New Motorway Fines

Post 624309 by Dangerous Dave on 2013-07-10 19:26:17

Just been watching the One Show and the bit on the new fines for lane hogging, etc. They were out with an officer on the motorway and picking out cars that were staying in the middle or outside lane. The thing that struck me was how the officer was saying he'd pull most of them over but from what I could see it wasn't particularly busy motorway, there was another lane available for overtaking. There was another car in the outside lane that hadn't 'moved back in' but it just looked like he was staying in the lane to overtake the next car in the middle lane and there didn't seem to be anyone behind him. Now don't get me wrong some lane hoggers are terrible but when does staying in lane for the next overtake become lane hogging and how this could be a problem if some officers interpret this rule differently to others (if that makes any sense). And then if you try and argue the point with an officer are you going to be treated differently to someone who would 'roll-over' and accept the fine? And then there is the thought that this is another way to make more money out of the driver.

Post 624311 by V70 Graham on 2013-07-10 19:29:15

I never move out of the inside lane, 50mph is fast enough for me lol.

Post 624312 by Pinup_gal on 2013-07-10 19:31:02

When I drove down to Pompey I pretty much was in the 2nd lane the majority of the way. It was full of lorries and another 1st lane snails lol. Occasional 3rd lane over take but I didn't stop out there overly long.

Post 624315 by t5 pete on 2013-07-10 19:32:53

Im sure some officers will use it to their advantage but I honestly think its about time the middle lane hoggers get fined there has been many times ive had to move across from the inside lane to the outer to over take the middle lane hogger it really §§§§es me off

Post 624317 by Jimmie on 2013-07-10 19:37:44

Might be better if we adopted the American etc style of driving.

Post 624319 by stribo on 2013-07-10 19:44:50

Just because there's no-one behind you, why should you stay in the middle/outside lane when there's a perfectly good lane to the left of you not being used? It's good practise to move to the furthest left hand lane available when not overtaking, otherwise you get in the habit of sticking to a lane whether it's quiet or not. Remember, these are overtaking lanes only, if you're not overtaking you shouldn't be there. I'm sorry this attitude of " I'm in the middle lane, but people can get past me in the 'fast' lane" really pees me off, and I'm glad they're going to be fined, my attitude is they should be taken out in a field and shot, but I understand some people may think this is too harsh.

Post 624320 by Pinup_gal on 2013-07-10 19:57:05

[QUOTE=stribo;624319]Just because there's no-one behind you, why should you stay in the middle/outside lane when there's a perfectly good lane to the left of you not being used? It's good practise to move to the furthest left hand lane available when not overtaking, otherwise you get in the habit of sticking to a lane whether it's quiet or not. Remember, these are overtaking lanes only, if you're not overtaking you shouldn't be there. I'm sorry this attitude of " I'm in the middle lane, but people can get past me in the 'fast' lane" really pees me off, and I'm glad they're going to be fined, my attitude is they should be taken out in a field and shot, but I understand some people may think this is too harsh.[/QUOTE] I'm not gonna destroy my fuel economy and do 50mph on the motorway just because there is a small break in the traffic. I have a rear view mirro and use it , if a car approaches behind at speed I will move in, if and when it is safe to do so.

Post 624323 by t5 pete on 2013-07-10 20:03:46

[QUOTE=Pinup_gal;624320]I'm not gonna destroy my fuel economy and do 50mph on the motorway just because there is a small break in the traffic. I have a rear view mirro and use it , if a car approaches behind at speed I will move in, if and when it is safe to do so.[/QUOTE] but that defies the object if there is room in the left lane and you are not over taking you should be in there unless you are over taking but if your over taking you wouldn't need to move into the left lane as the person approaching behind you would obviously use the 3rd lane as you are overtaking traffic in the inside lane. OR is that your admission your a lane hogger lol

Post 624324 by Dangerous Dave on 2013-07-10 20:06:17

I hate lane hoggers, there have been plenty of times I have been on a near empty motorway (late night) and come across cars just sitting in the middle lane with no one around them, does my head in. The main point I was making is where is the line drawn between right and wrong use of a lane and how open to interpretation is it? Another thing that came up on the show was when they interviewed a few people about lane hogging and one guy said he wouldn't move over because it was safer to stay in the middle lane PMSL

Post 624325 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 20:07:21

If the inside lane is clear then i use it. [QUOTE=Jimmie;624317]Might be better if we adopted the American etc style of driving.[/QUOTE] by having more accidents??? lol Theres no need, its not difficult to move over once passed the slower traffic.

Post 624326 by Pinup_gal on 2013-07-10 20:09:24

[QUOTE=t5 pete;624323]but that defies the object if there is room in the left lane and you are not over taking you should be in there unless you are over taking but if your over taking you wouldn't need to move into the left lane as the person approaching behind you would obviously use the 3rd lane as you are overtaking traffic in the inside lane. OR is that your admission your a lane hogger lol[/QUOTE] No Pete, I'm not lol. If there was room on the left and the traffic wasn't going to cause me to change my speed dramatically then I would use that lane.

Post 624327 by t5 pete on 2013-07-10 20:09:27

[QUOTE=bomb192uk;624324]I hate lane hoggers, there have been plenty of times I have been on a near empty motorway (late night) and come across cars just sitting in the middle lane with no one around them, does my head in. The main point I was making is where is the line drawn between right and wrong use of a lane and how open to interpretation is it? Another thing that came up on the show was when they interviewed a few people about lane hogging and one guy said he wouldn't move over because it was safer to stay in the middle lane PMSL[/QUOTE] I think that just come down to common sense really doesn't it as you said a next to empty motor way but yet cars in the middle lane not over taking it obviously just hogging but if a car is in the middle lane and can be seen to be making speed/getting closer on the car in the inside lane is obviously over taking

Post 624332 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 20:23:39

middle lane numpties are for crap drivers that are so scared to actually look in there mirror and change lane every 5 minutes, usually women

Post 624334 by graemewelch on 2013-07-10 20:25:48

what annoys me is wagons overtaking each other on a 2 lane streatch of road. it take them almost a mile to get past another wagon.

