Idiots on the motorway

[gring]

Am I the only one to get really hacked off at the driving of other drivers? For example there seems to be some trend of blocking the middle lane when the inside lane is empty, causing the outside lane to be gridlocked. Also does anyone else find that you get morons just sitting in the outside lane blocking it, when the middle and inner lanes are empty, causing you to undertake. They either are totally oblivious to what is behind them , or they are just thinking that they dont want anyone to overtake them. I had an occasion at the weekend where I had to undertake because some arseh*le just wouldnt move over, the woman flashed her lights at me and gave me the w*nker hand gesture for doing this(she was doing about 60mph). I wish the police would crack down on these people, they are the cause of so many delays. Also, nobody seems to use their indicators anymore. I dont want to seem like a moaner, but that is a real pet hate of mine!

 

[jibcl500]

I agree 100% very frustrating, If I see a car hoggin the fast lane I usually get up to speed 99mph and then as I approach the said car start flashing, they tend to get out of the way.

BMW for some reason dont fit indicators anymore, their customers as so high tech they use telethapy to tell other drivers where they are going.
jib

 

[bassbluestew]

As a driving instructor I take pupils out on the Motorway as part of Pass Plus, it's incredible that learners aren't allowed professional tuition on the motorway until AFTER they have passed the practical test. I really think it's all down to education as I am regularly gobsmacked that pupils who have passed their practical test, and associated theory test, still have no idea about lane discipline. Most think the middle lane is for cruising and the inside lane is for slow moving traffic only, and so would happily sit in the middle lane all day regardless.
Don't worry, I DO put them right.
Hopefully this knowledge will filter through over time.
Stewart

 

[Ashley H]

It really is archaic that so much effort is put into driving instruction and testing, yet motorways are excluded! I have a weekly round-trip of 700 miles so I spend a fair amount of time on the M6/M78 (often when they are very quiet) and I'm constantly amazed at how many people doddle along an empty motorway in the middle lane. The police - back in the old days when they did something useful for motorists like look out for poor or dangerous driving - used to refer to them as members of CLOC, the Centre Lane Owners Club.

I can certainly see that it would be dangerous to have complete novices on the M25 (though it's usualy slow enough they would have plenty of thinking time ) but couldn't there be some kind of stepped process? Get to a certain level of, as it were, mechanical competence and then have to learn motorway skills which are, after all, quite different in a number of ways from those required for other roads.

Also agree about indicators being optional extras on BMWs - I had exactly that though yesterday when my own telepathic reception powers were clearly not what they should have been...

Is it me, by the way, or is it really the case that the smaller the BMW, the more likely they are to drive like a complete ... BMW driver?

 

[stumpy]

As a driving instructor I take pupils out on the Motorway as part of Pass Plus, it's incredible that learners aren't allowed professional tuition on the motorway until AFTER they have passed the practical test. I really think it's all down to education as I am regularly gobsmacked that pupils who have passed their practical test, and associated theory test, still have no idea about lane discipline. Most think the middle lane is for cruising and the inside lane is for slow moving traffic only, and so would happily sit in the middle lane all day regardless.
Don't worry, I DO put them right.
Hopefully this knowledge will filter through over time.
Stewart

I was with lad aged 21 on the motorway recently and he thought the inside lane had a 50 limit, the middle was 60 and outer had a 70 limit. He didn't believe me when I told him it was 70 across all 3. The driving test needs bringing up to date. It's all very well penalising young drivers if they get 6 points, but the test still isn't hard enough. Basic maintenance should be part of it too.

Oh, and btw, the indicators on my BMW work just fine. Audi drivers on the other hand..............

 

[jberks]

BMW for some reason dont fit indicators anymore, their customers as so high tech they use telethapy to tell other drivers where they are going.
jib

I followed a chap doing his BMW advanced drivers test the other day. He was doing brilliantly, weaving, poor lane discipline, crawling, followed by rapid acceleration, even made me wait for him to pass (I was turning right, across his path, positioned to the irght and s indicating as per my mercedes drivers classes!), before suddenly turning left in front of me. - I was very impressed, but then as he executed a fast uturn across oncoming traffic ... he signalled. I believe that's serious enough to be a failure - so near yet so far....

Yes, teh fines for poor lane discipline and shoddy driving standards aren't as profitable as those for speeding. Despite poor driving being directly responsible for 99% of accidents with only a minute fraction directly attributable to speeding, this doesn't sit well with our incompetent soundbite driven government so they seem to concentrate on speeding and pretty much ignore of any other road offences.

 

[st13phil]

I had an occasion at the weekend where I had to undertake because some arseh*le just wouldnt move over

While I fully understand your frustration at the inconsiderate b*stard blocking the road, you are the one who has commited the illegal act and would get nicked, not them. Ironic, isn't it?

