Middle Lane Hogging

[jb66]

Originally Posted by Onramp

nobody wants to slow down. So, a speed boost that un-limits by 10mph and recharges every 40 seconds or so would solve the "but he won't slow down" situation. Unless of course both boost at the same time, but that is still less of an issue than neither ever doing so.

That would be a nightmare lorries would just constantly press it every 40 seconds even when not overtaking

[Uncle Peter]

A speed boost button isn't something which would be desirable for haulage companies who increasingly promote economical driving. Some companies actually restrict their trucks to 52MPH to get a couple of extra MPG.

But it's not just overtaking slower trucks: HGVs move into the middle lane approaching junctions to avoid having to take evasive action when someone leaving or joining the main carriageway does something stupid. This may irk some car drivers but it's better than having 44tons plough into the back of a line of braking traffic because someone's been a muppet.

This is more the fault of how our roads are designed. The major autobahns have a collector lane which filters traffic on and off the main carriage way at exits. Drivers can leave the main carriageway at higher speed and being able to see up the collector lane gives drivers a better chance of anticipating how traffic will rejoin. On some stretches of autobahn HGVs are restricted to lane 1 at certain times (restriction sign posted on an overhead gantry)

[Taf]

I was trying to join a 2 lane dual carriageway earlier today.

Down the on-ramp picking up speed, I could see 3 trucks in the nearside lane, nose to tail, well under the speed limit (I reckon 30mph in a 60mph zone). And in the second lane, parallel to them, were 3 trucks doing exactly the same with a huge tailback of cars and vans behind.

The nearside ones could not move over, so I came to a halt a good 30 yards from the Give Way line when 2 cars in front of me slammed their anchors on.

Then I saw a truck hurtling down the on ramp towards me... I gulped, but then he stood on his brakes and stopped only a few feet behind me.

That could have been nasty.

[007stuart]

Originally Posted by Angua

Which if they have to do this too often could take them over their time limit for driving. Let alone being stuck behind a slower moving vehicle will also delay them.

Easier and cheaper for the car driver to make time up later, than for the lorry driver to lose momentum and be stuck behind a slower moving vehicle for miles.

Are you serious?

How is an occasional lift off the accelerator pedal is going to affect an HGV driver's hours to any great extent? Evening having to go at 55 mph as against 56 mph for the full 9 hours available to an HGV driver means 9 less miles travelled at most or alternatively just under 10 minutes longer to attain the same distance travelled by the faster moving vehicle.

Now let's consider how many vehicles that have been delayed by one HGV trying pass another HGV at the same 1 mph speed difference. It will take approximately 5 minutes for the faster vehicle to travel the length of the slower HGV so lets say another 5 minutes to pull out and pull back in, 10 minutes in total. In that 10 minute period when the faster traffic are required to slow down two things happen.

There is a tailback which in itself is nothing other than a minor annoyance as you say, however the biggest impact is an increase in fuel consumption resulting from when the slower moving HGV returns to the nearside lane and all the vehicles following are "released". Should they then all accelerate back to even just 70 mph, the cumulative additional increase in fuel consumption must be greater than what would have used had the HGV not pulled out to perform the overtake.

Your assertion that it's Easier and cheaper for the car driver to make time up later is only partly correct. It is certainly is easier but not cheaper when you take a wider view.

[Angua]

Originally Posted by 007stuart

Are you serious?

How is an occasional lift off the accelerator pedal is going to affect an HGV driver's hours to any great extent? Evening having to go at 55 mph as against 56 mph for the full 9 hours available to an HGV driver means 9 less miles travelled at most or alternatively just under 10 minutes longer to attain the same distance travelled by the faster moving vehicle.

Now let's consider how many vehicles that have been delayed by one HGV trying pass another HGV at the same 1 mph speed difference. It will take approximately 5 minutes for the faster vehicle to travel the length of the slower HGV so lets say another 5 minutes to pull out and pull back in, 10 minutes in total. In that 10 minute period when the faster traffic are required to slow down two things happen.

There is a tailback which in itself is nothing other than a minor annoyance as you say, however the biggest impact is an increase in fuel consumption resulting from when the slower moving HGV returns to the nearside lane and all the vehicles following are "released". Should they then all accelerate back to even just 70 mph, the cumulative additional increase in fuel consumption must be greater than what would have used had the HGV not pulled out to perform the overtake.

Your assertion that it's Easier and cheaper for the car driver to make time up later is only partly correct. It is certainly is easier but not cheaper when you take a wider view.

When a lorry has gained momentum, lifting the accelerator for a few seconds will not slow it down enough to make a difference. Forcing them to brake wastes huge amounts of fuel. A fully laden HGV averages 4-6mpg. Restricted to 52 mph might manage 6.2 mpg.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by jb66

Proof?

Dashcam!

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Signalling is optional ... isnt it ?

Found the German-car driver

[Mr K]

I prefer outside lane hogging myself, the middle lane is for wimps

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by Mr K

I prefer outside lane hogging myself, the middle lane is for wimps

Found the BMW driver

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

Found the BMW driver

No but know what you mean . (it was a winked comment, from someone who has travelled the length of the country in the last week.).
Does seem always to be BMW/Audi drivers for some reason, they should have an inflatable nob strapped to their heads to warn others.
Saw it all, texting, dueling HGVs, bullying tailgating. Best thing you can do is keep calm and keep as much distance as possible, sometimes this does involve using the outside lanes. However the use of the hardshoulder which now seems to be happening is madness, doesn't seem to really help much either.

[Carth]

Drivers who are caught doing stupid things on motorways shouldn't be fined, given points or banned.

Simply make them drive either a Talbot Horizon or Austin Allegro for the next 12 months . . .

. . . you'd instantly know the dick head drivers in a crowd

[heero_yuy]

Looks like Thames Valley cops are cracking down too:

Quote from GetwestLondon:


Police stopped five drivers in one night hogging the M4 middle lane , including one who stayed there for more than seven miles, in their efforts to crack down on careless driving.

Thames Valley Police reported all five drivers for careless driving during an overnight patrol of the motorway on Sunday night (September 16) into the early hours of Monday (September 17).

According to rule 264 of the Highway code, drivers should use the left-hand lane unless overtaking slower traffic and those caught flouting this rule can be issued with £100 fixed penalty notice and given three points on their licence.