"Don't hog the middle lane" Matrix sign - M1

[kieranjholland]

Commuting from j41 to j13 on the M1 and back today and saw lots matrix signs saying either:

- Don't hog the middle lane
- Keep left unless overtaking

This was mainly through Nottinghamshire but I also saw it further south. Now I have to admit I didn't see much difference in driving style along the M1 in the morning or afternoon however it's good to see none-the-less. I actually got flashed by a taxi driver in a Skoda Superb for moving from left lane, passing him as he sat in the middle lane and moved safely (indicating) back to the left lane... nob.

I've seen this rarely before around Bristol but today it was on every matrix sign that wasn't asking me to slow because of the fog or a crash.

Highways agency: more please

[sebhaque]

I've raised this topic with the HA beforehand, commending the campaign (it's called "Keep Left Campaign"). The following email, while a bit roundabout, might make interesting reading:

Darren Evans from HA said:

Dear Mr Haque

Thank you for your recent email to the Highways Agency Information Line.

Regarding your comments about not seeing a message to advise drivers to Keep Left. Variable Message Sign (VMS) messages are prioritised and are automatically overwritten when a more important message needs to be displayed, such as a MIDAS message e.g. Queue Caution. At peak travel times this means that road users are less likely to see campaign messages.

We limit the use of campaign messages on VMS to around 1 in 7, as research has shown that if drivers are presented with too many differing messages then they become less likely to absorb the information displayed. The Agency has therefore developed a schedule of campaign messages, designed to support DfT Think! campaigns. A maximum of 3 categories of campaign messages are displayed each month at times and locations that are best suited to each category of campaign.

The timetable for future VMS campaigns and the policy of usage can be found at the below link.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/334.aspx

I hope this information is useful, and again thank you for your feedback.

[northandy]

I've seen the keep left unless overtaking one, and as it happens each time saw at least one car move over, maybe the gentle reminder works for some.

[kieranjholland]

sebhaque said:

I've raised this topic with the HA beforehand, commending the campaign (it's called "Keep Left Campaign").

That is interesting reading - it's good to know, I will follow up and write commending this to encourage but his point make sense, it would be counter productive plastering them on every matrix as people would become desensitised to the message.

Thanks for sharing

[ambuletz]

They should post these around more often. Beats saying 'No Traffic to report'

[skinley]

Good to hear about this, however, I think it's too little, too late.
Too many people drive in the middle lane by default, and have done for years.
They actually think they are following the highway code and anyone who 'swerves' around them is a danger to law-abiding motorists like themselves.
Traffic Police need to target the MLMs and send them on driver education courses, paid for by the MLM, until the lesson is learned.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Hooray!! About time too!

[geeteeaye]

skinley said:

Good to hear about this, however, I think it's too little, too late.
Too many people drive in the middle lane by default, and have done for years.
They actually think they are following the highway code and anyone who 'swerves' around them is a danger to law-abiding motorists like themselves.
Traffic Police need to target the MLMs and send them on driver education courses, paid for by the MLM, until the lesson is learned.

I disagree, the majority on the road will obey anything they see and MLM's certainly will. An excellent use for the gantry signs.

[Zip106]

I'm not surprised the signs were mainly through Notts.
Now we have four lanes, the MLM's are now in lane 3 leaving 1 and 2 empty...

[nottyash]

I would prefer no dicipline as it doesnt seem to work in the UK. There is always a TWUNT in the middle lane.

[skinley]

geeteeaye said:

I disagree, the majority on the road will obey anything they see and MLM's certainly will. An excellent use for the gantry signs.

So why can't they obey the rules that are already in place and have been established for god-knows how many years?

I do agree that this is an excellent use for gantry signs though.

[kieranjholland]

skinley said:

geeteeaye said:

I disagree, the majority on the road will obey anything they see and MLM's certainly will. An excellent use for the gantry signs.

So why can't they obey the rules that are already in place and have been established for god-knows how many years?

The majority of them simply don't know the rules - this route of educating them should see an improvement in regular motorway drivers... i.e. those that actually see these signs.

[skinley]

kieranjholland said:

The majority of them simply don't know the rules - this route of educating them should see an improvement in regular motorway drivers... i.e. those that actually see these signs.

These people fail to see a problem when they are being simultaneously overtaken and undertaken, I doubt whether they are even aware of gantry signs.

But like I said, I applaud the use of gantry signs for this purpose, but I think fines and re-education would sharpen the learning process.

[Blakewater]

I favour Jeremy Clarkson's idea of putting jokes on them. I once saw a trial of a matrix sign being used in roadworks where there was a reduced speed limit. It lit up with the registrations of drivers breaking the speed limit and an instruction to slow down.

[kieranjholland]

Blakewater said:

I favour Jeremy Clarkson's idea of putting jokes on them. I once saw a trial of a matrix sign being used in roadworks where there was a reduced speed limit. It lit up with the registrations of drivers breaking the speed limit and an instruction to slow down.

e.g. KW07 VPT - move to the left lane (you twunt)

- edit - that is a made up numberplate!

[WhoseGeneration]

Now, how are folks taught motorway usage?, and tested on it?
Oh, they're not, we, or rather, those who decide, assume their theory test and avid study of the HC will equip them.
Lamentable state of affairs.

[theboss]

My colleague was telling me he saw exactly this message "don't hog the middle lane" on the M6 Cheshire stretch on the weekend. I thought he may have been embellishing the "keep left" one so really glad to hear they are displaying this.

They should elaborate on a similar theme, I'd love to see one that just says "get out of the fking way"

[Blakewater]

kieranjholland said:

Blakewater said:

I favour Jeremy Clarkson's idea of putting jokes on them. I once saw a trial of a matrix sign being used in roadworks where there was a reduced speed limit. It lit up with the registrations of drivers breaking the speed limit and an instruction to slow down.

e.g. KW07 VPT - move to the left lane (you twunt)

- edit - that is a made up numberplate!

This one was for people breaking the 50mph limit through roadworks. However, the technology is being developed to detect tailgaters. Lasers measure the distance between cars. Theoretically the same kind of system could be used to detect vehicles in the overtaking lanes and a lack of vehicles for some distance in the lane to their left i.e. people hogging the overtaking lanes.

[rottie102]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Just like nobody uses the phone while driving anymore?

I just gave up on preaching to MLMs... I now treat every lane as an overtaking one, can't even be bothered to flash them etc.

[anonymous-user]

kieranjholland said:

skinley said:

geeteeaye said:

I disagree, the majority on the road will obey anything they see and MLM's certainly will. An excellent use for the gantry signs.

So why can't they obey the rules that are already in place and have been established for god-knows how many years?

The majority of them simply don't know the rules - this route of educating them should see an improvement in regular motorway drivers... i.e. those that actually see these signs.

I was chatting to a H/A IT bod at http://www.traffex.com/ 2 years ago, and there are very stringent 'regulations' in what they can 'supposedly' display on the VMS, they are 'supposedly' for 'information' purposes only, therefore certain messages, i'e Don't drink and drive, Don't phone while driving, Don't hog the middle lane etc were classified as 'Educational' therefore not meeting the criteria to be diplayed .

Don't forget common sense is in short supply in the civil service/HA/DfT. But they seem to have to work to the lowest common denominator when working with the general public , why do you think we have to have so many speed limits