Coming down M1 between M62 junction Leeds area and Sheffield today about 19.30 ish, spied a Police car in my mirrors, no flashing lights or siren. I was doing about 75 mph on cruise in inside lane, clear up ahead except for a Clio, about 600 yards ahead in middle lane. Clio sat in middle lane doing maybe 55/60mph with clear inside lane, a few cars drew out from inside to outside lanes to overtake. I slowed to 70 and Plod went past me up to Clio. He sat behind it (pretty close, and switched on all his blue/red flashing lights) This went on for a mile or so, Clio remained in middle lane with completely clear inside lane. Eventually, Plod went past Clio, switched on "Stop" sign in his rear window and drew Clio over to hard shoulder. Was it because Clio was hogging middle lane? (didn't really matter because motorway was quiet at that time) or because some problem with ANPR?
Who knows, but a few more police cars policing middle lane hoggers would help traffic flow on our motorways.
Don't answer this with specific examples for fear of PC brigades, but does any other high mileage driver notice certain characteristics of middle lane hoggers?
Phil (must get to bed - 5.30 start tomorrow!!)
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>> Don't answer this with specific examples for fear of PC brigades, but does any other
>> high mileage driver notice certain characteristics of middle lane hoggers?
Yes.
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Tee hee. What fun to see a mimsing prat pulled for a richly deserved ovoiding. There are so many, and it happens so seldom!
I don't see that one has to be a high-mileage driver to notice 'certain characteristics' of quite a few categories of smugly dangerous and annoying drivers. All you need to do is get in a car and drive a few miles.
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Thankfully I don't spend much time on motorways these days, but I used to. Drivers who stick in the middle lane are indeed a nuisance, but for the folk out and about in the early hours of the morning, there is nothing more frustrating than the outside lane hogger pootling along at 65 mph with no intention of budging.
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I agree on the sixth sense. My passenger asked why I was pulling out to lane 3 to pass an LGV in lane 1 on Friday (I'd been happily passing others by just moving to lane 2). I said to my passenger "I bet he's on the phone".
I was partly right - He wasn't speaking on the phone, he was texting at the wheel!
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>> He sat behind (pretty close, and switched on all his blue/red flashing lights) This went on for a mile or so, Clio remained in middle lane with completely clear inside lane.
I'd like to see drivers like that done for driving without due care - they clearly never use their mirrors.
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>> Don't answer this with specific examples for fear of PC brigades, but does any other
>> high mileage driver notice certain characteristics of middle lane hoggers?
Locally, normally overweight women driving really poverty-spec cars - ie, know NOTHING about cars, and NOTHING about driving.
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The Police are to gain new powers ( according to recent news) by the summer next year to enforce on the spot fines for middle lane hoggers !!!!!
They apparently already have the power to prosectute middle laners but its more difficult so the on the spot fine will simplyfy and make the process swifter !
Its about time too and many many years too late, whilst they are at it , its about time they introduced on the spot fines for "failing to indicate "
America poses on the spot fines for "failing to make a turn signal " so why dont we, ideal for both motorways and especially roundabouts ! It would appear its a guessing game these days at roundabouts caused by shear lazyness !
Middle lane hoggers watch out as your days are numbered ! Yeah !!!
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>> America poses on the spot fines for "failing to make a turn signal " so
>> why dont we, ideal for both motorways and especially roundabouts ! It would appear its
>> a guessing game these days at roundabouts caused by shear lazyness !
The police in Rotherham are just as bad for not signalling on roundabouts and not only panda cars, trafic cars as well.
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...certain characteristics of middle lane hoggers?...
Older drivers, usually in newish cars, and young women.
The driver seen by the OP is clearly a middle lane hogger, but others are tougher to call.
On a busy motorway there's often no point in pulling into lane one when you know you will be closing on an artic, so will only have to pull out again a few seconds later.
There's also the risk of being unable to pull back out to overtake the artic because of all the other hoggers in lane two.
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Closing on a vehicle ahead in Lane 1, so staying in Lane 2, is anticipation, not lane hogging.
