I’m. HGV driver and I actually agree with part of this. Most lorry drivers don’t help the other Lorrie’s out and won’t slow down when being passed. I do. Mainly because I don’t trust the lorry driver along side me for so long. Nobody ever slows down for me. The biggest problem is those dawdling in the middle lane. Trucks can’t go in the outer lane (fast lane) so they get stuck dawdling behind the Honda Jazz in the middle lane.
@@kevparsons1 You are not allowed to change your speed over the speed limit while undertaking. If you undertake at 90mph you will be charged for speeding, and not overtaking.
I have been learning to drive since February, I passed today with 2 minors. I watched ALL of your videos. They helped so much and saved so much time and money! Thank you!!!!
Huge congratulations! The world is your oyster now. 😃 (Hope you don't mind me saying, but the big thing I recommend on retaining as a habit is the quick glance over the shoulder for the blind spot when merging/joining /changing lanes, even cars with Blind Spot Monitoring can get caught out, as you see nothing in the mirror you think it's nothing. Caught me out twice nearly within the first year, never again! Take care out there! 🙂)
I once got a taxi from Southampton to Portsmouth because of rail strikes. As soon as we reached the M27 the taxi driver immediately went into the middle lane and stayed there at 60mph the whole time, cars were passing us right and left. We also straddled the lanes for almost every multilane roundabout, went round one roundabout twice. Some drivers are shockingly bad.
What I’ve found is that the left lane is now empty and undertaking to the left is now the way to move past the slower outer lanes. It seems that everything now works in reverse🤷🏽♂️ Most of my journeys today are in the far left traveling faster than the outside lane (huh!). Carry on doing what you do coz I got no problem undertaking
A friend used to be a traffic cop in the Greater Manchester area. One night on a very quiet M62 she was following a car sticking to the middle lane even though there was virtually nothing else on the road. Eventually she pulled the vehicle over and asked the driver why he wasn't using the left hand lane. His answer was: "I like to be in charge of the highway". She booked him for careless driving but said if there was a law about being a prat she'd have booked him for that as well!
The M62 between the M60 and Warrington is an absolute haven for lane hoggers. Not sure why, I think it is very flat and straight so people just pick a lane and switch their brains off or something.
I was taught that it's good to stay in the middle lane at night if no other cars are nearby. That way you have more time to react if for example an animal comes running onto the road in front of you.
I personally have no issue with people in lane 2 or 3 going on or over the speed limit. The real problem are the people who think it's ok to sit in the middle lane at 50/60 overtaking nothing, can move over and are forcing people who aren't going 70 into the outer lanes which we all know is the lane for the Range rovers and German cars, and they get aggressive and tailgate and flash people who dare cross their path
Undertaking isn't actually illegal, where it becomes dangerous is when it's a large Lorry or a Caravan being towed because you can't see in front. There could be a vehicle moving into Lane 1.
You can drive in whatever lane you want(unless signs indicate otherwise), as long as you check your mirrors every few seconds. Unfortunately a lot of people only use their mirrors when reversing. I begrudge people dawdling past when I’ve had the decency to move over, and am then forced to slow down to 60 or less as there is slow moving traffic ahead.
4:57 Maybe it's just me but I think it would be more conducive to road safety if more attention was paid to taking lunatics like that red car off the road than beginner drivers committing minor errors like "signalling a bit too early"
@@undeniabletruth-HIT Wasn't a mistake by the red car driver, though. Arguably even more dangerous - when people are deliberately taking these sorts of risks, you know they do it all the time.
Well if some middle lane moron is doing 60mph in lane 3 so that a few minutes later they *might* pass a lorry doing 56mph, you can understand why drivers get frustrated and pass on the left. Which is totally legal when there’s a queue. It’s a shame that a so called driving instructor justifies middle lane hogging in this manner, only to get passed several times on the left because they aren’t making progress and are just in the way
The problem with the 'not wanting to change lanes too often' reasoning is you push those lane changes onto other people who need to make multiple lane changes to get around you.
if your lane (left lane) is moving faster than the middle lane then it is deemed correct to keep with the flow of traffic even if it means performing an undertake of the slower moving middle lane.
If I'm driving up the middle lane [overtaking vehicles in lane 1] and then I catch up to other vehicles in lane 2, and lane 1 is now clear, the cars in lane 2 who choose not to move back to the left are now slowing me down. If you can't see the problem with that I suggest you educate yourself further. BARE IN MIND, large vehicles are not allowed in the outer most lane, and typically, coaches travel much faster than lorries so you are holding them up and causing congestion by lane hogging the middle, simply because you are too scared to change lanes.
@Lucas-li6ss you may think your doing "the speed limit" but everyone's speedo is different, as stated in the video. If left lane is clear and people in lane 2 are catching you, you need to move to lane 1 so they can pass safely. Hogging lane 2 will only encourage people to undertake, which is far more dangerous.
@@meeka3486 Yes exactly - I think there is a big issue with people being too lazy to change lanes and they don't see the problem. Everyone else then needs to make a lane change to get around the lazy driver..
It mostly boils down to "skill issue" then, because it demonstrates they're unable to observe, plan ahead and change lanes safely, and shows a casual disregard for others. As for the M25, I once did this experiment in the late evening after dropping someone off at Heathrow. I set the cruise to 80 and just sat in lane 1, and I covered approximately the distance from Gerrards Cross to Chandlers Cross without once having to change lane to overtake. I passed so much traffic idly sitting in lanes 3 and 4 at 60 mph or less while lanes 1 and 2 went completely unused.
@@Reduletzuu Yes, I wonder if the safety of the modern world has eroded people's spatial awareness. In this day and age you don't have to be constantly on edge in case something is going to leap out and kill you, unless you live in Croydon or Crawley, so many people, used to walking around with their head buried in a smartphone (i.e. the smart phone dumb user) without consequence to themself, get in a car and drive with a similar lack of awareness of their surroundings. I don't get it as it really isn't difficult to periodically check mirrors. I do this frequently when overtaking and will pull left into a gap if a driver is approaching behind at a faster speed so they can overtake unimpeded.
@@olatron I occasionally undertake but before I do I always plan what to do if the offending car suddenly pulls into my lane in front of, or even beside me. On a motorway this escape route would be the hard shoulder. If a car whilst being undertaken pulls in and there is a collision it will be the undertaking car that is blamed. The very fact that a car sits in the middle lane at all implies general poor driving, observation skills could well be lacking too. Don't become the offender by being a cavalier undertaker. You know it makes sense.
Passed my test today first time with only 5 minors 🎉 must admit I've watched your videos every day for weeks and they have helped me no end so thank you and will most definitely keep watching your amazing videos 👍
I've passed my driving test last week with just 3 minors! Thank you so much for the videos Richard, they really helped a lot, especially the videos with Emily when I just started my lessons few months ago
Another good video. Middle or outside lane hogging bugs me a lot. What also bugs me is the lack of general bad driving offence enforcement in this country. People only ever seem to get fined for speeding. While I don't condone speeding I do strongly feel that often other traffic offences are even more dangerous than speeding. That's why in my opinion people constantly ignore basic highway code rules as there is no (apparent) deterrent.
You should see what the M1 like is here in Australia (NSW). At night especially when there's barely any cars the trucks just sit in the middle lane doing 40-50 under up the hills 🤣. So dangerous and pointless
@@ethanrushbrook3314 I was hoping that another Aussie would chime in. Bad memories of the M1. Overtaking there is harder than the UK because of the prevalence of cameras.
Speaking of how general traffic offenses compare with speeding, what would you say each offense compares to in terms of speeding (on a duel carriageway). for example: undertaking - 5mph over the limit double lane change when joining - 15 over limit staying in blind spot - 10 over limit following too close 10-20 over limit depending on severity no lights on at night/rainy conditions - 15 over limit accelerating when being overtaken - 5 over limit. middle lane hogging - 10 over limit like if someone's doing a few of these at time (let's say middle lane hogging, following too close, no lights) I think it's perfectly fair to equate that to someone who goes 35 over (105mph) I personally would feel safer from injury (but more at risk of being fined) if I was in a car (driving or otherwise) doing 85mph, than being in a car doing 55 in lane 3, with the other 2 completely clear, seeing cars struggling to all get past.
@@Kaiser-ks3yq No lights on is legitimately the most dangerous of these by miles. It should be bannable, and cars should all be required by law to either have sensors to put the lights on automatically or just always have the lights on, like in a Volvo.
Having driven a lot on motorways in France, they almost religiously move back to the outside lane over there. Makes driving on the motorways so much more pleasant, efficient and less stressful compared to here in the UK
Firstly this is definately true, but secondly they generally have a fraction of the traffic density that we do in the UK. A lot of hogging is people who cant be bothered to keep changing lane because indicating is an effort... When you can travel far further without having to pass a vehicle, the learned behaviours tend to be better.
I was on the M25 and M1 last Saturday. It is comical how many times there are no vehicles in lane 1 on a 4 lane stretch for miles. and yet drivers are all lined up in lane 2, usually doing around 60 and driving too close. This forces drivers catching in lane 1 to either drive slower than them, make two lane changes to drive around them (and then two back when possible), or undertake. I saw several drivers take advantage and dangerously move from lanes 3 and 4 to undertake at speed and move back to their slightly busier lanes. Now, I think that moving out to lane 2 at junctions, especially if they have short slip roads (I'm looking at you, M1 J5 Southbound), can be helpful to joining traffic, and I gather in some countries that it's mandatory, but that is the only reason I can see to move out of a clear lane that is continuing ahead.
I find that very hard to believe. The hogger is in lane 2 and lanes 3 and 4 are overtaking. Why when it's clear to overtake in lanes 3 and 4 would several motorist slow down to the hoggers speed and move to lane 1, undertake, then go straight back into lanes 3 or 4?
@mikehunter2844 Have you not driven on the M1 or M25 on a weekend? Lanes 3 and 4 often bunch up a bit, too, usually with hoggers also in lane 3, so you start getting these "weavers" who see that they can go faster in lane 1. They don't slow down to match anyone's speed, just dangerously cut across lanes.
was on the M25 at about 9pm on a friday about a month ago. I was in lane 1 doing ~70 as motorway was basically empty. 2 cars entered from a slip road ahead of me. First one went straight to lane 3 at ~70 second one went staright to lane 2 at ~60. I moved to lane 3, passed the car in lane 2, then moved back to lane 1. Didn't see them again but am pretty sure they stayed there. Car that went to lane 3 however, stayed there for about 15 miles then exited the motorway. I stayed in lane 1 the whole time without seeing another car ahead, let alone overtaking anyone. Bonkers! Both of them couls have easily just gone into lane 1 and stayed trhere.
If that is on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder, I fully support those choosing not to use lane 1. Though I also believe there are only two speeds vehicles should be travelling. 56mph or 70mph, if this was adhered to congestion would be significantly eased. If you have ever seen a vehicle stranded in a live lane 1 of a smart motorway and the signage hasn’t closed the lane, the danger is very real.
This is a very timely video for me. I’m a North American visiting the UK for six weeks and though I have driven here extensively in the past, I am amazed at the amount of lane-hogging and lack of return to lane 1 after overtaking that I am seeing these days. Once upon a time, most everyone drove smaller, less powerful cars, and drove more sedately, but now that almost all vehicles can practically drive themselves, everyone has their boot down. Speed is king.
Welcome to Britain. The experience shown in this clip on Polish motorways fully demonstrates that road manners are a combination of law and unselfish cooperation.
I remember seeing elderly couple, 3rd lane doing 60, with long line of cars behind. Me on motorbike, lane 1 and 2 empty, so pulled from 2 to 1 and under took them all. Get away as quick as possible from that potential disaster.
I hate it when you go and over take and the car on the left speeds up and wont let you over take. or they over take you and then slow down in front, motorways is not a game of chicken!
I had this not long ago on the M62, i happily went to overtake into the right lane and the person in the middle lane sped up to my speed. It would have turned into a race but i just took a deep breath and eased off. Moved back behind them and they did slow down but there wasn't much i could do.
The difference between using cruise control and not. I find that happens a lot too from either side and sometimes I get funny looks from the vehicle with erratic speed as if to say "what are you doing". Makes me giggle to myself
Yeah, I get that from time to time on dual carriageways when I drive a HGV at work limited to 52mph. It's annoying. People should not be driving in a manor which impedes other motorists.
Went on a road trip through Germany last year and have to say the way they deal with the elephant races is much better. Most of the time particularly around junctions lorries are not allowed to overtake one another. When the road becomes less complicated they are allowed to overtake this makes much more sense to me as it helps keep the flow.
I have a coworker that sometimes leaves before me (at least 20 min), and we both take the M4 towards Reading. He drives carefully in the left lane, while I don’t mind changing. We usually meet up half way through the journey into Reading. And I think it’s only seconds of improvement by lane switching, and you will only feel a difference in journey times if you make a light that you wouldn’t have otherwise. I drove left when tired because I know my responses may be low and the risk of lane change is higher (not sleepy tired, more like, can’t be bothered switching).
Lane-hogging is very selfish driving. Even if any of these reasons are valid from an individual perspective, it collectively makes the motorway much more congested and more dangerous.
How so? The number of cars on the road is unchanged, right? if you are behind a slower moving vehicle waiting to over take, then anyone in the lane beside you is also going to be overtaking you as well so that doesn't cause an issue. Do you simply mean you might have to wait slightly longer to overtake and thus people are mildly inconveniencing you? this is a genuine question i just want to understand how it makes roads more congested.
