Middle lane hoggers- a potential solution?
Discussion
Many will have seen Cycling Mikey’s videos of drivers looking at their phones while in stationary traffic. According to an interview in The Times this year, he has sent enough video evidence to the police to enable them to issue 1,800 penalty points to his victims.
Can we do the same to Middle Lane Hoggers? I drove on the M25 yesterday and the fastest lane was the ‘slow’ lane, as so many slow drivers were driving were driving in the middle lane(s) while the lane to their left was empty for half a mile or more. The M11 was no better.
Watching Cycling Mikey’s videos has made me less likely to look at my phone in stationary traffic in Central London. If we used similar video evidence from our dashcams to report these MLHs to the police, might this deter this selfish behaviour in the same way?
Can we do the same to Middle Lane Hoggers? I drove on the M25 yesterday and the fastest lane was the ‘slow’ lane, as so many slow drivers were driving were driving in the middle lane(s) while the lane to their left was empty for half a mile or more. The M11 was no better.
Watching Cycling Mikey’s videos has made me less likely to look at my phone in stationary traffic in Central London. If we used similar video evidence from our dashcams to report these MLHs to the police, might this deter this selfish behaviour in the same way?
Can’t see it working. In a similar way to me having never heard of this cyclist (although I don’t use my phone in traffic), middle lane hoggers aren’t interested enough in driving that they’d ever become aware of people being reported.
Now, if rumours started that motorway cameras were checking for middle lane use and would result in prosecutions, I’d think you’d see a shift in behaviour. This certainly seems to be true of speed limits, where most people seem to stick to 70-75 on the bits of the M25 and M1 that I use now, compared with 10 years ago when 80-85 was more the norm.
Now, if rumours started that motorway cameras were checking for middle lane use and would result in prosecutions, I’d think you’d see a shift in behaviour. This certainly seems to be true of speed limits, where most people seem to stick to 70-75 on the bits of the M25 and M1 that I use now, compared with 10 years ago when 80-85 was more the norm.
It wouldn’t work. You’d have to prove that the driver hadn’t just overtaken someone or they weren’t in the middle lane due to a forthcoming slip road. There’s many legitimate reasons why someone might be in the middle lane and a short video wouldn’t be enough proof of an offence.
Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Chubbyross said:
It wouldn’t work. You’d have to prove that the driver hadn’t just overtaken someone or they weren’t in the middle lane due to a forthcoming slip road. There’s many legitimate reasons why someone might be in the middle lane and a short video wouldn’t be enough proof of an offence.
Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Which is why they require one full minute before and after an incident. I tried submitting some footage of a woman on her mobile in a suv, completely oblivious to the fact she had mounted the kerb. Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Wouldn’t accept the video as I only had 30 seconds before and after. Despite the video being only 1 minute long, it clearly showed the woman on the phone and the kerb.
Edited by MB140 on Saturday 2nd December 09:44
Chubbyross said:
It wouldn’t work. You’d have to prove that the driver hadn’t just overtaken someone or they weren’t in the middle lane due to a forthcoming slip road. There’s many legitimate reasons why someone might be in the middle lane and a short video wouldn’t be enough proof of an offence.
Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Why would they be in the middle lane “due to a forthcoming slip road”?Can’t they just be taken out by police snipers instead? (only joking, mods).
Maybe use the motorway signs and gantries to carry '3 Points Incoming for Middle Lane Hogging!' message and a tv campaign telling motorists they WILL be receiving points for being a Middle Lane Moron! Using that term and actually nicking a few idiots, and announcing the fact! Governments have used public ad campaigns for various things in the past, maybe 'Tell Sid he's a fookin Moron' could be the slogan, would get my vote! Average speed cameras could be put to use, they can take a picture of you if you're the other type of moron who uses his, or hers, phone while driving and holding it! Sure they could be adapted. It would only take a few high profile prosecutions to make the idiots think twice. 3 Points and a £300 fine would be a fairly good incentive! One high profile second offence case with a £1000 fine and a 2 year ban would probably seal the deal! Just an idea off the top of my head, not given it that much thought tbh! 
Edited by Short Grain on Saturday 2nd December 15:15
Seems reasonable that any dashcam footage would provide sufficient evidence. The solution being a warning for the first offence, along with some guideance. Then a fixed penalty for the next one and driving without due care an attention for any further offences. That said, MLHs can easily be passed in Lane 3. I don't are too much about them. I'd sooner see tailgaters taken to the cleaners.
As for some busybody filming people checking their phones when in stationary traffic... the phrase "get a life" springs to mind. Don't get me wrong, people whe use their phones while in motion should have the book thrown at them, however, the people checking their phones while stationary are more likely the ones who waited until it was safe rather than doing it while moving. Perhaps they should start using their phones while in motion to prevent some curtain twitcher on a pushbike being able to see them!
As for some busybody filming people checking their phones when in stationary traffic... the phrase "get a life" springs to mind. Don't get me wrong, people whe use their phones while in motion should have the book thrown at them, however, the people checking their phones while stationary are more likely the ones who waited until it was safe rather than doing it while moving. Perhaps they should start using their phones while in motion to prevent some curtain twitcher on a pushbike being able to see them!
Edited by MitchT on Saturday 2nd December 15:32
Even official cameras.targetting middle lane joggers that resulted in prosecutions won't change a thing.
People will just complain about the cameras in the same way they whine about speed cameras.."Revenue raising", "nanny state", so on and so forth.
Call me cynical but I doubt much less than summary execution will change this behaviour.
People will just complain about the cameras in the same way they whine about speed cameras.."Revenue raising", "nanny state", so on and so forth.
Call me cynical but I doubt much less than summary execution will change this behaviour.
Drezza said:
I've just been dobbed in by some grass with a dashcam for undertaking a lane 3 hogging throbber. Now I need to attend a "driver re-education course", no doubt the throbber in lane 3 gets off with nothing. What a wonderful country we live in.
Two wrongs have never made a right. In any event, it probably also relates to how fast he was going in lane 3........ 70mph ?Drezza said:
I've just been dobbed in by some grass with a dashcam for undertaking a lane 3 hogging throbber. Now I need to attend a "driver re-education course", no doubt the throbber in lane 3 gets off with nothing. What a wonderful country we live in.
Sounds harshWas it a stay in lane 1 & cruise pass
Or a full on lunge?!
If the former, very unlucky. Most do that all the time..
Drezza said:
I've just been dobbed in by some grass with a dashcam for undertaking a lane 3 hogging throbber. Now I need to attend a "driver re-education course", no doubt the throbber in lane 3 gets off with nothing. What a wonderful country we live in.
I keep thinking it’s only a matter of time for me to get one too. I’m just so fed up of having to go from L1 to L4 every time some f-tard decides to sit in L3 for no effing apparent reason. It’s got so bad I just don’t bother any more.
What I don’t do is accelerate and undertake then weave in front of them to make a point. I just sit with the cruise sat at 75 (about 72 gps) and just cruise on past. I’m hoping that would be enough to appease the plod or whoever gets to decide.
It was on the M6 in roadworks but there were no road workers, only cones. 50mph zone, he was hogging the lane doing under 50mph when lane 1 was clear so I just undertook and carried on at 54 indicated on the speedo so GPS 50mph. Can't believe someone was sad enough to dob me in let alone the plod doing me for it.
So watch out for dash cam throbbers!
So watch out for dash cam throbbers!
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