idiot motorway overtakers who cut in with just 2 car lengths gap

Steve059

I encountered yet another "middle lane hog" yesterday. As usual, they were also going well below 70mph, so overtaking was possible. My standard procedure is to position myself in the left-hand lane a safe distance behind them for a while. One day, one will surprise me by taking the hint. In the meantime, I'm checking for things to be clear in the other two lanes behind. Then I'll signal and move into the middle lane a safe distance behind them. I'll now allow myself a single quick flash of the headlights. Sounding the horn could be interpreted as doing so in anger and therefore be illegal. It's more for my benefit than theirs, as I've yet to have one move over: they seem oblivious to everything around them. Then I'll signal and move into the right-hand lane and overtake them. Then I'll signal and return to the middle lane. I don't do so until I can see the front of their vehicle in my nearside mirror. Then, I'll signal again and return to the left-hand lane. Another hazard dealt with safely and legally.

PS. Sometimes, they'll then finally move over to the left-hand lane.

Norman_Castle

David_Aston wrote: »

Can I ask, at what point does someone in the middle lane of a three lane motorway, gradually overtaking a succession of slower vehicles, become a Middle lane Hogger

When lane one is clear and useable for a reasonable distance at the speed you are traveling. If you are continually overtaking but are still delaying traffic restricted to two lanes, I expect slowing and moving to lane one when needed would be appreciated.

or "Any time that I am in the Motor behind you Mate!":)

wiogs

There is a journey I take regularly where I join an urban motorway and stay in the left hand lane. Invariably I end up "undertaking" many cars in the middle lane as they are travelling slower than me and my lane is usually emptier.

mgdavid

londonTiger wrote: »

Why is it required to know what the speed limit of a lorry is? SHow me where in the highway code or the dsa where it says you must know that.

A lot of vehicles have their speed limits on their vehicles. A lot of vans have their speeds voluntarily limited to 60 for fuel saving and they say so. 56 , 60 whatever. Why should it concern me?

If you are so inclined to take the advanced driving course and learn about all these nuances by all means do so. You can drive perfectly safely without knowing that a lorry is limited to 56.

A polite reply seems to have no impact, so fine, you carry on driving around with your head up your ar5e.
You also could do worse than research and see what the advanced driving course is all about. It is *not* about the speed limits of other vehicles. It's about being an even safer driver, for example by using more techniques of hazard spotting such as the body language and antics of other drivers and their passengers, and many other attributes of vehicles and their occupants which help you read the road ahead and navigate it safely while maintaining good progress. Hopefully the techniques I've learned will help me spot you and give you a very wide berth.

michaelvintner

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I can understand why drivers cut up middle lane hoggers, to teach them to drive in the correct lane, but it is a dangerous practice.

Most of them don't know what the correct lane is. They are all looking for the "Overtaking Lane".

jimjames

One the main causes of congestion on busy motorways in my experience is examples like the OP, hitting the brakes without need.

One person brakes, that means ones behind do the same and soon a wave effect means traffic further back has stopped or worse still, crashed.

Until I read this I'd not even thought it could be caused by cruise control and hitting the brakes to cancel it. Always surprises me seeing the number of brake lights that appear when in the vast majority of cases easing off the gas would be far more effective and fuel efficient but it would explain why I've not needed to replace brake pads in over 50k miles on my car.

Interestingly the local radio is running ads at the moment on how to drive on the motorway including what the overhead gantry symbols mean. Shocking that the HA feel that it is necessary.

photome

jimjames wrote: »

One the main causes of congestion on busy motorways in my experience is examples like the OP, hitting the brakes without need.

One person brakes, that means ones behind do the same and soon a wave effect means traffic further back has stopped or worse still, crashed.

Until I read this I'd not even thought it could be caused by cruise control and hitting the brakes to cancel it. Always surprises me seeing the number of brake lights that appear when in the vast majority of cases easing off the gas would be far more effective and fuel efficient but it would explain why I've not needed to replace brake pads in over 50k miles on my car.

Interestingly the local radio is running ads at the moment on how to drive on the motorway including what the overhead gantry symbols mean. Shocking that the HA feel that it is necessary.

Maybe they read london tigers posts.

He and others on here do need lessons on how to use cruise control and also how to anticipate other drivers actions

arcon5

I guess what this thread does highlight, and a topic which has come up over and over again in the past god knows how long, why is it not mandated that people undertake say a minimum of a 1 hr session of driver training on a motorway before being given a driving license.

Although it obviously won't affect the current generation of motorists but could see standards improve as younger newer drivers work their way up in the generations game.

Iceweasel

arcon5 wrote: »

I guess what this thread does highlight, and a topic which has come up over and over again in the past god knows how long, why is it not mandated that people undertake say a minimum of a 1 hr session of driver training on a motorway before being given a driving license.

Although it obviously won't affect the current generation of motorists but could see standards improve as younger newer drivers work their way up in the generations game.

That sound sensible ..... but ......

Try telling that to folks in Orkney or Shetland or even in the North of Scotland.

Speaking of generations past - but still driving today - maybe we should just give out licences without any test at all - as they used to do in Ireland or Belgium until fairly recently. (That explains a lot in itself doesn't it - don't assume when in Ireland or Belgium that all the locals sat a test of any sort. :eek:)

Then it's the 'survival of the fittest' - sounds like that's what happens on the M25 at the moment anyway.

almillar

Iceweasel:

I would flash lights if I come across someone in lane 2 who seems to be not interested in moving into lane 1.
But I'd only flash once and then, if I get no no response, I'd move out and overtake using lane 3.
Lots of drivers appear to be totally unaware of what is going on behind them

Yes - this is exactly what I do. I do also drive round with my lights on all the time anyway. I don't hang around behind people trying to force them to move - they'll get one one second flash from me to see if they notice and move, and I try to maintain my speed, whether that means having to move round them or not. The problem is when they're in the outermost lane and I have nowhere to go.

David Aston:

Can I ask, at what point does someone in the middle lane of a three lane motorway, gradually overtaking a succession of slower vehicles, become a Middle lane Hogger, apparently deserving the reproving flash from behind?

When there's space in between them for you to move in comfortably without weaving. ie - much more often than most people seem to think. They're allergic to switching lanes unless it benefits them. You can't put a definitive distance on it as it depends on speed and road conditions etc, but, as evidenced in the thread, you should have a good braking distance in front of yourself, and leave a good one for the car behind.