CLOGged off

[Roger Jones]

A well worn topic, I know, but . . .

I had a good trip to Lyneham (Wilts) yesterday, 100 miles each way, spoilt by only one feature. I don't do that many longish trips these days and have therefore not been much exposed to irritation by the CLOG brigade (Centre Lane Owners Group). What crass stupidity and mindlessness encourages a driver to stay in the centre lane even when the motorway is not at all busy? There were dozens of them, their thoughtlessness exceeded only by those doing the same thing in lane 3. I guess it's far too late for a police crack-down on the habit, but, oh, do I wish they would.

 

[markmifsud]

A well worn topic, I know, but . . .

I had a good trip to Lyneham (Wilts) yesterday, 100 miles each way, spoilt by only one feature. I don't do that many longish trips these days and have therefore not been much exposed to irritation by the CLOG brigade (Centre Lane Owners Group). What crass stupidity and mindlessness encourages a driver to stay in the centre lane even when the motorway is not at all busy? There were dozens of them, their thoughtlessness exceeded only by those doing the same thing in lane 3. I guess it's far too late for a police crack-down on the habit, but, oh, do I wish they would.

I dont mind those in the center lane as long as the 3rd is free, or they move when I get close. Most of the time I do an appropriately high speed in the center lane and use the 3rd for overtaking, rarely will I get in the correct "slow lane". And the reason?

Sticking to a high speed in the "slow lane" means I have to keep pulling out to overtake every 2 mins, I am at greater risk when the motorways merge.

And I dont want to do a steady 65mph in order to keep in a comfortable position.

 

[markmifsud]

oops

 

[Sp!ke]

 

[Meldrew2]

The members of CLOG don't bother me.

As an ex BMW owner, I have lifetime membership of OLOG. (It used to be called FLOG, but there were some very embarassing misunderstandings)



.

 

[EDZ649]

Couldn't tell you the last time I went in the centre lane, I usually only cross over it!

 

[Chrishazle]

HGV Ruts

That's the reason I often do not move into the inside lane! It's not so bad in the MB, the track width seems to be OK most of the time - but in the Porsche the ruts caused by HGV's can throw the car from side to side. Try the M20 for instance - it gets so much HGV traffic to and from the ports and tunnel the inside lane has quite deep ruts and is pretty uncomfortable for a lot of the distance south of the M26.

I do, however, keep a close eye on my rear view mirror!

 

[raymont]

Joined the M3 London bound the other day at the Hook junction. The police car in front of me followed a slow Escort van down the outside lane of the slip road. Once on the motorway van joins lane 1 and police car passes him using lane 2. At this point van decides to take up his rightful place in lane 2 and moves out , despite complete lack of anything to pass in lane 1, causing me to go from lane 1 to lane 3 and back to overtake.

Police car slows down, waits for van to pass him and in my rear mirror I see the blue lights come on and the van is pulled over. Can only assume it was because of lack of lane discipline. Hope so. First time I’ve seen this and would be really happy to see it happen again!

IMHO you pull over as soon as the lane on the left is available to you. The ‘I’ll move over when you catch me up’ approach sounds OK. When the driver is alert this works well enough, but in practice often have to wait until they notice you and then pull over.

 

[BTB 500]

I dont mind those in the center lane as long as the 3rd is free

Not much help if you're towing and not allowed to use lane 3.

 

[markmifsud]

Not much help if you're towing and not allowed to use lane 3.

No, but I did actually say

"I dont mind those in the center lane as long as the 3rd is free, or they move when I get close."

For many the middle lane has many benefits, we know its the law to drive in the furthest left lane at all times, but we also have many other laws, like speed limits that are often broken.

If I was in the middle lane, and you came up behind me towing or not, I would move over to allow you to pass

 

[Dieter]

Hi,

Good driving involves a (high) degree of spatial awareness....

Lane hoggers (middle and outside....whom I'm sure think they are 'good' drivers as they are in the 'fast' lane ) do not have any (much) spatial awareness and might as well be driving with blinkers on.....as they need not look neither right nor left but just straight on

 

[BTB 500]

If I was in the middle lane, and you came up behind me towing or not, I would move over to allow you to pass

Good for you. Sadly most people who stick in the middle lane do so purely from ignorance/laziness and either don't see a vehicle behind them, or don't know it's not allowed to use lane 3.

