Solving the “middle lane hoggers” problem.

Princess Calla · 13-01-2020 07:53PM

tuxy wrote: »

I don't think I need to get into the nightmare that is the m50, so many things need to be fixed I wouldn't know where to start.

The occasional time you are on other 3 lane roads do you use the lanes correctly?
The issue is that middle lane hoggers force other drivers to use the other lanes incorrectly. It has a dominoes effect that means very few are using the road correctly which causes traffic jams and collisions.

They have 3 lanes on part of the M7 now, it was a complete waste of time and money. No one uses the driving lane

Yeah, I'm a pretty much follow the rules type of gal.

I will sit in slow /non moving traffic if that's the lane I should be in...ie an exit, rather than driving to the top and trying to squeeze in.

I haven't actually been on the M7 yet, the last time I was on it, it was under construction.

At peak times it would be busy, I often went into kildare outlet to browse for an hour until it eased off,however never had an issue with traffic off peak....that said urban sprawl etc having a three laned road is probably good planning, rather than the firefighting approach usually taken.

Newuseruntaken · 13-01-2020 08:03PM

I do most of my driving in the middle lane. People in the left lane are normally going much slower than me so I’m not going to spend my time dodging in and out of lanes for no good reason, it would benefit no one and be more likely to cause an accident than just staying in the one lane at a consistent speed. I drive at the speed limit so anyone overtaking me on the right lane can’t whinge about me as they would be breaking the speed limit so who are they to talk.

The only time I’ll drive in the left lane is if I’m driving at a quiet time when there’s hardly any cars on the road.

GhostyMcGhost · 13-01-2020 08:10PM

tom1ie wrote: »

What we have at the moment is people driving from the red cow to new bridge in the middle lane at 70kph thus making people overtake in lane 3 and leaving lane 1 empty.

Creating little pockets of traffic everywhere

Some people sit behind them assuming it’s traffic instead of overtaking so you get 7 or 8 cars all sandwiched together yet open roads once you get past them

Charlie-Bravo · 13-01-2020 08:17PM

I love these threads. The general unwritten rule is, you shouldn't be able to be undertaken. So if you're happy as a camper doing the middle lane thing and get undertaken, take it that someone appreciated your driving approach! /Sarcasm

Can we talk about roundabouts now? Shall we do lanes or indicating or both

Charlie-Bravo · 13-01-2020 08:22PM

In all seriousness, and to attempt to educate those less knowledgeable on their road craft, I'd suggest the information signs be utilised to say, use left lane for driving, lanes 2 and 3 for overtaking. Keep it simple as much as possible.

heroics · 13-01-2020 08:34PM

Attached image is the only option that will work

Sadb · 13-01-2020 10:02PM

The problem with middle lane driving is that you are often forced to “undertake”. It happens to me almost every single time I drive on a road near me. 3 lanes so I’m driving in the left lane at 100km, some eejit in the middle lane driving at 80km (because they are always driving slower- every- single- time). What do I do? Slow down and drive at 75km so I don’t undertake them? Move out across 2 lanes of traffic to overtake them even though they are in the wrong lane anyway?
How do people think it’s acceptable?

13-01-2020 10:19PM

tuxy wrote: »

They have 3 lanes on part of the M7 now, it was a complete waste of time and money. No one uses the driving lane

This x100000000000
The time, effort, inconvenience and money that went into expanding M7 to a 3 lane motorway, and only 2 lanes are ever used. It’s mind boggling the culture we have here. You’re in the minority if you use the driving lane.

To legally overtake you have to do 4 lane changes. Why did they bother expanding it. At least expand it and include signs that say keep left

Elemonator · 13-01-2020 10:30PM

Doesn't work with bus lanes. Doesn't work with red lights. You will always get people breaking the law because it suits them. The only thing that will solve middle lane hoggers/running reds/bus lane use/non use of indicators is enforcement and mandatory retraining to avoid conviction. If that doesn't work, massive fines will sort it out.

s7ryf3925pivug · 13-01-2020 10:35PM

Weird. I thought the first lane was for people joining and leaving the road and maybe for heavy vehicles. That's what seemed logical and consistent with observation and I was never told otherwise. I learnt to drive somewhere without three lane motorways.

