Middle lane idiot

[theplayingmantis]

DocSteve said:

I don't know if anyone has mentioned there's an on slip (as indicated by the hazard sign) approaching which would be another possible reason for taking that lane.

If you are not holding anyone up and aware of your surroundings including what is behind you then the lane of your choice is fine. "Hogging" the middle lane refers to holding other motorists up (and that includes when lane 1 is free and a motorist needs to use lane 3 to overtake you). I fully agree with Derek Smith's views on this.

Fair point, but blindly getting into the middle lane without even seeing if the slip is in user is poor driving, especially on an empty freeway where there is ample opportunity to get over if needed.

I've had people randomly pull out in front of me causing me to break as they are getting over in anticipation of a slip road that was empty. Poor awareness and observation.

[DocSteve]

theplayingmantis said:

DocSteve said:

I don't know if anyone has mentioned there's an on slip (as indicated by the hazard sign) approaching which would be another possible reason for taking that lane.

If you are not holding anyone up and aware of your surroundings including what is behind you then the lane of your choice is fine. "Hogging" the middle lane refers to holding other motorists up (and that includes when lane 1 is free and a motorist needs to use lane 3 to overtake you). I fully agree with Derek Smith's views on this.

Fair point, but blindly getting into the middle lane without even seeing if the slip is in user is poor driving, especially on an empty freeway where there is ample opportunity to get over if needed.

I've had people randomly pull out in front of me causing me to break as they are getting over in anticipation of a slip road that was empty. Poor awareness and observation.

Yes, correct - but my point is that you should be aware of your surroundings at all times including what is behind so your description of said driver would not fit into that category. There are several reasons why driving in a certain lane may be appropriate but, as I say, not if it inconveniences anyone or creates a hazard.

[Chozza]

theplayingmantis said:

Fair point, but blindly getting into the middle lane without even seeing if the slip is in user is poor driving, especially on an empty freeway where there is ample opportunity to get over if needed.
.

What about when the slip isn't visible ? I can think of plenty that are behind trees, crash barriers or come from above/below that are difficult to see.

[DBSV8]

Draxindustries1 said:

bigothunter said:

R56Cooper said:

I love driving at speed on an empty motorway, swooping from L1 to L3 and hitting the apexes on bends.

Struggling to get my head around applying entry lines and (late) apexes to motorway bends.

Do you heel-and-toe downshift and trail brake into motorway bends as well ?

He's on a wind up , nobody does this...

M27

hit the apex everytime


good stuff

[easyhome]

AyBee said:

easyhome said:

I’m not going to pull back in and out for every one.

Precisely the attitude that every MLM shows They think that one lane to get past them is plenty, which doesn't take into account that if there's a car going faster than the car overtaking them, they're causing a bottleneck. It might be ok at 2am in the morning, but I imagine the majority of people who display MLM driving at 2am, do it all the time.

That’s why I specified I was talking about 2am. TBH, I’d have my cruise set at 80 anyway, so with lorries a few hundred metres apart, by the time I’ve moved over in front of one, I’ll be indicating to move out again almost immediately, so I’d like to think the car overtaking me would be moving over to the outside lane anyway to let me out.

[Short Grain]

theplayingmantis said:

Fair point, but blindly getting into the middle lane without even seeing if the slip is in user is poor driving, especially on an empty freeway where there is ample opportunity to get over if needed.

I've had people randomly pull out in front of me causing me to break as they are getting over in anticipation of a slip road that was empty. Poor awareness and observation.

as long as you can get yourself together again before you rear end them!

[nipsips]

Driving standards are so awful these days I’ve given up getting moody and losing my temper now, I just tend to expect it - but what really gets my back up, and I mean really boils my urine is when you’re moving from lane 1 doing 70 and you’re catching up to a couple of dawdlers in lane 2, move to lane 3 to overtake, dawdler one realises and moves to lane 1 and dawdler 2 now speeds up to the same speed as me meaning that lane 2 and 3 are now both blocked.

This results in me having to cancel my cruise control to pull back into lane 1 so as not to hold up the road. Repeat when dawdler 2 now catches up with another dawdler in lane 2.

Personally I’d be in favour of refresher driving courses every year - just a quick drive with an instructor to check you’re aware of your surrounding. Could even be funded by the insurers who ultimately would end up paying out less.

[Gary C]

easyhome said:

AyBee said:

easyhome said:

I’m not going to pull back in and out for every one.

Precisely the attitude that every MLM shows They think that one lane to get past them is plenty, which doesn't take into account that if there's a car going faster than the car overtaking them, they're causing a bottleneck. It might be ok at 2am in the morning, but I imagine the majority of people who display MLM driving at 2am, do it all the time.

That’s why I specified I was talking about 2am. TBH, I’d have my cruise set at 80 anyway, so with lorries a few hundred metres apart, by the time I’ve moved over in front of one, I’ll be indicating to move out again almost immediately, so I’d like to think the car overtaking me would be moving over to the outside lane anyway to let me out.

Awareness is the key

Sometimes I might not move left and other times I will, depending on what other traffic is doing. Sometimes I will lift gently rather than pull into L3 so a faster car can come past then merge in behind or delay a change so that the car in front can go to L3 as I follow rather than bullying them into remaining in L2 as I go past.

Its all about anticipation and understanding what's behind is as important as what's in front.

[andygo]

Gary C said:

Awareness is the key

Sometimes I might not move left and other times I will, depending on what other traffic is doing. Sometimes I will lift gently rather than pull into L3 so a faster car can come past then merge in behind or delay a change so that the car in front can go to L3 as I follow rather than bullying them into remaining in L2 as I go past.

Its all about anticipation and understanding what's behind is as important as what's in front.

Totally agree.

I'm not sure it's all down to awareness, I think bloody mindness and laziness is a factor. Not to mention lack of skill and decision making.

[nickfrog]

My son followed an unmarked police car for 5 miles on the M25 travelling in the middle lane for no apparent reason. He overtook them and made a polite sign asking what they were doing.

They theb stopped him and bked him, claiming that a new driver like him shouldn't tell an experienced Police driver how to drive. He replied that basic lane discipline should have been part of their training.

He said they shouted at him but couldn't fine him for anything he did wrong. They also had a go at him for not having evidence of insurance in his car, I didn't know that was compulsory.

He didn't have the balls to ask for their ID to report them, not that I think it would have helped although they did record the conversation.

He said they were old, fat and angry though...

[VSKeith]

nickfrog said:

....

He said they were old, fat and angry though...