Middle Lane Drivers, Do they Ever Notice?

[Hackney]

Sunday afternoon I drove from Northampton to Nottingham and back.
I am more convinced than ever that if something could be done about MLMs / poor lane discipline congestion would be reduced exponentially. Unfortunately it needs actual police out on the roads to address on a driver by driver basis so they'll stick to putting cameras up to catch people driving safely but above an arbitrary number on a gantry sign.

[nobrakes]

leef44 said:

MustangGT said:

leef44 said:

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.

If lane 2 is empty why do you not pull out into L2 leaving L1 for the joining traffic? No reason to adjust your speed at all, just your lane. Pull back into L1 when able to do so.

Because I'm fed up with the type who join in L1, wait for me to overtake in L2 then they speed up, so I slow down to pull back behind them. They then slow down. So instead I just slow down in L1 to wait to see what kind of driver I'm faced with who's joining the motorway.

I don't think they do it consciously they just feel more comfortable around another car. It's a bit like when you park in a relatively empty car park and return to find only one other who has parked right next to you.

So you’re in L1 of a 3 lane and see a slip road ahead that cars may join from.

Then, instead of preparing to moving out to L2 or just moving into L2 and let L1 filter in and be faster or slower than you (pretty standard courteous/safe manoeuvre) and everyone goes about their business safely, you * around in L1 to assess what kind of driver they are?

[hiccy18]

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!

7 laps is going some, I get bored after three.

[911hope]

hiccy18 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!

7 laps is going some, I get bored after three.

So you used all 3 lanes and still failed to overtake...3 times.. What did you achieve?

[vikingaero]

911hope said:

hiccy18 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!

7 laps is going some, I get bored after three.

So you used all 3 lanes and still failed to overtake...3 times.. What did you achieve?

He UFO'ed them!

In my experience MLMs do not notice anything in their rear view mirror because they simply don't use them. I remember driving on the M2 (2 Lanes) and came upon a MLM in L2. I checked my mirrors before moving into L1 for the undertake and noticed blue lights in the distance behind me. So I moved into L1 anyway and flashed the MLM to move over for the ambulance. Did he/she move? No. Not until the ambulance was on their bumper and had to sound its siren. The Ambulance Service should be cutting footage like that and send it to the Police for prosecution.

[croyde]

I've seen that quite often with cars or vans just sitting in front of a blues and twos and not getting out of the way.

Although one was a lady who I watched in the rear view as she sat in Lane 2 on a dual carriageway with a light up, siren howling cop car behind her.

Space for her to pull into Lane 1 behind me but she seemed oblivious until she came alongside me.

I was watching her as she suddenly seemed to realise what was going on and she immediately went to move over into Lane 1.

Very good apart from that I was occupying that space with traffic in front of me.

I swerved into the dirt and bushes by the side of the road and just avoided being hit.

It scares me who I have to share the roads with, more so as I ride a motorcycle as well.

[Far Cough]

I have seen the " Orbiting" but usually can't be arsed. There is a more interactive game you can play just to see if the MLM is actually awake ....... Out from L1 into L3, complete overtake and on return to L1 clean windscreen with copious amounts of screenwash. You get bonus points if the MLM then has to use their windscreen wipers thus showing signs of life and extra bonus points if they move to L1 having got the hint.

Yeah I know .... It's the little things in life !!

[croyde]

Far Cough said:

I have seen the " Orbiting" but usually can't be arsed. There is a more interactive game you can play just to see if the MLM is actually awake ....... Out from L1 into L3, complete overtake and on return to L1 clean windscreen with copious amounts of screenwash. You get bonus points if the MLM then has to use their windscreen wipers thus showing signs of life and extra bonus points if they move to L1 having got the hint.

Yeah I know .... It's the little things in life !!

I have done this so many times, minus the windscreen wash bit , and 100% they have never got the hint.

To show the possible mindset, the last time I was being driven by my dear old dad, he sat in the middle lane and was remarking

"Look at all those idiots swerving around us"

So, at the very least, he was aware

[911hope]

Looks like this thread has migrated to...

