Why do car owners drive in the middle lane?

Wishbone Ash

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

If someone overtakes you on the left, youre in the wrong lane.

Your motorway driving experience must be very limited. There are several sections of motorway where drivers are legally obliged to be in lane 2, 3 or 4 and obeying the posted limit. If other drivers in the left lane choose to ignore the posted speed limit, I can't see how that makes the others in the wrong lane.

grassylawn

Some people just don't know how they are supposed to be used. For a time I was incorrectly informed that the left lane was dedicated to slower vehicles such as lorries.

Even worse is that from reading this a lot seem to know exactly how they’re supposed to be used and won’t comply with it because they don’t know how to slow down and speed up a vehicle.

Imagine thinking you have to swerve out to lane 2 just because someone is coming down a merge lane.

grassylawn

I think it is courteous to move out a lane when someone is merging if there is space to do so.

shtpEdthePlum

I was driving around Cork yesterday and the amount of people i saw straddling the middle line between lanes was absolutely mental.

Pick a lane please.

con___manx1

If in the left lane you have loads of cars that are merging onto the motor way at a very slow speed. This drives me nuts. Drivers should gain sufficient speed before entering the motorway. I usually drive in the overtaking lane or middle because of those idiot drivers.

Guy:Incognito

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No one said anything about braking on a moterway. You are not understanding the difference between adjusting speed and braking.
That is worrying assuming that you are a driver.

You know selectively quoting one part doesn't actually make the original post with all the relevant details dissappear?

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

.

If youre on the motorway, you dont adjust speed, the cars merging match speed with the traffic on the motorway. Eejits all "adjusting speed" to suit the people merging is why the traffic all brakes and slows to 70-80 or less at junctions. 2 lanes of traffic both braking to merge. Its ridiculous, drivers brake to exit the motorway, brake to enter it, brake to change lanes. FFS outside of an emergency situation, you shouldnt need to brake on a motorway.

Thomasirl123

blackvalley wrote: »

Aw yes . Another tread that should be titled ." Lets all us really good drivers moan about the rest " The usual moaning and bitching about what " other drivers do " and how bad the " standard of driving is " .
So who are all these really bad drivers .?
Haven driven for fifty years I have been involved in numerous conversations over coffee , pints , work and family where everyone gave out about all the " bad drivers " out there . And do you know what ? . I have NEVER spoken to a bad driver yet . Everyone I know is a great driver and if it wasnt for all the OTHER bad drivers everything would be great .
So I will put my hand up and admit to being an average to bad driver who sometimes gets things wrong . Please excuse me for posting on a topic where most contributors are really good drivers. :rolleyes:

This! The thread must be the top 100 drivers in Ireland, surprised they haven't made it to formula 1! Gods on the road!

Wanderer78

markmoto wrote:

I have notice for sometime on motorway, car owners keep driving in the middle lane. Is there any reason for that?

Human behaviour id imagine, left lanes are generally slower, and right lanes are generally faster, so less pressure in the middle

Deub

shtpEdthePlum wrote: »

I was driving around Cork yesterday and the amount of people i saw straddling the middle line between lanes was absolutely mental.

Pick a lane please.

I saw what could have been the start of a congestion yesterday. Someone driving at 70/80 km/h in the middle lane with a dozen cars behind who couldn’t overtake because of the constant flow of cars on the outside lane. I was on the left one and no one behind me.
If only there was enforcement of the rules.

Guy:Incognito

grassylawn wrote: »

I think it is courteous to move out a lane when someone is merging if there is space to do so.

I use the m50 at all times of the day and night .

There plenty of times when it could be me and 1 other car up ahead or behind, then coming to a junction they just change to the middle lane. Not when they see a car on the slip, they just do it. Absolutely no need to move anywhere and even if there was a car coming down the slip lane, if they can't negotiate their way to safely merging on to road with one or two cars on it with a slip that goes all the way to the next junction then they shouldn't be driving.

