Monday 8th August 2005

'Keep left' reminders go up

Middle lane hogs to be reminded but only for a week

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Keep left...

At last! The Department of Transport is to start reminding drivers to 'keep left unless overtaking' on the UK’s motorways and 'A' roads, using electronic message boards. The downside? The campaign's only going to last a week.

From 7am today, selected motorway message signs will display the message 'Keep left unless overtaking' for a week. This, said the department, is "part of an overall campaign this summer that encourages better driving habits to reduce congestion and improve safety for us all."

Transport Minister Derek Twigg said: "We want all drivers to think about how they are using motorway lanes. The 'Keep left unless overtaking' signs are designed to raise awareness among road users of their driving habits and the impact they can have on others. Better use of motorway lanes will help to avoid causing great irritation to other drivers. It can also help to keep traffic moving freely, reducing congestion and improving safety for us all".

Forty variable message signs will be used in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The Highways Agency is urging road users to ask themselves:

• Have I finished overtaking?
• Is the road ahead clear?
• Could I move to the left?
• Am I holding up traffic behind me by staying in this lane?

The Highway Code advises motorway drivers to keep in a left-hand lane unless they are overtaking slower-moving vehicles. Drivers are told to return to the left hand lane after completing the overtaking manoeuvre or if they are holding up traffic behind them.

Public response

Public response from earlier 'Keep left' Highways Agency trials in October 2004 and January 2005 showed that a large part of the driving public supported the signs. Over half of public response was positive, with many wanting further campaigns. Results from trials in October 2004 showed that on average an additional 200 vehicles per hour moved left at each of the six locations -- the department didn't say what proportion this represented but, since peak traffic flows on the M25 (for example) hit around 10,000 vehicles an hour, it's not high.

They tell us that other messages during so-called motorway month are:

• Make time for a break
• Keep your distance
• Watch your speed
• Take extra care at roadworks
• Don't phone while driving.

[DavidCane]

Excellent, a useful message. Of course this does assume that the middle lane morons are capable of reading roadsigns whilst driving.....what are the odds?

I did witness a biker on the M40 giving a BMW middle-lane hog some serious abuse (via hand signals) yesterday. It made me smile, only cos the BMW driver couldn't work out what he'd done wrong.

DC

[RickH]

Don't know whether its a Scottish thing only, but we get "Don't take drugs and drive" on the gantrys here.

Rick

[billb]

how about "look at the road not this sign".....

[Adrian W]

But can lorry drivers read!!

[PetrolTed]

A welcome message but I wonder if many MLMs actually understand the requirement to move to the left anyway!?

[Gruffy]

It's a start, at least.

I agree, that most MLMs probably don't understand the repercussions of their habits. Just one of those very expensive 'speed kills' TV ads could be used to show the effects and I'm sure that would get the job done.

Gruffy

[jmorgan]

Its been one of the many displayed in the Cardiff area. Must teach people to read first. Maybe it will work then?

[roop]

We seem to have had this message displayed on the overhead signs in Lancashire for a good while now. Whilst on the M6 heading out of Preston, I was in lane one with a MLM ahead and to the right of me when a cop Rangie overtook us both made a quick flash of his strobe lights on the back and displayed the exact same message in the rolling LED display in the rear window. Numpty instatly moved over, seems they just need persuading. Seen the same thing to a berk in a Honda who was driving with his fog lights on.

Edited to say, wouldn't it be cool if they could have PH style ranting smileys on the signs...?

"...Move over you lane hogging tts...!"

>> Edited by roop on Monday 8th August 11:07

[gibo993]

These signs are needed on the M40, the worst road in Britain for MLM's.

have seen it displayed in Scotland many times.

[shadytree]

well it's a start. IMO this is the most annoying facet of motorway driving today. It frustrates quicker drivers and often leads to illegal undertaking which can be dangerous. I believe if lane discipline was improved, journey times and congestion would be reduced as well as accidents !

[v15ben]

I was highly tempted to get the same message as a car sticker for any point that I am driving on a motorway!

