Worst motorway for lane hogging in the UK?
Discussion
Which motorway do you think is the worst for lane hogging and general discipline in the UK? Short journey up the M6 from the M69 near Coventry to the A38(M) in Birmingham this evening and I found the left-hand lane the best one to make progress in.
So many cars were bunched up in lane 3 and 4 doing 60-65mph. The odd car in lane 2, and lane one empty bar the occasional HGV. I drove at 70mph in the left hand lane, moving to lane 2 to pass trucks and back to the left again. Must've passed tens, maybe closer to a hundred cars that were following each other like sheep in lane 3 and 4.
And on the contrary, which do you think is the best motorway for discipline? I'd say either the M5 south of Avonmouth (outside of holiday season that is) or the A1(M) north of Wetherby. Most drivers keep to the left-hand lane. Ironically both of these are non-smart motorways with three lanes. It seems like smart motorways create not very smart drivers.
So many cars were bunched up in lane 3 and 4 doing 60-65mph. The odd car in lane 2, and lane one empty bar the occasional HGV. I drove at 70mph in the left hand lane, moving to lane 2 to pass trucks and back to the left again. Must've passed tens, maybe closer to a hundred cars that were following each other like sheep in lane 3 and 4.
And on the contrary, which do you think is the best motorway for discipline? I'd say either the M5 south of Avonmouth (outside of holiday season that is) or the A1(M) north of Wetherby. Most drivers keep to the left-hand lane. Ironically both of these are non-smart motorways with three lanes. It seems like smart motorways create not very smart drivers.
Mr Tidy said:
People only seem to keep to the inside lane on 2 lane ones like the M26 and M54, so they are the best!
I do the M54 twice a day to and from work, and have done since 2012. It's OK when the schools are out, but the rest of the time either HGV's glacially passing other HGV's in L1, or HGV's glacially passing car drivers doing an indicated 50 in L1. Then again, actually out of peak hours it's OK.
I've always found the M40 pretty good for lane discipline (and speed)
m74 is noteable due to the less traffic compared to down south so the lane hogging stands out. plenty of experiences of no traffic ahead for miles but theres someone just sitting bang smack in the middle of 3 lanes and not even doing the shimmy over when someone is approaching which results in the 3 lane swerve and back or the undertake and dissapointed head shake on the way by.
I think the problem with smart motorways, or any motorway with more than three lanes, is that lanes 1 and 2 very often become extended sliproads and take the traffic onto other roads. Then other roads merge and become lanes 1 and 2 again. People find it easier to camp in lane 3 than watch the signs, change lanes and generally think about what they're doing.
The M55 is only a short motorway from the M6 to Blackpool. It's possibly the nature of the day trippers to Blackpool, but there often seem to be lots of people lined up in lane 2 with lane 1 empty.
The M55 is only a short motorway from the M6 to Blackpool. It's possibly the nature of the day trippers to Blackpool, but there often seem to be lots of people lined up in lane 2 with lane 1 empty.
M4 the worst. Both directions from M25 to London and from London to the M25.
Even at 5am out of London I have seen taxis sat in L3 doing 55-60 with no one around for 200 yards except for me undertaking in L1.
Always found M40 to be ok even when heavy. People did always seem to try and move over when they could.
Even at 5am out of London I have seen taxis sat in L3 doing 55-60 with no one around for 200 yards except for me undertaking in L1.
Always found M40 to be ok even when heavy. People did always seem to try and move over when they could.
tbox Prius type things sat in lane 2 at 60mph taking people to StanstedMr Tidy said:
In my experience the worst Motorways for lane hogging are all the ones with 3 or 4 lanes.
People only seem to keep to the inside lane on 2 lane ones like the M26 and M54, so they are the best!
2 lane ones are fine until you meet stubborn truck drivers that refuse to drop their cruise control by 1-2mph while being overtaken by another truck. End up stuck behind them for miles while they attempt to overtake. A bit of courtesy would help in situations like this, but it seems far less common to see these daysPeople only seem to keep to the inside lane on 2 lane ones like the M26 and M54, so they are the best!
Blakewater said:
The M55 is only a short motorway from the M6 to Blackpool. It's possibly the nature of the day trippers to Blackpool, but there often seem to be lots of people lined up in lane 2 with lane 1 empty.
