Middle lane numpties
Discussion
Driving the works 7.5 tonne lorry today up the M1 every time I indicated to pull out the middle lane numpties stayed where they were so I had to brake and pull out behind them, I would'nt mind but the outside lane was empty, its not as though the lorry is slow it will do 70-75mph, what is it with people I nearly became a middle lane numpty myself as I was getting so frustrated at not being able to pull out into the middle lane.
I always watch HGVs of any sort really carefully. Am constantly amazed by people who dont let them out, or worse pull in about 2 feet in front of a fully-laden artic and then start braking for an exit....and no doubt they'd complain when they end up squashed flat!
indicate and just start slowly pulling out....numptis will either panic, or get bounced over the road by your van....betcha most will get out the way pdq
indicate and just start slowly pulling out....numptis will either panic, or get bounced over the road by your van....betcha most will get out the way pdq
I agree that it must be very frustrating when there is no-one in the outside lane - but it really annoys me when you get the inconsiderate lorry drivers that just indicate (or even worse don't) and then barge out in front of you making you brake - especially as they often do it when it is clear behind - WHY ?.
We all just need to be a bit more considerate to each other.
Mike.
We all just need to be a bit more considerate to each other.
Mike.
I think this is a symptom of a larger problem on our motorways - which is:
Driver etiquette - is to not let people out!!!
Ever noticed if your driving in a bit of a convoy in the 3rd lane, and a large gap appears in the second lane. You pull into lane 2 so as not to be a lane hog - what does the driver behind you do, pull in behind you ....??? NO - he/she "covers the gap". Then try pulling out back into lane 3 again when you catch up to a slower car in lane 2 - no chance.
You can see therefore why people stay in lanes 2 and 3 on the motorway.
Have a look at the lights ahead on a busy motorway on a Friday night. I've seen cases where lanes 2 and 3 are FULL, but lane 1 has a half a mile or more gap!!! And everyone is travelling at 50 because of the congestion!!
Driver etiquette - is to not let people out!!!
Ever noticed if your driving in a bit of a convoy in the 3rd lane, and a large gap appears in the second lane. You pull into lane 2 so as not to be a lane hog - what does the driver behind you do, pull in behind you ....??? NO - he/she "covers the gap". Then try pulling out back into lane 3 again when you catch up to a slower car in lane 2 - no chance.
You can see therefore why people stay in lanes 2 and 3 on the motorway.
Have a look at the lights ahead on a busy motorway on a Friday night. I've seen cases where lanes 2 and 3 are FULL, but lane 1 has a half a mile or more gap!!! And everyone is travelling at 50 because of the congestion!!
I'm always afraid that by letting out a truck I'll be sitting behind it with zero visibility, breathing in diesel fumes for the next 10 miles while they each take turns going 0.5mph faster than the other guy.
Of course this is no excuse if I can just move out which I'll always do.
Then there was the time I was almost killed by one on the Orwell bridge... The only other traffic at 0630 were these two trucks doing about 50, I was approaching too fast at 120 when the one behind (obviously thinking I was in danger of making too much progress) just swerved across. He wasn't gaining on the other and stayed the same distance behind until we got over the crest when he started crawling past.
I just managed not to crash into him. Unfortunately I tend to tar all truckers with that brush.
Of course this is no excuse if I can just move out which I'll always do.
Then there was the time I was almost killed by one on the Orwell bridge... The only other traffic at 0630 were these two trucks doing about 50, I was approaching too fast at 120 when the one behind (obviously thinking I was in danger of making too much progress) just swerved across. He wasn't gaining on the other and stayed the same distance behind until we got over the crest when he started crawling past.
I just managed not to crash into him. Unfortunately I tend to tar all truckers with that brush.
People in the middle lane blocking drivers in the slow lane is one of my pet hates. This is just as offensive as middle lane morons blocking faster cars coming up behind them. Feel free to have a rant at www.middlelanemorons.com ! 
Having driven laden trucks in the past I know what I bind it is to get momentum and then to keep it.
Few car drivers have any idea of the peril they put themselves in by pulling sharply in front of a truck (or car towing a trailer/caravan) and often braking hard too.
I too hate being stuck behind a truck, but I try to think about the situation the driver finds himself in all too often. If I'm considerate to him, I hope he'll be considerate to me too as soon as an overtaking opportunity arises. I usually find it works! If you don't like the fumes (who does ... no don't answer that!) just hang back a bit more - you'll get a better view of the overtaking possibilities. And yes, I know that the numpty behind will think you've left the gap for them to overtake you!
One of the most common displays of ignorance occurs at roundabouts, where car drivers seem to think that long rigids are not and that they and long trailers behind tractor units will bend in the middle ... so they 'nip through' on the inside. I've seen a few end up in the middle of the roundabout through belated avoiding action.
Streaky
Few car drivers have any idea of the peril they put themselves in by pulling sharply in front of a truck (or car towing a trailer/caravan) and often braking hard too.
I too hate being stuck behind a truck, but I try to think about the situation the driver finds himself in all too often. If I'm considerate to him, I hope he'll be considerate to me too as soon as an overtaking opportunity arises. I usually find it works! If you don't like the fumes (who does ... no don't answer that!) just hang back a bit more - you'll get a better view of the overtaking possibilities. And yes, I know that the numpty behind will think you've left the gap for them to overtake you!
One of the most common displays of ignorance occurs at roundabouts, where car drivers seem to think that long rigids are not and that they and long trailers behind tractor units will bend in the middle ... so they 'nip through' on the inside. I've seen a few end up in the middle of the roundabout through belated avoiding action.
Streaky
I must confess (as again I'm done elsewhere) that on many motorways I tend not to use the inside lane. So I will be found in the middle and outside lanes.
