Finest MLM in the World Award?
Discussion
Last week the M/A23 was shut due to a bomb scare on the Handcross bridge crossing the carriageways. I sat on another motorway bridge half a mile further up watching the RLC Bomb Disposal team deal with the problem, which I hear turned out to be nothing more sinister than a batbox!
Anyway, the A23 was closed in both directions for hours, so when the BiB eventually opened it up, whoever got on first to head south had about a fifteen mile clear stretch ahead of them and no traffic behind for five miles. I say "whoever", in fact it was a woman in a black Mini cabriolet. From the bridge I saw her emerge over the horizon, completely alone with the whole three lanes clear as far as the eye could see both in front and behind of her.
There's a Blue Peter badge for the first person to guess which lane she was in....
Anyway, the A23 was closed in both directions for hours, so when the BiB eventually opened it up, whoever got on first to head south had about a fifteen mile clear stretch ahead of them and no traffic behind for five miles. I say "whoever", in fact it was a woman in a black Mini cabriolet. From the bridge I saw her emerge over the horizon, completely alone with the whole three lanes clear as far as the eye could see both in front and behind of her.
There's a Blue Peter badge for the first person to guess which lane she was in....
Really sticking my neck out here, but in the same situation I might have done the same thing - if there's no traffic for miles, my natural (annoying) tendency to prefer symmetry would quite possibly have put me in the middle lane, too.
I must add that I am a huge MLM hater and actively 'demonstrate' where possible the correct use of the road when ever I see such idiocy myself, and should you ever come across me you can rest assured that I will NOT be hogging the wrong lane.
Jay
I must add that I am a huge MLM hater and actively 'demonstrate' where possible the correct use of the road when ever I see such idiocy myself, and should you ever come across me you can rest assured that I will NOT be hogging the wrong lane.
Jay
At least there was no-one behind her - sort of makes the MLM academic, a bit like the "if a tree falls in teh woods and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" question.
Although I am still exasperated by people who see the ML as the default lane - what does go through their fuzzy little brains.
Any BiB's had reason to discuss lane discipline with one of these specimens and find out why they do it?
Although I am still exasperated by people who see the ML as the default lane - what does go through their fuzzy little brains.
Any BiB's had reason to discuss lane discipline with one of these specimens and find out why they do it?
jaykaybi said:
Really sticking my neck out here, but in the same situation I might have done the same thing - if there's no traffic for miles, my natural (annoying) tendency to prefer symmetry would quite possibly have put me in the middle lane, too.
There's also the potential issue of the road quality in the nearside lane - there are quite a few spots on my regular routes where it's pretty pitted and generally not too nice to drive on - if driving in the middle lane wasn't going to obstruct or inconvenience anyone wanting to 'make progress', I'd probably do it quite cheerfully.
As I'm usually pretty much the slowest thing on the roads pootling along at 70-ish, I don't tend to get the chance to do much middle lane occupying.
Bing o said:
At least there was no-one behind her - sort of makes the MLM academic, a bit like the "if a tree falls in teh woods and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" question.
If a man says something in a forest, and there are no women around to hear it, is he still wrong?
claypigeon60 said:
Bing o said:
At least there was no-one behind her - sort of makes the MLM academic, a bit like the "if a tree falls in teh woods and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" question.
If a man says something in a forest, and there are no women around to hear it, is he still wrong?
A straw poll among women of my acquaintance suggests: "yes, definitely, no question about it."
I find that this sort of thing happens on DC's aswell. People getting into the outside lane well before is required for right turns, right on roundabout, etc. Best one was someone from the office opposite me pulled out the car park and onto the DC straight into RHL. OK, I thought roundabout just ahead, do the same myself quite often and no on else is on DC. Only to find at the end of DC she moves into inside lane to go left!
I was giving a guy from work a lift home once and when I finished overtaking a slower driver on inside lane, I moved back into inside lane too. Response from my colleague was "What you doing in this lane?" Same sort of people also tend to think DC's are 60 and only motorways are 70!!
I was giving a guy from work a lift home once and when I finished overtaking a slower driver on inside lane, I moved back into inside lane too. Response from my colleague was "What you doing in this lane?" Same sort of people also tend to think DC's are 60 and only motorways are 70!!
WTF are these people on?
Similar thing today, following a car on a slip road onto an empty dual carriageway, just plain ordinary driving within the limits, we are the only vehicles within sight. He immediately crosses the deserted lane 1 and takes up position in lane 2, I join the carriageway and start to make progress in lane 1, undertaking the t
t in the process. I really did not see any point in moving across to lane 2 myself as well, then closing up behind him and hoping he would move back to lane 1 to allow me to continue, when & if he noticed me.