Well the left-hand lane does fork off at J4. I guess people just like to get into lane 10 miles in advance 
Mr Tidy said:
In my experience the worst Motorways for lane hogging are all the ones with 3 or 4 lanes.
People only seem to keep to the inside lane on 2 lane ones like the M26 and M54, so they are the best!
But those are terrible for elephant racing which is worse than middle lane/outside lane hogging as it means you're stuck at 56 mph for 15 miles without any opportunity to overtake.People only seem to keep to the inside lane on 2 lane ones like the M26 and M54, so they are the best!
Edit: Beaten to the same point!
Edited by QuickQuack on Sunday 13th October 23:25
M6/M62. You have all the orange women and skinny drainpipe trouser men with ultra pointy shoes from Manchester/Leeds etc driving in L2/3/4.
Once time I drove the entire way from Manchester to Brum in L1, constantly undertaking a woman in L3 in a white Mazda CX30 who was utterly oblivious tht she had rendered the M6 around her into having only L4 as the overtaking lane.
Once time I drove the entire way from Manchester to Brum in L1, constantly undertaking a woman in L3 in a white Mazda CX30 who was utterly oblivious tht she had rendered the M6 around her into having only L4 as the overtaking lane.
Has to be the M6 between Manchester and Birmingham. Especially the south bound side. Lane hogging is so bad on this stretch that lanes 1 & 2 sometimes move quicker because lane 3 or 4 is stacked with everyone doing 60mph.
On the smart motorway stretches many people have an aversion to using lane 1 for some reason.
The two lane stretch of the M42 is also not great. Let’s sit in the right hand lane even though there’s nothing in to overtake for another 800 yards seems to be the attitude of a lot of drivers on this stretch.
On the smart motorway stretches many people have an aversion to using lane 1 for some reason.
The two lane stretch of the M42 is also not great. Let’s sit in the right hand lane even though there’s nothing in to overtake for another 800 yards seems to be the attitude of a lot of drivers on this stretch.
vikingaero said:
M6/M62. You have all the orange women and skinny drainpipe trouser men with ultra pointy shoes from Manchester/Leeds etc driving in L2/3/4.
Once time I drove the entire way from Manchester to Brum in L1, constantly undertaking a woman in L3 in a white Mazda CX30 who was utterly oblivious tht she had rendered the M6 around her into having only L4 as the overtaking lane.
Kindly explain what are Orange women and skinny drainpipe trouser menOnce time I drove the entire way from Manchester to Brum in L1, constantly undertaking a woman in L3 in a white Mazda CX30 who was utterly oblivious tht she had rendered the M6 around her into having only L4 as the overtaking lane.
With photos please?
There's that bottom part of the Northbound M1, around St Albans, where it's a free for all sometimes. Cars are just spread all across the lanes.
I really think that people who are too scared or too lazy to use the lanes properly shouldn't be allowed on the motorway system without going through some kind of training to improve their ways.
I do hope that the police are taking people aside and trying to educate them about lane use so that we can try to make motorway journeys a bit better for all.
I really think that people who are too scared or too lazy to use the lanes properly shouldn't be allowed on the motorway system without going through some kind of training to improve their ways.
I do hope that the police are taking people aside and trying to educate them about lane use so that we can try to make motorway journeys a bit better for all.
I'd say M6 from Junction 19 to 16 and then 14 to 12. The 4 lane bits largely with the variable speed limit. Absolutely horrific.
Discounting motorways, if there is a worse major trunk road for lane hogging it must be the A34 dual carriageway on weekdays from Winchester to Oxford. It is the only main route from the south coast ports to the midlands and is just one long elephant race hell of lorries passing other lorries. Last time I was on there a large articulated lorry was passed by another lorry and then immediately spent 5 miles re-overtaking it and then slowly drafted past another 3 lorries for good measure. I just lost the will to live I have to be honest.
Discounting motorways, if there is a worse major trunk road for lane hogging it must be the A34 dual carriageway on weekdays from Winchester to Oxford. It is the only main route from the south coast ports to the midlands and is just one long elephant race hell of lorries passing other lorries. Last time I was on there a large articulated lorry was passed by another lorry and then immediately spent 5 miles re-overtaking it and then slowly drafted past another 3 lorries for good measure. I just lost the will to live I have to be honest.
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