"how can I drive worse than a MLM and be proud of it"

[Deranged Rover]

nobrakes said:

So you’re in L1 of a 3 lane and see a slip road ahead that cars may join from.

Then, instead of preparing to moving out to L2 or just moving into L2 and let L1 filter in and be faster or slower than you (pretty standard courteous/safe manoeuvre) and everyone goes about their business safely, you * around in L1 to assess what kind of driver they are?

Why is this a 'standard manoeuvre' ?

The onus is on people joining the motorway to observe the traffic, match their speed and slot in accordingly. You don't slow down on an urban road just in case someone wants to nip out of a side road in front of you, so there should be no need to do the same on a motorway.

Obviously, however, it goes without saying that is only sensible and good practice to keep an eye on the cars coming down the slip road and move out courteously if there appears to be a backlog forming, but only if there is sufficient space and it is safe to do so.

And, obviously you can't do this if there's a bloody MLM on your right....

[BS62]

Hmm. Obviously no BMW drivers in this thread, as we all make for our lane and stay there.

Middle Lane Drivers? You mean overtaken losers.

[av185]

911hope said:

av185 said:

Best time to punish and educate the middle lane morons is when its raining or the roads are wet.

Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st.

Usually results in them taking avoiding action and moving to the correct lane but if not this merely confirms they are totally oblivious cocktards and there is absolutley no hope whatsoever for such sub species.

You mean go into the middle lane, while not overtaking? What does that make you?

A malicious MLM?

Your moral high ground just caved in.

Nope you have spectacularly missed the point.

Read my post properly.

Overtake middle lane moron in lane three slow return to lane two slow return to lane 1.

Simples.

[911hope]

av185 said:

911hope said:

av185 said:

Best time to punish and educate the middle lane morons is when its raining or the roads are wet.

Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st.

Usually results in them taking avoiding action and moving to the correct lane but if not this merely confirms they are totally oblivious cocktards and there is absolutley no hope whatsoever for such sub species.

You mean go into the middle lane, while not overtaking? What does that make you?

A malicious MLM?

Your moral high ground just caved in.

Nope you have spectacularly missed the point.

Read my post properly.

Overtake middle lane moron in lane three slow return to lane two slow return to lane 1.

Simples.

Your most recent claim wasn't in your first post.

But this was.....

"Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st."

i.e. sit in the middle lane, just to annoy someone.


Your defence has failed. You condemn yourself with your own words!

[What The Deuces]

leef44 said:

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.

You aren't forced to move at all, just carry on past them in L1 as long as you judge they have seen you. Nothing illegal about that provided you haven't sped up/changed lanes etc to 'undertake' them.

[av185]

911hope said:

av185 said:

911hope said:

av185 said:

Best time to punish and educate the middle lane morons is when its raining or the roads are wet.

Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st.

Usually results in them taking avoiding action and moving to the correct lane but if not this merely confirms they are totally oblivious cocktards and there is absolutley no hope whatsoever for such sub species.

You mean go into the middle lane, while not overtaking? What does that make you?

A malicious MLM?

Your moral high ground just caved in.

Nope you have spectacularly missed the point.

Read my post properly.

Overtake middle lane moron in lane three slow return to lane two slow return to lane 1.

Simples.

Your most recent claim wasn't in your first post.

But this was.....

"Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st."

i.e. sit in the middle lane, just to annoy someone.


Your defence has failed. You condemn yourself with your own words!

Nope.

'A while' means the required period of time to execute the overtake and safely return to lane 1. Whilst spraying said miscreant in the process.

Try it sometime. They normally get the message.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Pedro25 said:

Drove from the North East to Essex and back yesterday. Left home at 6am returned around 8.30pm. A19 to the A1, 2 lanes on the A19 so none spotted, 3 lane stretch on the A1 hundreds counted all the way to the M11, as it gets to 3 or 4 lanes near Stansted they're back in droves! M25 to Essex still there!

