U.K. Middle Lane Hogger Fined £1,000

K.Flyer

U.K. Middle Lane Hogger Fined £1,000- Daily Mail

Motorist becomes first person to be convicted of 'hogging' the middle lane after getting fined £1,000 for driving at 60mph when inside lane was free.

Much to the delight of many I imagine, but I wonder how soon it will be before the powers that be here sit up and pay attention to this. Probably like most things in this country, lack of enforcement is the problem.

colm_mcm

Can't see how drivers had to "brake and swerve" to avoid someone doing 60mph in the middle lane.
I guess they were just making an example of him as he didn't turn up for court.
Disproportionate to the offence. Middle lane morons are annoying, but this is like Judge Durcan in Ennis giving out driving bans for parking offences.

Ridiculous, the first thing that needs to be done is to properly train people to use motorways in the first place.

People do their driving lessons and pass their test at speeds of 50 kph and are then deemed qualified to drive at high speeds.

Night time driving should also be part of the test.

People need to be thought how to merge properly at motorways and to drive in the appropriate lanes. In Ireland, people think that as long as they're paying their "road tax" it entitles them to do as they please on the roads !

I know how mad it makes me with so many middle lane drivers and I drive in the Left lane most of the time and I pass so many people doing 80 odd Kph, now I know I shouldn't be "undertaking" but I don't feel I should have to cross 2 lanes to get around the middle lane drivers when the left lane is free, just doesn't make sense.

Hachiko

people drive fast on Motorways in the UK, pretty safe to say no one does 70mph anymore., outside lanes are pretty mental. I have had points so for my own sake I don't go beyond 80 but see people breezing past me, if they get points their problem not mine.

middle lane is at least 70mph, if you are doing less go to the slow inside lane.

colm_mcm

Deleted User wrote: »

I know how mad it makes me with so many middle lane drivers and I drive in the Left lane most of the time and I pass so many people doing 80 odd Kph, now I know I shouldn't be "undertaking" but I don't feel I should have to cross 2 lanes to get around the middle lane drivers when the left lane is free, just doesn't make sense.

Pretty sure that's been done before, and it's a whole other pandoras box to be opening, but IMO what you're doing is far more dangerous

I know if they didn't hog, you wouldn't have to undertake, but that's the whole problem. Everyne has to drive properly for it to work, and to do things correctly makes driving a misery.

FishOnABike

K.Flyer wrote: »

U.K. Middle Lane Hogger Fined £1,000- Daily Mail

Much to the delight of many I imagine, but I wonder how soon it will be before the powers that be here sit up and pay attention to this. Probably like most things in this country, lack of enforcement is the problem.

Typical exaggerated headline, the fine was £500, 5 penalty points, £400 in costs and £40 victim surcharge. Not turning up in court wouldn't have done the driver any good - practically guaranteed to get the book thrown at them for thumbing their nose at the court - it's not the best thing to do in the circumstances. If you're caught being an absolute pillock the least you can do is turn up, admit you're an idiot and eat some humble pie if you are to hope for any leniency.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Pretty sure that's been done before, and it's a whole other pandoras box to be opening, but IMO what you're doing is far more dangerous

I know if they didn't hog, you wouldn't have to undertake, but that's the whole problem. Everyne has to drive properly for it to work, and to do things correctly makes driving a misery.

"far more dangerous" I don't think so, drivers should be aware what's around them at all times, I wouldn't undertake a truck because of the blind spots.

If I'm driving in the left lane as I should be, I shouldn't have to be forced to cross two lanes each time I come across a middle lane driver because I'm not going to drive in the right hand lane all the time which is also wrong, I don't want to be driving with all the right hand drivers who drive up the ass of the cars in front always on the accelerator and the brake, the left lane is far less stressful.

Realt Dearg Sec

I hear people complain about this a lot but I'm not a driver myself, can someone explain why people do it?

Marcusm

Deleted User wrote: »

Ridiculous, the first thing that needs to be done is to properly train people to use motorways in the first place.

