Centre Lane Hoggers to be Fined!

[Lancerlot]

I've mixed feelings about this.

I find centre and outside lane hoggers as infuriating as everyone else, but sometimes I use the centre lane myself because it's not always easy to keep the car fully under control in the left hand lane as it get jostled around due to the ruts worn into the surface by HGV's.

So the question is, "Is it better to stay legal in the LH lane, but lacking full control of the car or take to centre lane where you risk getting fined for lane hogging?

Personally, I would favour allowing either side overtaking on motorways. There would then be no need for this new legislation. [8|]

Regards,

Clive.

 

[Mark Elder]

What defines a hogger?

If you drive along in the middle lane on an empty motorway does that count? Or do you need to be impeding someone else's progress by being in middle lane to be classed as a hogger? If the latter how do the boys in blue identify this has happening - tough to do from a distance and if they are pottering along in left lane to watch they will themselves be a reason for the hogger to be in the middle lane.

I welcome this new rule if it gets a few sleeping phone users to get out of the way but I don't see how it's going to be operationally implemented.

 

[944s2]

The first time I was driving in Germany I could not beleive how quickly they moved to inside lane after an overtake

This is what folk over here need to learn to do

Like most folk in central Scotland I seen folk sit in outside lane on M8 for mille upon mile blissfully unaware of empty lane to left

OK If you have wide tyred car and inside lane is badly rutted you would hope for sum discretion by Boys in Blue but Clive did not think you wnet slow enough for inside lane []

 

[Fred Hindle]

Does it matter if the motorway is empty or not? The Highway Code (as we have all signed up to abide by it (you do so when you pass your driving test and the examiner asks you to sign at the bottom of the page)).

Excerpt from HC

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

Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6

Allowing overtaking on both sides, that would mean people would have to use all their mirrors when it is blatantly obvious some people don't bother using any.

Cheers,

 

[Rodney Naghar]

German drivers on the Autobahns tend to follow the manoeuvre, mirror, omg, signal (back into their original lane) approach to overtaking, kindly enough when you're doing over 150mph with beams on. Awful standard of driving. Always glad to be back in Blighty.

I think needless changing of lanes if you're not impeding anyone's progress is more dangerous than its worth.

 

[garyw]

Even on the 4 lane stretches of motorway you still find people sat in lane 2 and 3!!
The rules are already in place to prosecute drivers for lane hogging (as they were for mobile phones) but this at least makes it clearer of the crime.

I read that travelling over 1 mile in the lane would be indicative of hogging.

Strange that the two lanes of German and French motorways don't have these issues, true there is a lot less traffic on them but its shocking the amount of time that when there are queues, you get to the front to see the front car is a GB plated vehicle [:'(]

At least with the fines it'll help out the countries/counties financial issues []

 

[guitarplayer63]

Introduce overtaking on both sides and the middle lane will empty as the CLOC (centre lane owners club) will realise they don't have the safety margin of an empty lane next to them...

 

[Ekona]

Easy answer: Snipers.

Put snipers on every motorway bridge and if someone isn't moving over when they clearly could, BANG. One more blind numpty off the road. Problem solved.



These new laws will make zero difference to the roads anyway, we don't have enough TrafPol out there to enforce them.

 

[MarlowCrew]

ORIGINAL: Ekona

Easy answer: Snipers.

Put snipers on every motorway bridge and if someone isn't moving over when they clearly could, BANG. One more blind numpty off the road. Problem solved.



These new laws will make zero difference to the roads anyway, we don't have enough TrafPol out there to enforce them.

I like the sentiment of the first part, but I do hope the new laws will make a difference. I've never understood the logic of prosecuting for undertaking, but not for disobeying the simple and long standing "Keep left" rule.

 

[Clewsey]

As Dan is saying, the police have to be actually on the road to enforce this!

I doubt this will make any "real" difference and I expect the boys in blue may not actually either if you were to ask them. I imagine many folk won't have even heard this announcement even though it's been on the news.

Personally speaking, whilst driving isn't perfect in Germany it is much better than here in the UK. People get over-protective of their space and education is non-existent so it's no wonder our driving standards are very low.

For me the the law needs to come down harder on the use of mobile phone use at the wheel as this is becoming a real problem when you casually look around you on a busy motorway these days...

Cheers

 

[pwebb]

On the news item we are reminded that we should keep to the 2 second rule (4 in the wet) - all for that - except if you dare to leave that gap on a congested motorway it is instantly filled by someone in the next lane. So you go backwards...

 

[Glyn]

We should all be driving in the left hand lane (In the UK) all the time except for when overtaking, its easy to do and whilst I appreciate HGV ruts can make the car wander a bit it doesn't make it dangerous or the car getting out of control - so dreaming up a plausible reason for not driving properly doesn't cut it with me and I suspect wont do with the Police.

