Do you have a motorway deathwish?

TeaFan · 07-02-2006, 08:36

There was another appalling accident on the M1 on Sunday, and apparently 3 people died. I don't know what happened in this instance, but I find that the standard of motorway driving in this country is generally quite alarming. Are you one those people who drives at a steady 90 mph in the outside lane, about 6 ft. from the car in front? If so, I am genuinely interested to know whether you just prefer not to think about what might happen if you need to brake quickly, or if you think "if you're time is up, there's nothing you can do about it", or what?

steviewonder · 07-02-2006, 08:40

i find its the people who don't know the difference between the lanes is the problem.

The are for over taking!!

yet people hog the middle lane going like a snail!

Once I was doing about 70mph in the 1st lane, nothing on the motorway pitch black at night and I kid you not there was a car in front of me doing less than 30mph. Idiots!

Berberis · 07-02-2006, 08:51

I'm personally shocked by the number of people who undertake on the M1 these days .. If the 'fast' lane is doing between 70 and 80 and they want to do 90 and the 'slow' lane is free they just fly up there and then jump into someone’s stopping distance about 3 cars ahead!

GoGo_dancer · 07-02-2006, 08:53

I'm not a fan of motorway driving, but I do drive as I am supposed to, at a decent speed, in the first lane, over taking vehicles as and when I need to.

The ones who hog the middle lane do my head in!!

I drive to Hull quite a lot and the M62 is usually clear when I travel and you can guarantee that there will always be someone tootling down the middle lane at about 65mph even if there no cars in the left hand lane! Worst I've seen was on a trip to Nottingham, it rained so hard that me and about 10 other cars were down to about 45mph in the slow lane, all keeping a safe distance from each other and this big black BMW went flying round us all at about 90mph! What an idiot!!

TeaFan · 07-02-2006, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by serapis

I'm personally shocked by the number of people who undertake on the M1 these days .. If the 'fast' lane is doing between 70 and 80 and they want to do 90 and the 'slow' lane is free they just fly up there and then jump into someone’s stopping distance about 3 cars ahead!

Totally. That really gets my snot out.

DaFoot · 07-02-2006, 11:06

I drive shef to leeds + back everyday. Lots of time on M1.
I could list a bunch of stuff that winds me up but my 'favourite(?!)' hate is when ppl decide that the space I left between me and the car in front is there cos I was nice enuf to leave space for people to get in front of me.

Nate · 07-02-2006, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by serapis

I'm personally shocked by the number of people who undertake on the M1 these days .. If the 'fast' lane is doing between 70 and 80 and they want to do 90 and the 'slow' lane is free they just fly up there and then jump into someone’s stopping distance about 3 cars ahead!

Fast lane?
Slow lane?

If the "slow lane" (as you call it) is empty, then the people in the "fast lane" are in the wrong - they have no reason to be there.

I can't stand idiots, and unfortunately, the motorway is full of them. I get more annoyed with the deluded tard sat in the middle lane at a steady 70mph, not overtaking anyone, than i get with the guy 6ft from my back end in the outside lane if im in there for no reason.

Solution?

Drive in the inside lane (left hand). If there's something in front of you driving slower, use the middle lane to overtake, then pull back in.

Simple

Hecate · 07-02-2006, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by dafoot

...my 'favourite(?!)' hate is when ppl decide that the space I left between me and the car in front is there cos I was nice enuf to leave space for people to get in front of me.

Absolutely hit the nail on the head with this. Numpties who drive so close behind the car in front that you can hardly see their number plate are truly the spawn of the devil. They apparently believe that they are immortal, that accidents happen to other people.

Yes, motorway driving can be relatively safe, especially when you consider what many drivers get up to on twisty-turny roads in built up areas. However, surely it's common sense to do whatever possible to keep motorway driving safe: drive according to the conditions, don't swerve from lane to lane because you think it's so important to get that one car's distance in front, don't try to intimidate those in front of you by driving up their backsides... I could go on, but everyone knows how they should be driving on motorways.

