Eventually......yipeee
Discussion
Eventually a sign to warn the numpties about hogging the middle lane:
New signs aimed at road hoggers
The aim is to make better use of motorway capacity
A new attempt is being made to educate England's motorway drivers to keep in the proper lane.
Messages are being shown on signs on several motorways saying "Keep left unless overtaking" and "Don't hog the middle lane".
Highways Agency officials will be monitoring drivers' reactions as part of a campaign to reduce accidents.
The messages will be shown on parts of the M1, M6, M18 and M62 in the north of England and the East Midlands.
Roads Minister David Jamieson said: "Poor lane discipline causes frustration to drivers and can disrupt the flow of traffic.
"We have all seen people on the motorway sitting in the wrong lane and experienced the inconvenience and congestion it causes."
Messages are being carried at various points on motorways in South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
The results of the week-long trial will be studied by the Highways Agency before deciding whether they should be a permanent feature of the motorway network.
In August the RAC Foundation said that drivers hogging the middle and outside lanes were "stealing" up to 700 miles of motorway space from other drivers in peak periods.
That is roughly equivalent to the distance from Aberdeen to Penzance.
Street
New signs aimed at road hoggers
The aim is to make better use of motorway capacity
A new attempt is being made to educate England's motorway drivers to keep in the proper lane.
Messages are being shown on signs on several motorways saying "Keep left unless overtaking" and "Don't hog the middle lane".
Highways Agency officials will be monitoring drivers' reactions as part of a campaign to reduce accidents.
The messages will be shown on parts of the M1, M6, M18 and M62 in the north of England and the East Midlands.
Roads Minister David Jamieson said: "Poor lane discipline causes frustration to drivers and can disrupt the flow of traffic.
"We have all seen people on the motorway sitting in the wrong lane and experienced the inconvenience and congestion it causes."
Messages are being carried at various points on motorways in South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
The results of the week-long trial will be studied by the Highways Agency before deciding whether they should be a permanent feature of the motorway network.
In August the RAC Foundation said that drivers hogging the middle and outside lanes were "stealing" up to 700 miles of motorway space from other drivers in peak periods.
That is roughly equivalent to the distance from Aberdeen to Penzance.
Street
As much as I 
this initiative very much, it could turn the wrong way.
Like we get people throwing a minor spasticated fit if they see someone merely glancing at a mobile phone while driving, or there are others that jump around like some sort of freak on amphetimines if they see someone exceeding the speed limit by 0.0001mph, we will also see "vigilanties" having heart attacks when someone is legitimately holding the lane (like overtaking 2 lorries and there is no point in pulling in until they are past both)
Hopefully it will make people think "oooooo keep left, thats a good idea, doris lets try it (
)" more than yet another tool to drive around saying "Told you so" 
Gh0st
this initiative very much, it could turn the wrong way. Like we get people throwing a minor spasticated fit if they see someone merely glancing at a mobile phone while driving, or there are others that jump around like some sort of freak on amphetimines if they see someone exceeding the speed limit by 0.0001mph, we will also see "vigilanties" having heart attacks when someone is legitimately holding the lane (like overtaking 2 lorries and there is no point in pulling in until they are past both)
Hopefully it will make people think "oooooo keep left, thats a good idea, doris lets try it (
)" more than yet another tool to drive around saying "Told you so" Gh0st
gh0st said:
As much as I
Like we get people throwing a minor spasticated fit if they see someone merely glancing at a mobile phone while driving, or there are others that jump around like some sort of freak on amphetimines if they see someone exceeding the speed limit by 0.0001mph, we will also see "vigilanties" having heart attacks when someone is legitimately holding the lane (like overtaking 2 lorries and there is no point in pulling in until they are past both)
Hopefully it will make people think "oooooo keep left, thats a good idea, doris lets try it (
Gh0st
Good point in my opinion, Gh0st.
Let's face it most drivers don't lift their vision enough. Bet we've all seen drivers making the extravagant swoop into lane 1 to "teach the middle lane owner a lesson" then see them have to brake because they've suddenly noticed the heavy the alleged "MLOC member" was already planning to overtake.
Leave roads policing to the police, just need more of them, and not the chocolate fireguard HA version either.
Yep..tonker...I would agree 50mph is too slow.....
Obviously, we don't know why they were travelling so slow.....they might have been looking for something...but if not...it's too slow and causes probs...
Us BiB should travel at the speed of the vehicles in lane one....ie 56-60 mph..
However, the HATOs have many uses and are a welcome addition....
Street
Obviously, we don't know why they were travelling so slow.....they might have been looking for something...but if not...it's too slow and causes probs...