People do their driving lessons and pass their test at speeds of 50 kph and are then deemed qualified to drive at high speeds.

Night time driving should also be part of the test.

People need to be thought how to merge properly at motorways and to drive in the appropriate lanes. In Ireland, people think that as long as they're paying their "road tax" it entitles them to do as they please on the roads !

Not in the UK, there are plenty of 70mph A roads and there are at least dual carriageways so plenty of scope for this to be part of the driving experience.

colm_mcm

Deleted User wrote: »

"far more dangerous" I don't think so, drivers should be aware what's around them at all times, I wouldn't undertake a truck because of the blind spots.

If I'm driving in the left lane as I should be, I shouldn't have to be forced to cross two lanes each time I come across a middle lane driver because I'm not going to drive in the right hand lane all the time which is also wrong, I don't want to be driving with all the right hand drivers who drive up the ass of the cars in front always on the accelerator and the brake, the left lane is far less stressful.

Would have thought you'd be far more likely to have someone pull into their left lane and hit you if you're undertaking them? Of course they'd be partly wrong too for not seeing you.

degsie

Hachiko wrote: »

middle lane is at least 70mph, if you are doing less go to the slow inside lane.

No such thing as a 'slow' lane. Only driving lane and overtaking lanes.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would have thought you'd be far more likely to have someone pull into their left lane and hit you if you're undertaking them? Of course they'd be partly wrong too for not seeing you.

Well they should be looking into their mirrors as they would if pulling into the middle lane from the left or right from the middle.

Can't say I'm right or wrong, but I do what I think is safe and best on the road which is a lot more than those who do what they want not caring whether it's right or wrong or those not knowing either way.

colm_mcm

So morally you win.

pablo128

I always try to throw a dirty look at middle lane hoggers, as I pass them on the inside.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

So morally you win.

Just trying to do what I think is right. Is there something wrong with that ?

degsie

pablo128 wrote: »

I always try to throw a dirty look at middle lane hoggers, as I pass them on the inside.

You mean nearside, right?

pablo128

pablo128 wrote: »

I always try to throw a dirty look at middle lane hoggers, as I pass them on the inside.

Waste of time because those drivers are completely oblivious to what they're doing is wrong. They'll just think you're mad !

pablo128

Deleted User wrote: »

Waste of time because those drivers are completely oblivious to what they're doing is wrong. They'll just think you're mad !

I might start flicking the middle finger at them so. :pac:

pablo128

degsie wrote: »

You mean nearside, right?

No, left.

I think you know full well what I mean.;)

degsie

pablo128 wrote: »

No, left.

Ah, right.

Captain Chaos

Deleted User wrote: »

Night time driving should also be part of the test.
!

It kind of already is as 2 of the mandatory EDTs have to be conducted at night.

But in saying that there should be a full day and night test and another for all motorway conditions imo, only then can you claim to have a full license.

FishOnABike

Deleted User wrote: »

Well they should be looking into their mirrors as they would if pulling into the middle lane from the left or right from the middle.

Can't say I'm right or wrong, but I do what I think is safe and best on the road which is a lot more than those who do what they want not caring whether it's right or wrong or those not knowing either way.

To be honest, if someone is dimwitted enough to amble along in the middle lane in their own little world unaware of the rolling roadblock they are creating I wouldn't rely on their situational awareness when trying to pass them. The blind spot on the nearside is bigger so I'd avoid undertaking someone who has already shown they don't know how to drive.

wil

Deleted User wrote: »

Well they should be looking into their mirrors as they would if pulling into the middle lane from the left or right from the middle.

Can't say I'm right or wrong, but I do what I think is safe and best on the road which is a lot more than those who do what they want not caring whether it's right or wrong or those not knowing either way.

Deleted User wrote: »

Waste of time because those drivers are completely oblivious to what they're doing is wrong. They'll just think you're mad !

This is in fact condoning their type of bad driving behaviour, which I do feel is a big problem with driving generally here. We make far too many allowances for poor driving so in the end rather than aspiring to a certain level of competency, more people descend to a more basic level and learn little other than ignorance.