13-01-2020 10:37PM

MLH is not the biggest issue on the M50.

1) People who try to merge at 50km. Causes huge issues to people already on the motorway and the people on the slip behind them.

2) When people entering the motorway refuse to merge in a timely manner and are still driving up what has now become the exit lane. Prevents people getting into the exit lane.

M5 · 13-01-2020 10:38PM

AI controlled landmines? If you're not overtaking and not in heavy traffic....pop!

tuxy · 13-01-2020 10:42PM

Self-Driving cars, humans on average do not have the mental capacity to operate mechanically propelled vehicles in a safe manner. But some probably have the capacity to create a system that the general population can use.

_Kaiser_ · 13-01-2020 10:44PM

Viviana High Rationalism wrote: »

Weird. I thought the first lane was for people joining and leaving the road and maybe for heavy vehicles. That's what seemed logical and consistent with observation and I was never told otherwise. I learnt to drive somewhere without three lane motorways.

That would be the reality of how the lane is used, as well as by traffic dawdling at 20+ km/h lower than surrounding traffic/the limit for no reason.

Add in merges and exits within close proximity on the M50 and cars constantly joining and leaving the road.

Result : unless you want to be constantly changing lanes, it's easier and safer to just continue at a constant speed matching the other traffic in the outer lanes.

Me, unless it's quiet (in which case it really makes no difference anyway) I cruise between lanes 3 and 2 on the M50/7 and avoid the situation entirely. I don't lane weave, I don't change lanes without looking and indicating first, I watch the surrounding traffic, and I don't dawdle.

Much easier and less stressful.

Alun · 13-01-2020 10:46PM

Deleted User wrote: »

MLH is not the biggest issue on the M50.

1) People who try to merge at 50km. Causes huge issues to people already on the motorway and the people on the slip behind them.

The one drives the other though, i.e. a lot of people avoid lane 1 precisely because most drivers don't have a frigging clue as to how to merge properly so end up just barging on at a snail's pace under the mistaken impression that traffic on the mainline has to give way to them.

tuxy · 13-01-2020 10:48PM

Alun wrote: »

The one drives the other though, i.e. a lot of people avoid lane 1 precisely because most drivers don't have a frigging clue as to how to merge properly so end up just barging on at a snail's pace under the mistaken impression that traffic on the mainline has to give way to them.

What do you expect these people to do?
Their petrol engine could explode if they go above 3k RPM :eek:

Danno · 13-01-2020 10:55PM

In moderate traffic I will not use the left lane. Nobody is doing the 100kmph or 120kmph allowed speed there, so rather than weave in and out of the left lane it is much easier to stay in the middle lane until there is a 500m or more clear stretch of left lane clear to return safely to at near the speed limit. Plus, cruising at a constant speed means less fuel burnt and less C02, you have to keep the greens happy you know?

Guy:Incognito · 13-01-2020 11:02PM

Has landmines been suggested?

If not, I suggest landmines.

On the M50, 90% of the time I'll be going faster than the middle lane, without breaking the speed limit.

Charlie-Bravo · 13-01-2020 11:13PM

You can cruise safely in and out of the proper driving lane as you approach a car ahead in traffic or for merging vehicles. If you've got a large gap between the vehicles driving in the left lane, then there's plenty of time to move in and out. I find this keeps you alert to what's going on around you.

Driving in the left lane means you mainly keep your observation to the right side, and not both sides of the car.

