Are National Express drivers trained to stay in the middle lane?

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Deastons
Deastons Posts: 464 Forumite
in Motoring
I first noticed it a few months ago - every time I see a National Express coach on the motorway, it's in the middle lane. I've now seen it far too much for it to be a coincidence.

Lane 1 can be completely empty for as far as the eye can see, but the the coach will be sitting in lane 2 at a steady 65mph-ish.

These are professional drivers, so I can't believe it's just lazy lane hogging. So do National Express train their drivers to stay in lane 2? Is there some sort of safety aspect? A coach is carrying up to 50-odd people after all.
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  • AndyMc.....
    AndyMc..... Posts: 3,248 Forumite
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    No, I saw one in lane one at the weekend.

    I did however hear they are fully trained in reversing and hole avoidance.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,552 Forumite
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    Could be worse, there was one in the outside lane at J10 of the M6 last week.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 14,688 Forumite
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    Can't say I've ever seen them do it. Bad potholes in lane 1?
  • Deastons
    Deastons Posts: 464 Forumite
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    Herzlos wrote: »
    Can't say I've ever seen them do it. Bad potholes in lane 1?

    You'll notice it now!

    There must be a reason. They're professional, trained drivers (I assume). They should know more than anyone the fact it's illegal to hog the middle lane, so I can only assume they take that chance because they're told by head office to do it because it's safer or something.

    Surely there's a NE driver on this forum...
  • societys_child
    societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite
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    AndyMc..... wrote: »
    I did however hear they are fully trained in reversing and hole avoidance.
    :rotfl: coffee nearly went all over my keyboard . .
  • Johno100
    Johno100 Posts: 5,259 Forumite
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    I suppose as they aren't allowed in lane 3 (talking 3 lane motorway here) but aren't limited to 56mph like HGV's then they probably are going to spend quite a bit of time in lane 2.
  • societys_child
    societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite
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    Deastons wrote: »
    . . . I can only assume they take that chance because they're told by head office to do it because it's safer or something.
    Assumptions are often wrong . .
  • hollie.weimeraner
    hollie.weimeraner Posts: 2,147 Forumite
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    Johno100 wrote: »
    I suppose as they aren't allowed in lane 3 (talking 3 lane motorway here) but aren't limited to 56mph like HGV's then they probably are going to spend quite a bit of time in lane 2.

    HGV's are now allowed to travel at 60mph on motorways
  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 14,688 Forumite
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    hollie.weimeraner wrote: »
    HGV's are now allowed to travel at 60mph on motorways


    True, but coaches can travel at 70, so if there's any HGV traffic they'll still be passing.

    Deastons wrote: »
    You'll notice it now!


    I see them in lane 1 all the time, so I'm not sure I will.
  • Johno100
    Johno100 Posts: 5,259 Forumite
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    hollie.weimeraner wrote: »
    HGV's are now allowed to travel at 60mph on motorways

    Still plenty out there with 56mph limiters in place, particularly those that go to the continent (or even to Scotland), and of course coaches can travel at 70mph on a motorway.
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