Fast middle lane hoggers

[BusaMK]

I do about 20k on the motorway a year so I of course hate MLMs who are inconsiderate and don’t give a damn, but I really don’t see the big issue staying in L2 if you’re making progress and not holding anyone up - you’re also avoiding the sometimes broken up lane surface, ruts and associated standing water from Lorries in L1, which is a recommended technique in the plod manual I’m sure.

If you have a big speed differential it makes sense to not go into lane 1 as you can also see further in front of the traffic in L1 which you otherwise wouldn’t see. Lastly, switching lanes constantly when you’re making progress also plays havoc with radar cruise control and is probably a big reason why more and more cars stay in L2 and L3. So it isn’t as black and white as people think in the real world. Maybe I’m wrong though...

[CABC]

BusaMK said:

I do about 20k on the motorway a year so I of course hate MLMs who are inconsiderate and don’t give a damn, but I really don’t see the big issue staying in L2 if you’re making progress and not holding anyone up - you’re also avoiding the sometimes broken up lane surface, ruts and associated standing water from Lorries in L1, which is a recommended technique in the plod manual I’m sure.

If you have a big speed differential it makes sense to not go into lane 1 as you can also see further in front of the traffic in L1 which you otherwise wouldn’t see. Lastly, switching lanes constantly when you’re making progress also plays havoc with radar cruise control and is probably a big reason why more and more cars stay in L2 and L3. So it isn’t as black and white as people think in the real world. Maybe I’m wrong though...

i think you're right.
not everyone staying in L2 is an MLM.

[M4cruiser]

brucezepplin said:

I have a slightly more nuanced question. I drive at least speed limit, and most of the time drive around the 80 mph mark and will go 90 if I need to overtake

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 12:23

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 12:26

If you break the Highway Code yourself then you can't really complain that other people are breaking it too. Even if they are breaking a different part of the Code.

I.E. if you think you can break the speed limit then you'll have to accept that others think they can break the lane rules.

[vsonix]

'Weaving' is not the same as retuning to the left after passing. Even if it means you move out to pass and move back in every fifteen seconds.

[Tootles the Taxi]

brucezepplin said:

Not at all. As mentioned in the post, I I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken. I'll point out - when someone does overtake on third, I never see them heading for L1, they just come back to L2 or stay in L3 of driving fast enough.

My argument, is that if there are plenty of people swapping between L1 and L2 multiple times per minute then surely that presents some risk?

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 17:46

And there you have it ... "I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken..."

It isn't a fking race. We should make the driving test much harder and include motorway driving in it, just to weed out morons like you.

[coldel]

Tootles the Taxi said:

And there you have it ... "I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken..."

It isn't a fking race. We should make the driving test much harder and include motorway driving in it, just to weed out morons like you.

The test wont make any difference unfortunately, people will still increase the risk of injury or death by speeding and ignoring advisory guidelines for driving on roads.

[LFAwhoosh]

Tootles the Taxi said:

And there you have it ... "I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken..."

It isn't a fking race. We should make the driving test much harder and include motorway driving in it, just to weed out morons like you.

Without digressing too much....it would be a sad day if motorway training just taught how to stick to 70 - speed is rarely a prime factor in motorway incidents or indeed a sign of being a moron. It's people not paying attention, using their phone, tailgaters, illegal tyres, and those who loiter in lorry blind spots who are most at risk on the motorway. Ironically these sorts of drivers will undoubtedly resent an alert driver in a good car who wants to do 90 late at night in the outside lane. And before you ask....I don't have a BMW!

Totally agree - nothing wrong with being in L2 and staying out of the pot holes in lane 1 if you're going quick. The Highway Code is merely guidance and can't be a complete catch all.

[vonhosen]

LFAwhoosh said:

Tootles the Taxi said:

And there you have it ... "I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken..."

It isn't a fking race. We should make the driving test much harder and include motorway driving in it, just to weed out morons like you.

Without digressing too much....it would be a sad day if motorway training just taught how to stick to 70 - speed is rarely a prime factor in motorway incidents or indeed a sign of being a moron. It's people not paying attention, using their phone, tailgaters, illegal tyres, and those who loiter in lorry blind spots who are most at risk on the motorway. Ironically these sorts of drivers will undoubtedly resent an alert driver in a good car who wants to do 90 late at night in the outside lane. And before you ask....I don't have a BMW!

Totally agree - nothing wrong with being in L2 and staying out of the pot holes in lane 1 if you're going quick. The Highway Code is merely guidance and can't be a complete catch all.

It's unlikely that it just teaches that, but it will teach that 70 is the legal maximum.

[WJNB]

On a busy motorway middle lane always.
No way I'm getting tangled with HGV's in lane 1 & forever changing from lane 1 to 2 & back again.
No wish either to compete with high speed tail-gating impatient arrogant bullies in lane 3.
As for the stupid admittance to driving at 80mph & even 90 good luck - I'll keep my health & clean licence thank you & STILL get there just as quick as everybody else.
BUT given a clear motorway with nothing in lane 1 in sight that's were I'll be.

