Is driving in left lane an admission of failure in life ?

RobAMerc

Is there some reason driving in the left lane ( particularly on the M50 ) is seen as a sign to everyone else that your life just didnt work out the way you planned it to and you are a huge loser?

Is it thought that staying in the middle or staying right at sometimes 30 kph below the limit proves your worth as a being ( and maybe 'being safe' )?

Do you somehow get absolved from sins by holding up traffic in the right lane, or being a mobile obstacle in the wrong lane ?

Or are you just a tool fro doing it ?

There seems no rules against it btw, I saw a squad car join the long line of cars overtaking a Nissan Leaf doing 70 in the middle lane yesterday, no sign of action, or them advertising their achievement on twitter today

Quazzie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269675/is-driving-in-left-lane-an-admission-of-failure-in-life

I find driving in the left lane gets me to where I want to go quicker.

Undertaking FTW

Marcusm

Failing to use the left-most lane available to you is a penalty point offence. Completely unenforceable. They had a campaign in the U.K. against it more than 10 years ago with limited beneficial effect.

Lewis_Benson

What?

The J Stands for Jay

I think driving in the middle lane is a sign of being a loser.

hoodie6029

‘That’s the slow lane. For trucks and nervous drivers. I’m a good driver so I need to be in the fast lane.’

This is unfortunately the opinion I’ve gotten over the years when I’ve brought it up gently. People aren’t being pr1cks about it. They genuinely think that’s how is works.

On the plus side it makes lane 1 of the 7 your own private road to Dublin if you’re not in a rush.

Loafing Oaf

Are you referencing the Iron Lady OP?

I was over 40 before I got my licence so I must be a total dead loss in her eyes...

Strumms

Driving if the left lane probably means you just ain’t in a hurry…

the ‘failure at life’ angle because of whatever lane you are in there is a bit wacko to be fair 😅🫣… might want to have a ‘chat’ with somebody OP….

Del2005

The argument I got for driving in the middle lane was because vehicles where cutting across you to get to the exit. When I pointed out that no vehicles wouldn't be cutting across you if people drove in the correct lane a light bulb went off, unfortunately it didn't last long the person still drives in the middle lane.

Failing to use the left-most lane available to you is a penalty point offence. Completely unenforceable. 

It's easily enforceable. Garda gives ticket and person either pays or goes to court, they will then need to show they were in the correct lane as driving isn't a right it's a privilege. But the RSA is too busy getting people to drive slowly on motorways to worry about wrong lane use or speeding on urban roads.

alias no.9

On my M50 southbound morning commute, I will always just stay in the left lane from between J9 and 10 until the approach to J13, especially at this time of year.

With 90% of traffic distributed across the middle and right lanes, each time the middle and right lane slow to a crawl, the left lane will tick along nicely for much longer. On the days that the middle and right lane are moving ok, you'll still make decent time in the left lane but on the bad days, you'll wipe the floor with them time wise.

An education campaign might be useful but a bigger focus could be something as simple as mandating everyone to have a pair of polarised sunglasses in their car could do more because inevitably other than J9 and J13/14, the snarlups aren't really caused by traffic entering or leaving the M50, they happen where ever the road lines up with the low sun.

antodeco

Shhhhhh!!!! Stop telling people!

Plus, I enjoy proving google maps wrong!

alias no.9

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119815122#Comment_119815122

Don't worry, they just don't get it

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119811533#Comment_119811533

Still don't have a licence. I get chauffeured.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119811533#Comment_119811533

What about Women if we are over 26 without a license? Are we a failure too?

I intend to get my license soon. Just never had the confidence before. I am in my 40s.

Margaret Tatcher must have been one right stuck up cow.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269675/is-driving-in-left-lane-an-admission-of-failure-in-life

wtf!

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119813268#Comment_119813268

Apologies, I meant “unenforced”. I have not given up on gardai eventually beginning to do something about what they see as minor offences.

I just wish people in the two left lanes would get out of my way when I'm trying to get off the motorway. I've places to be like.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269675/is-driving-in-left-lane-an-admission-of-failure-in-life

Probably, because when I see drivers lane cruising along in the outside lane without a regard for the world, they're often in beemers or mercs etc and have the attitude that everyone else should get out of their way..

Do the fandango

Proud left lane driver, I’m in no rush and enjoy the pace.

In my experience I find cars/vans driving slowly in lane 1 or 2 are usually on a phone

with the vehicles in lane 2 usually being driven by the ladies!

I’d say if you’re thinking that which lane you drive in defines how you’re seen in life, you’re probably in no position to call anyone else a loser!

Muppet Man

I drive in the left lane on all motorways except the M50. The M50 junctions are just too close together (constant braking) and the probability of having an accident is increased with traffic volume and merges too/from sliproads. I usually stay in the middle or right hand lane. Not an issue on most other motorways, so happy to stay in left lane.

Apiarist

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119860682#Comment_119860682

Same here. On all motorways bar the M50, I stay in the left lane unless I need to overtake. If I did the same on M50, I would be changing lanes every 30 seconds and changing the speed of my car from 100km/h to 70km/h or less at each busy intersection.

Larbre34

Agree. Trying to drive permanently in the left lane of the M50 would be almost dangerous.

I do keep left on the long stretch between Sandyford and Firhouse, but other than that my default is the centre lane and its absolutely fine.

Everlong1

I'm 58 and only learning to drive now. Not because I'm a loser but because I always found something more important to spend my money on. Like guitars.

R.O.R

You'll find it's just an all round nicer class of person who drives in the left lane of the motorway.

We're less stressed as generally leave in plenty time to not worry about traffic, or don't get in trouble if we are late.

We're also much more fuel efficient than the 'accelerate / brake / accelerate / brake' brigade in the right lanes, and our brake pads last longer.

There's also a massive sense of smugness available when the person who sped right out in to the outside lane when they joined the motorway behind you, ends up being the car behind you on the off ramp. At times like that, it would only be possible to be more smug if I'd done the journey in a Prius or any sort of full electric vehicle.

Trigger Happy

No, driving in the left lane is not an admission of failure in life.

Asking that question however is an indicator of someone who has big issues to contend with.

lawred2

I will drive on the left where it makes sense to drive on the left. Sticking religiously to the left lane on the M50 regardless of traffic volumes would lead to a painful experience.

SuperBowserWorld

I let my chauffeur decide which lane to drive in when the helicopter is not available.

I am such a loser.

mikeecho

I've given up with right lane hoggers.

I will pass them on the inside, in give them a toot

(I mean, I'll alert then by making use of the audible warning device attached to my mechanically propelled vehicle)

before I do so.

It's just not worth the stress of sitting behind an idiot.

accensi0n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119864130#Comment_119864130

You pass cars in the left line on the hard shoulder?

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119864163#Comment_119864163

My bad.. I'll edit it.

mazdamiatamx5

Having to use the M50 on a regular basis is an admission of failure in life.

ELM327

I like to think of the left lane as my personal lane on the m50

twin_beacon

Pre covid when I commuted daily on the M50, I used to find it funny to have cars up my arse when merging onto the M50, some would merge early over the continuous white so they cold get into the right hand lane. Only for me to undertake them in the left lane seconds later.