I find that done properly, always overtaking rather than undertaking, does inform and remind many that the inside lane exists, far more important here with so few proper 3 lane motorways. I always give hoggers a reasonable chance and/or a gentle flash to correct their lane choice. Seems to work more often than not.

FishOnABike

True, on our road network it's more likely to be stuck with an overtaking lane crawler on a dual carriageway. At least on a three lane road (in the few places they do exist) there is a way to overtake them on the correct side.

On a dual carriageway you can only hope they eventually notice you in their rere view mirror and realise they should pull into the driving lane to let you overtake. You could be waiting a while though as their awareness of their rere view mirror is usually just about as good at their lane discipline.

The J Stands for Jay

wil wrote: »

I find that done properly, always overtaking rather than undertaking, does inform and remind many that the inside lane exists, far more important here with so few proper 3 lane motorways.

I've actually had a middle lane hogger get very angry because I overtook them properly and gone back to lane 1.

colm_mcm

Deleted User wrote: »

Just trying to do what I think is right. Is there something wrong with that ?

Nah, fair play for sticking to your beliefs!

It's against rules of the road and all that. They wouldn't even hear you coming!

knucklehead6

colm_mcm wrote: »

Can't see how drivers had to "brake and swerve" to avoid someone doing 60mph in the middle lane.
I guess they were just making an example of him as he didn't turn up for court.
Disproportionate to the offence. Middle lane morons are annoying, but this is like Judge Durcan in Ennis giving out driving bans for parking offences.

Its the daily mail. They write stories to make them more like action adventure novels than actual news reporting

wil

McGaggs wrote: »

I've actually had a middle lane hogger get very angry because I overtook them properly and gone back to lane 1.

My first reaction is - how could you tell? (Zoom rvm?)
Second is - well at least you got a reaction.

Problem with most hoggers is they are catatonic, oblivious to most of what's going on around them, so a gentle shake is a good thing.
If they reacted badly it's probable you startled them, you got to approach quietly from the rear, before blasting with musical air horn and full spots:D
d.d.t

FishOnABike

FishOnABike wrote: »

To be honest, if someone is dimwitted enough to amble along in the middle lane in their own little world unaware of the rolling roadblock they are creating I wouldn't rely on their situational awareness when trying to pass them. The blind spot on the nearside is bigger so I'd avoid undertaking someone who has already shown they don't know how to drive.

Well if their driving is that bad then it won't matter whether the're undertaken or overtaking !

wil

wil wrote: »

This is in fact condoning their type of bad driving behaviour, which I do feel is a big problem with driving generally here. We make far too many allowances for poor driving so in the end rather than aspiring to a certain level of competency, more people descend to a more basic level and learn little other than ignorance.

I find that done properly, always overtaking rather than undertaking, does inform and remind many that the inside lane exists, far more important here with so few proper 3 lane motorways. I always give hoggers a reasonable chance and/or a gentle flash to correct their lane choice. Seems to work more often than not.

Well in fairness, I'm not out to show others how to drive on the road, if me passing them on the left isn't an obvious sign then there is no hope for people like this.

Perhaps proper signs ? Guards instead of only doing speed checks should start pulling motorists who hog the middle lane ?

See if I've to jump from lane 1 to lane 3 then I'll have to put up with the people who drive too close to the car in front, the right hand lane of the N7 is a joke. Constantly accelerating and braking.

Thanks but I'll stick to lane 1 until I do need to actually over take something.

These days most of my driving is off peak and so much more relaxing but when I'm on days the morning driving is a pita.

degsie

I'm surprised that some ppl think its safer to go from lane 1 to lane 2 to lane 3 to lane 2 then back to lane 1 is safer than just staying in lane 1, all to prove a point!

colm_mcm

I hear ya. But you can't cut up on the inside lane and at the same time want drivers to keep left where possible. You could say you're part of the reason people don't keep left and pass right
..

degsie

colm_mcm wrote: »

I hear ya. But you can't cut up on the inside lane and at the same time want drivers to keep left where possible. You could say you're part of the reason people don't keep left and pass right
..

