Fast middle lane hoggers

[brucezepplin]

Hi - with new middle lane hoggers fines coming into place I'm sure there is a lot of discussion. The main complaint levelled at middle lane hoggers is something like "hogging the lane going 40mph is so annoying, and I have to cross all three lanes to overtake. Dangerous!"

I completely agree with this situation. I have a slightly more nuanced question. I drive at least speed limit, and most of the time drive around the 80 mph mark and will go 90 if I need to overtake (plenty go above speed limit, that's another discussion). I prefer to stay in the second lane when I'm traveling at this speed and have no qualms overtaking in the 3rd, and pulling back into second. I rarely find it difficult getting into the 3rd lane. In general I find myself constantly driving faster than most in both the 1st and 2nd lane (just steadily not going over the top or anything), and just use 3rd when needed. I'd point out most people I pass on lane 2 are likely already going at least speed limit on our stretch, which is probably why I don't see the lesser spotted 40mp "hogger" all that much.

Is it therefore possible for someone to complain I am causing congestion by staying in the middle lane?

When I have tried sticking to first lane, I am constantly weaving in and out, which ironically is the main complaint levelled at "hoggers".

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 12:23

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 12:26

[brucezepplin]

PixelpeepS3 said:

It's common sense -

- if there is nothing in lane 1, be in lane one.
- if you're in lane 1 and there is a slower moving object, move to lane two.
- if there are no further slower moving objects in lane 1, be back in lane one.
- if there is another car in the distance which you will catch quickly in lane one, remain in lane two
- if there is a large gap between slower moving objects in lane one, you are in lane two but there is something behind you wanting to get past, return to lane one to allow the object to pass.

I have tried this numerous times and I end up weaving between lanes 1 and 2 multiple times a minute. Surely of everyone was doing this it would be chaos. I'm not talking about driving slow on the motorway, I'm usually sitting at around 80/85. I can count on one hand over the last 15 years the amount of times I've been undertaken.

I've read that if it's up to 15 seconds before you can overtake someone in 1st lane, pull in behind them and then overtake then, rather than staying in middle lane to overtake them. This seems excessive to me.

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 12:56

[brucezepplin]

Cold said:

Depends. If you stay out in L3, is there anyone behind you that you're holding up?

I don't really stay out on L3, just to overtake someone on L2.

[brucezepplin]

MrGTI6 said:

So you'd rather everyone else has to keep switching lanes to get past you as you hog the middle lane? Such a selfish way of driving, and far too common on motorways.

"Weaving" is totally unneccessary. Changing lane is no hardship and should be a smooth and effortless process. Just because you find it challenging doesn't mean you should be hogging the middle lane.

Smooth lane changes and keeping to the left unless overtaking might make your journey 1% more difficult (although it shouldn't), but other road users will really benefit from it.

Not at all. As mentioned in the post, I I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken. I'll point out - when someone does overtake on third, I never see them heading for L1, they just come back to L2 or stay in L3 of driving fast enough.

My argument, is that if there are plenty of people swapping between L1 and L2 multiple times per minute then surely that presents some risk?

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 17:46

[brucezepplin]

MrGTI6 said:

So you'd rather everyone else has to keep switching lanes to get past you as you hog the middle lane? Such a selfish way of driving, and far too common on motorways.

"Weaving" is totally unneccessary. Changing lane is no hardship and should be a smooth and effortless process. Just because you find it challenging doesn't mean you should be hogging the middle lane.

Smooth lane changes and keeping to the left unless overtaking might make your journey 1% more difficult (although it shouldn't), but other road users will really benefit from it.

Not at all. As mentioned in the post, I I'm generally driving too fast to be overtaken. I'll point out - when someone does overtake on third, I never see them heading for L1, they just come back to L2 or stay in L3 of driving fast enough.

My argument, is that if there are plenty of people swapping between L1 and L2 multiple times per minute then surely that presents some risk?

Edited by brucezepplin on Monday 19th November 17:46

[brucezepplin]

MrGTI6 said:

Lots of us are willing to do that and are perfectly capable of doing so without causing a pile-up. Changing lanes needn't be dangerous or challenging. All you need is half a brain cell and your mirrors.

Someone who is hogging lane two is causing other drivers to change lanes because they won't do so themselves. This is usually down to selfishness or incompetence, or in some cases, a combination of both.

I agree if going too slow this will happen. I'm trying to argue from a nuanced point of view that if speed will never be an issue in terms of causing people to overtake me ( they would exceed 90+ easily if they were to do), then what is the problem. I assure you that I am not causing congestion or people weaving on my account. What is the issue here other than "the rules"?

[brucezepplin]

Salmonofdoubt said:

I don’t see why with camera technology people incapable of moving left can’t be tracked so a death squad can meet them at their destination.

It’s the only solution.

Or perhaps this section of the highway code only applies to people who genuinely abuse L2 and cause congestion. Given that between a third and a half of Brits confess to middle lane hogging, I suspect if half the cars on the road all started using L1 add the highway code says, there will be so much lane swapping going on it will cause even more congestion / accidents. Some rules are better then others. A fine or section of HC saying you must at least ensure you are driving faster than cars in L1 and must always give way to faster cars in L2 would be appropriate.