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.

[Nostrils]

I hope it is for a week, 24 hours of the day. I only drive my E30 M3 at the weekends and like to advance to my designated destination without too much hassle (like anyone really!) Sunday early evenings are the worst, middle laners on M4/M25/M40 without a thought or care in the world.

A spirited manoeuvre into the inside lane after overtaking does work on occasions and have recently flashed some to get over, but it would be me that gets it in the neck if I were ever to be caught.

Ramble over!

[Rawwr]

About time, really.

[hugoagogo]

what's the betting they combine this in each location with a camera for the newly-cleared right lane

[DennisTheMenace]

there is a post running about this allready
HERE