Middle lane hoggers

[ludwig]

Who are these people who tootle along at 50mph in the middle lane, seemingly oblivious to the chaos and frustration all around them? Is there anyone out there prepared to own up to this practice, and perhaps explain the thought process behind it?

[Doolallygirl]

I hate them too, I'm more a sit in the fast lane and cruise at 50mph! Joke! It infuriates me the way that I need to undertake people to get round them too. Grrrr. My friends are the worst middle lane drivers around. Even when the lane next to them is clear to pull into and I point this out they always say that they are quite happy where they are. Grrrrr.

[OBonio]

My dad does this. And the mrs. I tend to volunteer to drive if I go anywhere with them.

[BenDToy]

I heard one on the radio yesterday defending the practice because he didn't have to keep changing lanes. How selfish and ignorant can one person be???

[boognish76]

You COULD argue that the fewer maneuvers, eg changing lanes, you have to make on the motorway then the less chance there is of you having an accident while performing them. Of course, if you can't handle a simple lane change then you shouldn't even be on the motorway.

[BUDDY HOLLY]

I am one of those drivers who drive in the middle lane, i do not hog it and i do not drive at 50mph,when the motorway rules were drawn up there wasn't nose to tail 16wheelers on the road, also drivers didn't join the motorway from a slip road at 80mph and expect other drivers to move over to let them on to the motorway as they do now,I might add that when the conditions allow i will always move into the " slow "lane. I have done a lot of motorway driving ane consider this to be the safest way to use the road. If you want to complain about something, point towards the clowns doing over 100mph and the ones entering the motorway at great speeds and forcing their way into the fast lane, i could go on,look to your own driving before you point a finger,do you drive at over 30mph in a 30 zone?

[becks]

Oooh i hate them too, but i always flash at them and generally they move over, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they could move over. if they don't i overtake, then move in front before indictsing and pulling into the "slow" lane to show them what to do. And i am also an advocate of the no speed limit on the motorway rule.

[g-money]

And don't forget while doing 50 in the middle to have one indicator on at all times

[WaldoMcFroog]

Actually, what I really despise is the people who drive up behind at a million miles an hour then hang half an inch off the rear bumper. They do this in both middle and fast lanes. They then get frustrated by the fact that you've not immediately recognised their divine right to drive like chimp and moved over in under three nanoseconds by undertaking. Several times this has almost coincided with me moving over to let them go on their oh-so-important way, nearly resulting in serious accidents. I don't mind people driving fast - I too think the speed limit should be scrapped on the motorway, but I heavily object to people who haven't the courtesy or patience to wait for me to reach a clear gap in the next slowest lane before moving over. And driving an inch off my bumper just makes me less inclined to move. There's no logic in the world which can defend such lethal driving practices. If only I were a sociopath, I'd put the breaks on, I really would...

There seems to be a rule that these people are the ones who think because their car is bigger and more expensive, they somehow have special dispensation to drive like a t_sser. BMW drivers seem to be particularly at risk of this disease, but then, in my experience they're usually t_ssers away from the wheel too... [/crass stereotype]

[country_boy]

So BUDDY do you advocate under-taking then to get around you while you are in the middle lane? If people stayed to the left and overtook on the right, there would be less congestion, less accidents and one less place to check before you change lanes. If you are pointing the finger at people who do over 30 in a 30 zone, then you should observe rules that apply to you on a motorway.

[RogerK]

...and the same people are usually wearing a hat - inside their car - what's that all about?

[pinus]

It's an old bit of advice to beware of drivers wearing hats. Even my mother, who was a non-driver swore by it. If male, they're either even older than me and shouldn't be driving, or they are young hotheads, who shouldn't be driving. Or, they're female. I'm only quoting!!!! :)

[pigface]

I hate them too. Ignorant and in the wrong. Can I quote from the Highway Code? You should drive in the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower moving vehicles it may be safer to remain in the centre or outer lanes until the manoeuvre is completed rather than continually changing lanes. Return to the left-hand lane once you have overtaken all the vehicles or if you are delaying traffic behind you. Slow moving or speed restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking.

[BUDDY HOLLY]

Re highway code,that is just what i said, it also states in the HC, cars entering the motorway should regulate their speed to the traffic already on the motorway and wait for a gap, ( not force every other driver into the middle lane where i already am keeping out of their way) by the way, i have never worn a hat!!

[ludwig]

BUDDYHOLLY, I asked for people to own up and explain their actions and to be fair you've done that so thanks. Trouble is, the practice I've described (and from what you've said I'm not convinced you're really one of the culprits) can create just as much a hazard as the 100mph clowns and tailgaiters. 3 stars to everyone.

[Ewood27]

When the first three-lane motorways opened, they were also the first three-lane roads of any kind. There was a school of thought that said the left lane was a slow lane and only for lorries. The middle lane was for cars, and the third lane for overtaking. I know, there's nothing like that in the Highway Code, but I suspect that thought process still persists.
I'm tempted to undertake, but if the idiot takes fright as I come alongside and pulls over, he will hit me, and I don't think my explanation will cut much ice with the police. I favour the "move from left lane to right lane, pass the idiot, and back to the left lane" technique (provided it's safe of course). Of course they never get the message. If they were paying attention they wouldn't be in the middle lane. I believe the police call them CLOCs - Centre Lane Only Club.

[becks]

Undertaking isn't illegal anymore although it's a bit unclear, apparently unless in free flowing traffic you can overtake, it was brought in after the variable speed limits to try and stop people changing lanes, your definition of "free-flowing traffic" however may be different to mine...