Middle Lane Drivers, Do they Ever Notice?
Discussion
Canon_Fodder said:
Lots of drivers never use the inside lane of a Smart section if there's no hard shoulder.
Yes, if the traffic is light enough it's not impeding anyone else to do so, I don't have a particular issue with people deciding to ignore the conversion of the hard shoulder to a live lane, and continuing to treat what is now lane 2 as lane 1. I wouldn't consider that to be "middle laning" in the same way as sitting in lane 2 of a normal motorway would be.lizardbrain said:
Hypothetical question.
If the right lane is mostlyr free, and the left lane is full of trucks. And a middle lane hogger decides to set radar cruise control to 80 and just sit in the middle lane…. With an average speed of 70 but ranging between 60 and 80 depending on what’s going on in front….
Does anyone have their journey time significantly changed?
If overtaking increases accidents, is it more dangerous for the middle guy to be weaving in between trucks? or is it more dangerous for right lane passers to overtake the hogger?
They might do; consider if the radar-cruising MLM catches up with the back of a conga of cars all doing 65. Radar cruise latches on, 65, safe following distance.If the right lane is mostlyr free, and the left lane is full of trucks. And a middle lane hogger decides to set radar cruise control to 80 and just sit in the middle lane…. With an average speed of 70 but ranging between 60 and 80 depending on what’s going on in front….
Does anyone have their journey time significantly changed?
If overtaking increases accidents, is it more dangerous for the middle guy to be weaving in between trucks? or is it more dangerous for right lane passers to overtake the hogger?
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 15th August 11:46
... with nobody on the inside of the MLM at points. Sure, your example describes there being many trucks, but it's frequently the case that there's a lovely yawning expanse of tarmac available to the left of a MLM; that's what makes them an MLM instead of being someone performing an overtake.
Sorry I haven't read the whole thread but just thought I mention my experience.
Twice this happened before to me where a car joins the motorway from the slip road forcing me to slow down to let them in because they didn't observe the traffic. I'm on the inside lane already on the motorway and the other two lanes are empty.
The driver joins the motorway then immediately makes their way to the middle lane while there is no traffic in front of them in all three lanes and maintains 60 mph speed. I'm forced to move two lanes across to overtake them.
So to answer the title, yes there are those out there who are completely oblivious.
Twice this happened before to me where a car joins the motorway from the slip road forcing me to slow down to let them in because they didn't observe the traffic. I'm on the inside lane already on the motorway and the other two lanes are empty.
The driver joins the motorway then immediately makes their way to the middle lane while there is no traffic in front of them in all three lanes and maintains 60 mph speed. I'm forced to move two lanes across to overtake them.
So to answer the title, yes there are those out there who are completely oblivious.
I know I shouldn't do it, but I have a poor habit of undertaking people who have no need to be in L2 or above when there is a clear L1. Rarely do people recognise and move back to L1.
Getragdogleg said:
Way back when I used to do a lot of miles I'd play the orbiting game, I'd overtake them and pull back in to L1, then subtly slow so they would slowly pass me, then I'd speed up a little and overtake them again and repeat until they realised what was going on.
I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Taking my initial comment, I give you the reverse orbit. You undertake in L1, move to L2 and then L3, and slow down so they undertake you. Return to L2, then L1. Repeat.I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Getragdogleg said:
Way back when I used to do a lot of miles I'd play the orbiting game, I'd overtake them and pull back in to L1, then subtly slow so they would slowly pass me, then I'd speed up a little and overtake them again and repeat until they realised what was going on.
I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
When I first met my wife, been together a month or two, I spotted her in her van (she had a small clothing business) on the M60 and I managed two full orbits of her in my bright red Manta, didnt notice, was none the wiser when I asked her, and she is generally a decent driver.I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
The ones I really don’t get are the ‘active’ outside lane hoggers.
You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
rxe said:
You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
Seen this with the middle lane on a quiet motorway as well.Why?
As you say, baffling behaviour.