BTW, there's a whole website dedicated to the breed. I particularly like the quote under the Moron of the Day photo today: "A moron, caught in the 3 pointed gunsight of my Mercedes. Now, why didn't I tick the box marked 'Moron Seeking Missiles' at the time of order?"

 

[Cnics]

Now, to change things around a bit. I do a fair few miles in my van, and would say that just over half of it is at night, that being roughly between the hours or midnight and 5am etc. I do this sometimes because i have no other choice, and the rest of the time as it's far easier and quicker, and i can avoid these sorts of idiots.

However, with the state of some of the motorways in the country, driving up the inside lane sees me wandering all over the place in the tyre tracks created by the lorries. So at night, on particularly bad stretches i'll move out to the middle lane where this is generally much better. Of course, i'll only do this if i'm not getting in anyones way, if suddenly there are a few cars approaching then i'll move back over to stop them having to go around me. It may well be THIS that these other people are doing, but without the moving back over when there are people behind. Then again, it may well be the fact they're just idiots.

The problem continues for those people driving larger vehicles, They need to keep a constant speed wherever possible, but often they are forced to slow down and undertake a car doing 45 in the middle lane because a) they don't want to sit behind them for 300 miles, b) if they do they are blocking 2 out of 3 lanes of motorway c) of course, they can't go in the outside lane, nor can the van and trailer who is happy to do a safe 60mph, d) why should they have to go out of their way to do their job?

Motorways and major A roads safely travel at 80mph+ and 70mph+when everyone on them is driving properly, as with alot of things (increasingly more in my line of work) the entire world is limited to the people at the back of the queue for intelligence.

 

[Dom320]

Also agree about indicators being optional extras on BMWs - I had exactly that though yesterday when my own telepathic reception powers were clearly not what they should have been...

Is it me, by the way, or is it really the case that the smaller the BMW, the more likely they are to drive like a complete ... BMW driver?

From a 'smaller BMW driver' and Merc driver - no! It is entirely down to the goon behind the wheel no matter what type of car they drive.

I frequently come across drivers in lane 3 of a 4 lane section of motorway who just sit there when both inner lanes are empty.

I lived in the states for a few years where you can pass on either side. The traffic always flowed more freely there, although you do need to watch your mirrors closely - something which I expect the 'middle lane club' drivers don't do either!

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Am I the only one to get really hacked off at the driving of other drivers? For example there seems to be some trend of blocking the middle lane when the inside lane is empty, causing the outside lane to be gridlocked. Also does anyone else find that you get morons just sitting in the outside lane blocking it, when the middle and inner lanes are empty, causing you to undertake. They either are totally oblivious to what is behind them , or they are just thinking that they dont want anyone to overtake them. I had an occasion at the weekend where I had to undertake because some arseh*le just wouldnt move over, the woman flashed her lights at me and gave me the w*nker hand gesture for doing this(she was doing about 60mph). I wish the police would crack down on these people, they are the cause of so many delays. Also, nobody seems to use their indicators anymore. I dont want to seem like a moaner, but that is a real pet hate of mine!

Is there anyone on this Forum, who could answer this question?

Could those drivers who insist on blocking a lane, when it is perfectly safe to move to an inside lane, be charged with 'Driving without due care and attention'?

Over to you.

 

[Dom320]

This sort of answers it, but I suspect it's down to which Police Officer sees you!

http://www.middlelanemorons.com/script/middle_lane_morons_prob.php#RESPONSE

 

[stumpy]

Yes they can be charged as you suggest JEZ. (But the Feds are more interested in speeders cos speed kills y'know.) I have seen the odd fuzzmobile play a message on it's rear matrix screen telling someone to keep left but thats it.

I was waiting for carnage last night. I was sat in stationary traffic in lane 1 on the A3 waiting to come off at the slip road 1/2 mile up. I had a great view of all these morons who didn't want to sit in said traffic and thought they'd jink out into lane 2 and then barge in at the slip road. 2 things were wrong here - the people pulling out were not judging the closing speed of the flowing traffic, and the flowing traffic itself was stomping by at 70 plus. Several times cars were 4 abrest on a 3 lane road.

 

[gring]

I find the main offenders of middle and outer lane hogging are Volvo drivers and white van man, white man van seem to think they own the road. But it just amazes me to why people dont use the inside lane when the traffic is heavy. It would improve the flow of traffic so much, and everyone would get to their destination quicker. If the government does change the hard shoulder to another lane as it is hinting, I think it would be great if they could make the outside lane a mercedes only lane. With a minimum speed limit of 110.

