Safe Speed Forums

What techniques do you use to get around a lane 2/3 hogger?

I've found that approaching in the lane to their left (L1 or L2) until about 2 sec behind them, then indicating right and pulling in behind them seems to work often. They wake up and realise they're sitting in lane 3 for no reason. However, you have to be prepared for a quick lane change on their part.

if they're in L3 and L1 & 2 are clear i'm fairly happy to get past in L1.. just makes them look stupid (which is 'cos they are!)

if L1 is busy i'll usually sit 2 sec back in L2 and wait for someone else in L3 to tailgate them out the way, then pass them in L3.

usually the only time i'll pass in L2 is if there's a line of traffic in L3 which makes them touch the brakes, i'm quite happy matching speed in L2 until they can get a move on or pull infront of me but i refuse to brake in sympathy just cos they're in a line of cars too close together who cant regulate their speed sensibly!

The problem nowadays is that years ago a flash of the headlights would have done the trick, if you do that now it becomes a road rage scenario. I’ve also tried your solution and often the driver in the outside lane doesn’t like that either. They just don’t like to think somebody else is going to over/undertake them.

You also get the one’s who will pull over to let you past and then pull back into the lane they were in, after you’ve gone through.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

I'm with ed_m on this one - I happily undertake in this situation. It happens quite a bit around Swindon because there's alot of urban DC. People will sit in L2 because they are turning right at the end, even thought he junction is 2 miles away!

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

I'm inclined to undertake when safe to do so.

I find myself flashing my lights more than I used to though I must admit - although I don't like doing it.

Is it me or is lane discipline getting worse?

Not sure about getting worse, but it certainly is very poor - I found the French to be much better then the British.

Apart from the fully paid up members of the MLOC who will never move over ever, most people will move into L1, but only if it's clear as far as the eye can see. Isn't it wonderful when someone moves into L1 and lets a bottleneck clear, and then moves back into L2 to overtake some more trucks?

However, it can be a bit frustrating when the car in question is me, and those who were behind start overtaking me with a 1mph difference, isn't it obvious that I've pulled over to let them past?

Depends on relative perfomance of mine and theirs.
In works Transit, have found that those driving top of the range cars just dont like to be overtaken by a van, either inside or out. So a new tactic, slow down to create a gap, pull into L2 and accelerate as if about to overtake( don't actually pull along side, in case they panic and pull over)- usually makes them speed off and chang lanes.Found that headlamps usually end up getting harsh braking and road rage.

Assuming you mean a lone car in L3 with plenty of space in L2

I will move into L2, usually they will see this as an attempt to undertake and they will move over, then I move to L3 and pass them.

If they don't then I have no qualms about carefully undertaking them.

If it's a queue of cars in L3 with an empty L2 then I will adopt a following position in L2 until L3 slows when I will carry on at as appropriate for traffic in my lane.

Homer - very similar idea - usualy the embaressment or snob factor wakes them up.Problem these days about undertaking with a sign written company vehicle is that the company is judge jury and executioner and you are always guilty if someone complains, so it pays to be more in the right, just in case

If anyone rings up to complain about my driving, the phone call comes through to me, so I tell them the driver involved will be severely disciplined, and they go away happy.

And they have - a guy pulled out on me, and rather than jam the brakes on, I just steered round him without changing speed (about 55 in NSL), so he rang my work.

I gave him the above flannel, but not before getting him to explain what happened in detail:

"So let me check I've written this down right. You pulled out on my driver, and he steered round you rather than brake sharply or drive in to you. Terrible..."

Luckily my company's "Marketing" people are having collective inertia on what the new van livery is going to be, so my two vans are currently unliveried.

Fortunately I seldom find that people hog lane 3 in front of me for very long. Assuming it is convenient for them to do so, I find people move over quite readily to let me go past. In fact on a good day the traffic just seems to melt away from in front of me, which makes things seem very easy. May I therefore offer some thoughts on the subject for your consideration.

Maybe part of the answer lies in the way in which we catch them up, for example:

1. If we are catching them up with only a smallish speed differential, they may think we're travelling at a more or less similar speed to them, and not particularly interested in overtaking them. As a result they feel no need to move over, so they don't.