Guy:Incognito

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Your motorway driving experience must be very limited. There are several sections of motorway where drivers are legally obliged to be in lane 2, 3 or 4 and obeying the posted limit. If other drivers in the left lane choose to ignore the posted speed limit, I can't see how that makes the others in the wrong lane.

Where are you legally obliged to be in anything other than the left lane?

Are you talking about the m50 /m1 junction where the right lanes go to malahide and the city centre? This is clearly indicated as different by using thicker broken lines between lanes because they are effectively separate slips.
Aswell as at sandyford where the m50 becomes 2 lanes and the left lane becomes the slip.

This is not the same as sitting in the middle lane of the rest of the m50 (or any other motorway) while traffic overtakes on your left.

mrcheez

Same as why people in Ireland tend to walk on the right side of the pavement and it's to do with natural inclination... Guess it carries through onto the road and maybe if we were drive-right-side instead of left it might happen less?

ahbell

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

As anyone undertaken in lane one when a car is hogging lane 2 below speed limit just to try to prove a point, ive never done it myself.

My understanding is that it's only considered undertaking if you pass someone who is in Lane 2 by accelerating past them in Lane 1 and then moving into Lane 2 ahead of them. If you stay in Lane 1 at a consistent speed faster than them and don't move into Lane 2 ahead of them that is perfectly fine.

As I say just my understanding and I did my driving test abroad, so willing to be proven wrong on this!

Yes there is a difference between passing and overtaking on the left.

Pinch Flat

Main reason is that nobody has a clue how to use a two lane never mind a three lane motorway. Also a complete lack of enforcement helps to encourage it.

Thomasirl123

Thomasirl123 wrote: »

This! The thread must be the top 100 drivers in Ireland, surprised they haven't made it to formula 1! Gods on the road!

The best is when they say: 'This country is full of idiot drivers...' and then go on to detail all the reckless traffic incidents they encounter on a daily basis. Never realising the main cause of the trouble is sitting in their own driving seat.

alias no.9

MrMusician18 wrote: »

The reason you have middle lane hogging is that it's a far easier way to drive for the driver. They do not have to worry about traffic leaving or in particular merging. And it's merging that's the real issue. No matter how big of a gap you leave you could still end up travelling parallel to someone trying to merge - leaving you having to brake or move out and it may not always be safe to do either of those, or you might find that situation stressful. Driving down the middle avoids this.

This isn't to excuse the behaviour, but it can explain it.

If you're in the left lane and there's traffic looking to merge, its not difficult to lift off a little to let someone merge, its also not difficult to read the road before they're even in a position to merge and move to the middle lane temporarily, returning to the left when its clear. You should never need to brake to let someone merge unless you've been totally oblivious to the traffic around you.
Your post does raise another point, it's not always a lack of awareness, sometimes it's just laziness.

markmoto

If traffic corps run on selective day (Awareness day) and pull over everyone who is holding middle lane for no reason. in a matter of weeks we would have far less congestion.

AndrewJRenko

markmoto wrote: »

If traffic corps run on selective day (Awareness day) and pull over everyone who is holding middle lane for no reason. in a matter of weeks we would have far less congestion.

Why would they put resources into this, and not into addressing more serious, dangerous behaviours like speeding and mobile phone use?

markmoto

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Why would they put resources into this, and not into addressing more serious, dangerous behaviours like speeding and mobile phone use?

Agree but day of Awareness on the road / radio /etc would give people better understanding about middle lane driving. We would have less traffic jams and btw road collisions too. Just thoughts.

Kewreeuss

grassylawn wrote: »

I think it is courteous to move out a lane when someone is merging if there is space to do so.

And if there isn’t, what do you do?
If the merging car is just faster than you?
If you can see they are significantly slower?
I will not slow down to let a dopey eejit merge, but I will keep an eye on a fast car and ease off a tiny bit, but then I don’t tailgate and a fast car can nearly always slot in in front of me.

biko

Not a Learning to drive question, moved to main forum.

grassylawn

Kewreeuss wrote: »

And if there isn’t, what do you do?
If the merging car is just faster than you?
If you can see they are significantly slower?
I will not slow down to let a dopey eejit merge, but I will keep an eye on a fast car and ease off a tiny bit, but then I don’t tailgate and a fast car can nearly always slot in in front of me.