[Toltec]

WJNB said:

On a busy motorway middle lane always.
No way I'm getting tangled with HGV's in lane 1 & forever changing from lane 1 to 2 & back again.
No wish either to compete with high speed tail-gating impatient arrogant bullies in lane 3.
As for the stupid admittance to driving at 80mph & even 90 good luck - I'll keep my health & clean licence thank you & STILL get there just as quick as everybody else.
BUT given a clear motorway with nothing in lane 1 in sight that's were I'll be.

I take it you leave nice large gaps to the vehicle in front, 3 - 4 seconds say?

[PF62]

CABC said:

not everyone staying in L2 is an MLM.

You are, even if you tell yourself you are not.

Not overtaking = MLM. Not hard.

[vonhosen]

PF62 said:

CABC said:

not everyone staying in L2 is an MLM.

You are, even if you tell yourself you are not.

Not overtaking = MLM. Not hard.

Convention/Culture ultimately decides not individuals & the culture is a changing.

[CABC]

PF62 said:

CABC said:

not everyone staying in L2 is an MLM.

You are, even if you tell yourself you are not.

Not overtaking = MLM. Not hard.

can you comment on the post i was agreeing with.

[vonhosen]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You drive to fit into the culture of the country in which you are driving.

[vonhosen]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[Muddle238]

WJNB said:

given a clear motorway with nothing in lane 1 in sight that's were I'll be.

So if you can see an HGV a quarter of a mile ahead in L1, with yourself gaining on it while in L2 at around a 10mph speed differential, it will take you 1.5 MILES to get level with the rear of its trailer. That's 1.4 miles which you could travel in L1 (as you are required to do so by law), to enable faster moving traffic to progress past you without having to squeeze the entire motorway network behind you into L3 to legally pass yourself. By sticking it out in L2 because you can see a lorry ahead, just causes more congestion around you.

Move back to L1, if you can spend 10 seconds or more in L1 then that's where you should be. Making multiple lanes changes per minute in accordance with this is part of modern driving, it allows traffic to flow. I get sick to death of being out in L3 with an Audi or Beemer up my arse, while I try to get past someone sitting in L2 who has ample space to move left but refuses because of the minimal amount of brain power it requires to do so.

[PF62]

CABC said:

PF62 said:

CABC said:

not everyone staying in L2 is an MLM.

You are, even if you tell yourself you are not.

Not overtaking = MLM. Not hard.

can you comment on the post i was agreeing with.

This?

BusaMK said:

I do about 20k on the motorway a year so I of course hate MLMs who are inconsiderate and don’t give a damn, but I really don’t see the big issue staying in L2 if you’re making progress and not holding anyone up - you’re also avoiding the sometimes broken up lane surface, ruts and associated standing water from Lorries in L1, which is a recommended technique in the plod manual I’m sure.

If you have a big speed differential it makes sense to not go into lane 1 as you can also see further in front of the traffic in L1 which you otherwise wouldn’t see. Lastly, switching lanes constantly when you’re making progress also plays havoc with radar cruise control and is probably a big reason why more and more cars stay in L2 and L3. So it isn’t as black and white as people think in the real world. Maybe I’m wrong though...

As before, if you are not overtaking whatever your perceived reasons you are a MLM.

Really how hard is it. Overtaking = not MLM. Not overtaking = MLM.

[theboss]

PF62 said:

As before, if you are not overtaking whatever your perceived reasons you are a MLM.

Really how hard is it. Overtaking = not MLM. Not overtaking = MLM.

I hate MLM with a passion but I disagree with this. If I'm really 'making progress' I'll avoid L1 if the surface is particularly poor and I'll use L3 to pass traffic in L1 just to give a wide berth. If nobody is behind and gaining on me, I'm not inconveniencing anyone and thus lane discipline isn't really applicable. A bit like using the full width of a single carriageway really.

[PF62]

theboss said:

PF62 said:

As before, if you are not overtaking whatever your perceived reasons you are a MLM.

Really how hard is it. Overtaking = not MLM. Not overtaking = MLM.

I hate MLM with a passion but I disagree with this. If I'm really 'making progress' I'll avoid L1 if the surface is particularly poor and I'll use L3 to pass traffic in L1 just to give a wide berth. If nobody is behind and gaining on me, I'm not inconveniencing anyone and thus lane discipline isn't really applicable. A bit like using the full width of a single carriageway really.

Your reasoning is irrelevant, and by a simple definition you are a MLM.

What seems to be the case are people trying to draw a line between bad MLMs and good MLMs. Sorry, but if you are not overtaking you are a MLM and it is unfortunate if you don't like that badge.

[vonhosen]

PF62 said:

theboss said:

PF62 said:

As before, if you are not overtaking whatever your perceived reasons you are a MLM.

Really how hard is it. Overtaking = not MLM. Not overtaking = MLM.

I hate MLM with a passion but I disagree with this. If I'm really 'making progress' I'll avoid L1 if the surface is particularly poor and I'll use L3 to pass traffic in L1 just to give a wide berth. If nobody is behind and gaining on me, I'm not inconveniencing anyone and thus lane discipline isn't really applicable. A bit like using the full width of a single carriageway really.

Your reasoning is irrelevant, and by a simple definition you are a MLM.

By the same token your definition is irrelevant as is your judgment, it is of no consequence to others.
What is of consequence is what the authorities do about it & encourage through management policies & enforcement.
A relatively small number mourning the transition in driving cultural ideals & harking for that bygone era really isn't.

Edited by vonhosen on Wednesday 21st November 21:07