Travelling within the speed limits is not 'cutting up' the driving lane, it's how normal driving should be done.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

I hear ya. But you can't cut up on the inside lane and at the same time want drivers to keep left where possible. You could say you're part of the reason people don't keep left and pass right
..

No, If middle lane drivers don't have the mental ability to know that driving in the middle lane is wrong, then I hardly think me driving past them in the left even registers with them at all. To them the middle lane is the normal driving lane.

Muahahaha

degsie wrote: »

I'm surprised that some ppl think its safer to go from lane 1 to lane 2 to lane 3 to lane 2 then back to lane 1 is safer than just staying in lane 1, all to prove a point!

Same here, I'm on a motorbike most of the time and any time I change lane its essential to look over my right shoulder to check my blind spot is empty before conducting the manouvre, its called a lifesaver for obvious reasons. If I want to go from lane 1 to 2 to 3 to 2 and back to lane one to get beyond a middle lane hogger then I have to conduct four lifesavers and four manoeuvres. That's eight chances of something going wrong or eight possibilities of me making a mistake that could see me facing serious consequences- if I come off my bike on a motorway and hit the deck I'm highly likely to have my body smashed by every vehicle behind me travelling at 100kph and with not enough time to react. I just don't have the luxury of a roll cage or any airbag to protect me in the event of something happening.

So for me I think it is safer to undertake, in doing so I keep to the left of the left lane and am always prepared to fully open up the throttle in case some middle lane hogger does decide to move back to lane 1 without checking their wing mirror..To me it doing it this way represents less risk than doing it the way the rules of the road says I should. If though someday I should get unlucky and be knocked off when undertaking then I figure the most likely thing to happen is that I go for a body slide down the hard shoulder. I'd much prefer that than doing a body slide down lane 2 or 3 with a rake of fast moving traffic about to roll over me.

bucketybuck

colm_mcm wrote: »

I hear ya. But you can't cut up on the inside lane and at the same time want drivers to keep left where possible. You could say you're part of the reason people don't keep left and pass right
..

Rubbish. These idiots aren't keeping to the middle lanes because of some constant flow of cars undertaking and preventing them from merging back into lane 1.

If not one single person passed on the left these idiots would still be merrily trundling down the motorway in the middle lane.

creedp

wil wrote: »

This is in fact condoning their type of bad driving behaviour, which I do feel is a big problem with driving generally here. We make far too many allowances for poor driving so in the end rather than aspiring to a certain level of competency, more people descend to a more basic level and learn little other than ignorance.

I find that done properly, always overtaking rather than undertaking, does inform and remind many that the inside lane exists, far more important here with so few proper 3 lane motorways. I always give hoggers a reasonable chance and/or a gentle flash to correct their lane choice. Seems to work more often than not.

Not always ... had a case recently on the M2 heading for M50 where it widens out to 3 lanes. Car in outside lane doing 80kmh with absolutely no other traffic on road. Drove up behind to try and encourage her to move in but instead she jammed on brakes and I nearly ran into her .. on again and jammed on again. Needless to say I had enough so I quickly undertook her .. its only a matter of time before an accident will occur.

deathtocaptcha

a lot of people drive in the middle lane because inevitably, they come up against slow moving traffic in the left lane, a backlog in the middle lane and then it becomes time consuming to overtake...

also, there are always people who are extremely quick to undertake... i.e. you could be legitimately overtaking something doing 10km/hr slower than you and only switching back to the driving lane after you're in a situation where you haven't forced the driver you overtook to adjust their stopping distance to a safe distance...

but that safe distance / stopping distance is seen as an opportunity for someone behind you to nip in and undertake....

lorries *hate* when you merge back in front of them too early because obviously they can't react in time should you slam on the brakes... so they fear a potential crash for cash scam...

this is a lot more complex than people are making out and can only be solved by everyone driving correctly, obeying speed limits, merging only when it is safe to do so etc...

the reality is however, if you're on the M50 and moaning about how someone won't move out of the way quickly enough, you've got a first world irish driving problem... try being stuck behind slow moving traffic on bad / busy single lane roads...