I generally make space for people trying to merge if I am obstructing them from merging. If there isn't space to move out a lane then you can speed up or slow down to make space as appropriate. It isn't rocket science. I appreciate it when people do the same for me. I am annoyed if someone doesn't move out a lane if it is empty and doing so would make it easier to safely merge.

The J Stands for Jay

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ah come on, do you actually drive on the M50 or any motorway? Its common practice to adjust speed or move over to allow others to merge.

Yeah, you're speeding up in the on ramp and decide you'll go behind a car already in the lane. Then that tool starts slowing down to let you in...

Just keep your speed consistent and let people entering the motorway figure it out without needing to deal with your unpredictable behaviour.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

its a lot easier to read and post on Boards when in the middle lane

Lot of people equate the lanes with speed. Left is slow, middle fast, right for overtaking

The J Stands for Jay

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

As anyone undertaken in lane one when a car is hogging lane 2 below speed limit just to try to prove a point, ive never done it myself.

No, but at non busy times on the m50 I've approached a middle lane moron in lane 1, and correctly moved from 1,2,3, pass,2,1 and seen them turn their head to follow me with a slack jawed expression.

The J Stands for Jay

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Main reason is that nobody has a clue how to use a two lane never mind a three lane motorway. Also a complete lack of enforcement helps to encourage it.

Have you never seen a patrol car on the m50 hogging the middle lane? Can trust them to enforce the law.

Henry Ford III

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

If someone overtakes you on the left, youre in the wrong lane.

So are they.

corcaigh07

grassylawn wrote: »

I generally make space for people trying to merge if I am obstructing them from merging. If there isn't space to move out a lane then you can speed up or slow down to make space as appropriate. It isn't rocket science. I appreciate it when people do the same for me. I am annoyed if someone doesn't move out a lane if it is empty and doing so would make it easier to safely merge.

You shouldn't be annoyed at that, there is nothing in the rule book to suggest that you need to switch lanes for merging vehicles. The onus is on the vehicle joining the road.

markmoto

grassylawn wrote: »

I generally make space for people trying to merge if I am obstructing them from merging. If there isn't space to move out a lane then you can speed up or slow down to make space as appropriate. It isn't rocket science. I appreciate it when people do the same for me. I am annoyed if someone doesn't move out a lane if it is empty and doing so would make it easier to safely merge.

I agreed if there is no other vehicles on motorway make sense to move temporary to lane two to allow smooth merging. However merging vehicle must Give way to traffic already on the motorway. There is no reason to get annoyed for that.


(RSA) When you are joining a motorway.

•Build up speed on the acceleration lane before merging with motorway traffic.
•Give way to traffic already on the motorway.
•Change your speed to fit safely and legally into the traffic (lane1).

realdanbreen

markmoto wrote: »

I have notice for sometime on motorway, car owners keep driving in the middle lane. Is there any reason for that?

What's wrong with driving in the middle lane?

markmoto

realdanbreen wrote: »

What's wrong with driving in the middle lane?

Read this post
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=116922854&postcount=23

realdanbreen

markmoto wrote: »

Read this post
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=116922854&postcount=23

Haven't time, so what's wrong with driving in the middle lane?

liamog

realdanbreen wrote: »

Haven't time, so what's wrong with driving in the middle lane?

We drive on the left in this country, that means you should always be in the leftmost lane unless overtaking a vehicle on your left.

Infini

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Sticking to the speed limit is doing anything under that limit. A driver doing 70 in a 120 zone is sticking to the speed limit.

Driving that slow on a motorway could also be considered hazardous driving as that would be travelling significantly below the speed limit.

realdanbreen

liamog wrote: »

We drive on the left in this country, that means you should always be in the leftmost lane unless overtaking a vehicle on your left.