 

[stumpy]

I find the main offenders of middle and outer lane hogging are Volvo drivers and white van man, white man van seem to think they own the road. But it just amazes me to why people dont use the inside lane when the traffic is heavy. It would improve the flow of traffic so much, and everyone would get to their destination quicker. If the government does change the hard shoulder to another lane as it is hinting, I think it would be great if they could make the outside lane a mercedes only lane. With a minimum speed limit of 110.

I used to drive a Luton van on a regular basis and I stuck to the inside lanes as one should. However, sometimes I stuck in the middle lane when it was extremely windy as the van would quite easily wander out of lane. Plenty of muppets came whizzing by on either side of the van though and I nearly collected a few. The van nearly went over once which was quite terrifying.

 

[Cnics]

Surely not all white van men

I'd be happy to make the outside lane a Mercedes only lane, but you'd then find me in my white van in there too. Probably not quite managing 110 though.

The trouble with white van men is not limited to 1 thing. As with all things, old drivers, young driver, male drivers, female drivers, bmw drivers, graphics card drivers, they're only as good or bad as the last one you see, and a minority of bad ones gets a reputation for the entire group.

Often people drive these white vans once in a while when they hire one to shift someone's wardrobe and 3 piece suite to their new house, they are not properly trained in driving a vehicle that's often up to 24feet long, other times they drive one at work on the odd occasion and again, are not used to it. The others that are used to it, often have ridiculous time schedules to stick to and as such can't be held up by people having a steady drive down to the garden centre. Then of course there are the few that are just idiots, get the entire group a bad name and should not be allowed on the road in any vehicle let alone a van. With the vast majority of vans coming off the production line being able to reach and exceed speeds of 100mph nowadays it's becoming an increasing problem where by the people that don't drive them regularly tend to drive them like a car, causing problems which are often dangerous.

As someone who drives a LWB Sprinter up to 1500 miles a week over the summer and rarely less than 500 miles a week at the quietest time of year, and one who does drive in the inside lane when it is necessary and safe to do so, sticks to speed limits, and is generally courteous to other road users where possible it gets on my nerves when other traffic can't be the same.

To pull out infront of a car and cause it to slow down or alter its driving will cause you to fail your driving test, so why does it suddenly become acceptable. This is worse with a van or lorry. To do this and then drive at speed which is clearly slower than the vehicle you've just pulled out on was wanting to travel is even worse.

An increasing number of drivers are altering their driving to **** off van drivers and bmw drivers as they've tied them all in together. I followed a car up the A60 the other day at a distance at about 60mph, i increased my speed (officer) slightly and got a little closer to the car, the car wasn't holding me up at all, i got to about 2 seconds away and the car slowed down (sharply) to about 40mph causing me to break fairly hard, they continued to travel at wildly varying speeds between 30 and 50mph until i indicated left to turn off of the road. At this very second they sped up to a higher speed.

 

[gring]

Sorry I didnt mean to acuse all white van drivers. Its mainly the chav white van drivers. The ones who usually have a monkey in the passenger seat.

 

[kingsize]

Is there anyone on this Forum, who could answer this question?

Could those drivers who insist on blocking a lane, when it is perfectly safe to move to an inside lane, be charged with 'Driving without due care and attention'?

Over to you.

Ok, here goes.

Such drivers can be charged with the offence of 'Driving without consideration for other road users'. This carries the same penalties as the alternate offence of 'Driving without due care and attention', and is used in the scenarios described above.

I once defended a young tractor driver who blithely motored along at 20 mph, and refused to pull into any of the 'passing bays' on a single carriageway, leading to a build up of about twenty frustrated drivers behind. Unluckily for him, car no. 21 was Traffic Branch, and once they got the chance they caught up with him and charged him.

Dispiritingly, his view was that he had as much right to be on the road as anyone else, and he saw no reason as to why he should accomodate other drivers. The Resident Magistrate stated in Court that 'you are the kind of selfish, thran(stubborn), thoughtless driver that makes me late to Court of a morning' and promptly gave him six lovely points and a hefty fine.

Needless to say, I had no sympathy for him whatsoever.....

 

[grpar]

What really gets me is on 4-lane sections of the M1, M25, M40 etc when the inside lane is empty and everyone drives in lanes 2, 3, and 4 like the inside lane doesn't even exist.

Same thing always always happens at the bottom end of the M1 when the motorway expands to the 4th "crawler" lane.

Undertaking, pulling back in, and then braking is the only "direct action" that gets the message across. Allegedly.

 

[davidsl500]

But is lack of lane discipline more or less irritating that people driving with their front fogs on?

 

[mattsurf]

You should try driving in Southern Italy - I often drive in Naples - drivers ignore lanes completely, often driving 4 abreast using the hard shoulder on a 2 lane motorway. When driving there you have to ditch British driving habbits and behave like a local.

Last week I hired a new Mondeo - which was scary because of its size - much better (and faster) in a Panda