Limpet said:
rxe said:
You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
Seen this with the middle lane on a quiet motorway as well.Why?
As you say, baffling behaviour.
My understanding is that many in the middle lane are there either because they believe that lane 1 is for lorries etc, or they are on cruise control set to 65-70.
It's the same with Bus Lanes in towns and cities - many only apply at limited times (i.e just 2 hours a day) but few cars will go there when it's perfectly legal to do so. They just sit in a queue of traffic alongside an empty bus lane.
It's the same with Bus Lanes in towns and cities - many only apply at limited times (i.e just 2 hours a day) but few cars will go there when it's perfectly legal to do so. They just sit in a queue of traffic alongside an empty bus lane.
lizardbrain said:
Court_S said:
No they don’t. Most are completely oblivious to what is going on around them because they’re day dreaming or on their phones.
The ones that get me are the ones who hoof down the middle lane, catch a slower car up and then sit behind them at a much slower speed despite lane 3 being empty and then speed up again when it’s clear. Rinse and repeat.
Hypothetical question. The ones that get me are the ones who hoof down the middle lane, catch a slower car up and then sit behind them at a much slower speed despite lane 3 being empty and then speed up again when it’s clear. Rinse and repeat.
If the right lane is mostlyr free, and the left lane is full of trucks. And a middle lane hogger decides to set radar cruise control to 80 and just sit in the middle lane…. With an average speed of 70 but ranging between 60 and 80 depending on what’s going on in front….
Does anyone have their journey time significantly changed?
If overtaking increases accidents, is it more dangerous for the middle guy to be weaving in between trucks? or is it more dangerous for right lane passers to overtake the hogger?
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 15th August 11:46
And every time he slows, maybe even to truck speeds if ones overtaking another and he still refuses to change lanes, people behind slow slightly more and more until way back people are down to a crawl.
I don’t get what’s so difficult about it. I enter the motorway set my cruise at the speed I want and use lane one until I catch someone slower move out overtake then back, its extremely simple. Also the people that are cursing at 80 catch a truck in lane 2 and slow right down to 56 even though lane 3 is empty, wait for the truck to pass and move back then shoot off back to 80, why?
Glenn63 said:
Won’t make much difference to his journey time but it will to everyone behind who’s 3 lane motorway is now a single lane with everyone bunching up trying to pass in lane 3.
And every time he slows, maybe even to truck speeds if ones overtaking another and he still refuses to change lanes, people behind slow slightly more and more until way back people are down to a crawl.
I don’t get what’s so difficult about it. I enter the motorway set my cruise at the speed I want and use lane one until I catch someone slower move out overtake then back, its extremely simple. Also the people that are cursing at 80 catch a truck in lane 2 and slow right down to 56 even though lane 3 is empty, wait for the truck to pass and move back then shoot off back to 80, why?
good points. But equally it is very easy to overtake a middle lane hogger? Assuming the right lane is completely free. A faster driver needs to overtake in any case. Isn’t it reducing number of total overtakes and restricting overtakes to just the faster, perhaps more skilled, driver?And every time he slows, maybe even to truck speeds if ones overtaking another and he still refuses to change lanes, people behind slow slightly more and more until way back people are down to a crawl.
I don’t get what’s so difficult about it. I enter the motorway set my cruise at the speed I want and use lane one until I catch someone slower move out overtake then back, its extremely simple. Also the people that are cursing at 80 catch a truck in lane 2 and slow right down to 56 even though lane 3 is empty, wait for the truck to pass and move back then shoot off back to 80, why?
if the right lane is not reasonably empty then yes no doubt it would cause bunching, but otherwise is anyone delayed?
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 15th August 14:11
I feel like when I first started driving, it wasn't uncommon to spend most of the time doing the 'leapfrog' (out into L2, back into L1) and sometimes you'd buddy up with somebody and could spend 10-15 miles in tandem, maybe occasionally switching places. You still got the odd dawdler but I feel lane discipline was generally a bit better.
