TheBigMan

What can we do about the god awful lane discipline on Britains roads?!?!!

We've often ranted about this however this evening something wound me up over and above the daily annoyance I get with motorway driving.

A Vauxhall Corsa with "BSM driving tuition" plastered on it. A male driver, approx 35yrs old. Nobody else in the car. I am to assume he is an INSTRUCTOR yet refused to use the left lane on the motorway. Lane 2 and 3 seemed fine to him but something was holding him back from using lane 1. Maybe he got an electric shock if he used lane 1 perhaps?? FFS.

Now, this guy is supposed to be a qualified tutor. What hope is there is he is as clueless as many other motorway users?!!?!?

What can we do?!??? Poor lane discipline leeds to congestion. Congestion is a massive problem. Before we start widening roads etc we need to address the fundamental issues of congestion - prevention rather than cure?

If motorways were widened to 5 lanes, lanes 1 and 2 would remain empty, people would merely "shift" across to the right.

Perhaps an influx of adverts "keep left unless over-taking" coupled with some pretty pictures if people struggle to understand the fecking concept.

<sighs>

TheBigMan

I saw them too, also on the M25 around JCT18.

People read them and probably thought they meant stay left, as in use the middle lane not the "fast" lane. Lane 1 is merely for getting on/off the motorway and for lorries you know....

Simes777

I advocate the use of front mounted rocket launchers to destroy middle lane hogs.











I'll get me coat.

paul-s

Coming back on the m40 back into london on friday there was about 15 cars in a row in the middle lane, probably same again in the outside all doing about 50 and not one SINGLE car in the inside. I breezed up the inside and carried on my way, ffs why dont people use it if theyre gonna drive slow

borat52

personally i think an advertising campaign would work - i dont think people purposely say 'i know lets slow those sods down', its just they are unaware of how to use the motorway. Little education could go a long way on this one - also think of the productivity gained from moving people about better.

TheBigMan

Education needs to be instilled into them sub-conciously. Moving over left and staying left should be one smooth, instinctive motion. i don't think about doing it now, I just "do it".

Lane discipline will resolve SO MANY congestion issues. People using lane 2 means most people need to use lane 3 to pass them. Therefore, a 3 lane motorway becomes a 2 lane dual carriageway.

<TheBigMan drives past in lane 1 smiling and waving>

merlin

There's no forgiving the lazy people who hog the 2nd and 3rd lanes of an empty motorway. However when it's busy I think many people reason that by staying in the outside lanes they will get to their destination quicker. This is because by moving into the first lane, they will lose their place in the "queue" and get delayed as soon as they get up behind a lorry. I try to use the first lane whenever possible. The last thing I want though is to get stuck behind a slow moving lorry in the first lane and have no option but to brake.

There are others typically older drivers who do not feel comfortable changing lanes. They get in a lane which allows them to avoid changing lanes and avoid lorries...

ru'

[rant]

Wouldn't it be good if the police (if there were any...) actually let motorists know that they were diriving badly. No need to fine them or anything (no, really!) just a quick word.

Most of these people (and lane discipline is just one thing; how about adding not indicating, wrong lanes around roundabouts etc.) probably don't know they're doing anything wrong. They think that the person behind them flashing them out of the way is the wrong-doer (and before someone gets on their high horse, too right I flash people - I am merely 'letting them know I am there', as per Highway code...).

Also, adverts about driving during, say, soap operas may be a start!

I reckon regular re-tests would be a start. Driving is a skill, and should not be seen as a right. Maybe one day road safety advocates will start to focus on all the problems affecting road safety and not just on the easy target...

[/rant]

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Could install the American system where you can overtake on any side. Saves all the hassle of re-education

Leslie

I think that could be risky Luminous. Too difficult for enough people to use their offside mirror let alone both sides!

Maybe a good advertising campaign about lane discipline and fine people for obstruction if they take no notice.

