Safe Speed Forums

On an empty road middle lane hogs arn't really much of a problem , with that much notice you can do a safe smooth overtake via L3 with minimal steering input .

Of course I might mutter a few words in their direction as I pass

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Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert

Squirrel,

I guess it's down to the circumstances on the road. I was once cruising at 70mph in the middle lane (confirmed by my road angel) when a BMW M3 blasted past me, and then cut across three lanes into the slow lane and promptly got boxed in behind a lorry as other traffic filled the middle lane behind me.

That was the last I saw of him; the guy sank without trace!

IMHO dropping into the slow lane on a filled motorway is similar to choosing the long queue in the supermarket, when you only have a couple of items to pay for.

C.

PS - Another time we were driving on an empty motorway at night, again at 70mph in the middle lane, when another Bmer came past, dropped in front of me and gradually slowed down. He forced us down to 20mph (still in the middle lane) and I was getting myself ready for nasty face to face confrontation. Anyway, after what seemed an age of this 20 mph duelling he pulled away and I followed him up to 70mph but he was gone, probably doing 90-100mph.

My wife was quite worried by the whole thing. She said it felt kind of 'violent'.

70mph in L2 on an empty mway ..... ? why ?

That's what I was thinking!

Where is this 'slow' lane of which you speak?

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

ed,

Why not?

C.

Sixy,

It's the one that the speed limited lorries drive in, well mostly.

C.

quite... why not ?

clearly it wasnt empty if there was another car trying to get past.

there are a small handful of reasons i might choose to dawdle in L2 but for courtesy i'll move across to L1 if i see a faster vehicle approaching from behind.

From the highway code.

My bold:

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Wrong. That would be either the inside lane or lane 1. There is no such thing as a 'slow' lane on a motorway or D/C.

Incidentally, I always use L1 in slow moving traffic. Not such a 'slow' lane in those conditions as everyone in L2 and L3 is busy lane-hopping in an attempt to gain 3'.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I was just an L2 hogger.

Driving out of London on A40 in the 50 limit, overtaking at about 55/60 with some chap right up my ar$e I'd barely finished my overtake before he started flashing me furiously, i only just saw is headlights he was so close.

I'm ashamed to say that I brake tested him


On the boxing in issue, I have to say that I rarely find myself in that situation regardless of what vehicle I've been driving. On those occasions that I have it's entirely down to my own lack of attention and forward planning.

Same topic different thread. I have noticed that when entering motorway roadworks with average cameras, there will be a sign saying 'Stay in lane' presumably so that the scamerati have a better chance of conviction from their videos.

However, the general rule of thumb is that signage takes precedent over the highway code, so if you are driving at the speed limit in roadworks, and the lane to the left of you becomes clear, should you stay in lane as directed by the signs, or more courteously move left?

I always do move left, or indeed right to allow the smooth passage of merging traffic in such scenarios. Particularly in the dreadful M27 roadworks. Incidently has anyone else noticed the cameras on the entrance/exit of Rownhams, so that your stay in the services can be factored out of the average speed calculation?

My assistant can be a terrible MLM, but bless her she makes a great effort to move over when I'm in the van (knowing it's a bugbear of mine), but she seems to have great difficulty getting back out of lanes again, and maintaining a constant speed. Could this be why some people just pick a lane & stick to it?

Sixy,

This confirms that the left hand lane of a motorway can correctly be called the 'slow' lane. Sorry to be picky.

Of course, it is not always so slow. As you rightly pointed out, in congested traffic cars in the inside lane can overtake cars in L2 although it doesn't usually do them any good.

On clearer roads I have occasionally been overtaken by cars in the inside lane, which then move out in front of me. It is a little alarming but I'm OK with it. It is better than getting the finger. I understand that US freeways allow overtaking on either side, which might be why they are called 'free'?

C.

There are reasons why you might want to drive in L2 on an empty motorway, and it doesn't matter to others anyway. But you should move over if someone comes up behind you, otherwise your actions (or lack of) might well be interpreted as passive aggression.

I have to admit that once (and only once) I played the "orbitting game" with a stubborn middle-laner on an otherwise empty motorway. I think it took 3 rotations before they got the message and moved over. I know it's childish though.

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Paul Smith: a legend.

"The freedom provided by the motor vehicle is not universally applauded, however: there are those who resent the loss of state control over individual choice that the car represents. Such people rarely admit their prejudices openly; instead, they make false or exaggerated claims about the adverse effects of road transport in order to justify calls for higher taxation or restrictions on mobility." (Conservative Way Forward: Stop The War Against Drivers)

bombus,

Well, while it's confession time I have to admit that the last time I had an orbiter I just gave him a friendly wave and pulled over into the fast lane (L3) and unleashed the turbo for a few seconds (of course staying safely inside the 70mph national motorway speed limit at all times).

The way I see it, he wanted me out of his way, so I got out of his way. OK, it was a bit alpha male (childish too), but I don't do it often.

C.

Dawdling at 70mph? Good grief , Ed, we were in the UK, not on the German Autobahns. Actually I think that the Germans have just enforced dawdling on their motorway network as well, worst luck.

I've had some of my best drives in Spain. Once away from the coast, there are some decent driving roads and the fines are cash up front with no licence endorsement. It was worth it.

C.

the word dawdling was based on speed of lateral motion..... not longitudinal

and yes many autobahns are restricted now... i did enjoy a long trip on one of the longest remaining unrestricted sections last year.... and found out what the upper limit of the cruise control was

ed,

I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. How did the car feel at that speed, stability, wind judder etc? Did the steering go light?

C.

So let me get this right......

Somebody wanted to overtake you, so you pulled OUT instead of pulling in and then sat in L3 at 70mph?

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?