@phr00tpie only one person at a time can overtake a slower moving car in the middle lane, if they are in the most left lane then more people can overtake at a time, at varying speeds. With someone in the middle lane everyone who wants to overtake them is forced to slow to the speed of the slowest overtaker. Essentially, it clogs up the right lane by forcing more people into it which slows everyone down, which necessarily causes more congestion
@@phr00tpie Traffic flow is reduced, which makes journey times longer, so there are actually more cars on the road at any given time. It also effectively reduces road capacity since lane 1 is not fully utilised. Imagine a car is driving in lane 2 of a 3-lane motorway at 66Mph (which would probably show as 70Mph on the speedo), all of the faster moving traffic has to merge into a single file to pass at 70Mph in lane 3. If this car was driving correctly, faster traffic can pass much more efficiently with 2 overtaking lanes available. If many drivers hog the middle-lane, then the cumulative effect on traffic and journey times is massive.
@@reubenjackson7829 Nobody is arguing about you having to drive the risk of breaking your suspension and/or back. But if you just hog a lane because the road could be in bad shape, you're just being lazy.
Excellent video, Richard. It shouldn't be a contentious issue though, despite many of the comments. A well trained driver will always move left after overtaking a vehicle, but may stay out if catching up with other vehicles to pass. 😎
Yes, I recall times when I felt like it because after overtaking one vehicle I decide to stay in the 2nd lane because I am also overtaking the next vehicle that is significantly further ahead. Which is also planning further, haha.
Over the last 6 months I have watched many of your videos despite having passed my test before you were born (1986) ! Driving, like life, is a constant learning experience so I have been able to catch up on highway code changes as well as further driving tips, for which I would like to say thank you for your detailed and informative instruction. Over all the quality of drivers on the road seems have gone down over the last couple of decades which, IMO, coincides with the reduction of law enforcement vehicles on the road . Thank you for your continued quality content.
I agree with the keep to the left lane rule simply because it is one rule. Everyone has a different opinion and play by their own rules which is more dangerous. One rule for everyone. Simple and safer.
it's difficult as different situations have different requirements. if you're overtaking at a junction it might be prudent to stay in lane 2 rather than to make a move back to lane 1 as vehicles are trying to merge onto the road. In fact, if nothing is going to overtake you in the time you are by the junction, why not move to lane 3 to give other vehicles the space to move out and assist the merging vehicles. If the answer is "cos the highway code says so" then I would ask do you allow vehicles to merge in turn when 2 lanes become 1 by giving plenty of space in front of you for the zip to happen cleanly? The highway code provide guidelines for driving but it very much seems to negate traffic flow. Good traffic flow reduces jams so in my unprofessional opinion it should be whatever helps the traffic flow best
@mattwoodford1820 yeah definitely. Cars on joining slips roads need you to move over as you would treat them as vehicles moving slower so same rules apply.
@@DMC585 yeah it's a balance. So many different but similar situations, if I make sense 🙂 I just try to drive in a safe manner that manages overall flow
Thanks for your videos. I went to a driving instructor who told me I don't know what I am doing and will need months to learn how to drive in the UK and I need so many lessons for me to pass my driving test. I have already booked my driving test which was 10 days after my theory. I decided to dump that instructor and then started watching your videos 24/7 and Went for my driving test and passed for the first time with 2 minors. Thanks for all you do.
Changing lanes should be a normal motorway behaviour it keeps you aware of what's going on around you infrount and behind it gives you a focus instead of daydreaming watch the movement of cars ahead look for brake lights lighting in rapid succession indicating a hazard yet hundreds of yards in front gives you a one up to avoid a problem.
I am probably biased because I have been driving for nearly 50 years, and my father taught me, and followed the same instruction, exactly as you described: the driving lane and the overtaking lanes, and to always return to the driving as soon as you have finished overtaking and it is dafe to do so. Yes, there was less traffic in the 1970's,, and fewer dual-carriageways/motorways, but it is something I do without needing to think about it (noticed recently by a Latvian friend of mine) and have ended up undertaking accidentally when I passed a vehicle three lanes to my right before realising how slow they were driving in the 4th lane! Thanks for an interesting video.
Overtaking or undertaking is a manoeuvre if you are in the first lane and pass a slower car in the outside lanes you have not overtaken or undertaken you have just held your speed and position
I think there's less of an issue with hogging the middle lane on a 3-lane carriageway than there is of hogging the right lane of a 2-lane road like the A1 in Nottinghamshire. If I see a lorry in the left hand lane up ahead, I will stay in the middle lane to avoid getting stuck behind the lorry. If you get stuck behind a lorry doing 55 and traffic in the middle lane is going past at 70, it can often be difficult to pull out to overtake. So you need to be looking at the traffic well ahead and choosing the appropriate lane early. Lorries slowly overtaking is a big issue in my opinion, especially on 2-lane carriageways like the A1, but also because of the traffic bunching it causes on 3-lane motorways.
Hi Richard, I passed my driving test today only with 3 minor faults for the first time. Your videos helped me immensely to prepare for the test. Especially me being a very nervous driver. Probably you don’t know how much difference you make in others lives but you do. You are an amazing person 😊
Half way through and my collected thoughts are that most of the reasons are part of describing a driver who needs to drastically improve their standard of driving, especially observations and planning.
You can't plan for being blocked in the inside lane when you don't want to exit. I'd argue the problem wouldn't actually be any better if more people did return to the left lane, as you'd simply be blocked from exiting when you _do_ want to instead, but it's still not something it's possible to plan for. I think his point about his own reason for 'middle lane hogging' was probably the most key one. He was attempting to get out to the outside lane to make the most of the speed limit. There's an assumption that everyone on the road doing something slightly inconvenient for you is just an incompetent moron, but often they're simply attempting to perform their own manoeuvre. That said, there are definitely a lot of incompetent morons on the road so it's very possible to be that, too.
@@KindredBrujah People make assumptions and are not good at looking at the whole picture. There are definitely situations where it appears people are middle lane or even right lane hogging, but they're not (like in the video), and some drivers get impatient and aggressive, because they feel like they are being held up. On the other hand, I'd say the majority of middle lane hogging I see is blatant incompetence or laziness.
@@ado543 The issue I see with middle lane and right lane hogging is that as you say it causes road rage, aggressive driving and people to take risks. This is all easily prevented by driving with due care and consideration. It's people who are sat in the middle lane at 60 miles per hour that often cause accidents/near misses on motorways. Several times recently I've seen several very near misses all caused by someone presumably half asleep sitting in lane 2 or 3 not overtaking and causing a backlog of people to suddenly slam on brakes or swerve into another lane.
@@KindredBrujah you can absolutely plan for that if- and this is the key point- the person blocking you in isn't a complete dipshit. Indicate out to lane 2 and at least 50% of the time a driver paying attention in tge middle lane will let you out, either by pulling into lane 3 themselves or by slowing down. You just have to pay attention to what's going on around you and communicate with other drivers. There are people in those cars too, you know.
@@CaptainHat Your 'if' there is pretty critical. In my experience it's probably split into thirds - a third will let you out, a third won't even notice you're indicating and the last third will deliberately speed up to make sure you don't 'take their spot'.
As an American, I was explicitly taught in drivers ed that the "slow" lane (the rightmost lane in the US) is only for entering and exiting, and the safest place to drive on the highway is the middle lane. The "fast" lane (the leftmost lane in the US) is only for passing.
I'm in the UK and that's what I was also taught. The concept of lane 'hogging' only came about because too many people were driving too slowly (significantly less than the speed limit) in the lanes used by faster traffic.
@@JS-yn2kj I'm sorry but you are mistaken, it has been the case for many decades. Perhaps you were taught to drive on motorways by an older family member, who also had an incorrect perception of how to use lanes on a motorway? You are partially right that the reason why so many people talk about it recently is because lane discipline has gotten much worse recently, but the highway code has always said you should return to the left after overtaking. It also doesn't matter how fast you are going, whether you are going 65, 75, or 85, it's still against the highway code to not return to the left after overtaking.
@@PointNemo9 you can believe what you like, but I've still got a copy of the highway code that I studied to pass my test, and my position is unchanged. So you can stick your beliefs in your pipe and smoke it.
Thanks for an actual nuanced take! I've been guilty of "pushing" inner lane hoggers despite doing the same myself in the past. It really doesn't seem to be clear in California, especially when the freeways are congested half of the time, so it's unreasonable to expect people to understand by tailgating or aggressively undertaking them.
The biggest problem on our motorways is large lorries overtaking large lorries, taking miles and miles to do it. Thus pushing everyone out to the outside lane to get around them, THERE IS NO MIDDLE LANE - of course depending on the time of day. I think unless a lorry can overtake within a certain distance\or time, THEY SIMPLY SHOULDN'T. This is an issue I've never seen discussed.
It's not just lorries. Cars doing 70(ish), often on cruise control, are effectively doing exactly the same thing - they just don't have the same excuses as lorries.
@@SmileyEmoji42 if a car on cruise control is doing 70 mph, you cannot go any faster without breaking the law, so what are you suggesting? if one car was doing say 67 mph and the cruise control car on 70, you should not expect that car to slow down and stay in the same lane as the 67 mph car, nor should you expect it to speed up to get past more quickly.
Yes, like 4 lanes and lanes 1,2,3 busy with Lorries like doing a slow motion race. And all the funnel go to lane 4. When I just overtake them all the front lanes 1,2,3 free. .
@@SmileyEmoji42 Good point. The lorries can pose quite a problem when it's busy and there could be about three - one after another, but not directly behind each other but no room to get back in - other than continue in the outside lane. I avoid getting in between lorries, as they often travel very close to each other !
HGV drivers who are unwilling to dial the cruise control down 0.5 of a mph and take 5 miles to complete the overtake are prats. It's worst on 2 lane carriageways and you'll often see the driver who's just been overtaken pulling out to re-overtake a couple of miles further up the road. Speaking as an HGV driver myself, I should add that it can be easy to get trapped alongside another HGV that was struggling up an incline and has now crested the hill if you are unfamiliar with a road. The right thing to do in that scenario is to accept defeat, ease off and drop back in behind.
I just passed my test on Friday. Thank you for all your tips and advice, Richard. It’s always so helpful and I will continue to use it as a full license driver. 😅
Same with Germany, I was reading up on the theory tests there (to actually help a friend there), I'm not certain whether it's strictly illegal or their equivalent of our Highway Code "should not" but they teach you that you're not allowed to overtake unless you're going "appreciably faster" than what you're overtaking. So no elephant races.
I just passed my test in January and drive from London to Southampton often to see my boyfriend. I usually drive around 9-10pm, and although the M25, M3 and M27 are fairly empty at that time, I still see so many middle lane hoggers!! I always stick to the speed limit and try not to undertake, so it can be really annoying, especially when there aren't many cars in the normal driving lane to overtake, so I end up having to overtake all these middle lane drivers, moving all the way to the outside lanes! I've had several people driving at least 50-60mph in the middle lanes too 😕Thank you for this video!! ❤
I did asked one of those traffic officer about undertake. I did explained that the middle lane hogger was doing 50-55 miles and i was doing 60 miles, do i have the right to undertake them because I do not wish to go out onto the fast lane as I am not going that fast. His replies was as followed... There is no speed restriction as to how fast anyone have to go on any given lane. If I am undertake a slower car, I can do so under 2 conditions 1, I must not weaving in and out to over take cars 2, I must make sure that the slower outside car not starting to move back to the inside lane. In another words, be prepared to slow down and even brake if needed. I hope that make sense. Lol
When three lane motorways were first introduced we were told by the latest Highway Code that the inside lane was the slow lane, the middle lane was the fast lane and the outside lane was for overtaking. With traffic levels relatively low compared with today that worked. If you are driving with those distant memories take heed of this video.
Did it really? I don't remember that at all. Drive in the left lane, pull out to overtake. If we all did it, driving would be SO much more efficient and less stressful.
You pretty much summarised all valid points. There is really no reason you should constantly manoeuvre in and out into the lane with significantly slower traffic. Something to learn from Europe.
My father in law does it because he believes crossing cats eye's too often will damage his tyres. He's managed to pass this wisdom on to my wife as well, and she brings it up constantly when I'm driving on the motorway with her as a passenger and she sees me returning to the left hand lane.
I had a passenger who thought the same so I purposely drove on the cats eyes when the lane was quiet. We were on our way home to Hampshire from Lancashire. Tyres were fine until they wore out.
Some people say that driving over cats eyes is actually a public service 🙂 - it lowers them into their mounting and brushes clean the lenses. (Probably more of a factor on country lanes, though.)
Great video and great to understand a bit more! Gosh though 3 lanes must be a luxury! Here in Scotland unless you're in an area with loads of junctions (like going through a city centre) then motorways are almost always 2 lanes so imagine the impact lane hoggers have then 😬
As a motorcyclist I stay in lane 3 when it’s busy, too many cars swapping lanes from 1 to 2 , I stay out of their way because one touch and I’m history, no matter what the law says I think people should use 3 lanes just because of the volume of traffic on the roads these days, it’s just chocka block in some areas 🤨
A very interesting and informative video - thank you. I take issue only with you asking viewers for their opinion; my opinion doesn't matter, nor does that of anybody else. The law says we should drive in lane 1, only pulling out to overtake slower vehicles and returning to lane 1 having done so. Its important that the law is observed because observance is the basis for understanding what going on around us, and at 70mph there isn't too much leeway to apprerciate someone else's personal interpretation and take avoiding action. Personally, the only time I move from lane 1 apart from overtaking a slower vehicle is when lane 2 is free and traffic is joining from the left; this allows the joining traffic to move into lane 1 without having to slow too much in doing so which would make it a hazard until it regained normal speed - but that is really only a variation of 'overtaking slower vehicles' anyway.
My favourite thing about our roads is unless it's 2am you won't touch the speed limit once during a journey. And even at 2am you'll get caught in roadworks without a single person in them doing any work.
I passed 5 months ago I have done a few journeys on the motorway and was not ever taught about middle lanes and lane hogging. I have just realised I have been middle lane hogging on those journeys as I prefer lane 2 so I don’t have too deal with cars joining the motorway. I will now change how I drive.
