jamesmark Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 At last someone has been convicted for hogging the middle/outside lane. It is one of the most irritable things driving on our roads (yes I know there are worse things blah blah). Hopefully this is just the start of things to come with it. Five penalty points and ordered to pay a £500 fine, £400 in costs and a £40 victim surcharge in his absence. Ok, fine etc was mainly because he failed to turn up at court to maybe get 3 points and a small fine, but still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkerstrider Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 It's about time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonR24 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Now have to sort out these Lorry drivers. The biggest problem we have near me are lorries hogging 2 or 3 lanes for miles. Much worse than any lane hoggers I've seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdavies Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 5 Points !!!! That is a lot for what is not a major offence in the grand scheme of things. I am glad something is getting done about it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Now have to sort out these Lorry drivers. The biggest problem we have near me are lorries hogging 2 or 3 lanes for miles. Much worse than any lane hoggers I've seen A14 by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 5 Points !!!! That is a lot for what is not a major offence in the grand scheme of things. I am glad something is getting done about it though. I think it was only that severe as the numbnut failed to turn up at court. Probably would have been 3 points and smaller fine. Don't mind lorry drivers if I am being honest, as they have a right to be there and overtake etc etc, it is annoying that they spend miles trying to overtake, but I would say they are not so much a danger on the road as the twats that cannot filter back into left lane when overtaking resulting in tailbacks as they are 100% unnecessary making one lane out of action as you are (legally) not allowed to undertake. At least lorries once they have wasted miles of road overtaking filter back in. The amount of times with the miles I do in a year get people filtering onto Motorway or Dual carriageway and signal to first lane, pause then signal into middle lane and sit there. Feck all in the left lane for them to overtake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I'm glad some authorities are trying to do something about it. That and not indicating are things that are contrary to the highway code, inconvenience others, and don't benefit those to do it. Just lazy habits. Introduce compulsory driving re-tests every 10 years for all drivers! Off-topic, but I was recently knocked off my bike by a driver who has a medical condition that meant she shouldn't be driving. I fell in front of her car after going on the bonnet, and luckily she braked. If she'd had an epileptic fit or something like that and jammed the accelerator on, there's a fair chance I'd be pushing up daisies now. Did I mention that all drivers should have to re-take a test every 10 years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Did I mention that all drivers should have to re-take a test every 10 years? I've been saying this for years! Also in the forces we have to do a matrix test(the theory test) every 5 years. I think that should be compulsory in the real world too. Every 5 for a theory test Every 10 for a driving assessment/test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitz Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Had to have a lol at the video of 'How to Drive on the Motorway' on that Mirror Article. Welsh guy is hilarious although technically he shouldn't be using his phone whilst driving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2 MSW Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 This is the fault of the Driving test IMO, an antiquated test that has not been updated for years. How can you take a test that doesn't include the major route to get from city to city. Its nuts. However great that they have finally done something about it as its one of the most annoying things when driving, Ive got friends (mainly women) that say its ok to sit in the middle lane because they feel comfy there WTF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 It's the systems fault for not teaching people how to drive on motorways in the first place, make them like free ways and problem solved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2 MSW Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 It's the systems fault for not teaching people how to drive on motorways in the first place, make them like free ways and problem solved Ditto on the systems fault. But agree they should be more like freeway system in America. Only trouble is I can foresee lots of accidents with drivers not expecting cars to be undertaking them when pulling back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Very small part to blame on the driving test regarding not using motorways, but passing the test is only one part in compliance with driving law. There is an onus on the driver to have sufficient current knowledge of the highway code and road laws to maintain a permit to use the public roads. (The old adage that ignorance is no defense in court plays well in this field). The practical test may not have motorway lane discipline but I do think it can be a question as part of the theory test. Basically its not much of a thing to remember though, "use lane 2 (or 3 or 4 or whatever) to overtake". If you're not overtaking then you should not be in any other lane than lane 1. (Taking out of the equation "get in lane" directives of course). Good to see it being policed more heavily and with more vigor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Had to have a lol at the video of 'How to Drive on the Motorway' on that Mirror Article. Welsh guy is hilarious although technically he shouldn't be using his phone whilst driving I noticed he referred to terms like "slow lane" and "fast lane": this doesn't help. What lane you should be in isn't a function of what speed you're doing. It's a function of whether you're overtaking or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc92 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Good, more people need to be. I was on the M25 earlier today and it was full of idiots driving in the middle and outside lanes despite the inside being completely clear. Driving well isn't that hard it just requires some critical thought which apparently a lot of people seem to lack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonR24 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 A14 by any chance? How did you guess lol Honestly doe my head in. We also get tractors on the duel carriage way which is just downright dangerous. Lorries and tractors two vehicles that should involve serious punishment if you drive dangerously in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 How did you guess lol Honestly doe my head in. We also get tractors on the duel carriage way which is just downright dangerous. Lorries and tractors two vehicles that should involve serious punishment if you drive dangerously in them We have idiots in lycra racing their pushbikes on my local dual carriageway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Has anyone noticed how in very recent times a cycle race on public roads, that would have had warning signs proclaiming "Caution, Cycle Race" now have signs saying "Caution, Cycle Event"? It always surprised me they would call it a race, as