Cork to Limerick a good example...

Muahahaha

Muahahaha wrote: »

That's eight chances of something going wrong or eight possibilities of me making a mistake that could see me facing serious consequences- if I come off my bike on a motorway and hit the deck I'm highly likely to have my body smashed by every vehicle behind me travelling at 100kph and with not enough time to react. I just don't have the luxury of a roll cage or any airbag to protect me in the event of something happening.

You're not one of those motorcyclists that constantly weave in and out of traffic and shooting down between two lanes of traffic ?

Muahahaha wrote: »

So for me I think it is safer to undertake, in doing so I keep to the left of the left lane and am always prepared to fully open up the throttle in case some middle lane hogger does decide to move back to lane 1 without checking their wing mirror..To me it doing it this way represents less risk than doing it the way the rules of the road says I should. If though someday I should get unlucky and be knocked off when undertaking then I figure the most likely thing to happen is that I go for a body slide down the hard shoulder. I'd much prefer that than doing a body slide down lane 2 or 3 with a rake of fast moving traffic about to roll over me.

Yeah makes sense to me, lessen the risks of an already high risk form of transport !

Muahahaha

Deleted User wrote: »

You're not one of those motorcyclists that constantly weave in and out of traffic and shooting down between two lanes of traffic ?



Yeah makes sense to me, lessen the risks of an already high risk form of transport !

I only ever filter between lanes of slow moving or stationary traffic when approaching traffic lights so I can get to the top of the queue and always have an empty road to ride into when the lights go green, its one of the joys of motorbiking to consistently have the road to yourself after a red light But no way would I filter between lanes of traffic on a motorway, that's just asking for trouble and riders who do it are both brave and stupid in equal measure IMO

Brian?

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nah, fair play for sticking to your beliefs!

It's against rules of the road and all that. They wouldn't even hear you coming!

It's not against the rules of the road. Overtaking slow moving traffic on the left is legal. The problem is how you define "slow". That needs to be clarified IMO or simply allow overtaking on the left and be done with it, like many states in the US where it's legal to overtake on either side.

savagethegoat

FishOnABike wrote: »

Typical exaggerated headline, the fine was £500, 5 penalty points, £400 in costs and £40 victim surcharge. Not turning up in court wouldn't have done the driver any good - practically guaranteed to get the book thrown at them for thumbing their nose at the court - it's not the best thing to do in the circumstances. If you're caught being an absolute pillock the least you can do is turn up, admit you're an idiot and eat some humble pie if you are to hope for any leniency.

the norm in the UK would be to plead guilty by letter, thus saving the Court time. Plead guilty by letter and there's no need for a COurt hearing. That's not the case in Ireland, totally different mindset

savagethegoat

Brian? wrote: »

It's not against the rules of the road. Overtaking slow moving traffic on the left is legal. The problem is how you define "slow". That needs to be clarified IMO or simply allow overtaking on the left and be done with it, like many states in the US where it's legal to overtake on either side.

It's entirely clear....if there are two slow moving lanes of traffic , you may pass the car to your right (their left) if their lane is slower than yours. That quite clearly does not permit you to undertake a middle/overtaking lane hogger.

degsie

savagethegoat wrote: »

It's entirely clear....if there are two slow moving lanes of traffic , you may pass the car to your right (their left) if their lane is slower than yours. That quite clearly does not permit you to undertake a middle/overtaking lane hogger.

This is especially true when driving in an out-of-posted-hours bus lane when all the other dimwits are bumper to bumper in the right hand lane

The J Stands for Jay

wil wrote: »

My first reaction is - how could you tell? (Zoom rvm?)

I had a look in as I was passing in lane 3, they didn't look happy, giving me stink eye etc. When I indicated to move back into lane 2, there was some hand gesture I didn't quite catch...