Post 624342 by volvokid on 2013-07-10 20:37:21

Lucky you guys have a middle lane.

Post 624344 by Nealevo on 2013-07-10 20:39:31

Middle lane hoggers are all numpties, and should be fined to the maximum or shot, how hard is it to look in your bloody mirror, I do travel very quickly but I'm changing lanes almost constantly, people don't realise the roads would be less congested if people used all 3 lanes, lane 1 is the driving lane, lanes 2&3 are for overtaking purposes only...

Post 624345 by p fandango on 2013-07-10 20:41:02

[QUOTE=Jimmie;624317]Might be better if we adopted the American etc style of driving.[/QUOTE] we need the American way of policing, any offence they stopped & fined. lane hoggers are just like the latest habit of not indicating, their just too lazy. Takes almost to much energy to move the steering wheel a little bit & move back to the left lane, like it does to move the little plastic stalk so people know where your going

Post 624349 by p fandango on 2013-07-10 20:44:04

[QUOTE=bomb192uk;624324]The main point I was making is where is the line drawn between right and wrong use of a lane and how open to interpretation is it?[/quote] most laws are open in some form or another to interpretation by those enforcing them

Another thing that came up on the show was when they interviewed a few people about lane hogging and one guy said he wouldn't move over because it was safer to stay in the middle lane PMSL

Post 624356 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 21:02:58

[QUOTE=p fandango;624345]we need the American way of policing, any offence they stopped & fined. lane hoggers are just like the latest habit of not indicating, their just too lazy. Takes almost to much energy to move the steering wheel a little bit & move back to the left lane, like it does to move the little plastic stalk so people know where your going[/QUOTE] people that don't indicate on roundabouts is one of the things that annoys me most.

Post 624361 by p fandango on 2013-07-10 21:07:47

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624356]people that don't indicate on roundabouts is one of the things that annoys me most.[/QUOTE] their that bad around here they don't bother at junctions, stopping or anything

Post 624371 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 21:12:49

[QUOTE=p fandango;624361]their that bad around here they don't bother at junctions, stopping or anything[/QUOTE] Its not hard to do is it. It indicates to others what you are doing...... indicate, indicating, indicators........its in the §§§§ing word dumbasses!!!! :slap:

Post 624375 by p fandango on 2013-07-10 21:18:03

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624371]Its not hard to do is it. It indicates to others what you are doing...... indicate, indicating, indicators........its in the F*CK*NG word dumbasses!!!! :slap:[/QUOTE] you've got to see the irony of that coming from a BMW driver lol

Post 624380 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 21:31:17

[QUOTE=p fandango;624375]you've got to see the irony of that coming from a BMW driver lol[/QUOTE] and i move over to the left lane when its clear, guess i'm not a proper bmw driver (only use my front fog lights when its foggy too).

Post 624382 by p fandango on 2013-07-10 21:32:48

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624380]and i move over to the left lane when its clear, guess i'm not a proper bmw driver (only use my front fog lights when its foggy too).[/QUOTE] sorry, but a BMW's not the car for you. Did the previous owner not check your driving habits before handing over the keys? lol

Post 624386 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:35:13

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624334]what annoys me is wagons overtaking each other on a 2 lane streatch of road. it take them almost a mile to get past another wagon.[/QUOTE] so you expect trucks to all queue up behind each other? cars don't own the road, not truckers fault all the lorries got restricted, some are 56 some are 52,

Post 624392 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 21:41:25

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624386]so you expect trucks to all queue up behind each other? cars don't own the road, not truckers fault all the lorries got restricted, some are 56 some are 52,[/QUOTE] Yes they should. Holding up other traffic while they pass each other at 4mph is a pita. No cars don't own the road, but neither do lorries or bikes. Something both parties seem to forget quite often. Be it lorries side by side for miles on end or tw@s on bikes seeking sympathy when they go through a hedge at 120. §§§§ em'

Post 624393 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 21:45:43

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624386]so you expect trucks to all queue up behind each other? cars don't own the road, not truckers fault all the lorries got restricted, some are 56 some are 52,[/QUOTE] Why aren't they all restricted to the same speed? Its only bothers me when trucks overtake when going up hill anyway.

Post 624395 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:47:32

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624392]Yes they should. Holding up other traffic while they pass each other at 4mph is a pita. No cars don't own the road, but neither do lorries or bikes. Something both parties seem to forget quite often. Be it lorries side by side for miles on end or tw@s on bikes seeking sympathy when they go through a hedge at 120. §§§§ em'[/QUOTE] lorry drivers are on a schedule with limited driving time, we need to get to where we are going in the shortest time so we dont end up breaking the law circa our drivers hours, and how dangerous is a long long queue of trucks that can't see anything in front? i'm a car driver, truck driver and bike rider and its the pillock car drivers that cause most of the issues

Post 624396 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:49:00

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624393]Why aren't they all restricted to the same speed? Its only bothers me when trucks overtake when going up hill anyway.[/QUOTE] differences between trucks speedos vary, 56 in one lorry is not 56 in another hence how we can all overtake or be overtaken

Post 624397 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 21:49:27

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624393]Why aren't they all restricted to the same speed? Its only bothers me when trucks overtake when going up hill anyway.[/QUOTE] Can be anything as simple as new tyres at calibration time means you end up slower. Tanker drivers at work used to get it done when the tyres were shot.