racing on the public highways is illegal. They are presumably trying to wriggle out of the fact they are, strictly speaking holding illegal racing, as they are set against the clock, by calling them an "event" I would imagine anyone unfortunate enough to hit one could say they were taking part in a race and not paying due care and attention, or being reckless. Would make an interesting case... I have never seen any dispensation for cyclists to hold races, short of nationally sanctioned events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westcoaster Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Middle lane hoggers are particularly prevalent on urban stretches of the M74 through Glasgow, and the problem gets worse the further south you drive until you get to the M25 where lane discipline is practically third world! What I don't understand is how good lane discipline is possible throughout European motorways and not on UK ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Finally!! Really happy someone has been convicted! It is not the driving test fault as the person who is hogging the middle lane is COMPLETELY aware what they are doing. As Al I have had a few people including some of my friends who tell their wife to drive in the middle lane because it is safer. That just endangers the person driving and people around them as they are no longer focusing on driving and aware of their surrounds, they are just looking ahead and then changing lanes when someone is in the way and in most cases doing the classic indicate and move!! I always use the left lane if it is empty regardless who is in the middle lane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 drive in the middle lane because it is safer. I've read similar things on here too. I'd love to know the rationale of why driving in the middle lane is allegedly safer. I suspect it's either: 1) to do with being able to move either left or right if something happens that requires evasive manoeuvring. If that's right, then people are forgetting about the hard shoulder, the quietest lane on the motorway, that's readily available if you're in the left lane. I doubt if such drivers are capable of evasive manoeuvring that goes beyond jamming the brakes on and saying a prayer. Either these drivers have poor observation skills that means they don't see hazards before it's too late (in which case, re-test them every 10 years to check they still meet a minimum level of competence), or everyone else's driving really is that erratic and unpredictable (in which case, if everyone was retested every 10 years, it should improve standards for everyone). or 2) to keep lane-switching to the absolute minimum. But if their lane-changing skills are that bad (or they are that scared of lane-changing) so they avoid doing it, then they shouldn't be on the motorway, and possibly shouldn't be driving at all (plenty of non-motorway driving also requires lane changing). Re-test 'em every 10 years to check they have the minimum level of confidence required to go out on their own! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Has anyone noticed how in very recent times a cycle race on public roads, that would have had warning signs proclaiming "Caution, Cycle Race" now have signs saying "Caution, Cycle Event"? It always surprised me they would call it a race, as racing on the public highways is illegal. They are presumably trying to wriggle out of the fact they are, strictly speaking holding illegal racing, as they are set against the clock, by calling them an "event" I would imagine anyone unfortunate enough to hit one could say they were taking part in a race and not paying due care and attention, or being reckless. Would make an interesting case... I have never seen any dispensation for cyclists to hold races, short of nationally sanctioned events. No signs down here the last time they were on the dual carriageway, they are totally oblivious to anyone else on the road and throw the highway code in the bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Finally!! Really happy someone has been convicted! It is not the driving test fault as the person who is hogging the middle lane is COMPLETELY aware what they are doing. As Al I have had a few people including some of my friends who tell their wife to drive in the middle lane because it is safer. That just endangers the person driving and people around them as they are no longer focusing on driving and aware of their surrounds, they are just looking ahead and then changing lanes when someone is in the way and in most cases doing the classic indicate and move!! I always use the left lane if it is empty regardless who is in the middle lane. It's not the fault of the test as such but it's partly down to learner drivers not getting any instruction on how you drive on a motorway, including how you get on it and how you get off it. Also educating them that they're not safer sitting in the middle lane and are actually in a far more unsafe position driving there when the nearside or first lane is clear. There should be something in the new test, at least a simulated motorway part would be helpful. The issue is that won't educate the thousands out there all ready that either don't know, don't care or actually think they're safer sat in the middle lane Just because its in the highway code means nothing, how many people have read that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Great thread. I do a lot of motorway driving and don't see massive amounts of lane hogging up here. Possibly because there are so many trucks in the first lane, cars have the other two to play with. Considering I am normally "rep" driving, I am seldom at a speed where it is plausible to drop into the first lane without needing to pull back out a few seconds later. In my mind, the more manoeuvres, the more chance of an accident. Better to hold a sensible line, other than make lane changes, just to show how good of a driver you are. I see all types of driving on my travels but overall, I thinks standards and consideration are poor. Not sure I would pass my test again to be honest. I class myself as a good driver from point to point but I have some terrible habits. I have massive amounts of understanding of how roads work and potential dangers but make some poor decisions as far as speed and safety is concerned. Had a bump on Friday which has made me consider my town driving habits. H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 The blaming of the driving test is just an excuse with zero substance. Yes you are not allowed or taught on the motorway but you are allowed and taught on dual carriageways. So if you are taught to overtake and if safe to do so merge back into the left lane, this rule applies to 3 or 4 laned motorways. The rule does not automatically become exempt due to the number of lanes. the more manoeuvres, the more chance of an accident. Better to hold a sensible line, other than make lane changes, Exactly this, the issue is not people driving in the middle/outside lanes and doing a speed where they are overtaking quite merrily. It is those that think it is acceptable to stay there and plod along and overtake only if they come across a vehicle that is going slower than them.......let's say some one who has sadly broke down fits the bill. I too do a lot of Motorway miles and it gets even more dangerous when you get said person in middle lane and a lorry is traveling quicker than them. Lorry drivers are up there chuff so much they can smell their deodorant, but middle lane higher still refuses to budge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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