_Kaiser_

The biggest problem I see, that leads to all of this, is people being unable to drive at speed when perfectly safe/legal to do so whether it's because of incompetence/inability or something nonsensical like trying to save a fiver's worth of fuel. So instead of doing the 100/120, you'll get them doing 85-110.

This means those of us who can drive properly are forced to overtake a long line of dawdling idiots and by the time you pass them (especially if on the M50) you then have the clowns diving for the exit at the last second, or who can't merge on the other side properly meaning cars behind them cut out over hatched/solid lines. This then causes people in Lane 1 to brake, cars in Lane 2 to swerve into Lane 3 (usually without warning or safe gap) which in turn leads cars in Lane 3 to move up too close so as to dissuade being cut up in this manner.

Personally I find the best tactic (outside of the M50/3-lane stretch of the N7) is a consistent speed at or just over the limit if possible with DRL/headlights always on.. indicate and maneuver with plenty of time to let the eejits get used to the idea and when they see you maintaining a steady speed and closing "fast" (because they're driving 10-15 km/h slower than necessary) it generally dissuades them from doing silly things at the last minute. Key to this is also being able to read the cars ahead and around you - a car drifting towards the line is a clear sign that the driver is "thinking about it" before the indicator (optionally and late) comes on. Depending on whether it's safe, you can slow down to let them wander across in front of you, or "dissuade" them accordingly.

No doubt some will disagree with this approach, but I don't tailgate, I don't undertake, and I stay left unless faced with the above, and I do a lot of (generally stress and incident free) motorway miles as a result.

_Kaiser_

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

The biggest problem I see, that leads to all of this, is people being unable to drive at speed when perfectly safe/legal to do so whether it's because of incompetence/inability or something nonsensical like trying to save a fiver's worth of fuel. So instead of doing the 100/120, you'll get them doing 85-110.

I wouldn't say that anyone driving at 85-110 Kph is incompetent or has an inability to drive, 85-110 Kph is not exactly slow, it means they're driving at a speed they deem suitable for themselves which means they at least have some kind of competency, very little perhaps but better than none at all.

We all have to respect others on the road and that means accepting that people don't want to drive at the speed limits or beyond. The limits doesn't mean people are obliged to drive at that maximum speed.

Part of being a good driver is accepting that others don't want to do what we would always want them to do. We all need to be more tolerant of others.

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

This means those of us who can drive properly are forced to overtake a long line of dawdling idiots

This long line of idiots as you say may realise that the constant battle of accelerate + brake on the right hand lane to get maybe 5 mins ahead is also not worth it.

Sure it would be good if the slow drivers in the middle lane would move to the left on the 3 lanes, not much you can do with just 2 lanes.

It's really up to us to worry about our driving and not that of others, you'll drive yourself mad and it won't achieve anything because you'll never convince people who think they're right are wrong.

Like driving past a middle lane driver and hinting that they should use the left lane because you'll most likely get the finger or they'll just wonder what your on about. Part of it all is people choose to do what they want because they want regardless of the effects on others.

ardmacha

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't say that anyone driving at 85-110 Kph is incompetent or has an inability to drive, 85-110 Kph is not exactly slow, it means they're driving at a speed they deem suitable for themselves which means they at least have some kind of competency, very little perhaps but better than none at all.

We all have to respect others on the road and that means accepting that people don't want to drive at the speed limits or beyond. The limits doesn't mean people are obliged to drive at that maximum speed.

Part of being a good driver is accepting that others don't want to do what we would always want them to do. We all need to be more tolerant of others.



This long line of idiots as you say may realise that the constant battle of accelerate + brake on the right hand lane to get maybe 5 mins ahead is also not worth it.

I think it is a reasonable expectation for other drivers to respect the law, which in this case means driving on the left.

ardmacha

ardmacha wrote: »

I think it is a reasonable expectation for other drivers to respect the law, which in this case means driving on the left.

Sure but you won't convince people to do this and in heavy traffic on a 2 lane motorway it's not really possible to have a free right hand lane but the slower drivers should stay in the left lane but this will never change.