The mobile phone business doesn't work well however, I saw a bloke driving a double decker bus using one the other day!

Les

RB170

It's not just lane 2 that people hog, I've lost count the number of times I've had to undertake a number of cars in lane 3 because none of them were willing to move to lanes 1 or 2

StickyMicky

whats the penalty for undertaking?

SJ_Skyline

Probably something like driving without due care and attention - like the guy hogging the middle lane isn't?

paulr

Big Man,drive round France for a week,then you'll be glad to come back to our safe,respectful and polite country.

.

CrisPDuk

I wish people would stop complaining about the middle lane hogs I can make really good progress up the inside lane at the moment avoiding both the blind old people AND the BMW/Audi lane. If the numpties are forced into the inside lane, I'll have nowhere to go

I've also used the same principle on the *** into North Wales for years, stay in the inside lane, passing all the tossers choking the outside lane, then pull out to creep past the weekend pikeys as and when I catch up with them

CrisPDuk

It's only undertaking if you deliberately manouvre to an inside lane to pass, otherwise, it's merely maintaining the speed of the traffic directly ahead


NB, like most other things, it's also only classed as undertaking if you get caught

The Zohan

Less traffic cops due to the life saving scameras

the scamcameras not going to pick this or other bad driving up unless it is speeding

It is going to get worse rather than better.

I was nearly hit buy a tw@t pulling out from the left without looking on Sunday. I had to do an emergency stop to avoid.

Nealry side swiped by an old duffer with no lane dicipline and totally unaware of other road users.

Car in front stops dead at green traffic lights yesterday, refuses to move whilst checking left and right - i had the horn depressed after 5 secs to let them know i was there. They then flip me the finger

Cameras would/will not pick any of this up.

davyboy

Don't be so sure!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4580443.stm

RB170

They're not traffic cops

davyboy

...good point, well made.

The Zohan

Hardly traffic cops are they?

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

'They do not have the power of arrest'

But I bet they will have the power to sit behind a speed gun

Leslie

Looks like it won't be long before we don't have properly trained policemen at all any more. Its certainly a lot cheaper to have "plastic cops" who can stand there looking impressive but with no significant powers to do anything useful.

All part of the modern image of course.

Who cares about the people any more anyway?

Les

Little Miss WRX

They have these signs on freeways/motorways in NSW including a mention of the fine if caught doing it and no one takes any notice of them.

astraboy

I think I saw the same guy over the weekend. I just blitz up the inside lane and continue the journey with the sheep where they belong, behind me. No doubt all the middle lane morons were looking down their noses at me, but if they knew what lane discipline was I wouldnt have to do what I do to make progress.
astraboy.

DaveD

iTrader: (2)

It's interesting that different motorways seem to have different standard of driver.

I've found the M5 between Bristol and M42 to be quite easy to drive along:- people using the correct lanes; little tailgating; and drivers actually watching out for others - such as creating space to let people change lane ahead of them.

The M4 is a nightmare by comparison:- hardly anoyone is aware of the existance of Lane1; full of tailgaters; and people seem blind to others who might want to change lane.

There's also the 'move straight into the middle lane' brigade, who caused me to take sudden avoiding action on two occasions earlier in the year on an otherwise empty road who seem to exist everywhere!

TheBigMan

Driving along the inside lane at a higher speed than cars in lane 2 and 3 is not undertaking. YOU are in the right, THEY are in the wrong.

I have made better progress in lane 1 with police officers in front/behind me. Granted I did worry they might have a go but i grit my teeth and did it anyway - resultant?? Nothing said.

Only undertaking if you pull in, go past, then pull out in one motion.

ru'

Are you sure about that? Just 'cos you didn't get tugged doesn't mean it's not techincally illegal...

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

You can pass someone on the inside as long as you do not pull back into the overtaking lane. I've seen traffic cops on the TV waiting for someone undertaking to actually re-enter the outside lane. They cannot do anything until you have done that.