Return journey much the same, drivers completely oblivious of an empty inside lane, just happily sitting in the middle at 50-60 mph. One near Peterborough even leaning his head on his hand nearest the drivers window.

So frustrating, I'd happily love the camera network to send automatic fines of cars just sitting there causing other drivers to overtake or worse undertake!!

Just once. Once try driving at 50-60 in the slow lane without moving out. Try that for five miles.

Then report back your experiences.


Not everyone feels alert enough to be doing 70+ (age and/or confidence).

Conducting my experience you'll find that people who merge from sliproads - their indicators means I'm coming on full stop. As a indicator means I've a right to change lanes.

Then there's trucks.

You'll be swamped by large trucks. Then when people are coming onto tue motorway you can't change lanes as you are trapped by someone already in tue middle lane.


Can you blame them for driving in the middle lane?

Driving in the UK is bullying and ignorance.

[What The Deuces]

av185 said:

911hope said:

av185 said:

911hope said:

av185 said:

Best time to punish and educate the middle lane morons is when its raining or the roads are wet.

Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st.

Usually results in them taking avoiding action and moving to the correct lane but if not this merely confirms they are totally oblivious cocktards and there is absolutley no hope whatsoever for such sub species.

You mean go into the middle lane, while not overtaking? What does that make you?

A malicious MLM?

Your moral high ground just caved in.

Nope you have spectacularly missed the point.

Read my post properly.

Overtake middle lane moron in lane three slow return to lane two slow return to lane 1.

Simples.

Your most recent claim wasn't in your first post.

But this was.....

"Overtake them then sit in front of them for a while jetting their pristine vehicle with filthy road st."

i.e. sit in the middle lane, just to annoy someone.


Your defence has failed. You condemn yourself with your own words!

Nope.

'A while' means the required period of time to execute the overtake and safely return to lane 1. Whilst spraying said miscreant in the process.

Try it sometime. They normally get the message.

Dangerous and stupid. Impressive

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I was sat in the middle lane on the M62 over Saddleworth Moor. It was a quite day. Suddenly someone overtook close then swung close in across my front and braked.

He then swung alongside me and mouthed wker before driving off.


If you anyone here thinks a close lane back in punishment move is right to teach a middle lane driver please tell me your thinking why.

[swisstoni]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Pedro25 said:

Drove from the North East to Essex and back yesterday. Left home at 6am returned around 8.30pm. A19 to the A1, 2 lanes on the A19 so none spotted, 3 lane stretch on the A1 hundreds counted all the way to the M11, as it gets to 3 or 4 lanes near Stansted they're back in droves! M25 to Essex still there!

Return journey much the same, drivers completely oblivious of an empty inside lane, just happily sitting in the middle at 50-60 mph. One near Peterborough even leaning his head on his hand nearest the drivers window.

So frustrating, I'd happily love the camera network to send automatic fines of cars just sitting there causing other drivers to overtake or worse undertake!!

Just once. Once try driving at 50-60 in the slow lane without moving out. Try that for five miles.

Then report back your experiences.


Not everyone feels alert enough to be doing 70+ (age and/or confidence).

Conducting my experience you'll find that people who merge from sliproads - their indicators means I'm coming on full stop. As a indicator means I've a right to change lanes.

Then there's trucks.

You'll be swamped by large trucks. Then when people are coming onto tue motorway you can't change lanes as you are trapped by someone already in tue middle lane.


Can you blame them for driving in the middle lane?

Driving in the UK is bullying and ignorance.

I have made this point several times over the years.
MLMs can often be a symptom of behaviours in other lanes.

[Blackpuddin]

About 35 years ago I went to a police press conference where they announced that they'd been 'fact finding' in California (nice work if you can get it) to establish the viability of bringing the US's 'drive in any lane' system to the UK. Bafflingly, to me at any rate – I'm afraid I don't remember the justifications they made – they decided that it wasn't viable.
Somebody once told me in all seriousness that they liked the middle lane because it gave them more room to try and contain the mad swerving they anticipated would certainly happen in a blowout.