No mistake, these people should be put up against the wall and shot.
I would really, genuinely like an explanation?
Then of course, there are those who do move over for you, you pass them and return to lane 1, they return to lane 2. This is also commonplace.
Similar thing today, following a car on a slip road onto an empty dual carriageway, just plain ordinary driving within the limits, we are the only vehicles within sight. He immediately crosses the deserted lane 1 and takes up position in lane 2, I join the carriageway and start to make progress in lane 1, undertaking the t
t in the process. I really did not see any point in moving across to lane 2 myself as well, then closing up behind him and hoping he would move back to lane 1 to allow me to continue, when & if he noticed me. No mistake, these people should be put up against the wall and shot.
I would really, genuinely like an explanation?
Then of course, there are those who do move over for you, you pass them and return to lane 1, they return to lane 2. This is also commonplace.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Friday 11th May 20:31
If I'm behind someone on a two-lane road (doing the same speed), with no-one approaching from behind, I'll sit in lane 2 (assuming the car in front's in lane 1). It gives me better visibility and more clear road ahead of me. Of course, if someone does come up behind, I'll shift over to 1 and back to 2 when it's clear again. I was taught to do that by a Police instructor who I respect greatly.
I agree that choice of lane on an empty road is nothing to get worked up about. Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2). Just be aware of other traffic, if any, and don't act like they're not there.
MLMs who sit there getting in the way when the motorway's reasonably full should, of course, be shot.
I agree that choice of lane on an empty road is nothing to get worked up about. Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2). Just be aware of other traffic, if any, and don't act like they're not there.
MLMs who sit there getting in the way when the motorway's reasonably full should, of course, be shot.
Major Bloodnok said:
If I'm behind someone on a two-lane road (doing the same speed), with no-one approaching from behind, I'll sit in lane 2 (assuming the car in front's in lane 1). It gives me better visibility and more clear road ahead of me. Of course, if someone does come up behind, I'll shift over to 1 and back to 2 when it's clear again. I was taught to do that by a Police instructor who I respect greatly.
I agree that choice of lane on an empty road is nothing to get worked up about. Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2). Just be aware of other traffic, if any, and don't act like they're not there.
MLMs who sit there getting in the way when the motorway's reasonably full should, of course, be shot.
I agree that choice of lane on an empty road is nothing to get worked up about. Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2). Just be aware of other traffic, if any, and don't act like they're not there.
MLMs who sit there getting in the way when the motorway's reasonably full should, of course, be shot.
Yep, what 'e said ^^^^
Major Bloodnok said:
Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2).
Ah, you mean the old racing line down the M6 toll road manoevre - helps straighten the road out at 120 leptons...
Those of you on here who talk about choosing different lanes for different reasons aren't MLM's, as the fact that you are aware of what you are doing, is sufficient to negate the second M in MLM
I'll not use the nearest lane when it's been pissing down with rain and there is a plume of water coming up off other traffic, so I'll take the quietest lane(which often is still Lane 1!!!
Bing o said:
Major Bloodnok said:
Many's the time I've gone down the M6 Toll with no-one around, moving across lanes to improve the view through the curves (so mostly using lanes 1 and 3, and only passing through 2).
Ah, you mean the old racing line down the M6 toll road manoevre - helps straighten the road out at 120 leptons...
I can't say I've ever hit that speed, but, even at 70, anything that gives me advanced warning of the MLM in his Rover 45 - taking the designation of his car too literally - can't be a bad thing.
late night once on some motorway, pitch black and in the middle lane due to ruts in lane 1, got flashed by some tard and gave him the finger
On came the blue lights and got pulled over, like there was nothing on the road except a couple of bored plod, got the have i been drinking anything routine, mention had several pints... instant breathalyser which came clear. They were puzzled and asked what beer i was drinking, replied that i had not speciifed the drink and they jumped to conclusions - was pepsi for the most part as was driving.
asked them about the ruts and they shrugged, checked the car for defaults for 10 mins and found nothing, then some nice porche driver came round the corner very, very fast and they had a sudden urge to leave me
On came the blue lights and got pulled over, like there was nothing on the road except a couple of bored plod, got the have i been drinking anything routine, mention had several pints... instant breathalyser which came clear. They were puzzled and asked what beer i was drinking, replied that i had not speciifed the drink and they jumped to conclusions - was pepsi for the most part as was driving.
asked them about the ruts and they shrugged, checked the car for defaults for 10 mins and found nothing, then some nice porche driver came round the corner very, very fast and they had a sudden urge to leave me
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