 

[Barbanasos]

The problem is that slow middle lane drivers then drive all the still slow (but faster than them) drivers to clogg the fast lane. They will usually move but when they are not looking at their mirrors I have to flash them to wake them up.

The worst case is that there have been many occassions that this is happening while the slow lane is totally free, and they just stand there on both lanes overtaking forever (they dont increase their speed to overtake, just maintain what they want to do) in which case I know its wrong but they both need undertaking.

Overall they can stay on the middle lane as long as they do not decide to move either on the fast or slower lane without looking at the mirrors. Sometimes people do it as they feel more confident having the lanes either side. Everybody should just look at the mirrors every so often.

 

[lynall]

This problem is def getting worse, when i join the m2, 4 lanes there are stacks of cars in 2 and 3 with nothing in lane 1 as i come off after a couple of miles at the next junction i just cruise along at 80 in lane 1 cruise on, i reckon its almost better than the fast lane as no one uses lane 1 including the trucks.

Not so long back when someone was undertaken they would nearly always pull in after you had gone past now no one does, they all stay out there like lemmings or is that sheep?



Lynall

 

[bones2008]

The most anoying thing though is when you end up undertaking and the lane hogger then gets upset that you've passed them!

 

[LTD]

I'll flash them twice in good time to alert them that I am there, indicate to move out, pass and then indicate to move in and then move into the inside lane if available.

That way I stay safe and get on with my journey.





Undertaking is for corpses.

 

[Smiley]

A well worn topic, I know, but . . .

I had a good trip to Lyneham (Wilts) yesterday, 100 miles each way, spoilt by only one feature. I don't do that many longish trips these days and have therefore not been much exposed to irritation by the CLOG brigade (Centre Lane Owners Group). What crass stupidity and mindlessness encourages a driver to stay in the centre lane even when the motorway is not at all busy? There were dozens of them, their thoughtlessness exceeded only by those doing the same thing in lane 3. I guess it's far too late for a police crack-down on the habit, but, oh, do I wish they would.

I reckon that there are a fair proportion of drivers who are plain scared of changing lanes on the motorway; either it is lack of spatial awareness or they find it difficult to figure out when they can safely move one way or the other (maybe thats the same thing!). I reckon they join the m-way; get into the middle lane (where they feel safe) wind the car up to about 65 and that's it job done; they are usually 100% oblivious to what is going on around them except what is happening with the brake lights of the car in front. I have watched them and if they come up against a slower car in the middle lane then they slow down - they dont overtake. It is pathetic really. The police ought to pull them over, first time friendly warning, second time some sort of simulated test at a PC screen to check awareness levels; after that just ban 'em before they cause an accident.

GGRRRR.

 

[Seamster15]

Undertaking is for corpses.

Seems to works ok in the States?

 

[LTD]

Seems to works ok in the States?

They are good at classing things as Collateral Damage

 

[mirras]

I reckon that there are a fair proportion of drivers who are plain scared of changing lanes on the motorway; either it is lack of spatial awareness or they find it difficult to figure out when they can safely move one way or the other (maybe thats the same thing!). I reckon they join the m-way; get into the middle lane (where they feel safe) wind the car up to about 65 and that's it job done; they are usually 100% oblivious to what is going on around them except what is happening with the brake lights of the car in front. I have watched them and if they come up against a slower car in the middle lane then they slow down - they dont overtake. It is pathetic really. The police ought to pull them over, first time friendly warning, second time some sort of simulated test at a PC screen to check awareness levels; after that just ban 'em before they cause an accident.

GGRRRR.

That's a pet hate of mine. I do a lot of miles on the M74 and M6 and while sitting at 70ish, in lane 2, passing slow moving lorries in lane 1, time after time, Mrs 90 MPH roars up behind me in lane 2, then slows down to the same speed as me, only once I can safely move back to lane 1 do they speed back up and go on their way. Never a thought to pass me in lane 3!!!