Us BiB should travel at the speed of the vehicles in lane one....ie 56-60 mph..
However, the HATOs have many uses and are a welcome addition....
Street
I've answered this before.
In the area where they are deployed they have replaced proper traffic units who have been at best redeployed, at worst removed entirely out of the system.
The theory that it is better for a HA traffic officer to attend a breakdown rather than tieing up a traffic unit is a good one, and to be honest works. Though not all the time, you still get traffic units babysitting for vrious operational reasons.
Unfortunately what I see is that in quiet times they the HA bods sit at strategic deployment locations (1), whereas a traffic unit would have been out on patrol engaged in pro-active roads policing.
(1)Definition of strategic deployment locations: = tea spots
In the area where they are deployed they have replaced proper traffic units who have been at best redeployed, at worst removed entirely out of the system.
The theory that it is better for a HA traffic officer to attend a breakdown rather than tieing up a traffic unit is a good one, and to be honest works. Though not all the time, you still get traffic units babysitting for vrious operational reasons.
Unfortunately what I see is that in quiet times they the HA bods sit at strategic deployment locations (1), whereas a traffic unit would have been out on patrol engaged in pro-active roads policing.
(1)Definition of strategic deployment locations: = tea spots
Flat in Fifth said:
I've answered this before.
Well you've answered it again...and I thank you..
[quote=flatinfifth]The theory that it is better for a HA traffic officer to attend a breakdown rather than tieing up a traffic unit is a good one, and to be honest works. Though not all the time, you still get traffic units babysitting for vrious operational reasons.[/quote]
Breakdowns and such like are a fantastic way to use HATO's. I've seen an increase in their use lately and have been suitable impressed by their professionalism and the assistance they have offered, allowing my and my colleague to continue police work. Same with some haulage firms having their own escort vehicle....Far better than a BiB sitting at 30mph for miles and miles....
[quote=flatinfifth]Unfortunately what I see is that in quiet times they the HA bods sit at strategic deployment locations (1), whereas a traffic unit would have been out on patrol engaged in pro-active roads policing.
(1)Definition of strategic deployment locations: = tea spots[/quote]
I'm sure some BiB sit in tea spots at times...sometimes it's geographically easier to respond to things from certain tea spots than from the nick.
Street
Streetcop said:
Unfortunately what I see is that in quiet times they the HA bods sit at strategic deployment locations (1), whereas a traffic unit would have been out on patrol engaged in pro-active roads policing.
(1)Definition of strategic deployment locations: = tea spots
I'm sure some BiB sit in tea spots at times...sometimes it's geographically easier to respond to things from certain tea spots than from the nick.
Don't disagree with any of that, it's just the degree involved.
Possibly more of a management issue. Would you say that 3 manned units sitting together in a motorway service car park for 3.5 hours is a good use of resources? Personally I think it isn't. Maybe that was an extreme case, but I honestly see a lot of trouser seat shining.
ts to realise how annoying they are. 
One thing to note about this:
Sometimes I find the left lane to be unusable due to the ruts left by the lorries (not a dig at HGVs but at the road). Point in case - coming from M25 clockwise onto the M1 - the 2 left lanes are hazardous to anything with remotely sensitive steering. There are many stretches of Motorway that exhibit this defect.
I'm happy to drive in th eleft lane when it's suitable but would a BiB take that as a reasonable excuse for not pulling to the left? I would hope so. Of course camera enforcement wouldn't be so competent...
Iain
Sometimes I find the left lane to be unusable due to the ruts left by the lorries (not a dig at HGVs but at the road). Point in case - coming from M25 clockwise onto the M1 - the 2 left lanes are hazardous to anything with remotely sensitive steering. There are many stretches of Motorway that exhibit this defect.
I'm happy to drive in th eleft lane when it's suitable but would a BiB take that as a reasonable excuse for not pulling to the left? I would hope so. Of course camera enforcement wouldn't be so competent...
Iain
john_p said:
Well done, Highways Agency. They've finally caught up with Scotland, where we've had similar signs on our overhead gantries for some time.
Do they work?
Hard to tell - I've only seen them on 2-lane motorways (M8) where middle-lane hogging is a skilled art restricted to motorcyclists
bluepolarbear said:
Streetcop said:
Eventually a sign to warn the numpties about hogging the middle lane:
New signs aimed at road hoggers
.
Why don't you do them for Driving without consideration for other road users?
Because that's not the offence.......It's 'Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users'.
too much time wasted.....unless they really are numpties..
Street
>> Edited by Streetcop on Monday 11th October 19:35
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