Oh! So on on a 3 lane motorway all traffic should be travelling in the left lane unless overtaking?

Stephenc66

Infini wrote: »

Driving that slow on a motorway could also be considered hazardous driving as that would be travelling significantly below the speed limit.

Significantly below the maximum of 120kmh yes but also need to consider that while slow vehicles are prohibited on motorways this is below 50kmh, the speed limit for trucks is 90kmh and a vehicle towing a trailer is 80kmh. Making the need for lane discipline and driving on the left important for traffic flow

BrokenArrows

Its because the middle lane is the easiest to drive in without having to make any adjustments.

If you stick to the inside lane you need to overtake slower drivers constantly, move to the middle lane when approaching slip roads. Its generally more effort

However keeping to the middle lane forces those keeping to the rules to move into the outside lane which causes excess traffic into one lane resulting in more congestion.

Piehead

Most people drive in the medium speed lane. The slow lane is for trucks and buses usually

Stephenc66

as simple as it gets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpYX-1rXVg8

_Kaiser_

I drive in the left lane on motorways outside Dublin. However once this lane starts to get busy as you get closer to the city (or the N7/M50) I have no issue moving to the outside lane as necessary and overtaking the long tine of dawdlers doing anywhere up to 40 km/h below the 120 limit for no real reason... and no, "I'm saving fuel" or "I'm not comfortable doing 120" isn't an excuse - if you can't keep up with the traffic and are causing others to have to take actions to get around you (especially trucks and buses), you shouldn't be on the motorway.

Undertaking however is dangerous as that middle-lane car you're passing may pull over on top of you without warning as they approach their exit (or just because they woke up). Overtake on the right only. "But you're allowed pass slower traffic on the left" isn't valid either - that rule is intended for slow moving traffic (eg: congestion) or where a car is stopped to turn right etc.

Have to agree with a poster previously though. Just over take the vehicle in question (on the right) and get on with your life.

liamog

realdanbreen wrote: »

Oh! So on on a 3 lane motorway all traffic should be travelling in the left lane unless overtaking?

Exactly.

Kewreeuss

Piehead wrote: »

Most people drive in the medium speed lane. The slow lane is for trucks and buses usually

It’s not the bloody slow lane!!

markmoto

Piehead wrote: »

Most people drive in the medium speed lane. The slow lane is for trucks and buses usually

There is no slow or fast lanes, all lanes equal and according to traffic rules you have to keep left lane unless overtaking. To avoid congestions and road collisions.

liamog

Kewreeuss wrote: »

It’s not the bloody slow lane!!

Especially as the traffic is commonly going slower in lane 2 than it is in lane 1.

Patrick2010

So on the M50 everyone should drive on the left lane unless overtaking?. So no one should be on the outside lane then, have I got that right?.
Meanwhile back on the real world everyone who drives the M50 knows theres so much traffic on it all the lanes need to be used.

markmoto

Patrick2010 wrote: »

So on the M50 everyone should drive on the left lane unless overtaking?. So no one should be on the outside lane then, have I got that right?.
Meanwhile back on the real world everyone who drives the M50 knows theres so much traffic on it all the lanes need to be used.

If there is congestion obviously you can use any lanes.
But when driving on motorway and left lane is empty you should keep left.

People like to give out about middle lane hoggers, oblivious to the fact that they're guilty of doing the very thing they're complaining about, or at least being envious that they cannot do it.

In this thread alone, there's numerous people saying anyone who can't overtake properly shouldn't be allowed to drive. So what's your problem when you encounter someone in the middle lane? Just overtake them properly and continue on your journey, or should you not be allowed to drive?

I mean, you're essentially saying that you can't do what they're doing (driving without changing lanes), and instead have to perform a manoeuvre that you'd rather not do....i.e. drive without changing lanes.

"This guy has the audacity to sit in the middle lane so he doesn't have to keep popping in/out to overtake....what a selfish so-and-so......Boy I wish he didn't do that so I could....eh.....not have to pop in/out to overtake"