Real lane hogging, as in the OP's example, is staying in Lane 2 for no reason with a clear Lane 1 to move into.
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Just go faster than anyone else and pick lane 1 or 2 :-)
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...Closing on a vehicle ahead in Lane 1, so staying in Lane 2, is anticipation, not lane hogging...
Thanks, Cliff.
'Anticipation' - that's the word I couldn't think of.
I have sometimes over-anticipated myself when the artic peels off at a junction, leaving me looking stranded in lane two.
So I try to anticipate junctions as well.
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Or for those of us brought up in the Life on Mars / Gene Hunt school of motoring the objective was clear enough. Get into lane 3 as soon as possible, bury it and don't let anyone past. Keep your eyes peeled for Jam Sandwiches on the bridges and rely on the guys behind you to watch the back door. It's so much more complicated these days...
:-)
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...it's so much more complicated these days...
I think the same, but it helps keep me awake.
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I must admit I find the "Avoid Motorways" function on the Sat-Nav being used more often these days ;0)
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>>
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>> So I try to anticipate junctions as well.
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>>
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By staying in Lane 2 so that you don't get boxed in behind joining traffic drifting in at 30 mph ?
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...By staying in Lane 2 so that you don't get boxed in behind joining traffic drifting in at 30 mph ?...
Do that as well, but I also regard slip roads as just another junction - the joining vehicle should give way.
I think we've all been barged from lane one into lane two by a joining vehicle which refuses to slot in behind.
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On a busy motorway there's often no point in pulling into lane one when you know you will be closing on an artic, so will only have to pull out again a few seconds later.
It's a matter of degree, Iffy. I bet more than half the hoggers in lane 2 think they're showing laudable anticipation rather than damnable obstructiveness. My years on the M40 taught me that it's surprising how little time you need in lane 1 to justify moving in and back out - 10-12 seconds is generally enough to allow a faster vehicle to go by.
A torquey diesel (and not, as iPhone suggests, a Torquay diesel) like yours or mine is perfect for this: you can ease off a little, let the mirror clear of Audis, then be back on your way with a gentle extension of the ankle and no time lost.
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...It's a matter of degree, Iffy... 10-12 seconds is generally enough to allow a faster vehicle to go by...
Agreed, although I admit to breaking the 10-12 second rule on occasion.
I think most middle lane hoggers are simply oblivious to the effect they have on other traffic.
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>> 10-12 seconds is generally enough
Yes, I move back into lane 1 if I anticipate that I can continue in it for more than 10 seconds before I need to contemplate another move out to lane 2.
IMO a lot of motorway users are poor at judging closing speeds and at estimating the time needed to carry out manouevres. They either barrel into situations too quickly and box themselves in, or they add an unnecessary 30-second buffer to either end of their lane changes.
Being limited to 56mph sharpens a driver's speed- and time-estimating skills no end :)
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 12:16
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>> . . .you can ease off a little, let the mirror clear of
>> Audis, then be back on your way with a gentle extension of the ankle and
>> no time lost.
>>
Oi! I resemble that remark!
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Lane 1 is for lorries and losers.
Lane 2 is for when you have to concentrate on an important phone call.
Lane 3 is for important people like me.
Lane 4 ( if there is one ) is for VIPS and don't go there if you can't keep up...
:-))
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Lane 3 is for important people like me.
Sorry Humph, we saw the Qashqai and had no idea.
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Heh heh !! Stealth y'see Stealth
:-)
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>> Lane 3 is for important people like me.
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>> Sorry Humph, we saw the Qashqai and had no idea.
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Lanes should be graded by car value. That would put Humph in lane 2. :-)
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..and your Kia would be where exactly? Hard shoulder perhaps?....
:-)
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>> ..and your Kia would be where exactly? Hard shoulder perhaps?....
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>> :-)
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Probably banned from dual carriageways and Motorways, It is fun getting in everyones way though. :-)
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or good looks. Puts him on the hard shoulder!