I'm a lorry driver and I like it when cars spread out across the lanes. It gives me better opportunities to move to lane 2 if I need to overtake. I think it's stupid when lorries go to lane 3 to overtake at 1 mph but if it's slow traffic and they're queueing to overtake, or if lane 1 is becoming a slip road and lane 2 an unofficial slip road then that's fine. It seems these days that even the outside lane is becoming an unofficial slip road though. The only problem with middle lane hoggers is when they're not doing the correct speed and holding everyone up.
Or are entirely oblivious to what's going on around them so don't give way to vehicles who are clearly trying to get past. Increasing that frustration level is going to result in accidents. Just get out of their way (when it's safe and convenient to do so).
Love how you picked to go on the M25 😅 that is the classic lane hogging motorway since its typically got 4 lanes across most of its entirety, even 5/6 lanes around the M4/Heathrow. People see all those lanes and often stick themselves on lane 2 or 3 even if lane 1 is empty.
People overtake a vehicle in lane one see there is another vehicle in lane one further ahead but what they don't see is the big massive gap in lane one in between those vehicle's.
So you want people to zigzag in and out of lanes in front of you? Seems weird that you want to choose to have to keep their space open for them instead of just them keeping the space they were already safely in. Unless you're a space closer?
Entirely dependent on the distance imo. Personally, if I believe the vehicle behind me will overtake me before I have to pull back out for the next vehicle, I pull into lane 1 to give way.
@@cigmorfil4101 yeah that can be annoying. Generally I'll try to measure their initial approach speed (partially to assess whether it warrants me moving into lane 1 in the first place) so I can get out of the way before they have to slow down, which often means I can then get out again sooner. Sometimes they slow down next to me for no reason though, and then I get cross lol
This used to be easy. I would drive at 85 mph and always occupy the fast lane (when traffic density high) and if someone pulled out at 70 mph I would wait. Since retirement and a speed awareness course I am now trying 70 mph and am usually a middle lane hogger for the reasons the video has excellently explained. The thing that gets me is that if you occupy the slow lane, a middle lane driver going a very similar speed will block you in, sometimes for miles. Just not worth it. What I do is that if I see a slow lane car approaching a lorry I will pull from middle lane to fast lane to allow them to overtake when traffic density permits.
All I can really add to this is what happened on my first driving lesson on the motorway. I moved out to the mile lane to begin an overtake. My instructor had been telling me how far in the distance the driver should be looking on the motorway in particular, and told me I should plan around what I can see in the distance. I finished my overtake and signalled left, moved back in when it was safe. My instructor asked "Why did you do that?" I responded "I thought the idea was to move back to the left as soon as the overtake is complete and it's safe to do so." He said "But now you're behind a truck which you are still catching. You'll need to move back to the right soon." I promptly did, in fact, need to move out again. I did so, and completed the overtake. This time my instructor said, "Now look far ahead. How many slow vehicles are in lane one?" There were three more trucks, with a gap large enough for the car. I said "Three, and I can move back to the left after the second." He said "No, don't do that, stay out in lane 2 until you're past the last one." "What about the gap? Aren't I lane hogging if I don't move back?" He said "It's only lane hogging if you have no reason to be in lane 2. You're overtaking a vehicle, and even though it's far in the distance, you'll only have to move back out if you move in. Accidents happen at junctions and in lane changes, so minimise changes with good planning." I've continued with this mentality in my own driving and it largely serves me well. I will ocasionally get aggro from drivers behind who want me to break the speed limit (they were doing so either as they approached me, or as I moved into their lane with plenty of space), or just want to bully me out of the way. Some have undertaken, but to be honest I don't really think there's a way to stop people undertaking if they feel they need to. It seems there is no proper agreement between instructors as to what actually constitutes middle lane hogging, and what constitutes a large enough gap that moving to the left should be the decision.
Your instructor was right and it's something that is learnt with experience. The more you motorway drive the more attuned you become to when it is better to move back into lane 1 or stay where you are. I wouldn't describe that as lane hogging. Also, tough for any driver behind me as far as I'm concerned. I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. They're just going to have to be patient. I'll be out of their way soon enough.
I disagree. You indeed return to the nearside lane unless you can predict, having naturally of course constantly monitored the traffic in your mirrors, that you'll definitely be boxed in by traffic you can see coming up behind you and you'll have to brake. I spend almost as much time looking in my rear view mirror as out the front of feels like, most journeys. My pet hate - people who brake on a motorway when it's completely avoidable.
@@anythingpeteives as often as traffic conditions dictate! Otherwise you cause a rolling roadblock, and force all traffic into one lane to overtake you - causing the very elephant race that Richard himself criticises in this video. It is simply not how we drive on British roads. Although that has changed, as I have noticed the standard of driving plummeting in the last 10 years I would say.
@@jgogl9791 I doubt very much that my driving style, which you disagreed with, causes rolling roadblocks. I just don't weave in and out of the left lane if I deem it inefficient to do so because I am approaching another vehicle that is in the left lane and, no sooner will I have pulled into the left lane, that I will be having to signal to pull out of the left lane in a few short seconds. That is not lane hogging. That is common sense driving.
One thing that drives me potty are cars in lane one going slower than the lorries, going 50 when the lorry is travelling at 60. They unnecessarily force the lorries out into lane 2 to overtake which causes congestion as all the drivers going 70 now have to go into lane 3.
Granted im a motorcyclist currently getting my car licence - a motorcyclist with probably about 30,000 motorway or dual carriageway miles... Changing lanes makes it more fun and mentally engaging... Just sitting in one lane the whole way (like i was coming home on the m27 past 9pm most days) is very, very boring. Anticipating and executing lane changes so you dont have to change your speed is satisfying 🤷♂️ maybe I'll understand more as i drive a car more. But i think I'll be so happy to be safe and dry i will always try to make the road easier and safer for others by driving to the rules of the road.
The reason some people lane hog is because they are lazy, or can’t forward plan lane changes and in some cases uneducated regarding the correct use of lanes. One of my biggest pet hates, is drivers who charge down the slip road, indicator on go straight into lane 2 or 3 without check first.
That and idiots who whilst on the motorway and when approaching a slip road they move out of lane one .. even though your can clearly see there is NOTHING on the slip road.. where they continue doing 55mph until they finally remember they shouldn't be in lane 2..
Lazy is good and safe! I get onto the M6 at Milton Keynes and take up the middle lane. Contrary to your comment, my exit is planned in advance , for Glasgow.
Totally agree with most of the reasoning in the video, sadly in Australia driving in the middle or center lanes of a multi lane (3 or more) is legal. The rule 'Keep left unless overtaking' only refers to not remaining in the right hand lane. I am happy with this as often the left lane is the least congested and very often the fastest lane and considering it is legal to overtake from any lane (undertaking from any lane in a multi-lane road is legal) it is usually the lane I travel in occasionally having to change lanes to pass a heavy vehicle.
Whenever I stick to the speed limit (jk I always do) I end up undertaking so many vehicles, because the left lane is free and there's a pile up in the right lane. Sometimes people will even go 5-10 miles under the speed limit in the right (third or fourth) lane and won't change lanes for miles even if it's free...
This, I drive for roughly 5 hours daily at work, and i undertake constantly, not because that's what i'm setting out to do, but because i'm doing 70 in the left lane and everyone to the right is doing 55-60. Why would i move to the rightmost lane to get stuck behind these people rather than just carry on ahead.
Also, even if you're overtaking, if you see someone's tailgating you, it's not hard to go back to the left lane for a brief moment when you can to let them overtake you, instead people just carry on in the right lane, cause they're going slightly faster than the cars on the left. Leading to people getting impatient and undertaking you dangerously.
@@kapu3746 Indeed. I tend to stay in the right lane, because I'm going faster than vehicles on my left. Since plenty of people speed and I don't, I also ensure that I'm checking my mirrors regularly (you know, like you're meant to) and move out of the way of estates, Range Rovers and any kind of enormous pick up truck, all of which always speed in my experience. In the latter case, it's also beneficial because I can avoid being blinded by the headlights which are right at rear view mirror height for me in a normal sized car.
Over here this is normal, because the (right hand country) right side often exits the motorway, and the left lane often exits the motorway on the other side or turns around (and also you can't legally hog it outside of intense traffic), so the middle lane is for going straight for a long time
There’s a simple way to prevent these so-called elephant races. In Abu Dhabi, they have this system where they imposed a speed camera enforced minimum speed of 120 km/h on the left 2 lanes (right hand traffic) on 4 lanes or more highway. Highways with that restriction have a very high speed limit though (140 or 160 km/h). I think that such a restriction would reduce elephant races to only 2 lanes of the motorway. I think this would also maybe have the side effect of reducing the number of people that would lane hog at slow speeds as I noticed most lane hoggers are usually slow.
This is common on some major 2 lane roads, particularly where there are hills. Lane 2 will have a weight restriction on it, effectively preventing HGVs from overtaking. The M11 leaving London towards Stansted Airport is a good example.
Thank you for making this video. Hopefully it will make people understand each other more and be less angry and resentful which can lead to more dangerous driving. Stop spending your time and effort judging others for not being like you or not following all the laws 100%. Try to relax and enjoy your time. In driving and generally in life..
No? Middle lane hogging is literally a driving offence. Should we be ok with people driving 60 in 40mph areas too? If you hog the middle lane, you’re an idiot, none of these reasons are good justifications.
Tramlining can be a valid reason if they are full of rainwater. Of course those roads need to be fixed. On the case of slow lanes, they exist in Germany on particularly steep inclines, and they are added on the outside, are well signed, and stop on the top of the hill.
Crawler lanes used to be much more common in the UK but modern lorries are MUCH more powerful than back in the day such that they are usualy tacho limited rather than power limited hence you don't find crawler lanes very often anymore (or downhill lorry escape features)
I really enjoyed your little phrase 'Elephant Racers' 😄 As a lorry driver, the bad drivers (in my opition) are the lorry drivers who sit 6 feet from the lorry in front. I think they're dangerous because they tend to make 'immediate' manuvers on the roads. The good truck drivers are the ones who give space and predict events. There is a high majority of trucks that 'relay' (sports metaphor) each other over a period of 100's of miles. And so predicting upcoming inclines and declines on the motorway to be in a safe and adventagous position for accelleration or crawling due to load/weight is trained to us as good practice on the roads for safety. And it's important to recongise that trucks are more susceptible to this that cars. I also argee, that when and advantage has run it's course and trucks are at near even speeds, the trucker on the left should slow to allow a complete overtake from annother truck. 😁👍 🚛🚛🚛
Most roads in my city have three lanes and I totally understand why drivers tend to treat the middle lane as a cruising lane, the left lane as the overtaking/turning left lane and the right lane as the slow/turning right lane. To begin with, on most junctions right turn on red is allowed and drivers try to be curteous and leave the right lane free for people to turn on red. However in my opinion it can make it so fewer vehicles make it throught the green phase, but that's besides the point. Then, the right lane is almost always busy with bus stops, buses themselves, parked cars, vehicles entering and exiting and so on. Even if you wanted to, there wouldn't be many chances for you to drive in the right lane for long periods of times. However. People then take these habits to expressways where middle lane hogging can cause issuse and make roads less efficient.
Keeping left (or right in the US) only applies on motorways. On a regular 3 lane road you always want to keep in the middle until you are relatively close to the junction you want to turn left or right at. If you're saying this creates a habit of staying in the centre lane that people then take to the motorway you're probably right but really people ought to know the difference between the two types of roads and drive accordingly.
@@goaway9977 I was speaking for my country and we don't have a differentiation. You always must keep right, on any road, unless you are overtaking somebody our turning left.
@goaway9977 I'm not knowledgeable on driving in the US, but in the UK, in general, you're supposed to keep left unless overtaking or you need a different lane. I believe the difference in infrastructure informs our rules, e.g., the US has more multilane carriageways, etc. By the way, I'm not trying to undermine you, I believe we are both learning about driving in each others countries.
@treduke-alexander8864 Interesting I'm actually from Australia and here the keep left unless overtaking rule only applies on roads with a speed limit above 80km/h. We have a lot of three lane roads under this speed limit and you can be in any lane you want on these roads for any length of time you want. People will typically go left lane if they are turning left within one or two intersections, middle lane if they are going straight for a while and right lane if they are turning right at the next intersection. But people will also take the middle lane instead of the left if there are bus stops on the left lane, or if they are unsure if the left lane allows cars to be parked (some but not all three lane roads allow parking in the left lane but only over nights or on weekends).
I do like your episodes, I wish there were more out there with a view to educate - not criticise - drivers in driving etiquette and the Highway Code and its application. There are three activities that wind me up, driving with fog lights when visibility doesn't warrant them, parking against oncoming traffic and hogger’s of middle and outside lanes, this is particularly dangerous because it causes frustration in other drivers which causes them to act with a bit of anger and thus likely to create an increase in risk of collision.
All of these reasons basically boil down to "I don't like changing lane", which probably means you're not confident enough of a driver to use a dual carriageway safely (maybe you did your driving test before dual carriageways were part of it). In this case there are plenty of other roads for you to use without all these difficult lane changes, and you might find it even less stressful to take the train!
I don't particularly *like* changing lane! (though I do it all the time as I dislike being stuck behind slow moving traffic even more). One of my worst near misses was dropping back into lane 2 after overtaking just as someone in lane 1 pulled out nearly right into me. Can't pretend it can't be risky, and from my experience it's people who enjoy changing lanes a bit too much that cause problems. Particularly the ones who don't indicate.
