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Why do people hog the middle lane and why isn't undertaking permitted?
I make the following points in relation to the debate about motorway driving. Lane hogging in any lane other than the inner lane is bad driving practice. Outside lane hoggers are the greatest danger for all the reasons that centre lane hoggers are perceived as a danger, but also because most travel at 80mph plus. Many complain that centre lane hoggers hog the centre lane of empty motorways. Does it matter where one drives on a motorway that is literally empty? Logically, one must conclude that drivers who complain of centre lane hoggers are themselves centre lane hoggers who wish to drive somewhat faster than the centre lane hogger holding them up.
When I travelled habitually at speeds of 15 to 30 per cent above the statutory limit, lane hogging was a minor irritant. Now that I generally travel at or within the limit it is a trivial issue, certainly not deserving of on-the-spot fines. Centre lane hoggers are very predictable in staying put in their chosen lane. One may overtake them with confidence that they will not suddenly move into your path. This definitely cannot be said of many of their critics. The concept of lane hogging doesn't arise in the US where "undertaking" is not prohibited. If it works in the US why not in the UK?
When I travelled habitually at speeds of 15 to 30 per cent above the statutory limit, lane hogging was a minor irritant. Now that I generally travel at or within the limit it is a trivial issue, certainly not deserving of on-the-spot fines. Centre lane hoggers are very predictable in staying put in their chosen lane. One may overtake them with confidence that they will not suddenly move into your path. This definitely cannot be said of many of their critics. The concept of lane hogging doesn't arise in the US where "undertaking" is not prohibited. If it works in the US why not in the UK?
Asked on 3 August 2013 by JB, Altrincham
Answered by
Honest John
Happily, Lane Hogging is about to be made a specific fixed penalty offence: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/legal--motoring-advice/2.../
A motorway may be "literally empty" ahead of you but what about behind? By hogging a centre lane, members of CLOG (Centre Lane Owners Group) force drivers driving correctly to either cross several lanes and back to drive around you or to pass you on the nearside. But I agree about undertaking. There is uncertainly about this in the UK since there is no specific law against it. It should be specifically allowed. I too drive at the speed limit, which is 3mph more than 70mph on my speedometer, as shown by the GPS screen in the centre of my dash. Car speedos legally vary by as much as 10 per cent. It is very dangerous to be forced to cross several lanes in order to pass some plonker who is smugly sticking to 70mph on his speedo when that is a true 66 or less.
A motorway may be "literally empty" ahead of you but what about behind? By hogging a centre lane, members of CLOG (Centre Lane Owners Group) force drivers driving correctly to either cross several lanes and back to drive around you or to pass you on the nearside. But I agree about undertaking. There is uncertainly about this in the UK since there is no specific law against it. It should be specifically allowed. I too drive at the speed limit, which is 3mph more than 70mph on my speedometer, as shown by the GPS screen in the centre of my dash. Car speedos legally vary by as much as 10 per cent. It is very dangerous to be forced to cross several lanes in order to pass some plonker who is smugly sticking to 70mph on his speedo when that is a true 66 or less.
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