middle lane drivers
Author
Discussion

jimbob2

Original Poster:

142 posts

270 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
quotequote all
No doubt this has been done to death already, but I've not seen it up here for a while, and would welcome any comments from the BiB on the subject.

Last night, I span the Cerbera on the A3 when some numpty came straight off the slip and into the middle lane. The driver was good enough to stop (as did other motorists) and check that I was OK - we had a brief "chat" on the hard shoulder. The driver was adamant that i should have moved from the middle lane to the outside lane (I was previously in the inside lane and moved out to let them onto the A3). The driver cited the grounds for their argument based on the fact that "the inside lane is the slow lane and used for trucks and caravans".

I pointed out that we drive on the left in this country, and that they should always drive in the inside lane unless overtaking.

The driver was not convinced with my argument. I was not convinced of their ability to drive. They were absolutely convinced that the middle lane was the correct lane to drive in.

Questions.

1. I guess this is dangerous driving - tempted to pursue the driver through the courts to pay for my flat spotted tyres.

2. Should the police not be pulling over drivers sat in the middle lane and giving them points/fines?

3. Should the expensive electronic road signs be used to educate some of the retards on our roads that we drive on the left?

4. How about a TV awareness campaign - re-educate the nation?

It seems to me that a lot of the capacity issues we have on our roads could be simply alleviated through people using the road as per the rules. These rules are not enforced, resulting in apparent confusion in a large number of motorists as to what they are supposed to do when they get behind the wheel.

puggit

49,424 posts

270 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Glad to see you are ok!

I would certainly report this driver to the BiB - they are ill-informed and dangerous! Plus, report this through your insurers if you got witness details?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

292 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Alas its not something that can be automated by a one eyed bandit so its unlikely that it will ever improve.

When I did RoSPA the instructor (ex traffic officer) told me a story about pulling a chap over for just sitting in the middle lane and his justification was 'But my car is a 1.6'

Alarming stupidity from the majority of the nation...

WMHV70

13,252 posts

262 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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One of my pet hates this (see some of my other posts), and I do stop people using the wrong lane.

Possibly bordering on a dangerous, more likely a due care. May be tricky to get a complaint taken on in the current climate of less Traffic patrols, no one injured etc. That said, give your local nick, or the one covering the road in question, a ring. You might get lucky. Independent witnesses would be an added bonus too.

Good luck if you do try and follow it up.

forever_driving

1,869 posts

272 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Last year a numpty in a Nova pulled out from a service station on a two lane dual carriage way, straight into the right handlane whilst still gaining speed and doing only about 50mph. She didn't realise that my dad was coming through at the time (not speeding), he swerved to avoid her, put a wheel on some wet grass, span at hit the central reservation.

BiB, please please please take these people off of the road.

leosayer

7,664 posts

266 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Even if you stayed in the left lane, the numpty still has to give way to traffic already on the road. I would make a complaint.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

261 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Two sets of dashed white lines, it's a give way. Failure to stop at a junction?

ilaishley

167 posts

263 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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Even worse, middle lane sitting denies the drivers of HGV and some coaches i beleive, the ability to overtake at all as they can not use the outside lane on 3 lane carrigeways. Imagine how infuriating that must be with someone doing 50mph in the middle lane when you have got 38 tons of momentum and you cant do anything but slow down and start again. The same person in the middle lane would then go home and moan about this big truck that sat on his arse all the way home. (i am not a truck driver BTW just know how it must feel) Which is more dangerous. Sitting in the middle lane forcing others into the 3rd lane when not necessary, or my recent 36 in a 30 which i thought was very cautious in my 185mph maserati. which can brake twice as fast as a ford escort doing 30mph !!

towman

14,938 posts

261 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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ilaishley said:
Even worse, middle lane sitting denies the drivers of HGV and some coaches i beleive, the ability to overtake at all as they can not use the outside lane on 3 lane carrigeways. Imagine how infuriating that must be with someone doing 50mph in the middle lane when you have got 38 tons of momentum and you cant do anything but slow down and start again.


Nightmare

5,277 posts

306 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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BliarOut said:
Two sets of dashed white lines, it's a give way. Failure to stop at a junction?

yeah - bloody right - whilst a good and courteous driver would act exactly as you did, and move into the middle lane (why the outside lane I still dont quite understand) there is no legal requirement to do so. He HAD to stop if he couldnt join.

I think this should be pursued in order to get this obviously 'touched' individual some education.

tycho

12,110 posts

295 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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There should be a 2 stage pass for your driving test. The first should be where the current pass is and then you should have to take a 2 or 3 hour lesson on the motorway and in the evening with your driving instructor. Then they give you a form which you send off with your pass certificate and then you get your license. No motorway pass, no license.

towman

14,938 posts

261 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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be nice if everyone could take an HGV test - then evryone would understand our problems!

hugerr

139 posts

261 months

Wednesday 26th May 2004
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jimbob2 said:
Last night, I span the Cerbera on the A3 when some numpty came straight off the slip and into the middle lane.

I can understand the frustration over this person's odd driving behaviour, but I don't understand why you spun your car.

Clearly, you were aware that this person was joining the carriageway because you moved over to lane 2. And you have said that this other car also moved straight across into lane 2.

But I don't see why you spun. Did you flick into lane 3 too violently? What kind of speed were you doing at the time? I ask because I also drive TVR and I'm intrigued as to how it became so unsettled that you lost it so spectacularly.

Hugh