Something like:
"This lane isn't just for you, "
OR:
"What the are you overtaking, are you blind?"

I still might get the second one done when I get home!
They do those signs here in Oz but their version is much better:
"Keep left unless overtaking, offenders will be fined 100 Dollars!"

[jetoid]

MLMs are stupid and insensitive, otherwise they wouldn't be MLMs, but if even a fraction of them can be taught the error of their witless ways, I support the campaign.

A purge is overdue on the M8 around Glasgow, which I drive daily. Three-lane carriageways are consistently reduced to two - resulting in increased congestion - by buffoons who appear to think lane one is paved with piranhas.

Also, who are these dawdlers who hog lane two of A-class dual carriageways, thus preventing any form of legal overtaking? If they're preparing to turn right, fair enough, but when their target junction lies one, two or more miles away, their actions are unneccessary, selfish and - like MLMs - they screw traffic flow.

>> Edited by jetoid on Monday 8th August 12:21

[DennisTheMenace]

they were saying dont drink and drive on the M4 in wales last week , nearly spilt my special brew after having to take avoiding action whilst reading the sign as it was blurred.

And the next sign further down had the same message but with letters missing , thought i was on countdown for a minute

[Big Fat F'er]

Trouble is the good drivers don't need the signs. The idiots do, but they are too thick to take notice.

I've seen 'em all - men, women, young, old, big car, small...it makes no difference. If you are an absolute D**K, then you always will be.

By the way, being held up by a total idiot shouldn't encourage you to undertake. I've seen too many serious accidents and near misses....it ain't worth it.

[ssbell]

Something does not compute. Moving left on M25 while 10,000 cars per hour are using it. Moving any place in such conditions is all but impossible - including forwards!

[mightymouse]

About time an' all but it won't be enough.

Trouble is CLH ers' will still treat the lane as their own personal space.

[ginettag27]

Good reminder, but the only one I've seen is where the M40 joins the M42 (westbound, M5), this is only two lanes and with, effectively, two lanes joining soon after, can only cause confusion and problems - it would be better to have the sign after all the 'kerfuffle' (sp?) of the joining of the two motorways indicating the message, not before!! all imo of course!

Something also needs to be done about the signs at junctions 4 and 9 on the M40 - where the motorway is two lanes at this point, with entry on to the motorway being lane 1.. This causes no end of confusion to quite a few drivers, usually going quite slowly, thinking they have to leave their lane to join the motorway...

It's also interesting that as soon as people see/view the signs being on they instinctively slow down/brake.. Then see it's a message, such as take time for a break, etc.. and then speed back up again - is this the intention?? hmmm...

[andyps]

Hope it works - it is well overdue! Plus, at least it is a positive message, unlike most of the others which are used - I always find that the "don't phone whilst driving" one makes me use the phone. It reminds me I have one in the car, and I begin to think about all the people I need to speak to.

The one which always make me smile is "make time for a break" - if I am reading the sign I have already set off on my journey and I probably have to be at the destination by a particular time. The only way to make time for a break is to drive quicker. Is that a suitable defence

[andrew d]

Nice idea, but I doubt it will work. The reason people hog the middle lane (at least in my experience) isn't because they forget to pull in, it's because their competence behind the wheel isn't up to the challenge of motorway driving, and changing lanes is a harrowing experience for them, hence they get into the middle lane and stay there.

Most of them are too busy staring at the road three metres in front of their bonnet to notice a sign anyway.

They should bring back public service adverts on the TV that explain the theory behind proper driving. Lets face it, the driving test doesn't anymore. All instructors teach is how to jump through the hoops for the examiner.

[JonRB]

My mother is a "MLM" (sic)

Her justification is that if she gets into the inside lane then she is worried she won't get out again. I think the reality is that she isn't confident about changing lanes and just sitting in the middle lane for the whole journey is her comfort zone.

I'm not for one minute suggesting this is a valid argument, but it is an interesting insight into the mentality of MLMs, isn't it?

Edit: What andrew d said.

>> Edited by JonRB on Monday 8th August 13:51