Berberis · 07-02-2006, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaNate

Fast lane?
Slow lane?

If the "slow lane" (as you call it) is empty, then the people in the "fast lane" are in the wrong - they have no reason to be there.

I can't stand idiots, and unfortunately, the motorway is full of them. I get more annoyed with the deluded tard sat in the middle lane at a steady 70mph, not overtaking anyone, than i get with the guy 6ft from my back end in the outside lane if im in there for no reason.

Solution?

Drive in the inside lane (left hand). If there's something in front of you driving slower, use the middle lane to overtake, then pull back in.

Simple

Save your angst for someone else please ... my references to fast and slow lanes where meant to be humorous, that’s why I used inverted commas!

Now regarding my reference to people using the left-hand lane to undertake. This is easily done even if other road users are adhering to the rules of using a motorway. If said car is travelling fast enough, they can easily weave in-between traffic travelling in both left and middle lanes and then jump into someone’s breaking distance a few cars ahead. This usually results in breaking of the car behind the guy with a death wise which sets off everyone else in the lane having to break!

Nate · 07-02-2006, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by serapis

Save your angst for someone else please ... my references to fast and slow lanes where meant to be humorous, that’s why I used inverted commas!

I assure you, no angst intended

I clearly didn't read your posts thoroughly enough before quoting it

willman · 07-02-2006, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by serapis

I'm personally shocked by the number of people who undertake on the M1 these days .. If the 'fast' lane is doing between 70 and 80 and they want to do 90 and the 'slow' lane is free they just fly up there and then jump into someone’s stopping distance about 3 cars ahead!

but you are obliged by the highway code to pull over after overtaking. you should not therefore be driving in the "fast lane" at 70 if the other lanes are obviously free.
if "you" drove correctly other drivers wouldn't have to break the law.

max · 07-02-2006, 12:38

A police driver interviewed on Radio 4 admitted to 'undertaking' on motorways. His argument being that if he has time and space to change lanes, overtake and then change back again so too does the undertaken driver have time to pull over to let him pass.

Good enough for me.

steviewonder · 07-02-2006, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaNate

Fast lane?
Slow lane?

If the "slow lane" (as you call it) is empty, then the people in the "fast lane" are in the wrong - they have no reason to be there.

I can't stand idiots, and unfortunately, the motorway is full of them. I get more annoyed with the deluded tard sat in the middle lane at a steady 70mph, not overtaking anyone, than i get with the guy 6ft from my back end in the outside lane if im in there for no reason.

Solution?

Drive in the inside lane (left hand). If there's something in front of you driving slower, use the middle lane to overtake, then pull back in.

Simple

spot on!

exactly what i meant to put

Berberis · 07-02-2006, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by willman

but you are obliged by the highway code to pull over after overtaking. you should not therefore be driving in the "fast lane" at 70 if the other lanes are obviously free.
if "you" drove correctly other drivers wouldn't have to break the law.

That would be a valid point if everyone on the motorway drove at a constant speed, but as you would have experienced on many motorways, lane speeds vary dramatically from time to time especially at peak times.

Playpen · 07-02-2006, 13:36

Yep, middle & outer lane hoggers are the biggest annoyance to me !

Need the overhead signs on all the time saying "Keep Left", just to remind the muppets. I occasionally flash people

when they have acres of space to move left into, usually they realise but there are plenty who move over, you go past them and pull left, they then flash you like mad and move back into the middle lane !!!! ****ers !

Cynic · 07-02-2006, 15:54

I think motorway driving should be part of the test. Although I guess this isn't practical. The rules people stick too seem to purely based on their opinion rather than the rules.

Am I one of the Middle/Outer lane hogs talked about? I will happily sit in the the righthand lane if part of a stream of traffic (with a sensible distance to the next car) moving quicker than people in the other lanes. Should I be moving back to the middle lane if there is going to be a few second gap before passing the next car to allow the idiot behind flashing their lights to get passed and attach themselves to the car in fronts rear bumper. It seems that is what some of you are implying.

