Center lane drivers
Discussion
Don't think it's suddenly been a law - it's been around for years. I was stopped by the BiB on the A1 whilsy on my motorbike a few years back for undertaking. He let me off, but it's essentially dangerous driving, and carries (back than) upto a £2000 fine and/or 6 months in prison.
I do think it's abount time the MLM's are nuked from orbit though.
I do think it's abount time the MLM's are nuked from orbit though.
There is no law against passing on the left.
If the queue in the left lane is moving more swiftly than the queue in the right lane it is legal to pass on the left: the Highway Code also allows it.
The Highway Code warns against overtaking on the left. Whilst not an offence if you do not follow the Highway Code you open yourself up to prosecution for careless/dangerous driving.
Swerving about changing lanes willy nilly passing on the left and right is dangerous driving and you can be prosecuted for that, basically, and always could be.
Me? If there is a MLM I pass on whatever side is convenient carefully. i.e. with forward observation, an escape route etc. I've never been stopped for it.
If the queue in the left lane is moving more swiftly than the queue in the right lane it is legal to pass on the left: the Highway Code also allows it.
The Highway Code warns against overtaking on the left. Whilst not an offence if you do not follow the Highway Code you open yourself up to prosecution for careless/dangerous driving.
Swerving about changing lanes willy nilly passing on the left and right is dangerous driving and you can be prosecuted for that, basically, and always could be.
Me? If there is a MLM I pass on whatever side is convenient carefully. i.e. with forward observation, an escape route etc. I've never been stopped for it.
This is a few years back, but while driving a company van early one morning in the left hand lane, I came up to a Micra in the middle lane. I hung back, we were doing 70 anyhow. A short while later, a police patrol car came along side me. They looked at the Micra. Looked at me. I shrugged, and then they pulled the Micra. The bint behind the wheel didn't even realise she was bing pulled until they drew along side and waved her over.
Most gratifying to see.
Trouble is today, there are no patrols on the road, so the middle lane hoggers are safe to do as they please.
Most gratifying to see.
Trouble is today, there are no patrols on the road, so the middle lane hoggers are safe to do as they please.
The problem with undertaking is that whilst its probably safe for you to execute, because the driver in the middle lane is failing to concentrate, it doesn't occur to them to look over their left shoulder or in their paseenger- side wing mirror. Consequently they don't see you undertaking, they pull over, side swipe you, and provide you with an insurance nightmare.
You could just overtake them and then make a really big issue of pulling over into the inside lane, but because the middle lane bandit is half asleep, they won't see you anyway.
You could just overtake them and then make a really big issue of pulling over into the inside lane, but because the middle lane bandit is half asleep, they won't see you anyway.
Had a MLM on the A46 this morning (3 lane section). Approached on the inside lane, then overtook on the right, with a flash of the mains to indicate his error. It worked as he returned to the correct lane, but was obviously pissed off at being flashed, and than stuck his mains on for the next few miles. w
r!!
r!!I know it's been posted before but doing laps around them usually works, provided you've got time to spare yourself:
1. Overtake normally and then pull into lane 1.
2. Slow back down and allow MLM to overtake you in lane 2.
3. Repeat procedure until MLM realises what's going on.
I think the record is about 12 laps.
1. Overtake normally and then pull into lane 1.
2. Slow back down and allow MLM to overtake you in lane 2.
3. Repeat procedure until MLM realises what's going on.
I think the record is about 12 laps.
If you're gonna pass a middle laner via the left hand lane, don't hang around. Then you have passed them before they know wtf is happening. Then you see them in your rear view amazingly pulling into the left lane.
I swear there's at least a spare 10% capacity in out motorways if people would pull into the left ala France and Germany etc.
I swear there's at least a spare 10% capacity in out motorways if people would pull into the left ala France and Germany etc.
MLMs can be worse on wider sections of motorway - up the M6 where it opens up to 4 lanes (around the Thelwall viaduct mainly), I'm normally up there late at night, and invariably find plenty of eejits in either the 2nd or 3rd lane, with the rest of the m-way totally empty.
Total and utter cunnucks. I'll slowly move over from the left lane, indicate as I'm coming across, then indicate back left, and gently hint to them that they're in the wrong lane.
Gentle hints do not work though, as others have said - they just aren't aware that theres acres of free road to the left side of them that they should be using.
Total and utter cunnucks. I'll slowly move over from the left lane, indicate as I'm coming across, then indicate back left, and gently hint to them that they're in the wrong lane.
Gentle hints do not work though, as others have said - they just aren't aware that theres acres of free road to the left side of them that they should be using.
nobrakes said:
If you're gonna pass a middle laner via the left hand lane, don't hang around. Then you have passed them before they know wtf is happening. Then you see them in your rear view amazingly pulling into the left lane.
I swear there's at least a spare 10% capacity in out motorways if people would pull into the left ala France and Germany etc.
in France and Germany I rather they pulled into the rightI swear there's at least a spare 10% capacity in out motorways if people would pull into the left ala France and Germany etc.

wadgebeast said:
I know it's been posted before but doing laps around them usually works, provided you've got time to spare yourself:
1. Overtake normally and then pull into lane 1.
2. Slow back down and allow MLM to overtake you in lane 2.
3. Repeat procedure until MLM realises what's going on.
I think the record is about 12 laps.
1. Overtake normally and then pull into lane 1.
2. Slow back down and allow MLM to overtake you in lane 2.
3. Repeat procedure until MLM realises what's going on.
I think the record is about 12 laps.

Will be trying that the next time im on the M6!
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