Middle Lane Hoggers E-petition

[davethemus]

I was driving west-bound on the M-8 last night and I noticed the inside lane was completely empty and in middle lane was car after car doing between 50-60 mph, it got me thinking. All these people must not be aware of the function of the middle lane, it must be ignorance. I thought to myself, would it be possible to get an e-petition with 100'000 signatories, to debate this and possibly legislate in parliament! i.e motorway driving should be part of driving lessons and test and fines for offenders.

I for one would be in favour of a fine for middle lane hoggers because IMO they are the main cause of unnecessary traffic jams and alot of personal frustration while driving on the motorway.

what does every-one think?

 

[Stratman]

While I agree with the sentiment, residents of Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands might object to a driving lesson taking a whole day.

 

[Dieselman]

While I agree with the sentiment, residents of Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands might object to a driving lesson taking a whole day.

But they have no motorways anyway.

 

[flango]

It is already an offence and offenders are regularly prosecuted, the problem is certain forces can't be bothered to enforce it which includes the ones in Scotland, do 31 mph in a 30 mph village limit and you'll get nicked yet tootle all day in the middle lane of the M74 or M8 and nobody will look twice at you.

Write to the Chief Constable with your petition and hopefully they will take notice, both Yorkshire forces, West Mercia and Thames Valley hate CLOC's (Central Lane Occupiers Club) and actively prosecute with £60 fines and 3 points, occasionally it translates to offences greater than this depending upon the state of driving.

So the law already exists it just need to be enforced

 

[LTD]

I simply drive up behind them, go full beam to alert them of my presence, indicate, pass then indicate and pull into the inside lane.

Hopefully some of them will learn to use the inside lane.

 

[Dieselman]

I simply drive up behind them, go full beam to alert them of my presence, indicate, pass then indicate and pull into the inside lane.

Hopefully some of them will learn to use the inside lane.

Saw a classic example of the "Psycho flash" on Thursday. BMW 3 series estate doing about 95mph in the outside lane constantly flashing.

It worked for a while.

 

[gaz_l]

I was driving west-bound on the M-8 last night and I noticed the inside lane was completely empty and in middle lane was car after car doing between 50-60 mph, it got me thinking. All these people must not be aware of the function of the middle lane, it must be ignorance. I thought to myself, would it be possible to get an e-petition with 100'000 signatories, to debate this and possibly legislate in parliament! i.e motorway driving should be part of driving lessons and test and fines for offenders.

I for one would be in favour of a fine for middle lane hoggers because IMO they are the main cause of unnecessary traffic jams and alot of personal frustration while driving on the motorway.

what does every-one think?

It's my number one pet hate. Personally, I think they should be forced onto the hard shoulder, dragged from their cars and flogged. That'll learn 'em.

Really though, how many frustrating hours are lost in this country every year on motorways and dual carriageways because of poor lane discipline? I did a 3000 mile tour of Europe in the summer and on nearly every occasion I saw people sitting in the wrong lane the car in question had UK plates. We are a nation in need of re-education.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[Stratman]

But they have no motorways anyway.

That's my point. A requirement for lessons and the Driving Test itself to include motorway driving would not work in Cornwall and the Highlands because of the distances to a motorway, so you would have to add 'Cornish Folk and Highlanders' to the prohibited signs on motorway slip roads

 

[gaz_l]

Saw a classic example of the "Psycho flash" on Thursday. BMW 3 series estate doing about 95mph in the outside lane constantly flashing.

It worked for a while.

It works even better if you set up a system to flash the headlights left/right/left/right. With some blue LEDs behind the radiator grille.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[renault12ts]

If the far left lane is empty, I drive in it. If that means undertaking those in the middle lane...so be it. My reasoning being, the middle lane was slower than the lane I was in. How often have you been in the middle lane undertaking traffic in the right hand lane.

Relax...go with the flow...you will NEVER change the way people drive.

I know it's illegal...so shoot me.