If you are worried about the risk associated with manoeuvres (such as changing lane), just stay in the left lane and get where you are going a little later. All risks need to be balanced against the benefits. Life is short, but not short enough to be worth risking it ending it in a pile of plastic and metal to get to work 2 mins faster.
you completely missed the point. I agreed with, and liked your comment. But if you think I'm a keyboard warrior, that's fine by me. like you said life is too short to argue with people like you. have a nice life
@@ranger7522 LOL " leave driving for competent human beings" and " Since they hate driving so much " is classic keyboard warrior stuff. Nobody said anything about hating driving and not wanting to overtake unnecessarily does not make someone an "[in]competent human being". Not even honest about the trolling. Need to do better.
Middle lane hogging is certainly one of my pet hates, yes (that and not allowing a bit enough gap to the vehicle in front). That said, in heavier traffic situations I can understand why people do it, for some of the reasons you mentioned. Where I feel it totally unforgivable is when the road is quiet. On the M74 in southern Scotland, just north of the border, that is a beautiful and scenic stretch of motorway, but one upon which I often see cars cruising along in the centre lane with not another vehicle anywhere near them. I usually execute a maneuver I call 'sarcastic overtaking', where I perform a textbook sequence of indicating, moving from 1>2, indicating again, 2>3, then passing them, then the reverse sequence back into lane 1. About half the time this will shame them into following me into lane 1.
first excuse is silly.. and not really lane hogging.. if you are quickly catching the vehicle ahead, theres 0 point moving back over (within reason ofc) otherwise youd just be zig-zaging up the motorway. ofcourse if your miles away form the slow vehicle, move back over... but if its gona be seconds I think we all understand staying out. but the road quality cracked me up.. makes me think of the M62. especially between bradford and leeds.. its pot holed like crazy... but in the middle lane.. when it was quiet I have more than once overtaken a truck by going to the outside lane to skip the pot holes, because lets face it no car its shaking off pot holes at 70 mph without doing some sorta dmg.
I drive on the M62 on that stretch almost daily. A few light pot holes, you can see well in advance and just nudge the steering wheel around it. "but in the middle lane.. when it was quiet I have more than once overtaken a truck" < You are a lane hogger then. Trucks are limited to 60 however most do 56mph to save fuel. So get yourself into Lane 1 and stop causing a traffic jam.
@@SmileyEmoji42 This is fairly sensible. If you're passing someone in the next 30 seconds, you are still overtaking. I used to zig-zag like the lane discipline police, but would often end up stuck in lane 1 from not being able to pull back into lane 2 due to all the traffic behind building up. In low traffic this works perfectly, in heavier traffic I find myself often constantly in lanes 2 and 3.
The American system of using whichever lane you like works much better and requires more skill. British roads are awful, in particular the junctions. The roundabout is cheaper than flyovers of course, but it has failed miserably.
A long time ago I was travelling to Scotland and decided to stick to the middle lane doing 70. It felt comfortable until I realised that I didn’t know what was going on around me. When you use the lanes properly you are always looking for when you need to change lanes but if you follow the middle lane you get tunnel vision and become unaware of what is going on around you. I now drive a HGV and often catch up to slower cars in the middle lane and sometimes when a slow car is in lane 1 and I try to overtake they speed up and sometimes sit in one of the most dangerous blind spots. When they do this I have to keep telling myself there is someone there when I slow down and get back behind them they also slow down. 😡🤠
One good thing when driving in the inside lane is that, in busy motorway traffic, you have the extra option of an "escape lane" on the left (i.e., the hard shoulder) if something goes drastically wrong blocking the way in front of you and you have misjudged your safe stopping distance - when you are in the outside lane, all you have is the crash barrier or some neat driving skills to skip safely into an inside lane and whizz by the situation. Therefore always best to move into the left hand lane after overtaking. p.s. Mid lane hoggers = mobile road blocks.
A woman once told me that she prefers to stay in the middle lane because 'if something happens you can go to the left or the right.' When I pointed out that the hard shoulder exists, she was dumbfounded!
Thanks for engaging with some of these issues. I like to make good progress on motorways (and European equivalents) and, where safe and legal, will quite happily sit at 140+mph. I routinely slot over to the left (in the UK) lane, whenever there's a reasonable stretch ahead, before the next vehicle. It is not a problem. Anyone who thinks it is a problem, should reflect on their own attitude and competence as a driver. Too many people do not concentrate, preferring to be lazy and inconsiderate. I'm open to other people's thoughts on this, but at 7m 23s, I would suggest you move to lane 2, at very least, to free up road space to the right - the principle being: get out of the way . . . if you can't do it by going faster, you should do it by moving left, regardless of how fast you intend to go, given an open lane ahead.
The driver "lane hogging" is probably checking their mirrors every 3 seconds, waiting for the driver behind to respond to their signal and let them move over safely. Even when the driver behind is tailgated themselves they don't leave a bigger gap so the car in front can move over safely. I can keep the car behind me in the blind spot of a lorry and they will remain there. They are morons who pay no attention to their own driving. You see them all the time making educational videos whilst breaking several laws themselves
Was on the motorway yesterday… the left lane was busy the whole way with trucks… I tried many times to get back in to the left. I did just go back to the middle more regularly, but forever checking that people were not behind me tailgating or getting frustrated, I did top speed all the way. I got out of the way for folks who wanted to get past me. And off they went doing 90 - had to be at the speed compared to me! If it was clear I got back in the left. Middle lane hoggers in my opinion are only a problem if they are going slow and you need to overtake them! If you wanna go slower… get in the left.
The motorway for Warrington has 4 lanes. Lanes 2, 3 & 4 are always occupied. I can set my cruise control at 72mph to not activate the plethora of speed cameras and safely undertake dozens upon dozens of cars because no one ever travels in lane 1, and it isn't a major route for lorries. When you observe the drivers, they all look gormless and look to have the inability to be educated in any manner possible, even after the massive hint of being undertaken.
If you drive on the Continent where there is left-hand drive, you'll note that lane hogging is almost non-existing. On the opposite, many drivers don't preposition themselves for the exit in time. But HGVs (called TIRs in Europe) also take 5+ minutes for overtaking (elephant races).
I think the fast lane if they had one should be the farthest out & keep the middle lane as an overtaking lane. As if its between the slow lane & overtaking lane it doesn't really help anyone & is just what we have now change it around & you can fix this with a middle lane.
@@rutukedarbhagwat1746 should also add the part about it making lorries not be able to overtake as they'd have to pass through a faster lane than they can go to overtake another lorry.
The "fast lane" is really just for people who can go at or close to the speed limit. You should never be going faster than the speed limit. The problem with making the fast lane the one furthest to the right is that a car travelling 70mph who wants to overtake a car going 69mph now has to move into the centre lane to overtake i.e. perform an undertake which is dangerous. It makes the most sense to give everyone a lane to their right (or left in the US) to overtake in rather than have a shared overtaking lane in the middle that could have cars at wildly different speeds trying to merge into to overtake at the same time.
@@goaway9977 Your arguement makes sense until you apply the same idea to overtaking now from the outermost lane where you have to go through the faster cars lane & then to the end lane to overtake somebody which leads to it being more dangerous for slower vehicles. Anyway if your in the fast lane you likely aren't really going to be overtaking people as often as the regular lane.
@cillianennis9921 Ah I see what you're saying. I think in most people's conception if you are using the slow lane and need to overtake then you are more than welcome to use the fast lane to over take so long as you go back to the slow lane once you are done. No need to move all the way over to the overtake lane. Cars travelling in the in the fast lane can then either slow down and wait for you to finish the overtake or they can move into the overtake lane to get around you. Yes it's a bit annoying for the car in the fast lane to have to go around and also the car in the slow lane might have to wait a bit for a gap in traffic before they can perform their overtake, but ultimately it is much safer than having a shared overtake lane in the middle where slow cars trying to overtake even slower cars and fast cars trying to overtake other fast cars are both entering the lane from different directions.
I have to admit that the "tramlines" have been a reason for me to use lane two instead of lane one on some occasions, but this was only on very few sections of motorway, and only when I had a Mercedes "E class" which has a quite wide wheelbase, this caused me to either drop into one or the other tramline, and there was no position where I was out of both of them. I no longer have a car that large, so no longer have to avoid that particular hazard. The acronym is CLOD (Centre lane only drivers)
Staying in the Left lane on a motorway with Multiple Lanes is impractical due to the speeds we travel nowadays I believe also the risk of incursions with traffic Entering the motorway or Urban Clearway from junctions would be too high. Staying in the middle or right lanes until traversing to leave the motorway or Clearway at your Junction would be best practice in my opinion.
Similar in South Africa. Hogging the lane requires two things, you are in the right lane, AND you are going slower than someone who wants to overtake. If you're driving along blocking no one and you're faster than the traffic to the left of you, generally nobody gets upset with you. If you're going at the speed limit and the left lane is full of slow going lorries, the guy behind you needs to accept that traffic is a bit more intense than usual. But failing to move over when there is room to do so (even if the overtaker is speeding) is considered wrong.
I quite enjoy marking people for pretend driving tests. Most fail. Tail lights are a dead giveaway. In this case, they made the white car in the fourth lane brake. Fail. Often the more aggressive drivers don't leave enough space between them and the car in front, so they need to be on the brakes constantly for any change in speed of the car ahead. Fail. Unless I'm confronted by someone like that red car driver, I generally don't put my brakes on at all on a dual carriageway in steady traffic. It should be (and is most of the time) easily possible to just engine brake to accommodate speed changes by those ahead.
@KindredBrujah trouble is a lot of modern cars, mine included will apply the brakes automatically to maintain a gap when they do the lights come on, I'm not talking anchors on its so slight you don't feel it but if the car is auto braking it does by law apply the lights. Alternatively just move out of the faster cars way and let them go 🙅
One thing that doesn't help is when the signs say lane one is an exit lane and lane two is a forward lane, but you get to the junction and lane one ends up being both. Only those that drive through those junctions regularly know the correct lane. The M6 near Birmingham is a prime example where lane 3 and 4 become forward lanes and that encourages lane hogging.
It's the lighter vehicle drivers that do 52.731 mph that cause problems, particularly to us HGV drivers trying to make progress. I see it all the time.
As a motorcyclist I must admit that I have had issues with tramlines from Lorrie’s which have led me to use the second lane instead. When your wheels are in a line it becomes much more of an issue!
And on a 4 lane motorway, they hog lane 3 :( Observations are very important when driving and many drivers don't look beyond their bonnet unfortunately so don't plan ahead Motorway lessons should be mandated
@@tiffanyk2743 The number plate only identifies the car on the day of the video. It doesn't identify the driver, which could change any time after the video, as well as the owner. You wouldn't want some innocent person getting blamed for someone else's driving in a particular car. Not to mention cloned number plates these days!
I drive up to 1000 miles a week for work and I always try to keep to the left as this is the legal definition of driving in the UK whatever your speed. Nowadays it's not just tram lines on the inside lane it's really dangerously deep potholes. While the councils and HIghways England fail to maintain these you will find even more people will hog the centre lane.
Back in the 1980's, my girlfriend had a really good driving test. It was at the end questions, when the examiner asked her, what is the right lane on a motorway used for? She replied 'going fast'. He gave her a little time to think, she got there! a first time pass. 🙂
I’m. HGV driver and I actually agree with part of this. Most lorry drivers don’t help the other Lorrie’s out and won’t slow down when being passed.
I do. Mainly because I don’t trust the lorry driver along side me for so long.
Nobody ever slows down for me.
The biggest problem is those dawdling in the middle lane.
Trucks can’t go in the outer lane (fast lane) so they get stuck dawdling behind the Honda Jazz in the middle lane.
If lane 1 has a long stretch empty then use it to get past.
@ I do but I shouldn’t have to. Also the ministry may not be impressed if they see you undertaking.
@@kevparsons1 They cannot charge you as its not an offence.
@@RodrigoMandagus You aren’t allowed to change your speed if doing so. But they may think you did. It’s certainly not something they’re fond of.
@@kevparsons1 You are not allowed to change your speed over the speed limit while undertaking. If you undertake at 90mph you will be charged for speeding, and not overtaking.
I have been learning to drive since February, I passed today with 2 minors. I watched ALL of your videos. They helped so much and saved so much time and money! Thank you!!!!
Huge congratulations! The world is your oyster now. 😃
(Hope you don't mind me saying, but the big thing I recommend on retaining as a habit is the quick glance over the shoulder for the blind spot when merging/joining /changing lanes, even cars with Blind Spot Monitoring can get caught out, as you see nothing in the mirror you think it's nothing. Caught me out twice nearly within the first year, never again!
Take care out there! 🙂)
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Nice. And lucky to have a decent examiner. Some fail you or add marks because they need to meet a quota.
I once got a taxi from Southampton to Portsmouth because of rail strikes. As soon as we reached the M27 the taxi driver immediately went into the middle lane and stayed there at 60mph the whole time, cars were passing us right and left. We also straddled the lanes for almost every multilane roundabout, went round one roundabout twice. Some drivers are shockingly bad.
Taxi driver, too. I bet he didn't drive like that on his way to a fare.
I hate getting taxis mainly for this reason. I'm struggling to remember one who could drive competently.
Could he have been a follower of the religion of peace?
Taxi drivers are quite possibly the worst and most selfish professional drivers on the road.
@@blueninjasix Some people may say that but I couldn't possibly comment.
What I’ve found is that the left lane is now empty and undertaking to the left is now the way to move past the slower outer lanes. It seems that everything now works in reverse🤷🏽♂️ Most of my journeys today are in the far left traveling faster than the outside lane (huh!). Carry on doing what you do coz I got no problem undertaking
A friend used to be a traffic cop in the Greater Manchester area. One night on a very quiet M62 she was following a car sticking to the middle lane even though there was virtually nothing else on the road. Eventually she pulled the vehicle over and asked the driver why he wasn't using the left hand lane. His answer was: "I like to be in charge of the highway". She booked him for careless driving but said if there was a law about being a prat she'd have booked him for that as well!
The M62 between the M60 and Warrington is an absolute haven for lane hoggers. Not sure why, I think it is very flat and straight so people just pick a lane and switch their brains off or something.