So what I am reading is so far, a lot of people are oblivious to how to properly drive on a 3 lane motorway. What I would suggest to those that think staying in the middle lane helps traffic merge, that driving in the left lane until you meet a car merging (regardless of their speed), it is good etiquette to move out to the middle lane to allow the other car to merge, and then move back into the left lane once you passed them.

tuxy · 13-01-2020 11:23PM

Do these people hog the middle lane while outside of Ireland?
I can't see drivers in other developed countries tolerating someone ****ing with their traffic flow like this.
Except the US where everyone just uses a random lane but look at their traffic fatality rate. :eek:

Quantum Erasure · 13-01-2020 11:27PM

any time I drive the M50 it's busy enough that you'd only be pulling in and out of other drivers braking zones if you changed lanes every time you should, so I just pick a lane and stick to it

tuxy · 13-01-2020 11:29PM

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

any time I drive the M50 it's busy enough that you'd only be pulling in and out of other drivers braking zones if you changed lanes every time you should, so I just pick a lane and stick to it

This is fair enough, the M50 is so far beyond capacity at rust hour that you can not drive like you normally should.

However that does not excuse people driving like this when it is not over capacity.

Millionaire only not · 13-01-2020 11:31PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

This x100000000000
The time, effort, inconvenience and money that went into expanding M7 to a 3 lane motorway, and only 2 lanes are ever used. It’s mind boggling the culture we have here. You’re in the minority if you use the driving lane.

To legally overtake you have to do 4 lane changes. Why did they bother expanding it. At least expand it and include signs that say keep left

U wudnt be long using tubes in England and u learn to stand on the right !

ldeayton · 13-01-2020 11:31PM

I drive in the UK where most of the motorways are 3 lane, and people hogging the middle lane effectively reduces the motorway to 2 lanes and causes significant bottlenecks in the flow of traffic. If the left lane is empty drive in it and particularly if a driver wishes to drive slower than the flow of traffic they should move over. Motorways can be disconcerting for many drivers and I appreciate that constantly over taking slow trucks is annoying but that doesn’t warrant the right to drive in the middle lane. Unlike the US we can only overtake to the right and not the kerbside, save for limited circumstances.

The only solution is Highway Police but they can’t be monitoring all drivers at all times. Motorway driving needs to be a compulsory part of the driving test or learner syllabus.

blue note · 13-01-2020 11:34PM

I'd generally drive in the middle lane. If I'm in the left lane I have double the chance of coming up to someone going well below the speed limit, because I pretty much never undertake. So if I meet someone going 80 in the middle lane I've to slow down to merge into their lane, then go into the right lane to overtake him, then back across two lanes to get back into the left lane and there's always a decent chance of someone coming up inside him at 110 into the lane I'm looking to go back into.

Also, in busy traffic merging in and out of the middle lane to overtake people can be a nuisance. You might end up slowing down to 60 and unable to overtake because there's a line of traffic in the middle lane. That's frustrating.

A two lane issue, but what really annoys me is when I'm in the driving lane on a motorway doing 120 and I meet some ar$ehole doing 100 in the overtaking lane. So I slow down so that I don't undertake him, but if someone has gone behind him I can't go into the overtaking behind the 100 driver. I'll leave him room to come back in in front of me, but it usually takes forever for him to do so. Eventually they usually feel the pressure of the person behind them, but it can take forever.

What are people's views on flashing the lights at people to ask them to move in? I think it makes sense, but i know some people don't like it.

Millionaire only not · 13-01-2020 11:41PM

ldeayton wrote: »

I drive in the UK where most of the motorways are 3 lane, and people hogging the middle lane effectively reduces the motorway to 2 lanes and causes significant bottlenecks in the flow of traffic. If the left lane is empty drive in it and particularly if a driver wishes to drive slower than the flow of traffic they should move over. Motorways can be disconcerting for many drivers and I appreciate that constantly over taking slow trucks is annoying but that doesn’t warrant the right to drive in the middle lane. Unlike the US we can only overtake to the right and not the kerbside, save for limited circumstances.

But Ireland has only the m50 with 3 lanes !
That’s problem in Ireland wether it’s delebrate or not not to build big enough!

The first upgrade from limerick to Dublin involved the switch over lane for alternate overtaking! Ie. 3 lanes in total plus an added safety lane that’s rarely used !
What a joke for sake of another 7/8 feet to give it 4 lanes like today !
Now how much did that upgrade to what we have today cost , such losers in this country!