2. If we catch them up very quickly and sit close on their tail (never a good idea) they may see this as pushy and aggressive and turn a bit bloody minded - "Well you can jolly well wait until I feel like moving over!" - could be their response. This again is not the best scenario. There is also the possibility that if you arrive very quickly (large speed differential) and they are not very good with their use of mirrors, they may not even see you approaching. When they do eventually see you they may then become flustered, which again is not something I would want to create for them. Once that happens things can become a bit uncertain, which reduces safety for all concerned.

3. If we catch them up at a fairly brisk pace, but slow down early and hold back, don't close in them looking impatient, keep a respectable distance etc. this may be seen as positive but considerate driving. This might best induce in them a spirit of co-operation, in which case they will move over without feeling pushed, which leaves everyone happy.

I like to think method 3 is the one that gets the right result for me. HTH.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I have never found the need to "undertake" when on my bike, maybe the 118dB eminating from the Harris 4-1 un-nerves the stupid bastards enough to make them realise they are sitting in L2 or L3 for no good reason

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

Ah yes. I have been there.

I was once handed the phone when an irate driver rang to complain about me. I was in the right and calmly told him what was wrong with his driving. Much more satisfying than hooting and flashing.

Having the company name on the van was ony a problem when the MD was the one complaining.

Oddly enough, I don't find I have the problem on the bike either...maybe I should sell the rover and geta monster truck

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

Had a classic example of L3 hogging yesterday on the M5 South, old mondeo in L3 doing 85mph in L3 even though all the vehicles in front had almost vanished into the distance ahead of him. After two perfectly reasonable spaces to pull in had been ignored I made the decision to undertake - by pulling into L1 (a whole empty lane between us) and not pulling back out again until over 300 yards in front.

I wouldn't normally undertake, but it had been 3 miles behind him, and there was almost nothing visible in front of him in any lane... He didn't take the hint either, last I saw he was still in L3.

You mean to tell me that you where speeding on the motorway , as well as undertaking - No wander we need more cameras.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

I admit to disliking L2/L3 hoggers.

L2 hogs are easier to deal with as overtake in L3 und make point of indicating to return L2 und then L1. Hardened numpty apart - some take note und correct themselves.

L3 ist harder as you are loath to undertake. If L1/L2 empty - admit to driving to speed limit until draw level. If still oblivious und even decreasing speed - I do not fall back und retain the legal limit. penny sometimes drop at this point. If oblivious und keep to 60/65 mph - have then eased off to below 60 mph und then flashed a couple of times to alert no need to stay in L3. Depend in how observant und how much a muppet as to notice taken though.

If all else fail - will undertake at this point. On basis that inner lane make better progress than outer lane in slow moving traffic

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My approach would have to be varied according to speeds involved, the vehicle you are driving, and the conditions.
1. The higher the speed, the greater the risk should anything go wrong, so take more time to decide on best course.
2. If you have accelleration to spare, any manouvre can be completed more quickly. If it's a high mileage transit, getting out into lane 3 can be difficult if there is a steady stream passing in L3, so signalling your presence for a suitable time, before commencing the undertake, WITH constant observation of the driver for signs that he is aware, and is not going to pull in on you.
3. In rain and spray, or night time, your presence on the inside during an undertake could be mis-read from the view in the nearside mirror, so even more care should be taken.

In any circumstance, it pays to keep the car under observation after you pass. If an opportunity should arise, then you should box him in so he can make no further progress [/tongue in cheek mode]

Having a passenger take a picture of the vehicle is very effective at notifying the driver that his behaviour is of concern! Works on tailgaters too!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

I really do wonder what people are thinking when they sit in the middle lane of a 3 lane motorway. Does it make them feel safer i.e. lots of space around them so they cant possibly be involved in any type of accident.
A lot of the drivers (sorry to say) hogging the middle lane are women, around 60% I would say. I am prepared to be shot down on this but my own straw poll backs this up.

Even when I have flashed my lights at the culprit and waited patiently behind them until I could pull out into L3 I am amazed at their (lack of) reaction. They look straight ahead and refuse to pull in even after I have moved into L1 (after indicating from L3 to L1).

How do you get someone like that to learn how to use the motorway system safely????

Now , in the dim and distant past we used to have things called motorway patrols with real police cars and real policemen, who used to sensible things like pull these people over and educate them.
But once the accountants took over policing these police now have other duties to perform , except in some sane parts of the world (durham??)