Post 624399 by V70 Graham on 2013-07-10 21:51:12

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624395].....i'm a car driver, truck driver and bike rider and its the pillock car drivers that cause most of the issues[/QUOTE] Not far off there mate, I still think everyone who passes their tests should have to ride a motorbike for 6 months before driving a car.

Post 624400 by graemewelch on 2013-07-10 21:53:34

most the roads up way way are two lanes. without doubt it truck drivers that cause alot of the tailbacks. 4mph isnt going to make any difference. if you cant get a job done in the time thats allowed then so be it. can only do what you can do. id make a lorry lane only same as buses have.

Post 624401 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:54:32

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;624399]Not far off there mate, I still think everyone who passes their tests should have to ride a motorbike for 6 months before driving a car.[/QUOTE] good idea that cos it massively increases your awareness and your ability to read what others are going to do, cos if you dont you're dead!

Post 624402 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:55:31

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624400]most the roads up way way are two lanes. without doubt it truck drivers that cause alot of the tailbacks. 4mph isnt going to make any difference. if you cant get a job done in the time thats allowed then so be it. can only do what you can do. id make a lorry lane only same as buses have.[/QUOTE] 4mph over 9 hours is alot of time mate, could be the difference in getting home or not

Post 624403 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 21:55:58

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624395]lorry drivers are on a schedule with limited driving time, we need to get to where we are going in the shortest time so we dont end up breaking the law circa our drivers hours, and how dangerous is a long long queue of trucks that can't see anything in front? i'm a car driver, truck driver and bike rider and its the pillock car drivers that cause most of the issues[/QUOTE] Don't see how. If you have two lorries driving up the same stretch of road, one going half a mile an hour faster than the other (yes it happens and you know it) where is it the drivers fault? We all need to get somewhere. I appreciate hgv drivers are on tight schedules but that's no excuse to lane hog! Laws are changing again regarding drivers hours, so you're against it anyway. 1 or 2 mph on top of your journey isn't making that much difference.

Post 624404 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 21:57:14

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624403]Don't see how. If you have two lorries driving up the same stretch of road, one going half a mile an hour faster than the other (yes it happens and you know it) where is it the drivers fault? We all need to get somewhere. I appreciate hgv drivers are on tight schedules but that's no excuse to lane hog! Laws are changing again regarding drivers hours, so you're against it anyway. 1 or 2 mph on top of your journey isn't making that much difference.[/QUOTE] spoken by someone with no clue of the job!

Post 624405 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 22:00:46

what gets me is the car driver you go to overtake then they speed up a little and your stuck beside them do i pull back in behind them just for them to slow back down? and they will so you'll pull back out then they will speed up again......................§§§§s

Post 624408 by stribo on 2013-07-10 22:02:16

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;624399]Not far off there mate, I still think everyone who passes their tests should have to ride a motorbike for 6 months before driving a car.[/QUOTE] §§§§ that, there's no way I'd become a gay terrorist. And Frankie as far as trucks overtaking other trucks is concerned, fair enough if there are no cars (or other vehicles) approaching you a lot quicker than you're going when you pull out on them, but, when you choose to pull out to overtake when a car doing the legal speed limit is approaching, and has to brake to avoid running in the back of you, then you're not only a §§§§, but have obviously not read the highway code. You're supposed to be professional drivers, act professionally. BTW this isn't aimed just at Frankie, as he only drives a big van :), but all lorry drivers.

Post 624409 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 22:02:24

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624404]spoken by someone with no clue of the job![/QUOTE] Is that all you can come back with? I deal with hgv drivers all day, we have a transport department at work which has numerous vehicles out 24/7. I do actually speak to these drivers and no, a few mph doesn't make any difference.

Post 624411 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 22:04:57

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624409]Is that all you can come back with? I deal with hgv drivers all day, we have a transport department at work which has numerous vehicles out 24/7. I do actually speak to these drivers and no, a few mph doesn't make any difference.[/QUOTE] well i am one and im telling you it does, you wouldnt say that if you was one. my job is job and finish, ill go everywhere as quickly as i can get the job done so i can get home early and spend time with my kids, you think i'm gonna sit behind a queue of slower moving lorries just so i can see all the cars queueing up in the overtaking lane stuck behind some prat doing 60?

Post 624413 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 22:05:49

[QUOTE=stribo;624408]BTW this isn't aimed just at Frankie, as he only drives a big van :).[/QUOTE] Hahahahahaha!

Post 624416 by Pinup_gal on 2013-07-10 22:06:59

Hmm so whilst I was in the middle lane overtaking several lorries, one deemed it ok to try and pull out into the side of me to attempt a slow arsed over take. Case of incorrect use of mirrors and failure to check blind spots I'd say.

Post 624417 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 22:08:44

[QUOTE=Pinup_gal;624416]Hmm so whilst I was in the middle lane overtaking several lorries, one deemed it ok to try and pull out into the side of me to attempt a slow arsed over take. Case of incorrect use of mirrors and failure to check blind spots I'd say.[/QUOTE] you were probably sat in his blind spot not doing much more than him or her lol (probably a foreign driver) fact is hgv drivers are the best drivers on the road FACT

Post 624418 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 22:09:22

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624411]well i am one and im telling you it does, you wouldnt say that if you was one. my job is job and finish, ill go everywhere as quickly as i can get the job done so i can get home early and spend time with my kids, you think i'm gonna sit behind a queue of slower moving lorries just so i can see all the cars queueing up in the overtaking lane stuck behind some prat doing 60?[/QUOTE] No it doesn't. And you know what, there are a lot drivers with the same sob story. Why don't you do what they did when they got §§§§ed off of not seeing enough of the family?

