What's happened to over taking on motorways?

[Slinky1989]

Not a rant, just a question to see if anyone can enlighten me.

Driving home down the M40 today, I was cruising along at 65 on an economy run (forgot to fill up this morning) in lane 1. I was slowly approaching a lorry, and when there was a gap and I was closer, I moved into lane 2 to overtake.

What then happened was a faster car came up behind me, and rather than just moving into the clear lane 3 and going around, he just slowed down and sat behind me until I had got past the lorry and moved back into lane 1. He then accelerated back to the speed he was going before and off he went.

This wasn't an isolated incident either, on todays commute alone it happened 4 separate times and I've remembered it has also occurred on other days too. And it's also happened when I've been going faster as well.

I don't understand it. Why are these drivers inconveniencing themselves and reducing their fuel economy by refusing to change lanes?

[rallycross]

Always been lots of middle lane morons they are frozen into lane 2 and lack the skill to use their mirrors and move in and out of the lanes. Morons.

[littleredrooster]

If you looked closely, I would dare bet he was on the phone. Some people seem to be able to only do one thing at a time; middle lane, constant speed, no observation of traffic - "st!!! a car has just pulled out in front of me!!" Slow down, regroup, carry on.

I have had the misfortune to be a passenger in such a car...

[aj84]

Maybe this fine thing that came in is putting people off? I too have exp. the same thing on the motorways recently

[littleredrooster]

aj84 said:

Maybe this fine thing that came in is putting people off? I too have exp. the same thing on the motorways recently

What 'fine thing'?

[folos]

Maybe he just couldn't be bothered to overtake and was content to remain behind you at your chosen speed, and then carry on as he was once you'd pulled back in?

[Raize]

folos said:

Maybe he just couldn't be bothered to overtake and was content to remain behind you at your chosen speed and carry on as he was once you'd pulled back in?

Yeah, I do this a lot.
On a 60mph NSL road I will happily sit behind someone going at 50, because there is a 0.001% chance there will be a straight enough piece of road to overtake on with a 10mph speed difference (even before we consider the guy speeding up to block me).

[Slinky1989]

Raize said:

folos said:

Maybe he just couldn't be bothered to overtake and was content to remain behind you at your chosen speed and carry on as he was once you'd pulled back in?

Yeah, I do this a lot.
On a 60mph NSL road I will happily sit behind someone going at 50, because there is a 0.001% chance there will be a straight enough piece of road to overtake on with a 10mph speed difference (even before we consider the guy speeding up to block me).

Yes but on a motorway? With a perfectly clear lane 3 to continue into? 4 different times in one journey? And many other times on other journeys?

Question mark?

[GadgeS3C]

It's been happening for ages. I've been experimenting with these muppets for years, nothing new at all.