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

almillar

Flashing lights at the hogger, circling the hogger is equally wrong. And of course would be contravening the highway code.

Absolutely nothing wrong with flashing your headlights at the car in the middle lane in this situation. Just says 'I am here' and may wake them up, and they may EVEN move into the correct lane! Or give you a hand gesture...
Anyway, LondonTiger should give out a flash when this happens to him, again telling the overtaking driver the message 'I am here' (and you should have left more space). He shouldn't have hit the brake pedal, but the clutch if he has a manual car. To save a bit of slagging in future londonTiger - your road has 2 overtaking lanes - you were in one of them and the 80mph guy was in the other. Using this naming reinforces that middle lane hogs are wrong.

interstellaflyer

There is no point trying to change the ways of the centre lane hoggers, flashing headlights, orbiting etc is just a waste of time and energy. this subject has been debated feircly on many forums that i frequent and one thing is clear, they know exactly what they are doing and they, in their own little world, justify their actions with comments like they feel safer and the inside lane surface is not fit to drive on as all the trucks have made the surface uneven, it's like flogging a dead horse, they are not worth arguing with, one can only hope that they will meet up with that rare breed, the Traffic Cop and that the 3 points they get on their license is enough to change their ways.

Norman_Castle

Anyway, LondonTiger should give out a flash when this happens to him, again telling the overtaking driver the message 'I am here' (and you should have left more space).

In this situation you should only flash your headlights to avoid an incident, not to make a statement. I suspect the op is a inexperienced and nervous motorway driver. Having cars change lane 15 meters ahead is common on uk motorways.

topdaddy_2

Norman_Castle wrote: »

In this situation you should only flash your headlights to avoid an incident, not to make a statement. I suspect the op is a inexperienced and nervous motorway driver. Having cars change lane 15 meters ahead is common on uk motorways.

Should??! Why have you stated that like it factually correct?:mad: making the other driver aware of your presence is only a good thing surely?

Robisere

I have a new 2.0 Dti C-Max, and the Cruise Control can be immediately disengaged by touching brake, steering control or throttle (it's an Auto.) Now I don't know if the OP's car is the same, but I suspect so as all previous, similar cars I have driven were the same. Surely with 3 fast, simple methods of arresting Cruise, you have enough thinking time to brake?

If not, may I suggest that you immediately have your reactions checked out with your GP? You may have a serious problem. In fact, it may be that other road users have the problem and you could be the cause.

mgdavid

londonTiger wrote: »

....
Also the speed limit, I wouldn't know I never driven a lorry. .........

Genuinely and seriously, this is not good enough. Get off the roads until you have learnt the basics about different vehicles and speed limits - all of it, not just the bits that you think apply to you. Also how unobservant must you be - as many HGVs have the 90kph / 56mph limit marked on their rear end.

Iceweasel

Because of the UK's unrealistic motorway speed limit of 70mph for cars, there are loads of folks who think that if they are doing 70mph they can sit in lane 2 or 3 if they feel like it, as no-one should be overtaking them.

Many also think that lane 1 is for 'slow' trucks and caravans so therefore they drive along in lane 2 and never dream of using lane 1 even when it's clear as far ahead as the eye can see.

The Highway Code is pretty clear on this subject - see the Motorway section 5. Lane discipline (264 to 266)

I treat those who overstay in lane 2 as I treat other hazards - I negotiate my way past them - on the right - by moving into lane 3 and then returning to lane 2 or lane 1 as appropriate. I do not cut in sharp in front of them - they might panic. LOL

I make no attempt to re-educate them by using horn, lights or hand/finger gestures. All of those are either wrong / illegal / pointless use of the equipment or lowering myself to their level of inconsiderate behaviour.

The problem is further compounded by some car's speedometers which read high by as much as 10% so the hogger who blocks your way may only be doing an actual speed of 63 or 64mph as they slowly overtake the big trucks with accurate tachographs and speed limiters set at 90kph/56mph. They possibly think the trucks are exceeding their limit - if indeed they know what a truck's limit is.

I have had these self righteous folks who live in lane 2 blow horns and flash their lights indignantly at me as I overtake them at a genuine 70mph (speedo checked for error and double confirmed by sat-nav reading)

Needless to say, I do not respond.

Thanks for reading this post - I didn't mean it to be this long.

Tilt

The above worthy of a 'thanks' from me.

But I stand by the fact that sitting in any lane other than a clear lane 1, should be a specific offence. Apart from anything else, such practice reduces a 3 lane motorway into a 2 lane one as you aren't supposed to overtake on the inside.

Hogging the middle lane simply shows that those who do it, how less competent drivers they are.

londonTiger

mgdavid wrote: »

Genuinely and seriously, this is not good enough. Get off the roads until you have learnt the basics about different vehicles and speed limits - all of it, not just the bits that you think apply to you. Also how unobservant must you be - as many HGVs have the 90kph / 56mph limit marked on their rear end.

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.

~Chameleon~

Inch_High wrote: »

Why do you need to brake?

If they've overtaken you the must be going quicker.

Doesn't a touch on the clutch turn off your cruise?

Mine's on a finger tip control so a quick flick of the switch turns it on/off. Equally braking/accelerating will turn it off too.