Millionaire only not · 13-01-2020 11:44PM

blue note wrote: »

I'd generally drive in the middle lane. If I'm in the left lane I have double the chance of coming up to someone going well below the speed limit, because I pretty much never undertake. So if I meet someone going 80 in the middle lane I've to slow down to merge into their lane, then go into the right lane to overtake him, then back across two lanes to get back into the left lane and there's always a decent chance of someone coming up inside him at 110 into the lane I'm looking to go back into.

Also, in busy traffic merging in and out of the middle lane to overtake people can be a nuisance. You might end up slowing down to 60 and unable to overtake because there's a line of traffic in the middle lane. That's frustrating.

A two lane issue, but what really annoys me is when I'm in the driving lane on a motorway doing 120 and I meet some ar$ehole doing 100 in the overtaking lane. So I slow down so that I don't undertake him, but if someone has gone behind him I can't go into the overtaking behind the 100 driver. I'll leave him room to come back in in front of me, but it usually takes forever for him to do so. Eventually they usually feel the pressure of the person behind them, but it can take forever.

What are people's views on flashing the lights at people to ask them to move in? I think it makes sense, but i know some people don't like it.

Right close flash lights and the dirty look !
Lol
Try it with tommy tiernans friends they love hogging up the road with there vans !

And as for racing there pony’s on the tipp/ limerick road they really act the maggot

ldeayton · 13-01-2020 11:47PM

blue note wrote: »

I'd generally drive in the middle lane. If I'm in the left lane I have double the chance of coming up to someone going well below the speed limit, because I pretty much never undertake. So if I meet someone going 80 in the middle lane I've to slow down to merge into their lane, then go into the right lane to overtake him, then back across two lanes to get back into the left lane and there's always a decent chance of someone coming up inside him at 110 into the lane I'm looking to go back into.

Also, in busy traffic merging in and out of the middle lane to overtake people can be a nuisance. You might end up slowing down to 60 and unable to overtake because there's a line of traffic in the middle lane. That's frustrating.

A two lane issue, but what really annoys me is when I'm in the driving lane on a motorway doing 120 and I meet some ar$ehole doing 100 in the overtaking lane. So I slow down so that I don't undertake him, but if someone has gone behind him I can't go into the overtaking behind the 100 driver. I'll leave him room to come back in in front of me, but it usually takes forever for him to do so. Eventually they usually feel the pressure of the person behind them, but it can take forever.

What are people's views on flashing the lights at people to ask them to move in? I think it makes sense, but i know some people don't like it.

This is the fundamental problem, overtaking across two lanes is dangerous at 120km p/h and why middle lane hogging is just as dangerous as a driver going too fast and aggressively pushing their way through traffic.
Flashing a driver may highlight to them that they are inadvertently hogging the middle lane and they may move over but that could also confuse them and exacerbate the situation. I’m not sure how the police would take this - they may consider it an aggressive tactic and penalise “the flasher”. It can also lead to road rage.
When I had a company car in the UK we had to do a day of referesher training to iron out our driving faults, how to drive efficiently (block gear change) and safely and of course a lot of time was spent on the motorway.

tuxy · 13-01-2020 11:47PM

Millionaire only not wrote: »

But Ireland has only the m50 with 3 lanes !

It sounds like your doing your bit for the environment by not driving very far

tuxy · 13-01-2020 11:51PM

ldeayton wrote: »

Flashing a driver may highlight to them that they are inadvertently hogging the middle lane and they may move over but that could also confuse them and exacerbate the situation. I’m not sure how the police would take this - they may consider it an aggressive tactic and penalise “the flasher”. It can also lead to road rage.

I suspect that right overtaking lane hoggers are arseholes who think it is ok because they are doing the speed limit or close to.
Middle overtaking lane are clueless and have no idea what they are doing, so I doubt you could get them to move by signaling.

I guess all we can do in the short term is not extend anymore motorways as the driving lane will not be used. As I said, complete waste of time and money.

Rush hour on the M7 has most cars in the right lane about half as many in the middle and only a few in the driving lane.
I could make great progress darting up the empty driving lane but undertaking that many cars is far too risky.

Solving the “middle lane hoggers” problem.

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