It seems membership of the Middle Lane Owners Club is increasing...

[st13phil]

I remember once when a GB car was driving in the outside lane at almost 60mph A16/E40 autoroute in Belgium

Whenever I exit the port of Calais on the A26 I play a game of "spot the Brit" for the first 80-100 miles and achieve a 100% success rate. It's dead easy to see them even when they're a significant distance ahead of you: they're the one travelling in the left-hand lane at 60-70 mph while the right-hand one is empty

You're right about the return to Britain too. I've often driven 300-400 miles on the continent on the day of return without encountering one Middle Lane Moron, tailgater, Gatso camera or other speed trap, and guarantee to have seen all of them within 30 miles of the port once back in Kent

 

[moneyman]

Just got back from a trip to Bruges. How refreshing the drive from Calais to there was. Good lane discipline. Overtake pull in. Simple. I was just sorry that this was the shortest part of the jouney. Not the 3.5 hours that it took to get from Derby to Folkestone.

 

[rf065]

Yes, but that basically means all lanes end up driving at the same speed. From my experience about 60mph.

Only in congested traffic, unlike over here where one buffoon can sit in the outside lane and hold you up when every other lane is clear. In the USA, you could still overtake legally. No need to flash lights, no finger signs returned, and no one starts to get frustrated.

Russ

 

[c240yaz]

Only in congested traffic, unlike over here where one buffoon can sit in the outside lane and hold you up when every other lane is clear. In the USA, you could still overtake legally. No need to flash lights, no finger signs returned, and no one starts to get frustrated.

Russ

During my 3 years in Texas, I learned that the reason for no road rage was, that you could get a "hole" put in you, by means of most having a "tool" in the glove box.

Hence, road rage very rare in USA.

 

[DieselE]

During my 3 years in Texas, I learned that the reason for no road rage was, that you could get a "hole" put in you, by means of most having a "tool" in the glove box.

Hence, road rage very rare in USA.

Driving home on the M40 (northbound) last night a number of the otherwise useless dot matrix signs were displaying the message "keep left except when overtaking". Shame that members of the MLOC can't read in addition to not being able to drive.

On a quiet stretch I came across a Silver W220 being serenely driven in the middle lane. Until I came along he had nothing in front or behind for nearly half a mile. Defies belief that people think they need that much space.

 

[neilrr]

During my 3 years in Texas, I learned that the reason for no road rage was, that you could get a "hole" put in you, by means of most having a "tool" in the glove box.

Hence, road rage very rare in USA.

Same reason there are VERY few home burglaries or incidents of car vandalism. If you're caught doing either the local view on it is you needed killing.

 

[Frank O' Phile]

mloc

I took Big Bike to work yesterday, which involved a 330 mile round trip, using M42, M5, M4, and the M32.

The MLOC were in attendance on the way down, but for some reason, they all moved over the the outside lane on the way back up north.

It was really odd to see lanes 1 and 2 empty for some distance, while 20 cars were line astern in lane 3. So I just moved into lane 1 which, unsurprisingly, moved quicker and I passed them all.

Another noticeable point is that BMW drivers are the worst offenders IMHO follwed by any of the VAG. Then its range rovers.

I agree with all previous posters regarding European standards and cant wait for the next trip to the Foreign.

I have to admit that yesterday was a hoot on the bike, but I do behave much more when getting to different sites in the car. There is no need for me to rush as I'm already at work.

 

[DaveK]

There is no such thing as ' the fast lane ' There is the inside lane, the middle lane and the outside lane. Interesting to see which of us regard the outside lane as ' the fast lane " and tells me a lot about how they view their road using status.

 

[robert.saunders]

They probably read the Mail

 

[Biscuit]

I like the tried and tested method of approach member of MLOC in Lane 1. Indicate and move into 2 behind them. Pause and move into 3 perform a text book over take pointedly NOT looking at them. Indicate to move ahead into 2...pause check mirrors then make sad shake of the head before returning to Lane 1.

head shake is particularly effective on a motorbike.

its polite and safe and about 50% of the time gets them to move into 1. at which point if I'm still in range might give a wave of thanks.

 

[oldcro]

There is a booklet which explains everything a driver needs to know about driving on a motorway, it's called The Highway Code. The problem is that for many people all knowledge of motorway driving rules is automatically wiped from their brains whenever they enter a slip road.

 

[rf065]

During my 3 years in Texas, I learned that the reason for no road rage was, that you could get a "hole" put in you, by means of most having a "tool" in the glove box.

Hence, road rage very rare in USA.

The old "Saturday Night Special".
Maybe we should use them here too?
They could have a sticker on them saying, "for motorway use only".

Russ