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I think the spread of cruise control is a contributor to what we might call complacent (as distinct from oblivious) hogging, in that it takes away control of speed in what is, we should remember, an overtaking manoeuvre. Others here will disagree with me, I'm sure, but if the traffic is heavy enough to take you out of lane 1 for prolonged spells, you're not cruising and you should be controlling speed with your foot.
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On the cars I have driven with cruise control you can accelerate to overtake and the speed will drop to the cruise set speed when you back off the accelerator.
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Yes, and you can Suspend to back off and Resume afterwards, but (too many) people just don't.
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...I think the spread of cruise control is a contributor to what we might call complacent (as distinct from oblivious) hogging...
That applies in my case.
I tend to forget that on my cruise control you can use the accelerator pedal for, I think 40 seconds, without losing the cruise setting.
An important feature, because it's such hard work having to press those two steering column buttons, one after the other.
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>> I think the spread of cruise control is a contributor to what we might call
>> complacent (as distinct from oblivious) hogging, in that it takes away control of speed in
>> what is, we should remember, an overtaking manoeuvre. Others here will disagree with me, I'm
>> sure, but if the traffic is heavy enough to take you out of lane 1
>> for prolonged spells, you're not cruising and you should be controlling speed with your foot.
Given that it seems to be my week to disagree with you, then yes I will.
If I want to cruise at 70 mph, given that the inside lane on most motorways is thick with 56mph lorries. I could cruise (and have done) at 70 MPH on CC for tens of miles in lane 2
Also on the M20, M2 and the southern section of the M25, the inside lane is tramlined and rippled with HGV use. You wont catch me there even on an empty motorway.
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>>the inside lane is tramlined and rippled with HGV use. You wont catch me there even on an empty motorway.
I take it Mitsubishi's 'tramline' terribly, have lousy suspension and are driven by the totally selfish.
I suppose the one advantage is I won't have to manoeuvre round you, knowing you'll hog the middle lane, I can safely undertake.
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True BT and what's more he'd not have the audacity ( or at least I shouldn't think so anyway ) in one of those to move further to the right either...You could go round him either side safely enough.
:-)
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>> >>the inside lane is tramlined and rippled with HGV use. You wont catch me there
>> even on an empty motorway.
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>> I take it Mitsubishi's 'tramline' terribly, have lousy suspension and are driven by the totally
>> selfish.
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>> I suppose the one advantage is I won't have to manoeuvre round you, knowing you'll
>> hog the middle lane, I can safely undertake.
You wont be driving round me. You have a kia thing remember.
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I wondered who would be the first to mention the 'u' word in relation to lane hoggers.
I've done it, despite it being a stupid thing to do.
Not sure about motorways, but I believe the Highway Code allows passing either side on urban multi-carriageway roads.
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The current wording is something like
You may keep up with traffic in your own lane, but you should not move to a lane on your left to overtake.
I think it's more permissive now than it used to be - I remember something about traffic moving in queues that this seems to have superseded.
Since I read this, I've been far less bashful about staying in lane 1 to pass a bigger in lane 2, although it scarcely makes a difference on my regular M4 beat, as we all end up stationary in the same jam at Slough or Windsor.
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From www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070202 :
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
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>>The Law
The Highway Code is not law, but it does include many points of law (denoted by the word MUST in bold type).
<<
Pat
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>> Not sure about motorways, but I believe the Highway Code allows passing either side on
>> urban multi-carriageway roads.
Often occurs where lanes are junction/destination speciific (eg on the M1 or M6 approaching Catthorpe). Probably covered by the 'keep up with traffic in your own lane' proviso but in the M6 example above it's most likley the A14 bound stuff that's slowed down.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 14:38
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It's fairly clear that swerving around the nearside of a lane hogger on an otherwise empty motorway is officially frowned on.
Pat makes a good point about the Highway Code not being law, but an aggressive undertake would probably be charged under the catch-all 'driving without due care or attention'.
Last edited by: Iffy on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 15:26
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Education programme much needed in this country re lane discipline
Centre lane and outside lane overtaking ONLY
Otherwise inside lane
Travelling along the motorway early one sunny Sunday morning, doing 70mph in the inside lane. Only car travelling in my direction, BMW with headlights blazing half a mile back in the outside lane, approaching fast, overtaking nowt.
