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Middle lane driving, why is it bad?

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d9f1c7 | 13:58 Wed 13th Jun 2012 | Motoring
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At the risk of starting a motangelist fatwa, can anyone explain to me what is wrong with driving in the middle lane at at least 70mph on a motorway?
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i would assume because it is the legal limit and people have to go faster to overtake - although it then begs the question of why people need to overtake if you are doing 70. a paradox, really...
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No the legal limit is not a factor here, I used 70 to be conservative I generally do it at 85.
Left-hand lane IS the only lane for normal driving, ALL other lanes are for overtaking only... See Below

http://www.smartdrivi...orway_driving/M3.html
Ask yourself why you would want to sit in the middle lane (or lane 3 on a 4 lane section) when the Highway Code specifically says that you shouldn't. If we all just apply the bits of the Code that we like chaos will ensue.
How confident are you that you are doing 70mph - most car speedos over-read by at least 10%.

You cannot police every one else on the road - inevitably people will want to overtake you - whether legally or not.

By acting as a 'moving chicane' and forcing all overtakers into a single outside lane you are causing an unnecessary hazard to yourself and other road users.
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Nibble, says who and what are the reasons?
Shoota, yes but what is the logic behind it?
Dave, speed limit is irrelevant to this discussion.
"By acting as a 'moving chicane' and forcing all overtakers into a single outside lane you are causing an unnecessary hazard to yourself and other road users. "

this is the flawed belief of those that have not understood the highway code.
but people shouldnt exceed the speed limit to overtake - its illegal .

nibble we know the rules - the question is why that is the rule.


i wonder if having 2 lanes for 'normal' driving and only one for overtaking would work better?

would this make things safer or worse?
Whether it is right to speed or not is not the issue here.
A car moving at speed along a motorway that comes upon a slower moving vehicle has to overtake, it is safer and easier for all concerned if the slower traffic is as far to the left as possible, leaving as much space as possible for the overtaker.
How many times have you seen an empty inside lane, a single car (or possibly several cars) sat in the middle lane at a moderate speed, and a long line of people getting irate and frustrated in the outside lane.
All because some people cannot follow the highway code.
I ask again - why do you want to sit in the middle lane when the inside lane is empty?
Is it this 'class' thing? The inside lane being for older, slower, less powerful cars?
Come up with a good reason this practice because I can't think of one.
Who says? The law of the land says:

Lane discipline
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.


[Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6]
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shoota can you read what I have written?:
Ok, empty motorway, car in middle lane, let's; deal in turn with a faster car behind in each of the 3 lanes shall we:
left: Keep going do not change course or direction, pass on left, faster lane rule.
middle: Standard Overtake on the right
Right: Keep going.
simples!

to answer your question, I sit in the inside lane on an empty motorway because it is the safest place max distance from each side. I sit in the middle on a full motorway because it's safer tham playing leap frog down the road. There are no situations on a 3 lane highway when the left is preferable.

Again I ask, what logical reason is there, beyond simple brainwasing by the motangelistas, to do otherwise?
geddit?
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That's not the law dave, its says "should", not "must". People quoting the HC without even understanding the basics of its position in law! PMSL!
You could by driving in the middle lane cause people to break the law by undertaking ( passing on the inside )
D9 - honestly is that what you think or are you on a wind up?
If that is what you think you are a serious danger.
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another one who has not read what is written above or understood what overtaking is. Undertaking as not passing on the left.

Overtaking on the left requires a specific move to do so. If you are already on the left going quick you can drive past even under the HC.
Passing on the left is now illegal d9. You can't invoke the faster lane theory on an empty road, that's ludicrous.
It's called undertaking for a reason IMO.
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ah shoota, bless the standard, "I've been brain washed so why haven't you" response. Really mate try to discard your flawed thinking and think for yourself. I realise that it''s a shock when it dawns that you've been in a religion without realising itHow many accidents have you had? I've had none.

FCS most on here don't even know what undertaking is!
After reading your comments on middle lane driving, I've hit on an idea. Perhaps the Ministry of Transport could save money on new roads by only building two lane motorways in future.

Because, by driving in the middle lane when the inside lane is clear you are basically making a two lane motorway, wasting the millions that was spent on making the extra lane.

Why not go the whole hog and drive in the outside lane!

Alternatively, use common sense along with the Highway Code.
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show me where is says that mojo? Most go on about the middle lane thing because they have mis understood the longway round rule!

Overtaking on the left is not undertaking alba, that's quite a different thing, very rare in UK but common on the continent and indeed Ireland.

I must admit that doing what I do for a living, I am shocked at how little people understand the UK road rules/laws/HC.
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wiltsman, explain why please but first read the above. it seems the brainwashed motangelsist have formed a view regardless of the facts.

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