This is where the American system works well, passing any lane. Faced with choice of slowing down, parking myself behind the slower driver in lane 3 or 4 with the hope they would see me and move over or passing with 1 - 2 empty lanes between - rightly or wrongly I'll probably pass in lane 1. However if the traffic is busy or there are special circumstances eg near a junction then sitting behind the slower driver would be is the better option.

A similar but slightly different problem that I often have to deal with on the M2 / A2 which has many 4 laned sections is when moving from lane 4 to lane 3 to let a faster vehicle past only to find a slower vehicle is hogging lane 3 whilst lane 2 is free. The temptation is to use the empty lane (lane 2) but this is where matters get complex and more dangerous.

I did see a recent feature on my twitter feed from Kent Police RPU (Road Policing Unit) about activity prosecuting drivers who hog the wrong lane, boasting that they had dealt with 2 drivers in 5 minutes for Careless Driving (lane hogging) so this matter is on the police radar.

I will however maintain my speed and lane, if there happens to be a vehicle causing a rolling road block in another lane then i tend to ignore them as if they arn't there, i maintain my speed and lane, if they take umbrage so be it.

Same here.

>I do use lane 1 to undertake, both solo and towing, on occasions - it's not legal though<

I only do it if the hogger is maintaining a set speed, very often 40-45 mph, usually a young person who I think is afraid of the motorway, I know someone like that who I had to drive somewhere, but kept telling me off for going too fast

Never drove them anywhere again!

I do use lane 1 to undertake, both solo and towing, on occasions - it's not legal though.

I do too. I'll not slow down if someone in the middle lane is going slow, I'll just maintain my speed, but keep a wary eye out for a surprise manoeuvre from them into my lane just as I'm passing.

If I slow down, then I'm no better than they are, slowing down and disrupting traffic flow. The whole point is to keep the traffic flowing seamlessly. When it works it's much less tiring and enjoyable. But there are always selfish people who don't get it and it only takes one to put a spanner in the works.