Youd be amazed, i work on the M25 and there are so many people who think the inside lane is for HGVs only, education is whats needed
Alaways an emotive subject. For those few who don't think hogging the middle lane is equal to mobile phone use I would say that it effectively reduces a 3 lane motorway to two lanes, creates frustration and risks triggering a multiple pile up. FWIW my motorway cruising speed is generally 80-85 mph and I will always return to the left hand lane after an overtake when it is clear. What I wont do is weave when trafic density is high and in that case I may well sit in the middle lane passing the lorries and slower traffic in lane 1. My big bugbear is tailgating, particularly when traffic density is high and average speeds are dictated by that trafic density. At those time it is better to just sit in your lane with a decent gap in front of you and stay alert and calm. But then I avoid travel south of Kendal as much as possible.
Just to play devils advocate and to raise another issue. How do people feel about people of sit in the outside lane when faster vehicles are coming up behind (bikes for example) and just sit there? Some drivers may feel like they need to get closer to highlight their presence. Now im not advocating driving a few feet behind the car in front, thats just dangerous. What would you suggest? Flashing the lights, undertaking?
One of the reasons why I get so irate over lane-hoggers is that there is literally nothing that you can legally do about it. You cannot tailgate them in the hopes that they will pull over to the left, you cannot undertake them - just about the only thing you can do is flash your lights or beep the horn. Chances are, a lane-hogger doesn't ever use his mirrors so flashing him is ineffective. The horn is likely to be ignored too, unless it is a really, really loud one. So, you are stuck behind the lane hog, and your options are limited and may land you in trouble, eg your undertake gets spotted by a cop. Hence the hatred and frustration. That said, I often have people getting out of my way pronto when I'm on the bike. However, if I'm in the car they are less likely to shift out of the way.
Shoot the fuckers, they'll drift off to the side then!!! :biggrin: Says someone who hasn't got a motorway within' 250 miles of them :wink:
If the traffic is fairly light then I will stay in the inside lane and just drive faster than those in the middle lane undertaking them. Of course, I make sure I've got an escape route if they suddenly decided to move to the inside lane. As I pass I like to give a wave and draw attention to the fact that I'm passing them on the inside. Generally, it makes no difference - only about 10% see the error of their ways and then pull in. But you're right, middle lane hoggers should be burnt at the stake at the exit of every service station on the motorway network with a polite notice to use the inside lane 1/4 mile further down the road.
I want to know why when some twat in the outside lane, who has space to move over, sees me and refuses too pull in. Is it cause I drive an Aston??????????? :wink:
I have tailgated and driven aggressively..... But, only in an attempt to move the middle lane snoozers out the way!
Remember Red 996 = cameras off for maintenance Well if I see Aston or Ferrari coming from behind faster then me, it happened, I let them pass then tailgate them for sound. Is that now illegal?
Do me favour Lucaz, don't tail gate at silly miles an hour on a motorway, if it goes wrong you won't get up, is it really worth it ? so many don't get away with it, I for one don't want to see a post about when your or anybodys funeral is, I'm not saying don't make progress but do it when it's safe, chill it out mate and enjoy the ride for the sake of riding, I'd like you around so I can bring you another carrot cake at Boxhill ( you had to be there, and yes it was a cake with a carrot in it !!!) lol. I think KRiss enjoyed it aswell !!!
It's tailgating that I definitely get uptight about............. .........why can't I pressurise Grandma into getting out of the way.....??
There was a TV programme about motorway driving/drivers and there was loads of people interviewed who admitted sitting in any lane at 70mph....as far as they were concerned that's the speed limit and they're not breaking the law and have no intention of moving over. I travel 25k miles a year ( in my beamer ) and its the one thing that really gets my back up, and that you can sit behind them for mile after mile and they have clearly not looked in their mirrors once. I end up under taking in sheer frustration and then I'm the one who gets the wanker sign.
What I do is quite simple, I sit behind them for a while, if they dont move to the left then I overtake them, pull back into the center lane and gently slow down. And I mean that I gently continuously slow my speed as long as there is nothing using the left lane until they overtake me! Then if they still sit in the center lane, which most dont, I do it all again until they do move to the left or some actually stick the boot down and disappear! Have got down to 40mph doing this until they overtake! (clear-ish motorway mind) Wouldn't do it on the bike though.
I like this. It's similar to something I've done in the past and is an approach I would use if/when I have time and patience for it. Although there is nothing specifically illegal about such an action, I am certain that plod would consider some kind of traffic offence charge against you, if they caught the whole thing on video. Of course, if they are videoing you doing this, they are probably videoing the lane hog at the same time and he is far more deserving a tug than you are.
Thats not fair! Most tugs Ive ever been given have been by what would be termed 'pigs' and I'm just as deserving as any other to get tugged by the next 'pig' I meet! :biggrin:
An interesting idea, but if plod arrived on the scene, depending upon what part of the cycle you were at, it could end up with both of you being done, one for causing an obstruction and the other for tailgating / driving dangeously.
I think there are probably two groups who hog the middle lane, the unaware and those who do it deliberately in the full knowledge that they are at the speed limit and consider that no one should be overtaking them. For the first group moving over to the left after passing them might educate them but for the second group there is no hope, so burning at the stake it is. Incidentally I think Audi drivers have taken over from where BMW drivers left off, particularly those big ugly SUV types, usually in white.
and they just love it when a load Ducati blasts past them making hand gestures....well as I've found out from time to time
