep pulling out to overtake and if I use my foglights all the nice people wave at me

[streaky]

tuffer said:

I like the middle lane, it gives me plenty of room to weeve about, I feel safer because the lorries don't use it much, I can stay at a steady 65mph without having to keep pulling out to overtake and if I use my foglights all the nice people wave at me

Front as well as rear?

[volvod5_dude]

I can't be arsed to use the inside lane unless there's nothing on the MWay - what's the point. I usually cruise at 85-90mph and still get overtaken by twats who make a point of returning to the inside lane. A few hundred yards on they invariably get boxed in and I go sailng past them again - morons.

>> Edited by volvod5_dude on Sunday 25th January 12:23

[swindorski46]

It would appear that I am one of those "Twats" who deliberately make a point of returning to the CORRECT lane after an overtaking manoeuvre.

And yes, I do sometimes get blocked in a few hundred yards down the road, by people driving in the incorrect lane.

The point is there are 3 lanes on a motorway, one for driving in (the far left one), and two for overtaking.

FACT.

[streaky]

Tramlining (sometimes incorrectly known as 'bump steer') makes it dangerous to drive the Wedge in most inside lanes, so I'm generally found in the middle and overtaking (when overtaking ) lanes when driving it. In the Jeep it's a different story. With foresight, there is no need to get stuck in the inside lane - although the tail-gaters in the middle lane can make it almost impossible to pull out without causing someone to brake hard.

Streaky

>> Edited by streaky on Sunday 25th January 17:26

[jmorgan]

It is one of the most anoying things I have to deal with when driving the van. Should behave like most people expect a white van driver to do and sit on your tail.

[dannyboyo]

streaky said:

Bump steer (sometimes incorrectly known as 'tramlining') makes it dangerous to drive the Wedge in most inside lanes, so I'm generally found in the middle and overtaking (when overtaking ) lanes when driving it. In the Jeep it's a different story. With foresight, there is no need to get stuck in the inside lane - although the tail-gaters in the middle lane can make it almost impossible to pull out without causing someone to brake hard. Streaky

Same here, If it's busy then I'll always try and use the correct lane, but if it's quiet and I'm in the Chimaera then I tend to stay in the middle lane because the worn bits on the far left lane make the TVR tramline all over the place, making it bloody hard to stay in a straight line.

If I see something coming up behind me though then I always move over in good time so he doesn't have to change lanes.

If I'm in any other car, then I'll always return to the left lane.

[swindorski46]

That's fair enough, and I dare say I'd do the same. If the road's empty it makes no difference (Does a tree falling make a sound if there's no one there to hear it......).

But when there are other cars around not only is it the most annoying thing in the world but it actually causes congestion.

I believe that it is illegal to "undertake" on a motorway. But I have always maintained that if everyone is in the correct lane then undertaking is impossible.

Secondly to that is the fact that you should only use the two outside lanes to overtake.

If I'm on the inside lane, and someone else in front is in either of the others, I don't need to pull out to overtake so I don't.
Technically I'm breaking the law by undertaking.

Surely if it's illegal to be in the "Wrong", and this is enforced we get no undertaking (Safer), less congestion (three lanes in use instead of two) and happier motorists (Les stress/road rage).

Everyone's a winner!

WE DRIVE ON THE LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY!

[Mr2Mike]

streaky said:

Bump steer (sometimes incorrectly known as 'tramlining') makes it dangerous to drive the Wedge in most inside lanes

Apologies for the OT, but bump steer and tramlining are two entirely separate (but simmilar) phenomenon. Bump steer is caused by non-ideal suspension geometry that causes a change in toe as the suspension is compressed (i.e. in bump). This causes the car to change direction over rough ground. Often caused by lowering the suspension without relocating the steering rack, or just through poor design.

Tramlining is the propensity of a car to follow small imperfections in the road, especialy the depressions made by HGV's and raised white lines. Causes are numerous, but worn ball joints and bushes, incorrectly sized wheels (especialy wrong offset) and poor alignment are usualy to blame. Cars with ultra-low profile tyres are more susceptable to this.

[Dr Jekyll]

The inside lane IS the motorway.

The other lanes are just for overtaking.