 

[stevieb15]

If the far left lane is empty, I drive in it. If that means undertaking those in the middle lane...so be it. My reasoning being, the middle lane was slower than the lane I was in. How often have you been in the middle lane undertaking traffic in the right hand lane.

Relax...go with the flow...you will NEVER change the way people drive.

I know it's illegal...so shoot me.

I would have thought provided you weren't changing lane you wouldn't be breaking any laws at all...although others with specialist knowledge may know better than I

 

[Dieselman]

i know it's illegal...so shoot me.

bang...!

 

[flango]

I would have thought provided you weren't changing lane you wouldn't be breaking any laws at all...although others with specialist knowledge may know better than I

It is an offence and prosecuted under section 3 of the 1998 Road Traffic act, careless or inconsiderate driving.

This is the section of the RTA which the police and CPS use to prosecute contravention of guidelines laid down in the highway code.

The Highway code states the following

Lane discipline
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.

Failure to observe the above would leave you open to prosecution under section 3 of the RTA

 

[Deleted member 37751]

The flip-side to middle lane hoggers is those that zig-zag in and out as soon as they overtake someone, when good practice would have been just to stay in the lane that they were in.

I was behind one such driver for about 2 miles on the M62 and he must have gone from the middle lane to the BMW lane and back for what seemed about 20 times, all the while I was behind him doing a steady 75 leaving good space between.

 

[MOCAŠ]

It is an offence and prosecuted under section 3 of the 1998 Road Traffic act, careless or inconsiderate driving.

This is the section of the RTA which the police and CPS use to prosecute contravention of guidelines laid down in the highway code.

The Highway code states the following

Lane discipline
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.

Failure to observe the above would leave you open to prosecution under section 3 of the RTA

Agreed, but stevieb15's post was referring to renault12ts's practice of overtaking on the inside, not middle-lane hogging.

 

[Palfrem]

It is an offence and prosecuted under section 3 of the 1998 Road Traffic act, careless or inconsiderate driving.

This is the section of the RTA which the police and CPS use to prosecute contravention of guidelines laid down in the highway code.

The Highway code states the following

Lane discipline
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.

Failure to observe the above would leave you open to prosecution under section 3 of the RTA

On the M42 & M6 there is hard shoulder running and variable speed limits

Very often hard shoulder and lane 1 are moving faster than lanes 2 & 3

This must be considered safe otherwise the powers that be would not allow it.

Ergo no real hazard in "undertaking" to$$ers in middle lane

 

[flango]

On the M42 & M6 there is hard shoulder running and variable speed limits

Very often hard shoulder and lane 1 are moving faster than lanes 2 & 3

This must be considered safe otherwise the powers that be would not allow it.

Ergo no real hazard in "undertaking" to$$ers in middle lane

That's covered by the last point in the lane discipline above and also covered in the highway code where in congested or in motorway areas controlled by active traffic management the left lanes may move faster than lanes queuing to your right,

This is obviously then not careless or inconsiderate driving so not an offence

 

[flango]

Agreed, but stevieb15's post was referring to renault12ts's practice of overtaking on the inside, not middle-lane hogging.

Sorry, yes was me read it out of context

 

[splitpin]

The flip-side to middle lane hoggers is those that zig-zag in and out as soon as they overtake someone, when good practice would have been just to stay in the lane that they were in.

I was behind one such driver for about 2 miles on the M62 and he must have gone from the middle lane to the BMW lane and back for what seemed about 20 times, all the while I was behind him doing a steady 75 leaving good space between.

Just returning to East coast on M62 yesterday & witnessed exactly the same procedure in similar circumstances, there are times/situations when it is
preferable to remain in lane. I hasten to add that I make a practice of not
impeding others in my lane...& I always reduce my speed for that nice laser van parked on the left hand bend along the M180 (going East)

Splitpin

 

[crockers]

So what's worse? A central lane hogger or the guy/gal who comes up behind him/ her flashing his/her lights so close his/her front number plate can't be read?

Discuss.