The thing that most recently infuriated me was on the M18 with the roadworks in place. I was in the left lane travelling pretty much exactly 50mph as per the camera enforced limit. A lorry spent the whole of the length of the road works about 6ft from my boot flashing their lights. Just before the limit was lifted they overtook me and moved in to the middle lane travelling at their limited speed of 59mph so once it was back to normal motorway limits , I then overtook them and pulled back in plenty in front of them only for them to put their full beam and fog lights on untill I was out of sight! They clearly though I was the one in the wrong.

Another thing that really winds me up is people pulling back in to the left lane as you are joining the motorway I don't know why this happens so often to me. Usually as I have already half entered the clear left lane forcing me to swerve and slam on the brakes.

owlface · 07-02-2006, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynic

I think motorway driving should be part of the test. Although I guess this isn't practical. The rules people stick too seem to purely based on their opinion rather than the rules.

Spot on there.
It's ludicrous that as a learner you are not allowed to drive on a motorway, yet as soon as you pass your test you can drive unaccompanied on the one type of road you have never driven on nor had tuition for.

Cyclone · 07-02-2006, 19:47

interesting anecdote alert.
A traffic cop (ex as he'd left the force) told me that undertaking is not actually illegal. It is advised against.
So if it's safe to do so and some moron is hogging the middle lane, go ahead and undertake.
If you get pulled, explain that they were in the wrong lane, undertaking was safe, and that you had observed the hard shoulder to be empty if they pulled left without checking, so you could avoid them if need be.

I don't like to undertake, but if someone is sat in the middle lane for no reason I've got fed up with having to move out two lanes to overtake, then move back two lanes to carry on.
I try not to tailgate though, it is probably the largest cause of motorway accidents. But put up a few speed cameras, that'll solve it, or at least line the government coffers.

Cyclone · 07-02-2006, 19:51

you may well find that your speedo overreads by about 10%, so they didn't like being held to 45mph when they could be doing 50.
That doesn't excuse there behaviour, but it might go part way to explaining it.

To determine whether to pull back over, I normally assess a few things for myself. Firstly, will I have to pull out again within about 5 seconds, or before the car behind me has finished passing me. If yes, then I don't pull over as it would be pointless and/or dangerous. Secondly, am I at my chosen speed, or do I wish to pass the car in front and go faster. If I'm still waiting to go faster, then I don't pull over, I wait for the car infront to pull over, overtake them and then reassess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynic

I think motorway driving should be part of the test. Although I guess this isn't practical. The rules people stick too seem to purely based on their opinion rather than the rules.

Am I one of the Middle/Outer lane hogs talked about? I will happily sit in the the righthand lane if part of a stream of traffic (with a sensible distance to the next car) moving quicker than people in the other lanes. Should I be moving back to the middle lane if there is going to be a few second gap before passing the next car to allow the idiot behind flashing their lights to get passed and attach themselves to the car in fronts rear bumper. It seems that is what some of you are implying.

The thing that most recently infuriated me was on the M18 with the roadworks in place. I was in the left lane travelling pretty much exactly 50mph as per the camera enforced limit. A lorry spent the whole of the length of the road works about 6ft from my boot flashing their lights. Just before the limit was lifted they overtook me and moved in to the middle lane travelling at their limited speed of 59mph so once it was back to normal motorway limits , I then overtook them and pulled back in plenty in front of them only for them to put their full beam and fog lights on untill I was out of sight! They clearly though I was the one in the wrong.

Another thing that really winds me up is people pulling back in to the left lane as you are joining the motorway I don't know why this happens so often to me. Usually as I have already half entered the clear left lane forcing me to swerve and slam on the brakes.

Jake01 · 07-02-2006, 20:02

I tend to stay on the left when I can.... I use the M53 every day to get into work along with a few hundred other employees as the shifts change. Most of them are young Lads in brand new cars and lots of em think they can take the world on.... this has caused quite a few accidents of late.... I am glad to say though that there is now a purge of employees at shift time changes by the police and a few have already lost their licenses.... well overdue.