I was taught that it's good to stay in the middle lane at night if no other cars are nearby. That way you have more time to react if for example an animal comes running onto the road in front of you.
She didn't have anything else to do huh.
@@alkbolk Strange way to justify your poor driving
Note they said if no other cars are nearby
I personally have no issue with people in lane 2 or 3 going on or over the speed limit. The real problem are the people who think it's ok to sit in the middle lane at 50/60 overtaking nothing, can move over and are forcing people who aren't going 70 into the outer lanes which we all know is the lane for the Range rovers and German cars, and they get aggressive and tailgate and flash people who dare cross their path
100%
😂 😂
Undertaking isn't actually illegal, where it becomes dangerous is when it's a large Lorry or a Caravan being towed because you can't see in front. There could be a vehicle moving into Lane 1.
Hoggers don't force others who want to overtake out to the outer lanes. Lane hoggers can be legally overtaken on either side.
You can drive in whatever lane you want(unless signs indicate otherwise), as long as you check your mirrors every few seconds. Unfortunately a lot of people only use their mirrors when reversing. I begrudge people dawdling past when I’ve had the decency to move over, and am then forced to slow down to 60 or less as there is slow moving traffic ahead.
4:57 Maybe it's just me but I think it would be more conducive to road safety if more attention was paid to taking lunatics like that red car off the road than beginner drivers committing minor errors like "signalling a bit too early"
all mistakes can end up being dangerous
@@undeniabletruth-HIT Wasn't a mistake by the red car driver, though. Arguably even more dangerous - when people are deliberately taking these sorts of risks, you know they do it all the time.
Well if some middle lane moron is doing 60mph in lane 3 so that a few minutes later they *might* pass a lorry doing 56mph, you can understand why drivers get frustrated and pass on the left.
Which is totally legal when there’s a queue.
It’s a shame that a so called driving instructor justifies middle lane hogging in this manner, only to get passed several times on the left because they aren’t making progress and are just in the way
@undeniableluck3260 whilst us humans are driving we all make mistakes on occasions. Even you.
The problem with the 'not wanting to change lanes too often' reasoning is you push those lane changes onto other people who need to make multiple lane changes to get around you.
only if you drive too slowly. If you drive as fast as the other cars in your lane or as fast as the speed limit, I don't see a problem.
if your lane (left lane) is moving faster than the middle lane then it is deemed correct to keep with the flow of traffic even if it means performing an undertake of the slower moving middle lane.
If I'm driving up the middle lane [overtaking vehicles in lane 1] and then I catch up to other vehicles in lane 2, and lane 1 is now clear, the cars in lane 2 who choose not to move back to the left are now slowing me down. If you can't see the problem with that I suggest you educate yourself further. BARE IN MIND, large vehicles are not allowed in the outer most lane, and typically, coaches travel much faster than lorries so you are holding them up and causing congestion by lane hogging the middle, simply because you are too scared to change lanes.
@Lucas-li6ss you may think your doing "the speed limit" but everyone's speedo is different, as stated in the video. If left lane is clear and people in lane 2 are catching you, you need to move to lane 1 so they can pass safely. Hogging lane 2 will only encourage people to undertake, which is far more dangerous.
@@meeka3486 Yes exactly - I think there is a big issue with people being too lazy to change lanes and they don't see the problem. Everyone else then needs to make a lane change to get around the lazy driver..
i passed my test yesterday first try and i just wanted to say thank you for all your help, your videos taught me a lot
It mostly boils down to "skill issue" then, because it demonstrates they're unable to observe, plan ahead and change lanes safely, and shows a casual disregard for others.
As for the M25, I once did this experiment in the late evening after dropping someone off at Heathrow. I set the cruise to 80 and just sat in lane 1, and I covered approximately the distance from Gerrards Cross to Chandlers Cross without once having to change lane to overtake. I passed so much traffic idly sitting in lanes 3 and 4 at 60 mph or less while lanes 1 and 2 went completely unused.
Exactly my thoughts, 1/3 of drivers have close to zero awareness/judgement.
@@Reduletzuu Yes, I wonder if the safety of the modern world has eroded people's spatial awareness. In this day and age you don't have to be constantly on edge in case something is going to leap out and kill you, unless you live in Croydon or Crawley, so many people, used to walking around with their head buried in a smartphone (i.e. the smart phone dumb user) without consequence to themself, get in a car and drive with a similar lack of awareness of their surroundings. I don't get it as it really isn't difficult to periodically check mirrors. I do this frequently when overtaking and will pull left into a gap if a driver is approaching behind at a faster speed so they can overtake unimpeded.
It should be an offence to be undertaken
This is basically how i drive, just at 70. I just routinely undertake, they're oblivious.
@@olatron I occasionally undertake but before I do I always plan what to do if the offending car suddenly pulls into my lane in front of, or even beside me. On a motorway this escape route would be the hard shoulder. If a car whilst being undertaken pulls in and there is a collision it will be the undertaking car that is blamed. The very fact that a car sits in the middle lane at all implies general poor driving, observation skills could well be lacking too. Don't become the offender by being a cavalier undertaker. You know it makes sense.
Passed my test today first time with only 5 minors 🎉 must admit I've watched your videos every day for weeks and they have helped me no end so thank you and will most definitely keep watching your amazing videos 👍
I've passed my driving test last week with just 3 minors! Thank you so much for the videos Richard, they really helped a lot, especially the videos with Emily when I just started my lessons few months ago
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Another good video. Middle or outside lane hogging bugs me a lot. What also bugs me is the lack of general bad driving offence enforcement in this country. People only ever seem to get fined for speeding. While I don't condone speeding I do strongly feel that often other traffic offences are even more dangerous than speeding. That's why in my opinion people constantly ignore basic highway code rules as there is no (apparent) deterrent.
You should see what the M1 like is here in Australia (NSW). At night especially when there's barely any cars the trucks just sit in the middle lane doing 40-50 under up the hills 🤣. So dangerous and pointless
Absolutely 100% Simon. Traffic enforcement has been traded for speed enforcement.
@@ethanrushbrook3314 I was hoping that another Aussie would chime in.
Bad memories of the M1.
Overtaking there is harder than the UK because of the prevalence of cameras.
Speaking of how general traffic offenses compare with speeding, what would you say each offense compares to in terms of speeding (on a duel carriageway).
for example:
undertaking - 5mph over the limit
double lane change when joining - 15 over limit
staying in blind spot - 10 over limit
following too close 10-20 over limit depending on severity
no lights on at night/rainy conditions - 15 over limit
accelerating when being overtaken - 5 over limit.
middle lane hogging - 10 over limit
like if someone's doing a few of these at time (let's say middle lane hogging, following too close, no lights) I think it's perfectly fair to equate that to someone who goes 35 over (105mph)
I personally would feel safer from injury (but more at risk of being fined) if I was in a car (driving or otherwise) doing 85mph, than being in a car doing 55 in lane 3, with the other 2 completely clear, seeing cars struggling to all get past.
@@Kaiser-ks3yq No lights on is legitimately the most dangerous of these by miles. It should be bannable, and cars should all be required by law to either have sensors to put the lights on automatically or just always have the lights on, like in a Volvo.
Having driven a lot on motorways in France, they almost religiously move back to the outside lane over there. Makes driving on the motorways so much more pleasant, efficient and less stressful compared to here in the UK
Firstly this is definately true, but secondly they generally have a fraction of the traffic density that we do in the UK. A lot of hogging is people who cant be bothered to keep changing lane because indicating is an effort... When you can travel far further without having to pass a vehicle, the learned behaviours tend to be better.
@@malphadour Totally agree. Good lane discipline because the level of traffic allows it, without too much stress and aggression from other road users.
I was on the M25 and M1 last Saturday. It is comical how many times there are no vehicles in lane 1 on a 4 lane stretch for miles. and yet drivers are all lined up in lane 2, usually doing around 60 and driving too close. This forces drivers catching in lane 1 to either drive slower than them, make two lane changes to drive around them (and then two back when possible), or undertake. I saw several drivers take advantage and dangerously move from lanes 3 and 4 to undertake at speed and move back to their slightly busier lanes.
Now, I think that moving out to lane 2 at junctions, especially if they have short slip roads (I'm looking at you, M1 J5 Southbound), can be helpful to joining traffic, and I gather in some countries that it's mandatory, but that is the only reason I can see to move out of a clear lane that is continuing ahead.
I find that very hard to believe. The hogger is in lane 2 and lanes 3 and 4 are overtaking. Why when it's clear to overtake in lanes 3 and 4 would several motorist slow down to the hoggers speed and move to lane 1, undertake, then go straight back into lanes 3 or 4?
@mikehunter2844 Have you not driven on the M1 or M25 on a weekend? Lanes 3 and 4 often bunch up a bit, too, usually with hoggers also in lane 3, so you start getting these "weavers" who see that they can go faster in lane 1. They don't slow down to match anyone's speed, just dangerously cut across lanes.
Yep, I see this frequently on the M25 when I drive from Essex to Swindon. Shame that I never usually see a patrol car for the entire journey.
was on the M25 at about 9pm on a friday about a month ago. I was in lane 1 doing ~70 as motorway was basically empty. 2 cars entered from a slip road ahead of me. First one went straight to lane 3 at ~70 second one went staright to lane 2 at ~60. I moved to lane 3, passed the car in lane 2, then moved back to lane 1. Didn't see them again but am pretty sure they stayed there. Car that went to lane 3 however, stayed there for about 15 miles then exited the motorway. I stayed in lane 1 the whole time without seeing another car ahead, let alone overtaking anyone. Bonkers! Both of them couls have easily just gone into lane 1 and stayed trhere.
If that is on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder, I fully support those choosing not to use lane 1. Though I also believe there are only two speeds vehicles should be travelling. 56mph or 70mph, if this was adhered to congestion would be significantly eased.
If you have ever seen a vehicle stranded in a live lane 1 of a smart motorway and the signage hasn’t closed the lane, the danger is very real.
This is a very timely video for me. I’m a North American visiting the UK for six weeks and though I have driven here extensively in the past, I am amazed at the amount of lane-hogging and lack of return to lane 1 after overtaking that I am seeing these days. Once upon a time, most everyone drove smaller, less powerful cars, and drove more sedately, but now that almost all vehicles can practically drive themselves, everyone has their boot down. Speed is king.
Welcome to Britain. The experience shown in this clip on Polish motorways fully demonstrates that road manners are a combination of law and unselfish cooperation.
and there is even more lane hogging in the states
I remember seeing elderly couple, 3rd lane doing 60, with long line of cars behind. Me on motorbike, lane 1 and 2 empty, so pulled from 2 to 1 and under took them all. Get away as quick as possible from that potential disaster.
That's the problem people are driving into their old age. The worst are elderly women shockingly crap nervous drivers.
I hate it when you go and over take and the car on the left speeds up and wont let you over take. or they over take you and then slow down in front, motorways is not a game of chicken!
Sometimes I find it the other way round . Which is really annoying
I had this not long ago on the M62, i happily went to overtake into the right lane and the person in the middle lane sped up to my speed. It would have turned into a race but i just took a deep breath and eased off. Moved back behind them and they did slow down but there wasn't much i could do.
The difference between using cruise control and not. I find that happens a lot too from either side and sometimes I get funny looks from the vehicle with erratic speed as if to say "what are you doing". Makes me giggle to myself
Yeah, I get that from time to time on dual carriageways when I drive a HGV at work limited to 52mph. It's annoying. People should not be driving in a manor which impedes other motorists.
It’s even worse when driving my Smart car! People especially in big SUVs get really aggressive when I overtake them!
Went on a road trip through Germany last year and have to say the way they deal with the elephant races is much better. Most of the time particularly around junctions lorries are not allowed to overtake one another. When the road becomes less complicated they are allowed to overtake this makes much more sense to me as it helps keep the flow.
I have a coworker that sometimes leaves before me (at least 20 min), and we both take the M4 towards Reading. He drives carefully in the left lane, while I don’t mind changing. We usually meet up half way through the journey into Reading. And I think it’s only seconds of improvement by lane switching, and you will only feel a difference in journey times if you make a light that you wouldn’t have otherwise. I drove left when tired because I know my responses may be low and the risk of lane change is higher (not sleepy tired, more like, can’t be bothered switching).
Lane-hogging is very selfish driving. Even if any of these reasons are valid from an individual perspective, it collectively makes the motorway much more congested and more dangerous.
How so? The number of cars on the road is unchanged, right? if you are behind a slower moving vehicle waiting to over take, then anyone in the lane beside you is also going to be overtaking you as well so that doesn't cause an issue. Do you simply mean you might have to wait slightly longer to overtake and thus people are mildly inconveniencing you? this is a genuine question i just want to understand how it makes roads more congested.
@phr00tpie only one person at a time can overtake a slower moving car in the middle lane, if they are in the most left lane then more people can overtake at a time, at varying speeds. With someone in the middle lane everyone who wants to overtake them is forced to slow to the speed of the slowest overtaker. Essentially, it clogs up the right lane by forcing more people into it which slows everyone down, which necessarily causes more congestion
@@phr00tpie Traffic flow is reduced, which makes journey times longer, so there are actually more cars on the road at any given time. It also effectively reduces road capacity since lane 1 is not fully utilised.
Imagine a car is driving in lane 2 of a 3-lane motorway at 66Mph (which would probably show as 70Mph on the speedo), all of the faster moving traffic has to merge into a single file to pass at 70Mph in lane 3. If this car was driving correctly, faster traffic can pass much more efficiently with 2 overtaking lanes available. If many drivers hog the middle-lane, then the cumulative effect on traffic and journey times is massive.
What about dodging massive set of potholes on a bridge? The stretch is about 500 + m long
@@reubenjackson7829 Nobody is arguing about you having to drive the risk of breaking your suspension and/or back. But if you just hog a lane because the road could be in bad shape, you're just being lazy.