The reason? Well three-fold really:
a) the ruts created by heavy traffic in the inside lane causes severe tramlining effect;
b) in severe cases of such ruts I have actually had the rear silencer box rub on a raised bit; and
c) in the wet the standing water in those ruts is a real pig to drive through.
Perhaps I should get a car with more ground clearance!
The reason? Well three-fold really:
a) the ruts created by heavy traffic in the inside lane causes severe tramlining effect;
b) in severe cases of such ruts I have actually had the rear silencer box rub on a raised bit; and
c) in the wet the standing water in those ruts is a real pig to drive through.
Perhaps I should get a car with more ground clearance!
DennisTheMenace said:
VW pissats and golfs now own the 2nd lane of every motorway while bmw own the 3rd 
This winds me up big style , just another sign of the shit driving standards in this country , rip the scameras out and put more traffic police on the road !
You should read page 1 of all BMW and Muckycedes handbooks.....
it says quite clearly that "you have purchased the right of way over all other vehicles in the outside lane of any motorway with the purchase of this car"
on Page 2 it says "you have also purchased the right to act like a proper nob at the wheel"
Am I the only one who thinks that this is worse North of Birmingham? We have large 4 lane sections on the M60 manchester ringroad and the outside 2 lane are always full, the inside always empty. In these circumstances I have no qualms about undertaking these idiots, and I drive a BWM!
XM5ER said:
Am I the only one who thinks that this is worse North of Birmingham? We have large 4 lane sections on the M60 manchester ringroad and the outside 2 lane are always full, the inside always empty. In these circumstances I have no qualms about undertaking these idiots, and I drive a BWM!
Yes - I know its not looked at lightly - but I do the "undertaking" thing too, although i don't like to use the phrase undertaking. In fact its not actually undertaking unless you swing straight back out into lane 2 or 3 again - which I don't do because there's usually about a half mile space in lane 1 when I do it.
My view is this - if they can't be bothered to consider other drivers by floating in the middle and the outside lanes unecessarily, then I can't be bothered to acknowledge their presence either. If someone does the same to me - I have no problem with that - its my fault for leaving an inside gap - fair play to them.
Theoretically its shouldn't be possible to "undertake" anyway - because everyone should be keeping left!!!!
I confess to doing the undertaking thing too but only if I can stay in lane 1 for at least a mile afterward.
Do they get the point? Do they bugger!
Mind you, some silly sod, when tipped off by his wife in the passenger seat that I was coming through, swerved left and tried to push me onto the hard shoulder yestereday.
Do they get the point? Do they bugger!
Mind you, some silly sod, when tipped off by his wife in the passenger seat that I was coming through, swerved left and tried to push me onto the hard shoulder yestereday.
JMGS4 said:
You should read page 1 of all BMW and Muckycedes handbooks.....
it says quite clearly that "you have purchased the right of way over all other vehicles in the outside lane of any motorway with the purchase of this car"
on Page 2 it says "you have also purchased the right to act like a proper nob at the wheel"
i like the vw handbook,on the front page is a picture of a guy pulling his hair out whilst standing next to a golf,on the inside page it says 'thank you for purchasing your vw plasticar.please dont bother phoning us if you ever break down,we aint interested.please dont expect a good trade-in price as we dont expect to ever see you again due to our prices and we are suprised you agreed to buy this car in the first place,infact we are all laughing about it in the showroom as this is being typed out.dont expect any help from the parts dpt at any v.a.g center as we only employ totaly braindead staff from the y.t.s and it can take upto 15 months to get you a tyre valve cap,let alone any major part.
now you have purchased this very overpriced,overweight car our salesman can take his 5*holiday in the bahamas at your expense.we at v.a.g would like to thank you and we offer you a kiss......as we are going to shaft you later and it saves offering you a reacharound.
good luck with your new vw.....your going to need it.
sorry,had to have a little dig back
sandman said:That's a rationalisation that is not supportable. The Highway Code does not refer to 'overtaking' or 'undertaking' in this context, only to 'passing' - which is merely the act of going faster than the traffic to the right (in the UK). There is nothing about then changing lanes. The circumstances in which passing on the left are permitted are limited to 'slow moving queues' - "139 ... stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left".
... In fact its not actually undertaking unless you swing straight back out into lane 2 or 3 again - which I don't do because there's usually about a half mile space in lane 1 when I do it. ...
Streaky
Having driven a seriously underpowered van when moving house (one of those little Sukuki / Bedford Rascal things) I can vouch for the fact that once you get that little motor wound up, especially when you're approaching an incline, the last thing you want is a slower vehicle causing you to lose all that hard-won momentum by causing you to lift or brake.
Saw lorries in a completely different light from that moment on.
>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 26th September 09:42
Saw lorries in a completely different light from that moment on.
>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 26th September 09:42
JonRB said:
Having driven a seriously underpowered van when moving house (one of those little Sukuki / Bedford Rascal things) I can vouch for the fact that once you get that little motor wound up, especially when you're approaching an incline, the last thing you want is a slower vehicle causing you to lose all that hard-won momentum by causing you to lift or brake.
Saw lorries in a completely different light from that moment on.
>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 26th September 09:42
It must have took a long time to move house, how many trips did you have to make
I'd recomend using a luton transit or something bigger
Byff said:
It must have took a long time to move house, how many trips did you have to make
I'd recomend using a luton transit or something bigger
Ok, perhaps "moving house" was too grand a name for what I was using it for. It belongs to my parents and I have used it for a variety of purposes over the years (leave it, Podie!). Once I used it to move a wardrobe from Essex to Hampshire and have made trips between Hampshire and Cheltenham, so have done a few motorway miles in it. And I have used it to move house, but only across town over a 2 week period.
But, yes, you're right, for "proper" house moving you'd hire a big van.
(Glad we got that sorted out.
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