Middle Lane Hogger Fined

[mushroom25]

wigan decorator ian stephens believes he's been picked on because he drives a white van
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/wigan-driver-convicted-middle-lane-9507181

but he didn't go to court to argue his case -
//I can’t afford nearly £1,000. I didn’t go to court because I have to go to work.//

white van man arrogance? or pragmatism borne of police harrassment?

[mikey4444]

TTT...yes you do !

Its an offence to use the inside lane to overtake/undertake, unless there is no option, like you are leaving the Motorway, or the other lanes are blocked for some reason my stationary traffic.

Its all in rule 267 :::::" Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe and legal to do so. Overtake only on the right.

https://www.gov.uk/motorways-253-to-273/overtaking-267-to-269

Its further explained in rule 268 ::::

"Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake "

What more evidence do you need ?

[ToraToraTora]

did you read the bit about 80mph? that is my default speed in the midde lane, generally anyone wanting to go faster than that is in the outside line. As I said twice above I agree if we are talking about dawdlers in the middle lane but I am not. The left hand lane never empty enough to do 80? I'd like to see motorway that this guy got prosecuted on, I have never seen the left hand lane empty enough for me to be able to use it with the possible exception of the M6 Toll!

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Whats the betting TTT is one of those BMW drivers :-)

[Gromit]

Not sure how this would work in a real situation, but if the driver in the left lane was doing 70 and ahead of him in the middle lane was a driver going significantly more slowly, then passing the slow car would be acceptable. But, if a driver in the middle lane caught up the middle lane hogger and change to the left lane to pass the slower car, then that would be undertaking and an offence. A bit of a grey area though.

[-Talbot-]

It all depends on how the day has been of copper that spots you,

If you undertake or overtake on the left you are running the risk of a copper nabbing you, He/she will have no interest in your interpretation of the highway code.

[Gromit]

TTT,
The M62 connects Liverpool and Hull.
The Rochdale - Huddersfield section is the trans-Pennine part and is uphill in the easterly direction. It is very busy at peak.

[Davemano]

I agree with many other AB members that the white van part of his story is just a weak excuse. Perhaps he hasn't seen the Motorway Police programmes where these middle lane hogging pests are caught on camera, and I would suggest that there was more than sufficient evidence presented to the court. There is no excuse for him not attending court and I believe that if he had done, and used the account which he giving us, he would no doubt have been made a fool of. NO SYMPATHY WHATSOEVER.

[bazwillrun]

Mind you, I would have thought the tailgaters and people using phones whilst driving on the Mways (and other roads) are far more dangerous than this bloke..shame they dont spend more time on those offences

[Deskdiary]

"The maximum speed on UK motorways is 70 Mph. If you do drive at 80Mph I hope YOU soon get nicked."

I knew there'd be at least one. I'm just surprised it took so many posts before it reared its inevitable head!

Unless you are driving dangerously, the Police will not nick you for doing 80 on a motorway.

70 in 1960 on drum brakes and radial tyres was probably right.

70 today is anachronistic.

[alavahalf]

Have googled .. anachronistic .. it's not a word I use as often a I might.



What does it mean ?

[Khandro]

On Autobahns drivers 'slow down' to 120 Kph signs (75 mph), and 160 Kph (100 mph) is considered a fairly normal speed. Middle-lane hogging isn't a big problem. If a German indicates he is moving out in front of you, -- he's moving out! there's no flashing of headlights as in the UK.

[Baldric]

///70 in 1960 on drum brakes and *radial* tyres was probably right.///


Cross ply maybe?

[bazwillrun]

A friend who used to be a m/way cop always said that that was more to do with the difference in calibration and variations on car speedos....theyd have to test every car they nicked to prove that the cars speedo was accurate and they were actually speeding according to the police equipment

[bazwillrun]

forgot to add
"Unless you are driving dangerously, the Police will not nick you for doing 80 on a motorway. " in previous reply

[alavahalf]

Are you really saying that Satnavs are accurate ?