Post 624419 by Pinup_gal on 2013-07-10 22:10:19

Well smart §§§§ I wasn't FACT, he's restricted to 56 and I'm doing 70 FACT and they aren't FACT! I lost count of hte amount of MEN I saw driving recklessly, not using mirrors or signalling. That amazing driver of a lorry was just one of them! Oh and he wasn't foreign!

Post 624421 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 22:13:30

[QUOTE=Pinup_gal;624419]Well smart §§§§ I wasn't FACT, he's restricted to 56 and I'm doing 70 FACT and they aren't FACT! I lost count of hte amount of MEN I saw driving recklessly, not using mirrors or signalling. That amazing driver of a lorry was just one of them! Oh and he wasn't foreign![/QUOTE] of course youre gonna get crap truckers, but in comparison as a percentage you're gonna get alot more crap car drivers as that's all they are car drivers!

Post 624423 by T5frankie on 2013-07-10 22:14:46

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624418]No it doesn't. And you know what, there are a lot drivers with the same sob story. Why don't you do what they did when they got §§§§ed off of not seeing enough of the family?[/QUOTE] i do see enough of my family thanks, because i overtake other trucks which gets me home half an hour earlier

Post 624428 by graemewelch on 2013-07-10 22:16:49

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624421]of course youre gonna get crap truckers, but in comparison as a percentage you're gonna get alot more crap car drivers as that's all they are car drivers![/QUOTE] you would say that though. personly i think people who spend the most time on the roads are the worst

Post 624430 by V70 Graham on 2013-07-10 22:18:49

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624417].....fact is hgv drivers are the best drivers on the road FACT[/QUOTE] Almost.....2nd to bus drivers mate.

Post 624431 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-10 22:21:23

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624423]i do see enough of my family thanks, because i overtake other trucks which gets me home half an hour earlier[/QUOTE] Which makes you a §§§§ driver by default. Ignorance is bliss as they say. And if it's job and knock you must get days when you finish early? So you want it both ways?

Post 624433 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 22:23:49

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624395]and its the pillock car drivers that cause most of the issues[/QUOTE] Thats not true though, its a fact that most accidents involvong bikes are their own fault. I don't care what you say, if you ride down the middle of the road, overtaking everyone and going well over the speed limit then your eventually going to have an accident.

Post 624434 by stribo on 2013-07-10 22:25:33

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624428]you would say that though. personly i think people who spend the most time on the roads are the worst[/QUOTE] Complacency does seem to play a big part, just look at taxi drivers, they're professional drivers, have a proper taxi licence, but generally don't give a monkey's about other road users, lorry drivers on the other hand are professional drivers, but have a bigger vehicle, so really don't care about other road users.

Post 624435 by stribo on 2013-07-10 22:27:35

[QUOTE=LiamT4;624433]Thats not true though, its a fact that most accidents involvong bikes are their own fault. I don't care what you say, if you ride down the middle of the road, overtaking everyone and going well over the speed limit then your eventually going to have an accident.[/QUOTE] Don't get me started on (motor)bike riders, I'll be here for a year and a day.

Post 624438 by LiamT4 on 2013-07-10 22:35:43

[QUOTE=stribo;624435]Don't get me started on (motor)bike riders, I'll be here for a year and a day.[/QUOTE] I know some very good riders and some very, very bad ones. Personally though, i find (british) truckers pretty good on the whole. Yeah you get some numpties, but they are better than most. The drivers that seem to be the worst to me are sales rep type drivers in their tdi's, because they seem to always tailgate.

Post 624440 by zoidberg on 2013-07-10 22:38:54

I was once stuck behind two duelling overtaking HGV's for the grand distance of 19 miles up the A1 a few years ago! Yes good and bad ones, especially the 'Iown the road my indicator blinked twice I'm coming out brigade' Folk coming round a roundabout in the outside lane when going three quaters way round it. Blind spot drivers who have wing mirrors set so they can admire how nice thier car is. For frg sake you only need to see the tip of the rear quater,that way when a car is dissapering from view in the mirror they will be along side your head !! Lane hoggers get my goat,I pull up inthe near lane pretty close, then swing out behind and into the outside lane, zoom past then cut back acrooss the front into the nearside lane. Guess what..................................... yep they still sit there causing mayhem. Yes those extra mph do make a big difference on a daily get there get back scenario. I used to do 500mile a day(Leeds to Southend)sometimes 5 times a week so an extra 5mph average would mean around an hour less on my day.

Post 624454 by Kingsford G on 2013-07-10 23:17:44

You don`t have to be a taxi,lorry etc.driver to be a good driver.I`ve seen all of them good and bad,some taxi drivers I wouldn`t even get in their cars.I`ve seen a car sitting at 60mph on A1M Peterboroug stretch on lane 5 lol,a lorry driver pulled out 3 foot from me to overtake another lorry and would`ve killed a few ppl if it was most of drivers instead of me driving.I`ve beaten many so called pro drivers in extreme situations and never boasted about like others who think that if they always drive like nutters they are a good drivers.I have being in a car with an idiot who brakes for no reason or brake sharp the last minute,don`t indicate etc.I`ll never pull into left lane if I have to pull out again in a minute just because someone doing 90mph wants to go pass,if I`m doing 70-75mph its fast enough on a public highway.No,I`m not a p***y driver,just being conscious and grown out from doing Hull to Colchester 280miles just over 2hours and would never do that again or maybe like frankie said I`m just a foreign driver lol

