What distance do you think it is OK to remain in the motorway middle lane after overtaking and why?

Answer 1

Ah, don't get me started about the CLOC (Centre Lane Owners Club)...

Doesn't the Highway Code say "Keep left, unless overtaking"?

Some people seem to think they can stay in the middle lane forever.

Personally, I move over to lane 1 when there is a decent braking space between me and the vehicle I have overtaken.

Additional:
To Merovinjiin (below). 20 or 30 seconds at 70mph is over half a mile. Time 20 seconds now with your watch. You think keeping left for that length of time will "confuse" other drivers? You have working indicators, right?

Answer 2

The inside lane is used for normal driving and the middle/outside lane are used for overtaking. After overtaking you should return to the inside lane of the motorway. If however the inside lane is taken up by slow moving traffic a safe distance between you and the car in front should be about three car lengths.

Answer 3

Its all a matter of judgement and depends on the traffic on any given day.

By default I drive in the left lane, unless overtaking someone. I'll then move back into the left lane as soon as appropriate.

When that is depends on all sorts of things... If there is another vehicle within a short distance ahead that I would also have to overtake, I wouldn't pull back into the left lane. I'd wait until I was past the second vehicle... or third or whatever I depends on the traffic.

Also, if the traffic is heavier then I may have to wait longer for a space to pull back into the left lane, and there may be more vehicles to overtake in one go anyway - see my first point above.

I'll often also pull out of the left lane to allow someone onto the motorway (or dual carriageway) from a slip road - I don't have to, but do it out of the kindness of my heart. But I only do this if it won't affect anyone else already on the motorway/dual carriageway.

Answer 4

Well, I would suggest that you return to the left hand lane as soon as it safe to do so - I drive thousands of mile a year on the motorway, and often see an overcrowded middle lane with cars too close together, where there is perhaps a lorry in the left hand lane a mile ahead. All the speeding cars then are forced to the right hand lane and they often have to brake hard to slow back to 70. If drivers kept a good lane discipline and moved back left as they can I think that the roads would be nicer to drive along - instead of everyone crowding into 2 lanes, perhaps use all 3?

The other thing that often happens is when I am approaching a slow middle lane hogger and I am in the left lane, to overtake I have to cross 2 lanes to the outside and then back again - extra manouvering on the motorway that is dangerous

Answer 5

It's been mentioned before that the question isn't particularly clear, but here goes nothing:

I personally feel that people in the middle lane can remain there as long as the situation permits and continue to drive the maximum speed allowed on those roads. This will avoid them weaving in and out of the slow lane overtaking lorries and other "slow" traffic, and will allow other drivers to enter the highway without problems. I would like to put a special emphasis on driving the maximum speed, otherwise they become a bottle neck.

When drivers do overtake via the middle lane and do not adhere to the maximum speed, they should continue to overtake the vehicle until they can see it in their mirrors and have established that there is a safe distance between them and the car overtaken.

Trucks or vehicles with a limited maximum speed should not be allowed to overtake between 06:00 and 19:00.

Answer 6

Normally when I overtake someone I wait until I can see the car in the rear view mirror, indicate and pull back over. The issue I have is when there is traffic on the horizon (usually lorries) in the left hand lane that you know you will have to overtake in the near future. Do you go into the left lane, then pull back into the middle lane shortly after?

Answer 7

It depends on what the traffic's like. If I can see more slow-moving vehicles in the left lane up ahead, which I'd have to pull out to overtake very soon, I'll stay in the middle lane. If there's a good gap before the next overtaking opportunity, I'll pull back in.

I also tend to avoid pulling back into the middle lane if I'm passing a junction at that exact moment, to allow for vehicles coming down the slip road, then move over once I'm past the junction. Same goes for when there's a car stopped on the hard shoulder - if I'm out of the left lane, I'll stay out of it till I'm past.

Answer 8

You should return to Lane 1 as soon as it is safe to do so. This is normaly about 5-10 seconds after passing your last vehicle.
The Highway Code says that you must keep left unless overtaking and some signs on Dual Carriagways always used to say that too.

It is lazy, selfish and arrogant to be a CLOD (Centre Lane Only Driver). Any longish motorway journey is rendered frustrating by traffic "clumping" because of CLODs.

Why these people think that just because their speedo says 70 gives them the right to not keep left baffles me. In fact, many of them aren't even doing 70!

Answer 9

So many factors which the driver must consider:
1. Has the driver passed the vehicle being overtaken safely?
2. At what distance and speed is the following vehicle?
3. Is the motorway busy/quiet?
4. Is the vehicle obstructing another vehicle from passing him/her?

The list continues but is only resolved by the knowledge, common sense and appreciation of other drivers positions, needs and speeds.

In general one should always revert to he inside lane as soon as it is safe to do so.

I would be very interested in the views of others as so many factors are (potentially) involved!

Answer 10

Depends on how busy the motorway is. Sometimes you pull out into the middle lane to overtake a slower vehicle, a lorry say. In the distance you see another vehicle doing the same speed. The question comes up, " Do I pull in for 20 or 30 seconds, or stay here in the middle lane..? " I stay in the middle lane so that drivers behind me dont have to think or predict what my next action will be. As for CLOC, what a crock of **** The outside lanes there for a reason.