[streaky]

Mr2Mike said:

streaky said: Bump steer (sometimes incorrectly known as 'tramlining') makes it dangerous to drive the Wedge in most inside lanes Apologies for the OT, but bump steer and tramlining are two entirely separate (but simmilar) phenomenon. Bump steer is caused by non-ideal suspension geometry that causes a change in toe as the suspension is compressed (i.e. in bump). This causes the car to change direction over rough ground. Often caused by lowering the suspension without relocating the steering rack, or just through poor design. Tramlining is the propensity of a car to follow small imperfections in the road, especialy the depressions made by HGV's and raised white lines. Causes are numerous, but worn ball joints and bushes, incorrectly sized wheels (especialy wrong offset) and poor alignment are usualy to blame. Cars with ultra-low profile tyres are more susceptable to this.

Oops! "bump steer" and "tramlining" were supposed to be transposed in my original ... now done - S

[beermatt]

Hi folks - first post, be gentle with me..

I also have a problem with Middle lane hogs, however I'm not sure it's actually illegal. The relevant sections of the Highway code appear to be "Should"/"Should Not" rather than "Must"/"Must Not" - I believe it has to state "Must"/"Must Not" for you to be committing an offence if you do not follow it (perhaps a BiB could clarify)..

Relevant sections of the highway code are:-
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/23.shtml#238
"You should drive in the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear."

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/23.shtml#241
"Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe to do so. Overtake only on the right." (no "You Must").


>> Edited by beermatt on Sunday 25th January 18:38

[james_j]

If the inside lane is clear then move over.

It is moronic to sit in the middle lane if the inside is clear, just use the steering wheel and move over.

If you think about it, sitting in the middle lane means that behind you, the road is now only two lanes wide, meaning that there is only one lane to overtake you.

Much congestion is created by sitting in the middle lane.

Middle lane hoggers - think of how your driving affects others.

[ledfoot]

I have noticed that in bad weather conditions when poor visibility is a factor when following other traffic, then Numpty will pull out into lane 3 just so that he/she will have a clean windsceen and not have to use wipers.

Numpty travels at 65mph in lane 3 regardless of traffic behind wanting to pass, but as long as he/she has a nice clear windscreen and doesn't have to use wipers because they are too dammed lazy to top up the windscreen washer then Numpty doesn't give a dam to other motorists on the same road.

[dj_rog]

Large debate on undertaking to be seen here... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=61159&f=10&h=0&hw=undertaking

[jwo]

I too am a muppet that goes into the left hand lane if it is clear to do so. With good lane discipline and observation you do not get boxed in! (invariably if you did get boxed and a queue of slower moving traffic is forming in lane 2 and 3, lane 1 is invariably empty and you can sail through - not illegal) Hence volvos should have no need to stay in the middle lane.

Lanes 2 and 3 are for overtaking

Also, keeping good lane discipline attracts less attention to oneself if travelling briskly.

[pbrettle]

Or alternatively you might be that dozey middle ages bint that nearly ran me off the motorway today!!! Cruising down the M4 and can see a Ford Kak joining. I am in lane one and decide to move over into lane 2 - common decency and polite. Low and behold said bint proceeds to not look, and launch across two lanes, nearly sending me into the barrier.....

Didnt look, didnt care and certainly didnt give any consideration to the multitude of other drivers behind me who then bunched up as they all queued to pass her - when she was doing 65 on a clear motorway and not passing a thing....

Thats what a middle lane cruiser does - sticking in your lane for a little too long isnt going to hurt or kill anyone. Causing congestion through bad driving and lack of situational awareness is not excusable in any circumstance and needs to be prevented.

I wonder how many accidents have been caused by someone being caught at the end of an increasing queue of traffic through one of these morons? Blissfully unaware the carnage they have caused - "cos its safe in the middle lane, isnt it?"....

[granville]

pbrettle said:

...morons.

Insecticus middlelanatum moronum.

Forget driving fast: this is by far the most dangerous, congestion generating act of selfish guppy tw@ttism since men in tweed trilbys decided on the Volvo 240DL as their chariot of choice.

[Mr2Mike]

volvod5_dude said:

I can't be arsed...

Which is unfortunately the attitude of most numpties.