Because he was in the 'fast' lane.
Should be made to retake the driving test
Rant over :)
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I don't worry about undertaking. I don't do it then pull into anyone's braking distance. I don't approach someone in an overtaking lane then move in to undertake.
I still undertake fairly frequently though, at least once a week, normally more often. It's almost always just sailing past a day dreamer.
If someone can sit in lane 2, then i'm damn sure i can sit in lane 1!
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Often on my journey home I join the M5 around the same time as a young lady in a base model polo. Always amuses me that she feels the need to join the motorway and head straight out to lane 3 while the more powerful vehicles joining proceed to power out and down lane 1 / 2 and undertake her as she eases up to 60. Usually she hits 75 and pulls back into lane 2
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>> Also on the M20, M2 and the southern section of the M25, the inside lane
>> is tramlined and rippled with HGV use. You wont catch me there even on an
>> empty motorway.
>>
So all that bleating on this forum about HGV's taking light years to do an overtake is nonsense then? Otherwise, surely both lanes would be like that. ;-)
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>> So all that bleating on this forum about HGV's taking light years to do an
>> overtake is nonsense then? Otherwise, surely both lanes would be like that. ;-)
Ohhh no they save that for two lane A roads, where maximum diseuption is caused.
No seriously, I am sure you have used it, but its down to the fact concrete is used on those sections, and the sheer weight of HGV traffic, almost 24 hours a day. Its a ribbon that never sleeps.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 20:59
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>> No seriously, I am sure you have used it, but its down to the fact
>> concrete is used on those sections, and the sheer weight of HGV traffic, almost 24
>> hours a day. Its a ribbon that never sleeps.
>>
I have, and you're right. There used to be another bad section on the M1, from 17 to 18 northbound IIRC. If you think it's bad in a car try doing it in a 7.5 tonne lorry, which has a slightly narrower (by about 6") track than a "proper" lorry.
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"concrete is used on those sections"
There are some appallin bits of concrete roads. The 7.5 tonner I drive at times is a car transporter and without (and with come to think of it) a car on the back the suspension is solid.
Worst, I think, although only short, is the last bit of M42 southbound before M40 junction, second the stretch of A50 Uttoxeter to Stoke and third, M42 from Ashby to Tamworth (ish) - they shake you to bits. Mind you, I sometimes think we have lost the skill of laying flat tarmac also - some bits of new A1 Wetherby to Leeming are dreadful.
And, to cap it all, part of A46 North Leicester bypass has just been resurfaced and is dreadfully bumpy. Ironically, after the re-surfaced bit there are signs warning of bumpy surface which is the old surface - it's better than the new!!
A43 Northampton to Bicester is terrible for potholes, as are parts of concrete M25 (Heathrow to Reigate ish). Some of the "main roads" in SE are similar A26, A21 for instance- I feel like taking the Transport Minister out one day in the truck - it would be a real education for him.
Ordinary roads? Don't start me - most are appalling. Worst? A71 from M74 across towards Ayr (?) 10 mph is too fast on that if you want to avoid backbreaking jolts.
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Middle lane hogs are like Old Navy's Sunday Drivers. In their own little bubble and totally oblivious to anything going on around them.
They're dangerous. They're the ones whose accident statement reads:
"I didn't see him."
"She just stepped out in front of me."
Worst example I've seen recently was a Mazda RX8 on the M1 in Nottinghamshire doing 50mph in the outside lane. Despite the flashing headlights, blaring horns and being undertaken by numerous cars the driver was still on autopilot.
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I had a girlfriend with a 957cc Fiesta who was happy doing 80 in the middle or right hand lanes, but always slowed down to under 70 on the rare occasions she ventured over to the left hand lane, even when it was empty.
I think it was on HJ a year or 2 ago I posted about a similar experience to the OP's on the M6 - IIRC it was a young lad in a 106 who got pulled. Perhaps it's something that happens to drivers of small French cars.
Last edited by: Focus on Wed 15 Jun 11 at 21:10
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Mid lane hogger - maybe a first? - Dave_
