why do you only drive in the middle lane on motorways? you know who you are! senisble answers please?

Question

when ever i ask why people drive only in the middle lanes, everyone seems to agree that it is really annoying but i can never find anyone who admits to it. is there anyone brave enough to give a sensible answer as to why they do it? there's plently of you out there.

Answer 1

On a 3 lane Motorway, the inside lane is used primarily for speed restricted or large vehicles.
The centre lane is for those travelling at the speed limit of 70mph.
The outside lane is for those performing an overtaking manoeuvre.

95% of drivers break the speed limit.

If someone in front of you is going slower, check your speed. You will probably find that YOU are breaking the speed limit.

Answer 2

Basically to improve safety. Firstly the most common and dangerous mistake enacted by bad drivers on motorways is driving "too close" to the vehicle in front and this has caused thousands of accidents and deaths. That is why it can enhance safety of all for some to pull into the middle lane to ease this.I also stay in the middle lane either if all traffic in the inner lane is going slower than I am, and all three lanes are congested or alternatively when coming up to an incoming filter like J11 on the M4, where a very large number of vehicles may be trying to join or leave the motorway at that Exit. This makes it safer for them by people staying on motorway keeping clear of them?

Answer 3

I've not read the uk highway code recently but I was under the impression that on a 3 lane motorway...
left hand lane was for driving only,
middle lane was for driving and overtaking,
right hand lane was for overtaking only,
and once you had overtaken the vehicle you should always continue driving in the left hand lane as quickly as you could.
I'm a white van man and just love to undertake all these crazzzzy fools that drive in the middle lane at 50mph.
why should I use a lot of effort to do a overtaking manouver for these fools that can't follow the rules of the road propperly?
Undertake and throw a kebab out the window when you do so!!!

Answer 4

I sometimes do it if I am on an unfamiliar road, late at night when there are few other vehicles around.

If there is a sharp bend to the left or the right, or there is a sudden gust of wind, if I'm in the middle lane I won't end up coming off the road or hitting the central reservation, but will simply end up encroaching on one of the other lanes.

On familiar roads, during the day or if there are lots of other vehicles around, I can usually be found in the middle lane because I'm usually overtaking a lorry. If I'm not overtaking anything, I'll be in the left lane.

This only works if there are no other vehicles around, of course ;-)

Answer 5

The way I see the highways it should be set up like this:

Three lanes -

Left most lane only used for passing.

Middle lane - cruising at highway speeds.

Right lane - acceleration and deceleration to get on and off of the highway ONLY.

This would help solve many issues for those that try to ride the right lane congesting on coming traffic and those that drive slow in the left lane for no apparent reason.

Great question hope I have had some insight,
KC

Answer 6

I do it because I'm going too fast for the slow lane and I'll leave the fast lane for people to overtake me.

The highway code says keep left unless overtaking, but that was written many many years ago when a) there weren't so many cars on the road, and b) cars weren't going so fast. I consider some of it out of date and impractical

I would never want to keep changing lanes every 20 seconds, just to overtake a lorry or slower driver. It's more dangerous to everyone to keep changing lanes.

Hogging the middle lane is only annoying where there is obviously room on the left for them to cruise at the speed they are doing

Answer 7

The only times I drive in the middle lane without the intention of overtaking is when I have simply 'switched off'. If I could tell you differently, I would.

I get the impression that some drivers think they must be in the middle lane because the inside lane is for disabled people, and the outside lane is for lunatics.

Answer 8

i drive a 18wheeler and i openly admit to use the center lane (on a 3 lane hwy)
the simple reason is because i am not fast enough for the left lane, on the other hand, if i drive in the right lane, i have cars and suvs cutting me off on a regular base, because they want to make the quick exit and they can't merge behind me and loose 3 seconds (i guess they rather risk their and other peoples life)

most drivers just don't realize that a truck does not stop and accelerate like their 2000lbs car.

if somebody doesn't believe me, i gladly take him on a ride through chicago or atlanta and show them what it's like

Answer 9

well i keep on the left lane mostly but there are occasions when i am doing 70 mph.. , and if there are no cars in left lane then also i keep in the middle lane coz if after goin a bit forwards and if i find tht there is a car in the left who is doin less than 70 then i dont have to *** back in the middle lane.. and also bcoz there are sum ppl who go more than 75 and i let them use the rite lane..

Answer 10

I try to drive in the middle lane so other drivers can pass me on either side. I leave the left lane for speeders and the right lane for slow drivers. I try to go no more than 10 miles over the speed limit

Answer 11

To those who think the Highway Code is out of date, tough, it is the law and should be obeyed therefore you must drive on the left at all times unless overtaking or turning right. For those who think it is out of date, do you think all other "old" laws are out of date and do you flount them as well? It is not out of date and is regularly reviewed and improved upon. I hate middle lane hoggers almost as much as I hate the idiots who have their fog lamps on where there is no fog. What's with the people who have their front fog lamps on all the time? They are not driving lamps and only lights above the bumper are to be used when there is no fog.