Post 624473 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 05:05:46

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624431]Which makes you a §§§§ driver by default. Ignorance is bliss as they say. And if it's job and knock you must get days when you finish early? So you want it both ways?[/QUOTE] Last thursday I had a full 10hour driving assessment as the assessor goes out with you all day, I got 90 per cent thank you

Post 624480 by stribo on 2013-07-11 07:20:05

[QUOTE=Kingsford G;624454]You don`t have to be a taxi,lorry etc.driver to be a good driver.I`ve seen all of them good and bad,some taxi drivers I wouldn`t even get in their cars.I`ve seen a car sitting at 60mph on A1M Peterboroug stretch on lane 5 lol,a lorry driver pulled out 3 foot from me to overtake another lorry and would`ve killed a few ppl if it was most of drivers instead of me driving.I`ve beaten many so called pro drivers in extreme situations and never boasted about like others who think that if they always drive like nutters they are a good drivers.I have being in a car with an idiot who brakes for no reason or brake sharp the last minute,don`t indicate etc.I`ll never pull into left lane if I have to pull out again in a minute just because someone doing 90mph wants to go pass,if I`m doing 70-75mph its fast enough on a public highway.No,I`m not a p***y driver,just being conscious and grown out[COLOR="#FF0000"] from doing Hull to Colchester 280miles just over 2hours[/COLOR] and would never do that again or maybe like frankie said I`m just a foreign driver lol[/QUOTE] Don't lie, we all know you never leave Essex. :P

Post 624482 by Nealevo on 2013-07-11 07:27:54

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;624430]Almost.....2nd to bus drivers mate.[/QUOTE] Well 3rd, behind bus drivers and circuit instructors :)

Post 624483 by Nealevo on 2013-07-11 07:32:44

[QUOTE=stribo;624435]Don't get me started on (motor)bike riders, I'll be here for a year and a day.[/QUOTE] OOOooooooo you can go off someone very quickly.....:)

Post 624487 by stephenevans99 on 2013-07-11 07:49:00

Gotta side with Frankie and agree that most of the HGV UK drivers out there are the best drivers - there are some exceptions just like not ALL BMW & Audi drivers are c@cks. As long as you can appreciate and understand the difficulties these vehicles have when it comes to maneuvers & overtaking, then I can't see the problem. As a road user, the MOST valuable skill you can have is Anticipation. It's knowing what the other driver is about to do, anticipating their next maneuver so you can act accordingly. It's not difficult to anticipate what an HGV is going to do whilst speed restricted on the Motorway. It's the Private Hire taxis that make my blood boil - I think they go off an entirely different set of rules. Steve

Post 624496 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-11 09:04:37

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624473]Last thursday I had a full 10hour driving assessment as the assessor goes out with you all day, I got 90 per cent thank you[/QUOTE] What you do when an assessor is sat next to you and what you've admitted you do every other time, are two completely different things. If you pull out past another lorry a few mile an hour slower and hold everyone else up, with an assessor sat next to you, you won't get 90%. ;) Maybe you are a good driver, but you're still an ignorant one.

Post 624498 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 09:09:14

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624496]What you do when an assessor is sat next to you and what you've admitted you do every other time, are two completely different things. If you pull out past another lorry a few mile an hour slower and hold everyone else up, with an assessor sat next to you, you won't get 90%. ;) Maybe you are a good driver, but you're still an ignorant one.[/QUOTE] Having the off blast in my car as everyone does bears no relation to how I drive my Truck

Post 624499 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 09:15:54

And you can't hide the fact you're a crap lorry driver over a 10hr 550km route

Post 624502 by jdavis on 2013-07-11 09:40:28

When I learnt to drive I was told to stick to the left lane unless overtaking, and then move straight back over I hate lane hoggers. They will make good money from this as I see loads doing it while out and about.

Post 624503 by volvokid on 2013-07-11 09:49:12

During the day when its busy I will move back in when overtaking but if its not busy and there is a car that im catching away in the distance I don't move in, unless someone is behind me wanting past. Traffic cops wont weave in and out unless they need too.

Post 624521 by M-R-P on 2013-07-11 10:31:46

My motorway driving is as good as bus drivers... Because I sit about 30 feet from the back of the national express, maximizing my fuel economy :)

Post 624525 by Liddo on 2013-07-11 10:50:03

ALLLLLL lane hoggers should be rounded up, stuck in a field and blown up! :tank: If i see someone in the middle lane, on a fairly empty motorway, I look in my mirrors to make sure the coast is clear and then just cruise past them on the inside lane. YES, i do undertake from time to time, because if those lazy §§§§§§§§§§§ cant be bothered to move over, i cant be bothered to go around them ;) 9 times out of 10 it wakes them up and they move over! And before anyone tut tut's, I always make sure there's space on the hard shoulder incase they actually wake up and move across :D

Post 624527 by Kingsford G on 2013-07-11 11:08:21

[QUOTE=stribo;624480]Don't lie, we all know you never leave Essex. :P[/QUOTE] It was once upon a time or in one of my dreams lol

Post 624533 by Jamest5r on 2013-07-11 11:28:27

Just so the car driver knows when an hgv is indicating to move lanes were not asking to move were telling you were coming out :)

Post 624535 by p fandango on 2013-07-11 11:43:29

[QUOTE=Jamest5r;624533]Just so the car driver knows when an hgv is indicating to move lanes were not asking to move were telling you were coming out :)[/QUOTE] Same as giveaway signs at junctions, they only apply to cars. Trucks don't have to stop (or even slow down) if they don't feel like it lol

Post 624536 by Jamest5r on 2013-07-11 11:46:59

[QUOTE=p fandango;624535]Same as giveaway signs at junctions, they only apply to cars. Trucks don't have to stop (or even slow down) if they don't feel like it lol[/QUOTE] That's why they are called "give way" signs not stop signs :)

Post 624539 by smithy on 2013-07-11 12:30:21

One thing I always say to car drivers is as part of there test they should spend a day in a big hgv wether rigid or artic .then they will understand what it takes to drive these trucks wether on the motorway or in a city centre .

Post 624541 by p fandango on 2013-07-11 12:38:10

[QUOTE=Jamest5r;624536]That's why they are called "give way" signs not stop signs :)[/QUOTE] i was referring to some HGV's drivers attitude of "i'm bigger & going to do more damage so you'll stop for me" even if the giveaway is against them

Post 624542 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 12:45:51

I just had an artic driver overtake me on the m11 and for no reason cut me up back of his trailor was about a foot in front of my cab. §§§§ I change my mind lol

Post 624545 by Gold 'N' Brown on 2013-07-11 13:12:54

IMO, and with all due respect to those who have posted, all this stuff about who is the best type of driver on the road is really a load of old §§§§§§§§. It's all just opinion, and opinions are like §§§§ holes, everyone has one. I've no doubt that HGV drivers must be very skilled - many car drivers struggle to reverse park a car so they sure as hell couldn't manouvre a lorry! - but making a sweeping statement about them being the best on the road is just a generalisation, and there's still plenty of bad eggs just like in all walks of life. Personally I feel that the worst type of drivers are those who believe they are brilliant and have no awareness of their own faults, and therefore no desire to improve. Combine this with a job that has you on the road for most of your life, becoming complacent, and developing a hatred of other road users, and it's really not a good combination. And to be honest, I was on the fence about the HGV overtaking subject, and even started to side with HGV drivers when Frankie started defending them. Like all other drivers, I've been on the §§§§ end of a side-by-side convoy waiting 10 minutes to get past, and it does bloody §§§§ me off. But at the same time, I can empaphise with the drivers and how frustrating it must be having the speed limiter, and knowing that every minute on the road counts. Then Frankie pretty much ruined his defense by talking about wanting to get home half an hour earlier to see the kids. Sorry, but we all have jobs that we have - to some extent - chosen to be in, and not all of us are fortunate to be able to get home half an hour earlier by changing how we approach the job. I'm sure all those car drivers are eager to get to their destination half an hour earlier too, but they get delayed by HGC drivers blocking all the lanes. Really, my point is that we all have to show some respect and understanding to each other. Use a bit of common sense. HGV drivers should judge when it's appropriate to overtake (i.e. not up a 5 mile long hill in heavy traffic) rather than just doing it at every opportunity, and car drivers should show a bit of empathy to the HGV drivers situation. Wouldn't it be good if HGVs could be legally fitted with an overtaking button that would increase the speed limiter for a short burst, that could only be used a certain number of times per hour? Video game stylee :smileypul. Now, back to the original topic. As a couple of people have pointed out already, this middle lane business is really open to interpretation, and unfortunately, police can and do sometimes twist things to their own interpretation. That's the worrying thing. I hate middle lane hoggers as much as the next man, but in heavy traffic on the motorway I will spend a lot of time im the middle lane if I'm going faster than the traffic on the inside lane and it's simply not worth pulling back in if I'm going to have to pull out again a few seconds later. This is the grey area. How do you define the difference between maintaining an overtaking position on the road and simply being seen as a middle lane hogger? EDIT: I must point out that I don't habitually use the middle lane because I'm too lazy to pull in and out of traffic. It depends entirely on the circumstances, and I will pull in and out (using mirrors and indicators of course) if it's appropriate. But I also like to maintain a steady cruise, so if I'm overtaking in the middle lane and there's a gap, but I'm not far off overtaking the next car ahead, I don't like to pull back in if I know that it might result in me being blokced in by other traffic and have to adjust my speed and wait for the next gap. But even that's not a hard and fast rule! I'll always pull over if I know that the traffic behind me is going much faster. Every situation has to be judged individually. Like Liddo, I have taken to undertaking middle lane hoggers when the road is quiet. Since I prefer to do long motorway journeys at night when it's quiet, I've seen plenty of people cruising a long in the middle lane with no other traffic for miles around until I come up behind them. OK, in the grand scheme of things, they aren't hurting anyone. But it's stupid, and they annoy me. I will no longer make the effort to pull across two lanes to go past and pull back across two lanes, even if it's not much effort on my part. It's the principle of it. I shouldn't have to. So now, if I consider it safe to do so, I go past them on the inside lane as quickly as I can safely and legally do it. I'm no expert but my interpretation of the law is that I am in the right to do so. If I am maintaining my speed on the inside lane - which is where I should be - I am entitled to continue on and effectively "undertake" slower moving traffic in the other lanes if they are also maintaining a steady speed. IN effect, I'm not actually "undertaking" I'm just maintaining my position, and it's the other car that is in the wrong as they are maintaining a slower speed in the wrong lane. Not sure how that would stack up insurance wise in an accident though :shhh:

Post 624550 by smithy on 2013-07-11 13:37:04

[QUOTE=Gold 'N' Brown;624545]IMO, and with all due respect to those who have posted, all this stuff about who is the best type of driver on the road is really a load of old §§§§§§§§. It's all just opinion, and opinions are like §§§§ holes, everyone has one. I've no doubt that HGV drivers must be very skilled - many car drivers struggle to reverse park a car so they sure as hell couldn't manouvre a lorry! - but making a sweeping statement about them being the best on the road is just a generalisation, and there's still plenty of bad eggs just like in all walks of life. Personally I feel that the worst type of drivers are those who believe they are brilliant and have no awareness of their own faults, and therefore no desire to improve. Combine this with a job that has you on the road for most of your life, becoming complacent, and developing a hatred of other road users, and it's really not a good combination. And to be honest, I was on the fence about the HGV overtaking subject, and even started to side with HGV drivers when Frankie started defending them. Like all other drivers, I've been on the §§§§ end of a side-by-side convoy waiting 10 minutes to get past, and it does bloody §§§§ me off. But at the same time, I can empaphise with the drivers and how frustrating it must be having the speed limiter, and knowing that every minute on the road counts. Then Frankie pretty much ruined his defense by talking about wanting to get home half an hour earlier to see the kids. Sorry, but we all have jobs that we have - to some extent - chosen to be in, and not all of us are fortunate to be able to get home half an hour earlier by changing how we approach the job. I'm sure all those car drivers are eager to get to their destination half an hour earlier too, but they get delayed by HGC drivers blocking all the lanes. Really, my point is that we all have to show some respect and understanding to each other. Use a bit of common sense. HGV drivers should judge when it's appropriate to overtake (i.e. not up a 5 mile long hill in heavy traffic) rather than just doing it at every opportunity, and car drivers should show a bit of empathy to the HGV drivers situation. Wouldn't it be good if HGVs could be legally fitted with an overtaking button that would increase the speed limiter for a short burst, that could only be used a certain number of times per hour? Video game stylee :smileypul. Now, back to the original topic. As a couple of people have pointed out already, this middle lane business is really open to interpretation, and unfortunately, police can and do sometimes twist things to their own interpretation. That's the worrying thing. I hate middle lane hoggers as much as the next man, but in heavy traffic on the motorway I will spend a lot of time im the middle lane if I'm going faster than the traffic on the inside lane and it's simply not worth pulling back in if I'm going to have to pull out again a few seconds later. This is the grey area. How do you define the difference between maintaining an overtaking position on the road and simply being seen as a middle lane hogger? EDIT: I must point out that I don't habitually use the middle lane because I'm too lazy to pull in and out of traffic. It depends entirely on the circumstances, and I will pull in and out (using mirrors and indicators of course) if it's appropriate. But I also like to maintain a steady cruise, so if I'm overtaking in the middle lane and there's a gap, but I'm not far off overtaking the next car ahead, I don't like to pull back in if I know that it might result in me being blokced in by other traffic and have to adjust my speed and wait for the next gap. But even that's not a hard and fast rule! I'll always pull over if I know that the traffic behind me is going much faster. Every situation has to be judged individually. Like Liddo, I have taken to undertaking middle lane hoggers when the road is quiet. Since I prefer to do long motorway journeys at night when it's quiet, I've seen plenty of people cruising a long in the middle lane with no other traffic for miles around until I come up behind them. OK, in the grand scheme of things, they aren't hurting anyone. But it's stupid, and they annoy me. I will no longer make the effort to pull across two lanes to go past and pull back across two lanes, even if it's not much effort on my part. It's the principle of it. I shouldn't have to. So now, if I consider it safe to do so, I go past them on the inside lane as quickly as I can safely and legally do it. I'm no expert but my interpretation of the law is that I am in the right to do so. If I am maintaining my speed on the inside lane - which is where I should be - I am entitled to continue on and effectively "undertake" slower moving traffic in the other lanes if they are also maintaining a steady speed. IN effect, I'm not actually "undertaking" I'm just maintaining my position, and it's the other car that is in the wrong as they are maintaining a slower speed in the wrong lane. Not sure how that would stack up insurance wise in an accident though :shhh:[/QUOTE] God that was long I got to the second line then had to overtake another hgv in my hgv whilst reading my phone ,eating a dinner and dancing to the music on the radio.this is a hard job lol.ps I'm joking incase anybody took me seriously

Post 624551 by smithy on 2013-07-11 13:38:22

The are good and bad drivers in all industry's is part of being human I'm afraid

Post 624552 by cherry1809 on 2013-07-11 13:44:15

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624498]Having the off blast in my car as everyone does bears no relation to how I drive my Truck[/QUOTE] Never mentioned your car?!? We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. You'll be right even if you're wrong... Wanna job as a manager at our place? Pmsl.

Post 624559 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 14:17:54

[QUOTE=cherry1809;624552]Never mentioned your car?!? We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. You'll be right even if you're wrong... Wanna job as a manager at our place? Pmsl.[/QUOTE] Thanks I am always right.....ask the missus pmsl

Post 624560 by smithy on 2013-07-11 14:19:55

I'm always wrong ask my misses lol

Post 624567 by mitchyboy01 on 2013-07-11 15:34:11

[QUOTE=T5frankie;624332]middle lane numpties are for crap drivers that are so scared to actually look in there mirror and change lane every 5 minutes, usually women[/QUOTE] Women and certain ethnics (no racism) in my experience. Even when you slowly undertake them in the inside lane they still don't move over and take the hint.

Post 624574 by Kingsford G on 2013-07-11 16:04:44

[QUOTE=stephenevans99;624487] As long as you can appreciate and understand the difficulties these vehicles have when it comes to maneuvers & overtaking, then I can't see the problem. As a road user, the MOST valuable skill you can have is Anticipation. It's knowing what the other driver is about to do, anticipating their next maneuver so you can act accordingly. It's not difficult to anticipate what an HGV is going to do whilst speed restricted on the Motorway. It's the Private Hire taxis that make my blood boil - I think they go off an entirely different set of rules. Steve[/QUOTE] Some drivers have none as u know.Some people don`t know what is a lorry driver doing taking right with a left indicator on etc and get by the side just to be squashed.I do understand that a lorry drivers job is not the easiest but a few idiots pulled out on me on a dual carriage way or motorway to which I can not give an excuse but careless driving.

Post 624575 by T5frankie on 2013-07-11 16:05:02

[QUOTE=mitchyboy01;624567]Women and certain ethnics (no racism) in my experience. Even when you slowly undertake them in the inside lane they still don't move over and take the hint.[/QUOTE] agreed and i spend my life on the road so see it all the time

Post 624585 by Gold 'N' Brown on 2013-07-11 18:08:31

[QUOTE=smithy;624550]God that was long I got to the second line then had to overtake another hgv in my hgv whilst reading my phone ,eating a dinner and dancing to the music on the radio.this is a hard job lol.ps I'm joking incase anybody took me seriously[/QUOTE] I joined this topic late and had a lot to say :blahblah:

Post 624741 by Fubar1977 on 2013-07-12 14:52:03

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624334]what annoys me is wagons overtaking each other on a 2 lane streatch of road. it take them almost a mile to get past another wagon.[/QUOTE] This exactly! It`s a far bigger problem on weekdays than middle lane hoggers. When 1 truck decides to overtake another the speed differential is so small that the whole process takes hours. I also think an American, overtake on either side, approach would be better, Americans cope with it and I don`t believe their accident rate is, comparably, any worse than ours.

Post 624744 by p fandango on 2013-07-12 15:07:10

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;624399]I still think everyone who passes their tests should have to ride a motorbike for 6 months before driving a car.[/QUOTE] another way to reduce bike accidents is to ban them, i've just had an idiot on a large size motor-scooter (couldn't of been any bigger than 100cc rev-n-go) weave thru the traffic. Then he squeezed between me & a transit that were stopped at a red light, & even tho i was parked on the white line pulled front of me to line himself up right in the middle of my lane. Then once the lights changed rev'd anyway & got nowhere because of his lack of power. If i had of hit him i'm sure it would of been my fault because us cars don't look-out for bikes, but i'm sure his jeans & t-shirt would of protected him from injury

Post 624942 by Haizum74 on 2013-07-13 07:55:50

I stay in the middle lane as much as possible, just to §§§§ off those who find it annoying. Plus it saves my steering rack from wearing out from having to constantly move in and out of the inside lane. And tyre wear

Post 624946 by stephenevans99 on 2013-07-13 08:22:35

[QUOTE=Haizum74;624942] it saves my steering rack from wearing out from having to constantly move in and out of the inside lane. And tyre wear[/QUOTE] Not to forget the excessive wear to the indicator stalk and premature failure of amber bulbs :)

Post 624947 by stribo on 2013-07-13 08:25:45

[QUOTE=Haizum74;624942]I stay in the middle lane as much as possible, just to §§§§ off those who find it annoying. Plus it saves my steering rack from wearing out from having to constantly move in and out of the inside lane. And tyre wear[/QUOTE] I guess your next car will be a BMW then. ;)

Post 624971 by Haizum74 on 2013-07-13 11:07:19

[QUOTE=stephenevans99;624946]Not to forget the excessive wear to the indicator stalk and premature failure of amber bulbs :)[/QUOTE] Indicators? What is this thing you speak of? [QUOTE=stribo;624947]I guess your next car will be a BMW then. ;)[/QUOTE] No, my Grandfather didn't win the war against the Jerries for me to be driving some German nonsense ;-)

Post 624976 by craigoodwood on 2013-07-13 12:41:10

i drove 300 miles yesy to corwall, they drive me absolutely insane i just wanna nudge each one over into the correct lane, as far as i'm concerned middle lane drivers should have their tyres taken out via snipers.... i'd be interested to know how they will be enforcing it and whether you can report them somehow, and whether its an on the spot fine or in the post... shirley with the amount of camera's on the roads now it will easily spotted...

Post 624982 by graemewelch on 2013-07-13 13:04:48

i can see it being another way to scam the tax payer. its any excuse to fine the road users. every one will end up with fines when are low on funds

Post 624985 by p fandango on 2013-07-13 13:13:04

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624982]i can see it being another way to scam the tax payer. its any excuse to fine the road users. every one will end up with fines when are low on funds[/QUOTE] you only get a fine when you do something wrong

Post 624986 by p fandango on 2013-07-13 13:15:16

[QUOTE=craigoodwood;624976]i drove 300 miles yesy to corwall, they drive me absolutely insane i just wanna nudge each one over into the correct lane, as far as i'm concerned middle lane drivers should have their tyres taken out via snipers.... i'd be interested to know how they will be enforcing it and whether you can report them somehow, and whether its an on the spot fine or in the post... shirley with the amount of camera's on the roads now it will easily spotted...[/QUOTE] i use a GoPro in the car everywhere i go, i'd love to hand over some clips of the driving i get to the Police but i know they won't do anything anyway

Post 624988 by graemewelch on 2013-07-13 13:19:59

[QUOTE=p fandango;624985]you only get a fine when you do something wrong[/QUOTE] or if they are having a bad day and your face dosnt fit.

Post 624991 by p fandango on 2013-07-13 13:26:24

[QUOTE=graemewelch;624988]or if they are having a bad day and your face dosnt fit.[/QUOTE] i would like to argue with you on that one, but having been on the receiving end myself in the past i can't lol