Excellent video, Richard. It shouldn't be a contentious issue though, despite many of the comments. A well trained driver will always move left after overtaking a vehicle, but may stay out if catching up with other vehicles to pass. 😎
This vdeo is great because it actually shows some of the reasons why it LOOKS LIKE people are lane hogging but they are not.
Yes, I recall times when I felt like it because after overtaking one vehicle I decide to stay in the 2nd lane because I am also overtaking the next vehicle that is significantly further ahead. Which is also planning further, haha.
Over the last 6 months I have watched many of your videos despite having passed my test before you were born (1986) ! Driving, like life, is a constant learning experience so I have been able to catch up on highway code changes as well as further driving tips, for which I would like to say thank you for your detailed and informative instruction. Over all the quality of drivers on the road seems have gone down over the last couple of decades which, IMO, coincides with the reduction of law enforcement vehicles on the road . Thank you for your continued quality content.
I agree with the keep to the left lane rule simply because it is one rule. Everyone has a different opinion and play by their own rules which is more dangerous. One rule for everyone. Simple and safer.
it's difficult as different situations have different requirements. if you're overtaking at a junction it might be prudent to stay in lane 2 rather than to make a move back to lane 1 as vehicles are trying to merge onto the road. In fact, if nothing is going to overtake you in the time you are by the junction, why not move to lane 3 to give other vehicles the space to move out and assist the merging vehicles. If the answer is "cos the highway code says so" then I would ask do you allow vehicles to merge in turn when 2 lanes become 1 by giving plenty of space in front of you for the zip to happen cleanly? The highway code provide guidelines for driving but it very much seems to negate traffic flow. Good traffic flow reduces jams so in my unprofessional opinion it should be whatever helps the traffic flow best
@mattwoodford1820 yeah definitely. Cars on joining slips roads need you to move over as you would treat them as vehicles moving slower so same rules apply.
@@DMC585 yeah it's a balance. So many different but similar situations, if I make sense 🙂 I just try to drive in a safe manner that manages overall flow
Thanks for your videos. I went to a driving instructor who told me I don't know what I am doing and will need months to learn how to drive in the UK and I need so many lessons for me to pass my driving test. I have already booked my driving test which was 10 days after my theory. I decided to dump that instructor and then started watching your videos 24/7 and Went for my driving test and passed for the first time with 2 minors. Thanks for all you do.
Changing lanes should be a normal motorway behaviour it keeps you aware of what's going on around you infrount and behind it gives you a focus instead of daydreaming watch the movement of cars ahead look for brake lights lighting in rapid succession indicating a hazard yet hundreds of yards in front gives you a one up to avoid a problem.
So you only know what's happening around you if you change lanes! The rest of the time you're sleeping?
Thanks Richard for the video. Hearing other people debating over middle-lane hogging is really interesting😂
I am probably biased because I have been driving for nearly 50 years, and my father taught me, and followed the same instruction, exactly as you described: the driving lane and the overtaking lanes, and to always return to the driving as soon as you have finished overtaking and it is dafe to do so. Yes, there was less traffic in the 1970's,, and fewer dual-carriageways/motorways, but it is something I do without needing to think about it (noticed recently by a Latvian friend of mine) and have ended up undertaking accidentally when I passed a vehicle three lanes to my right before realising how slow they were driving in the 4th lane! Thanks for an interesting video.
What is undertaking accidentally?
Overtaking or undertaking is a manoeuvre if you are in the first lane and pass a slower car in the outside lanes you have not overtaken or undertaken you have just held your speed and position
Passed my test today, thank you so much for these videos, I literally could not have passed without them.
I think there's less of an issue with hogging the middle lane on a 3-lane carriageway than there is of hogging the right lane of a 2-lane road like the A1 in Nottinghamshire.
If I see a lorry in the left hand lane up ahead, I will stay in the middle lane to avoid getting stuck behind the lorry. If you get stuck behind a lorry doing 55 and traffic in the middle lane is going past at 70, it can often be difficult to pull out to overtake. So you need to be looking at the traffic well ahead and choosing the appropriate lane early.
Lorries slowly overtaking is a big issue in my opinion, especially on 2-lane carriageways like the A1, but also because of the traffic bunching it causes on 3-lane motorways.
Hi Richard, I passed my driving test today only with 3 minor faults for the first time. Your videos helped me immensely to prepare for the test. Especially me being a very nervous driver. Probably you don’t know how much difference you make in others lives but you do. You are an amazing person 😊
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Half way through and my collected thoughts are that most of the reasons are part of describing a driver who needs to drastically improve their standard of driving, especially observations and planning.
You can't plan for being blocked in the inside lane when you don't want to exit. I'd argue the problem wouldn't actually be any better if more people did return to the left lane, as you'd simply be blocked from exiting when you _do_ want to instead, but it's still not something it's possible to plan for.
I think his point about his own reason for 'middle lane hogging' was probably the most key one. He was attempting to get out to the outside lane to make the most of the speed limit. There's an assumption that everyone on the road doing something slightly inconvenient for you is just an incompetent moron, but often they're simply attempting to perform their own manoeuvre.
That said, there are definitely a lot of incompetent morons on the road so it's very possible to be that, too.
@@KindredBrujah People make assumptions and are not good at looking at the whole picture.
There are definitely situations where it appears people are middle lane or even right lane hogging, but they're not (like in the video), and some drivers get impatient and aggressive, because they feel like they are being held up.
On the other hand, I'd say the majority of middle lane hogging I see is blatant incompetence or laziness.
@@ado543 The issue I see with middle lane and right lane hogging is that as you say it causes road rage, aggressive driving and people to take risks. This is all easily prevented by driving with due care and consideration. It's people who are sat in the middle lane at 60 miles per hour that often cause accidents/near misses on motorways. Several times recently I've seen several very near misses all caused by someone presumably half asleep sitting in lane 2 or 3 not overtaking and causing a backlog of people to suddenly slam on brakes or swerve into another lane.
@@KindredBrujah you can absolutely plan for that if- and this is the key point- the person blocking you in isn't a complete dipshit. Indicate out to lane 2 and at least 50% of the time a driver paying attention in tge middle lane will let you out, either by pulling into lane 3 themselves or by slowing down. You just have to pay attention to what's going on around you and communicate with other drivers. There are people in those cars too, you know.
@@CaptainHat Your 'if' there is pretty critical. In my experience it's probably split into thirds - a third will let you out, a third won't even notice you're indicating and the last third will deliberately speed up to make sure you don't 'take their spot'.
Your videos helped me to pass my driving test yesterday! Thank you Richard!
As an American, I was explicitly taught in drivers ed that the "slow" lane (the rightmost lane in the US) is only for entering and exiting, and the safest place to drive on the highway is the middle lane. The "fast" lane (the leftmost lane in the US) is only for passing.
I'm in the UK and that's what I was also taught. The concept of lane 'hogging' only came about because too many people were driving too slowly (significantly less than the speed limit) in the lanes used by faster traffic.
@@JS-yn2kj Who on earth taught you that? It's completely wrong and against the highway code.
@@PointNemo9 It is now but it didn't used to be.
@@JS-yn2kj I'm sorry but you are mistaken, it has been the case for many decades. Perhaps you were taught to drive on motorways by an older family member, who also had an incorrect perception of how to use lanes on a motorway?
You are partially right that the reason why so many people talk about it recently is because lane discipline has gotten much worse recently, but the highway code has always said you should return to the left after overtaking.
It also doesn't matter how fast you are going, whether you are going 65, 75, or 85, it's still against the highway code to not return to the left after overtaking.
@@PointNemo9 you can believe what you like, but I've still got a copy of the highway code that I studied to pass my test, and my position is unchanged. So you can stick your beliefs in your pipe and smoke it.
Thanks for an actual nuanced take! I've been guilty of "pushing" inner lane hoggers despite doing the same myself in the past. It really doesn't seem to be clear in California, especially when the freeways are congested half of the time, so it's unreasonable to expect people to understand by tailgating or aggressively undertaking them.
The biggest problem on our motorways is large lorries overtaking large lorries, taking miles and miles to do it. Thus pushing everyone out to the outside lane to get around them, THERE IS NO MIDDLE LANE - of course depending on the time of day. I think unless a lorry can overtake within a certain distance\or time, THEY SIMPLY SHOULDN'T. This is an issue I've never seen discussed.
It's not just lorries. Cars doing 70(ish), often on cruise control, are effectively doing exactly the same thing - they just don't have the same excuses as lorries.
@@SmileyEmoji42 if a car on cruise control is doing 70 mph, you cannot go any faster without breaking the law, so what are you suggesting? if one car was doing say 67 mph and the cruise control car on 70, you should not expect that car to slow down and stay in the same lane as the 67 mph car, nor should you expect it to speed up to get past more quickly.
Yes, like 4 lanes and lanes 1,2,3 busy with Lorries like doing a slow motion race. And all the funnel go to lane 4. When I just overtake them all the front lanes 1,2,3 free. .
@@SmileyEmoji42 Good point. The lorries can pose quite a problem when it's busy and there could be about three - one after another, but not directly behind each other but no room to get back in - other than continue in the outside lane. I avoid getting in between lorries, as they often travel very close to each other !
HGV drivers who are unwilling to dial the cruise control down 0.5 of a mph and take 5 miles to complete the overtake are prats. It's worst on 2 lane carriageways and you'll often see the driver who's just been overtaken pulling out to re-overtake a couple of miles further up the road. Speaking as an HGV driver myself, I should add that it can be easy to get trapped alongside another HGV that was struggling up an incline and has now crested the hill if you are unfamiliar with a road. The right thing to do in that scenario is to accept defeat, ease off and drop back in behind.
I just passed my test on Friday. Thank you for all your tips and advice, Richard. It’s always so helpful and I will continue to use it as a full license driver. 😅
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Same with Germany, I was reading up on the theory tests there (to actually help a friend there), I'm not certain whether it's strictly illegal or their equivalent of our Highway Code "should not" but they teach you that you're not allowed to overtake unless you're going "appreciably faster" than what you're overtaking. So no elephant races.
I just passed my test in January and drive from London to Southampton often to see my boyfriend. I usually drive around 9-10pm, and although the M25, M3 and M27 are fairly empty at that time, I still see so many middle lane hoggers!! I always stick to the speed limit and try not to undertake, so it can be really annoying, especially when there aren't many cars in the normal driving lane to overtake, so I end up having to overtake all these middle lane drivers, moving all the way to the outside lanes! I've had several people driving at least 50-60mph in the middle lanes too 😕Thank you for this video!! ❤
I did asked one of those traffic officer about undertake. I did explained that the middle lane hogger was doing 50-55 miles and i was doing 60 miles, do i have the right to undertake them because I do not wish to go out onto the fast lane as I am not going that fast. His replies was as followed... There is no speed restriction as to how fast anyone have to go on any given lane. If I am undertake a slower car, I can do so under 2 conditions
1, I must not weaving in and out to over take cars
2, I must make sure that the slower outside car not starting to move back to the inside lane. In another words, be prepared to slow down and even brake if needed.
I hope that make sense. Lol
Thanks, Richard. Those details are useful for me as always ❤
When three lane motorways were first introduced we were told by the latest Highway Code that the inside lane was the slow lane, the middle lane was the fast lane and the outside lane was for overtaking. With traffic levels relatively low compared with today that worked. If you are driving with those distant memories take heed of this video.
Did it really? I don't remember that at all. Drive in the left lane, pull out to overtake. If we all did it, driving would be SO much more efficient and less stressful.
You pretty much summarised all valid points. There is really no reason you should constantly manoeuvre in and out into the lane with significantly slower traffic. Something to learn from Europe.
My father in law does it because he believes crossing cats eye's too often will damage his tyres. He's managed to pass this wisdom on to my wife as well, and she brings it up constantly when I'm driving on the motorway with her as a passenger and she sees me returning to the left hand lane.
I had a passenger who thought the same so I purposely drove on the cats eyes when the lane was quiet. We were on our way home to Hampshire from Lancashire. Tyres were fine until they wore out.
this is literally the worst excuse i have ever heard in my life
Some people say that driving over cats eyes is actually a public service 🙂 - it lowers them into their mounting and brushes clean the lenses. (Probably more of a factor on country lanes, though.)
Great video and great to understand a bit more! Gosh though 3 lanes must be a luxury! Here in Scotland unless you're in an area with loads of junctions (like going through a city centre) then motorways are almost always 2 lanes so imagine the impact lane hoggers have then 😬
As a motorcyclist I stay in lane 3 when it’s busy, too many cars swapping lanes from 1 to 2 , I stay out of their way because one touch and I’m history, no matter what the law says I think people should use 3 lanes just because of the volume of traffic on the roads these days, it’s just chocka block in some areas 🤨
A very interesting and informative video - thank you. I take issue only with you asking viewers for their opinion; my opinion doesn't matter, nor does that of anybody else. The law says we should drive in lane 1, only pulling out to overtake slower vehicles and returning to lane 1 having done so. Its important that the law is observed because observance is the basis for understanding what going on around us, and at 70mph there isn't too much leeway to apprerciate someone else's personal interpretation and take avoiding action. Personally, the only time I move from lane 1 apart from overtaking a slower vehicle is when lane 2 is free and traffic is joining from the left; this allows the joining traffic to move into lane 1 without having to slow too much in doing so which would make it a hazard until it regained normal speed - but that is really only a variation of 'overtaking slower vehicles' anyway.
My favourite thing about our roads is unless it's 2am you won't touch the speed limit once during a journey. And even at 2am you'll get caught in roadworks without a single person in them doing any work.
For sure! Potholes seem to breed so often!
I passed 5 months ago I have done a few journeys on the motorway and was not ever taught about middle lanes and lane hogging. I have just realised I have been middle lane hogging on those journeys as I prefer lane 2 so I don’t have too deal with cars joining the motorway. I will now change how I drive.
I'm a lorry driver and I like it when cars spread out across the lanes. It gives me better opportunities to move to lane 2 if I need to overtake. I think it's stupid when lorries go to lane 3 to overtake at 1 mph but if it's slow traffic and they're queueing to overtake, or if lane 1 is becoming a slip road and lane 2 an unofficial slip road then that's fine. It seems these days that even the outside lane is becoming an unofficial slip road though. The only problem with middle lane hoggers is when they're not doing the correct speed and holding everyone up.
Or are entirely oblivious to what's going on around them so don't give way to vehicles who are clearly trying to get past. Increasing that frustration level is going to result in accidents. Just get out of their way (when it's safe and convenient to do so).
Love how you picked to go on the M25 😅 that is the classic lane hogging motorway since its typically got 4 lanes across most of its entirety, even 5/6 lanes around the M4/Heathrow. People see all those lanes and often stick themselves on lane 2 or 3 even if lane 1 is empty.
People overtake a vehicle in lane one see there is another vehicle in lane one further ahead but what they don't see is the big massive gap in lane one in between those vehicle's.
So you want people to zigzag in and out of lanes in front of you? Seems weird that you want to choose to have to keep their space open for them instead of just them keeping the space they were already safely in. Unless you're a space closer?
@@broshmosh People like you need to be off the roads.
Entirely dependent on the distance imo. Personally, if I believe the vehicle behind me will overtake me before I have to pull back out for the next vehicle, I pull into lane 1 to give way.
@@BolBolBolBolBol
I often do that, but the following vehicle then fails to overtake before I need to move back out to overtake.
@@cigmorfil4101 yeah that can be annoying. Generally I'll try to measure their initial approach speed (partially to assess whether it warrants me moving into lane 1 in the first place) so I can get out of the way before they have to slow down, which often means I can then get out again sooner. Sometimes they slow down next to me for no reason though, and then I get cross lol
This used to be easy. I would drive at 85 mph and always occupy the fast lane (when traffic density high) and if someone pulled out at 70 mph I would wait. Since retirement and a speed awareness course I am now trying 70 mph and am usually a middle lane hogger for the reasons the video has excellently explained. The thing that gets me is that if you occupy the slow lane, a middle lane driver going a very similar speed will block you in, sometimes for miles. Just not worth it. What I do is that if I see a slow lane car approaching a lorry I will pull from middle lane to fast lane to allow them to overtake when traffic density permits.
All I can really add to this is what happened on my first driving lesson on the motorway. I moved out to the mile lane to begin an overtake. My instructor had been telling me how far in the distance the driver should be looking on the motorway in particular, and told me I should plan around what I can see in the distance.
I finished my overtake and signalled left, moved back in when it was safe.
My instructor asked "Why did you do that?"
I responded "I thought the idea was to move back to the left as soon as the overtake is complete and it's safe to do so."
He said "But now you're behind a truck which you are still catching. You'll need to move back to the right soon."
I promptly did, in fact, need to move out again. I did so, and completed the overtake. This time my instructor said, "Now look far ahead. How many slow vehicles are in lane one?"
There were three more trucks, with a gap large enough for the car. I said "Three, and I can move back to the left after the second."
He said "No, don't do that, stay out in lane 2 until you're past the last one."
"What about the gap? Aren't I lane hogging if I don't move back?"
He said "It's only lane hogging if you have no reason to be in lane 2. You're overtaking a vehicle, and even though it's far in the distance, you'll only have to move back out if you move in. Accidents happen at junctions and in lane changes, so minimise changes with good planning."
I've continued with this mentality in my own driving and it largely serves me well. I will ocasionally get aggro from drivers behind who want me to break the speed limit (they were doing so either as they approached me, or as I moved into their lane with plenty of space), or just want to bully me out of the way. Some have undertaken, but to be honest I don't really think there's a way to stop people undertaking if they feel they need to.
It seems there is no proper agreement between instructors as to what actually constitutes middle lane hogging, and what constitutes a large enough gap that moving to the left should be the decision.
Your instructor was right and it's something that is learnt with experience. The more you motorway drive the more attuned you become to when it is better to move back into lane 1 or stay where you are. I wouldn't describe that as lane hogging.
Also, tough for any driver behind me as far as I'm concerned. I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. They're just going to have to be patient. I'll be out of their way soon enough.
I disagree. You indeed return to the nearside lane unless you can predict, having naturally of course constantly monitored the traffic in your mirrors, that you'll definitely be boxed in by traffic you can see coming up behind you and you'll have to brake. I spend almost as much time looking in my rear view mirror as out the front of feels like, most journeys.
My pet hate - people who brake on a motorway when it's completely avoidable.
@@jgogl9791 sounds like you're changing lanes a whole lot. Otherwise why would you be constantly looking in your mirrors?
@@anythingpeteives as often as traffic conditions dictate! Otherwise you cause a rolling roadblock, and force all traffic into one lane to overtake you - causing the very elephant race that Richard himself criticises in this video. It is simply not how we drive on British roads. Although that has changed, as I have noticed the standard of driving plummeting in the last 10 years I would say.
@@jgogl9791 I doubt very much that my driving style, which you disagreed with, causes rolling roadblocks. I just don't weave in and out of the left lane if I deem it inefficient to do so because I am approaching another vehicle that is in the left lane and, no sooner will I have pulled into the left lane, that I will be having to signal to pull out of the left lane in a few short seconds. That is not lane hogging. That is common sense driving.
One thing that drives me potty are cars in lane one going slower than the lorries, going 50 when the lorry is travelling at 60. They unnecessarily force the lorries out into lane 2 to overtake which causes congestion as all the drivers going 70 now have to go into lane 3.
That red car at 4:53 should be reported for careless/Dangerous driving.
Agreed.
wonder why the plate was blurred ?
@@Blakesedit Probably to avoid witch hunting from misguided vigilantes.
That kind of driving is sadly very common on M25 and other motorways. I see it very often. Multiple times per trip sometimes.
Go for it, send the police the video
Granted im a motorcyclist currently getting my car licence - a motorcyclist with probably about 30,000 motorway or dual carriageway miles... Changing lanes makes it more fun and mentally engaging... Just sitting in one lane the whole way (like i was coming home on the m27 past 9pm most days) is very, very boring. Anticipating and executing lane changes so you dont have to change your speed is satisfying 🤷♂️ maybe I'll understand more as i drive a car more. But i think I'll be so happy to be safe and dry i will always try to make the road easier and safer for others by driving to the rules of the road.
The reason some people lane hog is because they are lazy, or can’t forward plan lane changes and in some cases uneducated regarding the correct use of lanes. One of my biggest pet hates, is drivers who charge down the slip road, indicator on go straight into lane 2 or 3 without check first.
That and idiots who whilst on the motorway and when approaching a slip road they move out of lane one .. even though your can clearly see there is NOTHING on the slip road.. where they continue doing 55mph until they finally remember they shouldn't be in lane 2..
Lazy is good and safe! I get onto the M6 at Milton Keynes and take up the middle lane. Contrary to your comment, my exit is planned in advance , for Glasgow.
@@RobertIreland-dk3lr You mean the M1, the M6 is nowhere near Milton Keynes.
Totally agree with most of the reasoning in the video, sadly in Australia driving in the middle or center lanes of a multi lane (3 or more) is legal. The rule 'Keep left unless overtaking' only refers to not remaining in the right hand lane. I am happy with this as often the left lane is the least congested and very often the fastest lane and considering it is legal to overtake from any lane (undertaking from any lane in a multi-lane road is legal) it is usually the lane I travel in occasionally having to change lanes to pass a heavy vehicle.
Whenever I stick to the speed limit (jk I always do) I end up undertaking so many vehicles, because the left lane is free and there's a pile up in the right lane. Sometimes people will even go 5-10 miles under the speed limit in the right (third or fourth) lane and won't change lanes for miles even if it's free...
This, I drive for roughly 5 hours daily at work, and i undertake constantly, not because that's what i'm setting out to do, but because i'm doing 70 in the left lane and everyone to the right is doing 55-60. Why would i move to the rightmost lane to get stuck behind these people rather than just carry on ahead.
Also, even if you're overtaking, if you see someone's tailgating you, it's not hard to go back to the left lane for a brief moment when you can to let them overtake you, instead people just carry on in the right lane, cause they're going slightly faster than the cars on the left. Leading to people getting impatient and undertaking you dangerously.
@@kapu3746 Indeed. I tend to stay in the right lane, because I'm going faster than vehicles on my left. Since plenty of people speed and I don't, I also ensure that I'm checking my mirrors regularly (you know, like you're meant to) and move out of the way of estates, Range Rovers and any kind of enormous pick up truck, all of which always speed in my experience.
In the latter case, it's also beneficial because I can avoid being blinded by the headlights which are right at rear view mirror height for me in a normal sized car.
@@KindredBrujahyou can adjust your mirrors in such a way you blind them back when to right of you......
Over here this is normal, because the (right hand country) right side often exits the motorway, and the left lane often exits the motorway on the other side or turns around (and also you can't legally hog it outside of intense traffic), so the middle lane is for going straight for a long time
There’s a simple way to prevent these so-called elephant races. In Abu Dhabi, they have this system where they imposed a speed camera enforced minimum speed of 120 km/h on the left 2 lanes (right hand traffic) on 4 lanes or more highway. Highways with that restriction have a very high speed limit though (140 or 160 km/h).
I think that such a restriction would reduce elephant races to only 2 lanes of the motorway.
I think this would also maybe have the side effect of reducing the number of people that would lane hog at slow speeds as I noticed most lane hoggers are usually slow.
This is common on some major 2 lane roads, particularly where there are hills. Lane 2 will have a weight restriction on it, effectively preventing HGVs from overtaking. The M11 leaving London towards Stansted Airport is a good example.
@@Aaron70235yeah some are daytime restricted
Thank you for making this video. Hopefully it will make people understand each other more and be less angry and resentful which can lead to more dangerous driving. Stop spending your time and effort judging others for not being like you or not following all the laws 100%. Try to relax and enjoy your time. In driving and generally in life..
No? Middle lane hogging is literally a driving offence. Should we be ok with people driving 60 in 40mph areas too?
If you hog the middle lane, you’re an idiot, none of these reasons are good justifications.
Tramlining can be a valid reason if they are full of rainwater. Of course those roads need to be fixed.
On the case of slow lanes, they exist in Germany on particularly steep inclines, and they are added on the outside, are well signed, and stop on the top of the hill.
Crawler lanes used to be much more common in the UK but modern lorries are MUCH more powerful than back in the day such that they are usualy tacho limited rather than power limited hence you don't find crawler lanes very often anymore (or downhill lorry escape features)
I really enjoyed your little phrase 'Elephant Racers' 😄 As a lorry driver, the bad drivers (in my opition) are the lorry drivers who sit 6 feet from the lorry in front. I think they're dangerous because they tend to make 'immediate' manuvers on the roads. The good truck drivers are the ones who give space and predict events. There is a high majority of trucks that 'relay' (sports metaphor) each other over a period of 100's of miles. And so predicting upcoming inclines and declines on the motorway to be in a safe and adventagous position for accelleration or crawling due to load/weight is trained to us as good practice on the roads for safety. And it's important to recongise that trucks are more susceptible to this that cars. I also argee, that when and advantage has run it's course and trucks are at near even speeds, the trucker on the left should slow to allow a complete overtake from annother truck. 😁👍 🚛🚛🚛
Most roads in my city have three lanes and I totally understand why drivers tend to treat the middle lane as a cruising lane, the left lane as the overtaking/turning left lane and the right lane as the slow/turning right lane. To begin with, on most junctions right turn on red is allowed and drivers try to be curteous and leave the right lane free for people to turn on red. However in my opinion it can make it so fewer vehicles make it throught the green phase, but that's besides the point. Then, the right lane is almost always busy with bus stops, buses themselves, parked cars, vehicles entering and exiting and so on. Even if you wanted to, there wouldn't be many chances for you to drive in the right lane for long periods of times.
However. People then take these habits to expressways where middle lane hogging can cause issuse and make roads less efficient.
Your statement doesn't apply to UK roads. It's more a North American thing.
Keeping left (or right in the US) only applies on motorways. On a regular 3 lane road you always want to keep in the middle until you are relatively close to the junction you want to turn left or right at.
If you're saying this creates a habit of staying in the centre lane that people then take to the motorway you're probably right but really people ought to know the difference between the two types of roads and drive accordingly.
@@goaway9977 I was speaking for my country and we don't have a differentiation. You always must keep right, on any road, unless you are overtaking somebody our turning left.
@goaway9977 I'm not knowledgeable on driving in the US, but in the UK, in general, you're supposed to keep left unless overtaking or you need a different lane.
I believe the difference in infrastructure informs our rules, e.g., the US has more multilane carriageways, etc.
By the way, I'm not trying to undermine you, I believe we are both learning about driving in each others countries.
@treduke-alexander8864 Interesting I'm actually from Australia and here the keep left unless overtaking rule only applies on roads with a speed limit above 80km/h.
We have a lot of three lane roads under this speed limit and you can be in any lane you want on these roads for any length of time you want. People will typically go left lane if they are turning left within one or two intersections, middle lane if they are going straight for a while and right lane if they are turning right at the next intersection. But people will also take the middle lane instead of the left if there are bus stops on the left lane, or if they are unsure if the left lane allows cars to be parked (some but not all three lane roads allow parking in the left lane but only over nights or on weekends).
I do like your episodes, I wish there were more out there with a view to educate - not criticise - drivers in driving etiquette and the Highway Code and its application. There are three activities that wind me up, driving with fog lights when visibility doesn't warrant them, parking against oncoming traffic and hogger’s of middle and outside lanes, this is particularly dangerous because it causes frustration in other drivers which causes them to act with a bit of anger and thus likely to create an increase in risk of collision.
All of these reasons basically boil down to "I don't like changing lane", which probably means you're not confident enough of a driver to use a dual carriageway safely (maybe you did your driving test before dual carriageways were part of it). In this case there are plenty of other roads for you to use without all these difficult lane changes, and you might find it even less stressful to take the train!
I don't particularly *like* changing lane! (though I do it all the time as I dislike being stuck behind slow moving traffic even more). One of my worst near misses was dropping back into lane 2 after overtaking just as someone in lane 1 pulled out nearly right into me. Can't pretend it can't be risky, and from my experience it's people who enjoy changing lanes a bit too much that cause problems. Particularly the ones who don't indicate.
It amazes me how so few Brits know that the Law on overtaking on left was removed from the Statute Books over half a century ago.
If you are worried about the risk associated with manoeuvres (such as changing lane), just stay in the left lane and get where you are going a little later. All risks need to be balanced against the benefits. Life is short, but not short enough to be worth risking it ending it in a pile of plastic and metal to get to work 2 mins faster.
Or they can get on a bus and leave driving for competent human beings. Since they hate driving so much why do it at all?
@@ranger7522 yawn. Life is also too short to waste on keyboard warriors.
you completely missed the point. I agreed with, and liked your comment. But if you think I'm a keyboard warrior, that's fine by me. like you said life is too short to argue with people like you. have a nice life
@@ranger7522 LOL " leave driving for competent human beings" and " Since they hate driving so much " is classic keyboard warrior stuff. Nobody said anything about hating driving and not wanting to overtake unnecessarily does not make someone an "[in]competent human being". Not even honest about the trolling. Need to do better.
Middle lane hogging is certainly one of my pet hates, yes (that and not allowing a bit enough gap to the vehicle in front). That said, in heavier traffic situations I can understand why people do it, for some of the reasons you mentioned.
Where I feel it totally unforgivable is when the road is quiet. On the M74 in southern Scotland, just north of the border, that is a beautiful and scenic stretch of motorway, but one upon which I often see cars cruising along in the centre lane with not another vehicle anywhere near them. I usually execute a maneuver I call 'sarcastic overtaking', where I perform a textbook sequence of indicating, moving from 1>2, indicating again, 2>3, then passing them, then the reverse sequence back into lane 1. About half the time this will shame them into following me into lane 1.
I think I've seen you do that manoeuvre as I enter the m74 after cruising the middle lane all of the M6. It doesn't phase me at all. You're a tit.
first excuse is silly.. and not really lane hogging.. if you are quickly catching the vehicle ahead, theres 0 point moving back over (within reason ofc) otherwise youd just be zig-zaging up the motorway. ofcourse if your miles away form the slow vehicle, move back over... but if its gona be seconds I think we all understand staying out.
but the road quality cracked me up.. makes me think of the M62. especially between bradford and leeds.. its pot holed like crazy... but in the middle lane.. when it was quiet I have more than once overtaken a truck by going to the outside lane to skip the pot holes, because lets face it no car its shaking off pot holes at 70 mph without doing some sorta dmg.
I drive on the M62 on that stretch almost daily. A few light pot holes, you can see well in advance and just nudge the steering wheel around it. "but in the middle lane.. when it was quiet I have more than once overtaken a truck" < You are a lane hogger then. Trucks are limited to 60 however most do 56mph to save fuel. So get yourself into Lane 1 and stop causing a traffic jam.
My rule of thumb is "Stay out if you can see that you would want to pull out again in 30 seconds or less"
@@SmileyEmoji42 This is fairly sensible. If you're passing someone in the next 30 seconds, you are still overtaking. I used to zig-zag like the lane discipline police, but would often end up stuck in lane 1 from not being able to pull back into lane 2 due to all the traffic behind building up. In low traffic this works perfectly, in heavier traffic I find myself often constantly in lanes 2 and 3.
@@khalidacosta7133
Lorries are EU legislation speed limited to 90 km/h ~= 56 mph.
The American system of using whichever lane you like works much better and requires more skill. British roads are awful, in particular the junctions. The roundabout is cheaper than flyovers of course, but it has failed miserably.
Some times it makes a bit of sense, but most of the time, people are just selfish and trying to look for an excuse to do whatever they want.
I like to think that there are far more thoughtless/careless people than actually selfish. I think I'm right but the proportions may vary 😞
A long time ago I was travelling to Scotland and decided to stick to the middle lane doing 70. It felt comfortable until I realised that I didn’t know what was going on around me. When you use the lanes properly you are always looking for when you need to change lanes but if you follow the middle lane you get tunnel vision and become unaware of what is going on around you. I now drive a HGV and often catch up to slower cars in the middle lane and sometimes when a slow car is in lane 1 and I try to overtake they speed up and sometimes sit in one of the most dangerous blind spots. When they do this I have to keep telling myself there is someone there when I slow down and get back behind them they also slow down. 😡🤠
One good thing when driving in the inside lane is that, in busy motorway traffic, you have the extra option of an "escape lane" on the left (i.e., the hard shoulder) if something goes drastically wrong blocking the way in front of you and you have misjudged your safe stopping distance - when you are in the outside lane, all you have is the crash barrier or some neat driving skills to skip safely into an inside lane and whizz by the situation. Therefore always best to move into the left hand lane after overtaking.
p.s. Mid lane hoggers = mobile road blocks.
A woman once told me that she prefers to stay in the middle lane because 'if something happens you can go to the left or the right.' When I pointed out that the hard shoulder exists, she was dumbfounded!
Thanks for engaging with some of these issues.
I like to make good progress on motorways (and European equivalents) and, where safe and legal, will quite happily sit at 140+mph.
I routinely slot over to the left (in the UK) lane, whenever there's a reasonable stretch ahead, before the next vehicle.
It is not a problem.
Anyone who thinks it is a problem, should reflect on their own attitude and competence as a driver.
Too many people do not concentrate, preferring to be lazy and inconsiderate.
I'm open to other people's thoughts on this, but at 7m 23s, I would suggest you move to lane 2, at very least, to free up road space to the right - the principle being: get out of the way . . . if you can't do it by going faster, you should do it by moving left, regardless of how fast you intend to go, given an open lane ahead.
It’s just LAZY driving when they refuse to return to lane 1
The driver "lane hogging" is probably checking their mirrors every 3 seconds, waiting for the driver behind to respond to their signal and let them move over safely. Even when the driver behind is tailgated themselves they don't leave a bigger gap so the car in front can move over safely. I can keep the car behind me in the blind spot of a lorry and they will remain there. They are morons who pay no attention to their own driving. You see them all the time making educational videos whilst breaking several laws themselves
Was on the motorway yesterday… the left lane was busy the whole way with trucks… I tried many times to get back in to the left. I did just go back to the middle more regularly, but forever checking that people were not behind me tailgating or getting frustrated, I did top speed all the way. I got out of the way for folks who wanted to get past me. And off they went doing 90 - had to be at the speed compared to me!
If it was clear I got back in the left.
Middle lane hoggers in my opinion are only a problem if they are going slow and you need to overtake them!
If you wanna go slower… get in the left.
The motorway for Warrington has 4 lanes. Lanes 2, 3 & 4 are always occupied. I can set my cruise control at 72mph to not activate the plethora of speed cameras and safely undertake dozens upon dozens of cars because no one ever travels in lane 1, and it isn't a major route for lorries.
When you observe the drivers, they all look gormless and look to have the inability to be educated in any manner possible, even after the massive hint of being undertaken.
If you drive on the Continent where there is left-hand drive, you'll note that lane hogging is almost non-existing. On the opposite, many drivers don't preposition themselves for the exit in time.
But HGVs (called TIRs in Europe) also take 5+ minutes for overtaking (elephant races).
Oh so true.
I think the fast lane if they had one should be the farthest out & keep the middle lane as an overtaking lane. As if its between the slow lane & overtaking lane it doesn't really help anyone & is just what we have now change it around & you can fix this with a middle lane.
This is very logical
@@rutukedarbhagwat1746 should also add the part about it making lorries not be able to overtake as they'd have to pass through a faster lane than they can go to overtake another lorry.
The "fast lane" is really just for people who can go at or close to the speed limit. You should never be going faster than the speed limit.
The problem with making the fast lane the one furthest to the right is that a car travelling 70mph who wants to overtake a car going 69mph now has to move into the centre lane to overtake i.e. perform an undertake which is dangerous.
It makes the most sense to give everyone a lane to their right (or left in the US) to overtake in rather than have a shared overtaking lane in the middle that could have cars at wildly different speeds trying to merge into to overtake at the same time.
@@goaway9977 Your arguement makes sense until you apply the same idea to overtaking now from the outermost lane where you have to go through the faster cars lane & then to the end lane to overtake somebody which leads to it being more dangerous for slower vehicles. Anyway if your in the fast lane you likely aren't really going to be overtaking people as often as the regular lane.
@cillianennis9921 Ah I see what you're saying. I think in most people's conception if you are using the slow lane and need to overtake then you are more than welcome to use the fast lane to over take so long as you go back to the slow lane once you are done. No need to move all the way over to the overtake lane.
Cars travelling in the in the fast lane can then either slow down and wait for you to finish the overtake or they can move into the overtake lane to get around you. Yes it's a bit annoying for the car in the fast lane to have to go around and also the car in the slow lane might have to wait a bit for a gap in traffic before they can perform their overtake, but ultimately it is much safer than having a shared overtake lane in the middle where slow cars trying to overtake even slower cars and fast cars trying to overtake other fast cars are both entering the lane from different directions.
I have to admit that the "tramlines" have been a reason for me to use lane two instead of lane one on some occasions, but this was only on very few sections of motorway, and only when I had a Mercedes "E class" which has a quite wide wheelbase, this caused me to either drop into one or the other tramline, and there was no position where I was out of both of them. I no longer have a car that large, so no longer have to avoid that particular hazard. The acronym is CLOD (Centre lane only drivers)
Great video😊
Staying in the Left lane on a motorway with Multiple Lanes is impractical due to the speeds we travel nowadays I believe also the risk of incursions with traffic Entering the motorway or Urban Clearway from junctions would be too high. Staying in the middle or right lanes until traversing to leave the motorway or Clearway at your Junction would be best practice in my opinion.
4:44 20 seconds of Ratville begins
Similar in South Africa. Hogging the lane requires two things, you are in the right lane, AND you are going slower than someone who wants to overtake. If you're driving along blocking no one and you're faster than the traffic to the left of you, generally nobody gets upset with you. If you're going at the speed limit and the left lane is full of slow going lorries, the guy behind you needs to accept that traffic is a bit more intense than usual. But failing to move over when there is room to do so (even if the overtaker is speeding) is considered wrong.
4:53 why are people doing 4 lane changes in one cutting people off, why?
Because they're idiots
Because people are idiots
I quite enjoy marking people for pretend driving tests. Most fail. Tail lights are a dead giveaway. In this case, they made the white car in the fourth lane brake. Fail. Often the more aggressive drivers don't leave enough space between them and the car in front, so they need to be on the brakes constantly for any change in speed of the car ahead. Fail.
Unless I'm confronted by someone like that red car driver, I generally don't put my brakes on at all on a dual carriageway in steady traffic. It should be (and is most of the time) easily possible to just engine brake to accommodate speed changes by those ahead.
@KindredBrujah trouble is a lot of modern cars, mine included will apply the brakes automatically to maintain a gap when they do the lights come on, I'm not talking anchors on its so slight you don't feel it but if the car is auto braking it does by law apply the lights. Alternatively just move out of the faster cars way and let them go 🙅
One thing that doesn't help is when the signs say lane one is an exit lane and lane two is a forward lane, but you get to the junction and lane one ends up being both. Only those that drive through those junctions regularly know the correct lane. The M6 near Birmingham is a prime example where lane 3 and 4 become forward lanes and that encourages lane hogging.
It's the lighter vehicle drivers that do 52.731 mph that cause problems, particularly to us HGV drivers trying to make progress. I see it all the time.
I personally dislike the ones ding 52.732 mph.
As a motorcyclist I must admit that I have had issues with tramlines from Lorrie’s which have led me to use the second lane instead. When your wheels are in a line it becomes much more of an issue!
In Germany these people are called "Mittelspurschleicher" (middle lane creeper)
I bet none of the people asked said "I'm a selfish git who doesn't care about anyone else on the road"
That's the only honest answer.
See my answer 👌😁
And on a 4 lane motorway, they hog lane 3 :(
Observations are very important when driving and many drivers don't look beyond their bonnet unfortunately so don't plan ahead
Motorway lessons should be mandated
Dual Carriageways can teach you all you want to know plus much more about driving on motorways.
Yes it’s very important to drive in the left lane unless overtaking.
4:53 why'd you blur the psycho's plates? These people aren't worth defending lol
I wonder too, a few other plates were blurred too tho ?
true they aren't, but there's a chance people might spam report that psycho and then this video might be taken down
if this video reaches a wide audience i dont think OP would like to be held liable for some dickhead to take physical action
@@tiffanyk2743 The number plate only identifies the car on the day of the video. It doesn't identify the driver, which could change any time after the video, as well as the owner. You wouldn't want some innocent person getting blamed for someone else's driving in a particular car. Not to mention cloned number plates these days!
I drive up to 1000 miles a week for work and I always try to keep to the left as this is the legal definition of driving in the UK whatever your speed. Nowadays it's not just tram lines on the inside lane it's really dangerously deep potholes. While the councils and HIghways England fail to maintain these you will find even more people will hog the centre lane.
I wish you taught me driving
Back in the 1980's, my girlfriend had a really good driving test. It was at the end questions, when the examiner asked her, what is the right lane on a motorway used for? She replied 'going fast'. He gave her a little time to think, she got there! a first time pass. 🙂