Nowadays it tends to be dawdling in L1 and L2 at 60-65 mph with people rarely switching or moving back. I used to enjoy a motorway jaunt, I find it too stressful now.
Nowadays it tends to be dawdling in L1 and L2 at 60-65 mph with people rarely switching or moving back. I used to enjoy a motorway jaunt, I find it too stressful now.
lizardbrain said:
Hypothetical question.
If the right lane is mostlyr free, and the left lane is full of trucks. And a middle lane hogger decides to set radar cruise control to 80 and just sit in the middle lane…. With an average speed of 70 but ranging between 60 and 80 depending on what’s going on in front….
Does anyone have their journey time significantly changed?
If overtaking increases accidents, is it more dangerous for the middle guy to be weaving in between trucks? or is it more dangerous for right lane passers to overtake the hogger?
It’s more dangerous for everyone else though because it’s forcing everyone else to do unnecessary lane changes.If the right lane is mostlyr free, and the left lane is full of trucks. And a middle lane hogger decides to set radar cruise control to 80 and just sit in the middle lane…. With an average speed of 70 but ranging between 60 and 80 depending on what’s going on in front….
Does anyone have their journey time significantly changed?
If overtaking increases accidents, is it more dangerous for the middle guy to be weaving in between trucks? or is it more dangerous for right lane passers to overtake the hogger?
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 15th August 11:46
A lot of MLM do it deliberately and don’t see it as bad driving. They will argue that the middle lane gives them the most space on both sides and if they are going 70mph nobody should be overtaking them anyway.
Getragdogleg said:
Way back when I used to do a lot of miles I'd play the orbiting game, I'd overtake them and pull back in to L1, then subtly slow so they would slowly pass me, then I'd speed up a little and overtake them again and repeat until they realised what was going on.
I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
I got slated a few years ago for suggesting and doing this trick.I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Guess times have changed and it is ok now.
911hope said:
Limpet said:
Getragdogleg said:
Way back when I used to do a lot of miles I'd play the orbiting game, I'd overtake them and pull back in to L1, then subtly slow so they would slowly pass me, then I'd speed up a little and overtake them again and repeat until they realised what was going on.
I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Absolutely brilliant, and noted for my next motorway trip! I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Edited by Funk on Monday 15th August 17:37
Origin Unknown said:
I know I shouldn't do it, but I have a poor habit of undertaking people who have no need to be in L2 or above when there is a clear L1. Rarely do people recognise and move back to L1.
I can't condemn you, I may or may not often do so myself on a particularly annoying stretch of 3-lane motorway on a hill which is infested with middle lane morons.markymarkthree said:
Getragdogleg said:
Way back when I used to do a lot of miles I'd play the orbiting game, I'd overtake them and pull back in to L1, then subtly slow so they would slowly pass me, then I'd speed up a little and overtake them again and repeat until they realised what was going on.
I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
I got slated a few years ago for suggesting and doing this trick.I managed 7 laps of one car once before they cottoned on.
Guess times have changed and it is ok now.
Drive as you know you should so that others respect the quality of your driving.
You're just joining in the problem.
rxe said:
The ones I really don’t get are the ‘active’ outside lane hoggers.
You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
At least they are showing some awareness.You’re driving briskly along the motorway which happens to be fairly empty. There is a single car in the outside lane. As you approach it, it indicates and pulls over. So far so good. Then once you’ve passed, they indicate again, and pull back into the outside lane.
Why?
On the M25 last week during the evening rush hour, I came upon a queue of 8 cars in the outside lane, with a family in an MPV at the head of it. They were doing 65mph and absolutely REFUSED to move over when the inner lanes were clear.
The result was that we all ended up undertaking them, there was plenty of flashing of lights and occasional use of the horn, plus one idiot, who I do not condone, pulled back in front of them and then brake-tested them.
The driver looked across at me as I passed him, sounded my horn and made clear indication that he needed to move over. Had no effect though - as i carried on he stayed in the outside lane whilst yet more cars were forced to undertake him.
I really have no idea what was going on in his head.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff