Middle lane drivers...

[has]

Why-O-why are people so content with driving in the middle lane of a half empty motorway, if there is no other vehicles in the inside lane, when the Highway Code clearly states that the centre lane is used for over-taking then to return to the inside lane?

If you are one of these people, drive properly or get off the motorway. You are a menace!!

[tamborine]

road rage....road rage! Chill when driving - play some good music. No point rushing & not arriving - leave earlier, give yourself time.

[has]

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE MY WAY OF THINKING. GOOD ANSWER SUSIESPIDER...THANKS

[R1Geezer]

right we are almost there, most above have now conceded that when the left lane is busy it is safer to stay in the middle rather than dodge in and out, well done. Ok so now we are left with the quiet motorway scenario. The road is fairly clear, there is no problem passing, why is it an issue when someone is in the middle lane? Are you afraid of the right hand lane? You see this is one of those urban knubs of hysteria that no one really understands but it's a considered a no no but people don't know why so they call us advanced motorists idiots. Read the above book to see alot of these myths exploded, for example when is it safer to drive on the wrong side of he road or when you should not indicate etc etc

[R1Geezer]

I agree dawdling in the middle lane is a no no, absolutely. When the road is clear ish I'll be in the middle lane doing 80, overtake either side if you want. Oh dam! I've given away another advanced driving secret! Doh! Oh and over taking on the left is NOT undertaking. I feel like i'm giving road craft lessons here!

[carrot99]

the problem is R1 that the highway code says that it is fine to pass on the left when there is congestion and the other lanes are moving slower.

Is one dawdling car in the centre lane congestion? That is my only worry, otherwise I am going to start passing on the left, which at the moment I don't. (I know that undertaking is a matter of weaving in and out of lanes not just passing.)

Is there a traffic policeman in the house???

[kinell]

i reg drive in the early hours on the m25

the centre lane of three when the road is relatively quiet is the safest place to be... providing you are not dawdling and maintain at least 70mph

the road camber has less effect on the car

more importantly if you have to take avoiding action for whatever reason then when in the centre lane you have two avenues of escape not just one

[jno]

the left lane is mostly taken up by slow drivers and lorries. The right lane is taken up by boy racers who tailgate you at 70mph so you'll get out of the way and let them break the law. The middle lane is the safest place to be if you just want to drive at or around the speed limit.

Plus as kinell says it increases your options.

Of course the question talks about a 'half-empty motorway', whatever that is. If there's no other traffic, what does it matter where you drive?

[R1Geezer]

No carrot that is not udnertaking either.

I agree 100% doing less that 70 in the middle is a no no.

If I'm doing 80 in the midldle and you are doing 90 in the left then it's fine to drift past. It becomes a due car issue when you speed up up swerve under and back to another lane.

As kinell rightly says the best place on an empty motorway is the middle, the masses are not taught to drive properly

[carrot99]

not around the speed limit jno - as kinell says "the centre lane of three when the road is relatively quiet is the safest place to be... providing you are not dawdling and maintain at least 70mph".

It's the cars in the centre lane doing less than the speed limit that are causing the problem to drivers in the left hand lane driving at 70mph and not wanting to pass on the left.

[carrot99]

thanks R1 (and Derekpara and Electrochem on Friday) I'm convinced now and shall be passing on the left when necessary without fear of undertaking.

[carrot99]

you don't have to change lanes zacsmaster you can stay in the left hand lane with me - we are not weaving in and out so we are not undertaking. we are passing congestion in the centre lane - that's ok by the highway code - I looked that up and pasted it in one of the other threads on thursday or friday.

[R1Geezer]

did you read the above few posts zacsmaster? You don't have to change lanes, it's a common misreading of the overtaking rule. Also as I have said, I'll be doing at least 80 in the middle.

[Barmaid]

That's a brave admission Geezer. I can just see the anti speeding brigade rocking up for ritual disembowelment anytime soon.

(Although I'll probably be in the middle lane doing something around that speed right in front of you!!!)

[carrot99]

Is it any wonder that me and my little Eco Panda (1100cc) cower in the left-hand lane?

[R1Geezer]

methinks it is you who lack confidence zacs, you have been brain washed by the motoring mafia mate. No need for insults just because a life time of misunderstanding has just beed corrected.

Barmaid, I am one of those that accepts the broad intent of the highway code but it's advice is not 100% correct. The speed limit for motorways should be 80. My traffic cop friends tell me unnofficially that they won't nick anyone doing less that 85.

On one of my motorcycling courses I did with Dave Jones, author of the book above, before we got on our bikes he said "well the national limit of course a bit pedestrian, for our purposes today, I don't want to see anyone exceeding 100".

I regularly discuss motoring matters with these guys in my club and you'd be surprised how wrong the motoring sheep like zacsmaster are.

[R1Geezer]

I don't think it is us who are misinterpreting the highway code, up until yesterday you thought it was necessary to go from lane 1 to lane 3 and back to overtake someone in lane 2. Has the penny dropped yet? It's ok, no need to thank me for the awakwning, happy motoring from now on, think of me when you first pass on the left and I will be grateful to have at least assisted one of the sheep.