I don't expect there will be any great enforcement of the new law as there are very few traffic police left in fact very few police full stop - and those that they have are running job to job - no time to enforce this law - just like running with high density light on in good weather or not having them on in poor visibility.
I feel this will be used when Police want a reason to stop a car - after all, follow a car long enough and you will find justification to pull it over and have a word - then work their way to the real reason for pulling them over.

I too found drivers in France and Germany much better disciplined on motorways - I couldn't believe how readily they pulled over to the right lane after overtaking - I was also pleasantly surprised that I didn't get the finger up as I overtook them - which I usually get in this country just for overtaking them and having a nice car - not driving like a twat, its just many drivers in the UK gets a bit upset when you pass them, don't know what that's about.

I really cant stand those drivers that sit in the middle lane with a completely empty lane to their left - and usually as far as the eye can see - and their completely oblivious to the fact its bad driving - indeed, my wife gets annoyed when a passenger with me because I drive in the left lane - pull out to overtake and pull back in, she keeps asking why not simply stay in the one lane.

However, I have little faith that enforcement of the rules will have any impact on driving standards, fines and points have had little affect on mobile phone usage and whilst I could understand some people would use their phone whilst driving years ago I am surprised that so many still do when many cars have hands free Bluetooth or can get it fitted so cheaply - then they can chat all day without risking any penalty - so is it just arrogance?

 

[Lancerlot]

I agree. I doubt the cops will be very sympathetic, but the highest performance models with their wide section, low profile boots and uncompromised chassis can be the very devil to hold on to in deeply rutted LH lanes. []

Maybe 991's with the straight-ahead play in their electric steering racks, will fair much better. []

Regards,

Clive.

 

[Fred Hindle]

ORIGINAL: Lancerlot

I agree. I doubt the cops will be very sympathetic, but the highest performance models with their wide section, low profile boots and uncompromised chassis can be the very devil to hold on to in deeply rutted LH lanes. []

Maybe 991's with the straight-ahead play in their electric steering racks, will fair much better. []

Regards,

Clive.

Its called 'driving according to the conditions' If the surface is crap then you take the appropriate measures to ensure you can remain in control.

Cheers,

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

[Its called 'driving according to the conditions' If the surface is crap then you take the appropriate measures to ensure you can remain in control.

There is clearly much I have yet to learn about driving.

That's the great thing about PCGB - there are so many experts willing to help!! []

 

[vitesse]

Fred's not an expert-he's a data shark-however he is usually & generally correct but not politically.[]

I always try to get back to the LH lane but in my opinion in much of the current traffic flows on motorways,it seems more dangerous to keep having to perform the "in & out" manoeuvre with slower trucks LH lane ,then equal speed vans/slow drivers ,middle lane than to stay middle lane at a more comfortable speed with overtaking as necessary in the outer lane-returning to the LH lane when it clears & vehicle density makes it safer & more practical.

The really dangerous practice becoming more prevalent of choosing to rapidly swap to the LH lane to undertake slower moving traffic because a gap occurs then switching back to & bullying the way into the outer lane ,ie leapfrogging could be classed as PC ie-.the driver is returning to the LH lane but it's lethal for the many timid drivers who can't sometimes react appropriately-then you get brakes stamped on & accidents.

Then again, most of our motorway driving is done in the BMW which fortunately has both the brakes & the power to enable one to keep clear of the idiots.

 

[Fred Hindle]

-Colin,
It also allows you to catch up to the idiots!

Cheers,

 

[Melv]

Don't l know why u guys are whinging about UK driving standards -try driving in Italy for a while....... X

 

[Carina]

I have no issue with anyone hogging the middle lane if it's an empty motorway and the inside lane is rutted or there is the occasional car/lorry in that lane but nothing else much on the roads. But when there is any volume of traffic the idiots who trundle along the middle lane at 60mph, causing the "the speed limit is 70mph and that's what I am doing" smart-alecs to then hog the outside lane - THAT is when fines should be handed out liberally - or better still, Ekona's sniper idea []

And anyway Clive, I don't think the kind of speeds you do count as 'hogging' in ANY lane []

 

[Ekona]

I also want to extend my sniper policy to putting them on roundabouts, to take out the numpties who feel that they don't have to indicate. At least 50% of drivers would be of the roads that way, which means the rest of us who do bother to indicate can get places quicker. Tax revenues may go down as a result of lost VED and fuel duty, but this will be made up by the PAYE paid by people employed both as the snipers and also the clean-up crews.


There is literally no downside to this plan.