Drivers

[les_taxi]

I confess to being a 'middle lane driver' and the reasons why.

No way am I going to sit behind a load of wagons, or old biddies doing 50mph when I have to get my customers - or simply me - to the airport etc.

It's much more dangerous to be in and out of the inside lane. By definition, you are creating a greater chance for error/accidents in the number of moves you would need to take - probably hundreds on a long journey.

I'm basically in the middle lane doing about 80-85mph. There is nothing too close behind me - or in front - as I leave decent gaps. Anyone bombing it, simply overtakes me in the outside lane.

I don't see anything wrong with that at all - it's how we've done it for years.

The law says that's wrong - I say the law is wrong and I will further add: What is much more dangerous is opening hard shoulders for traffic to use at busy times. What if some poor bugger has broken down and the camera's not picked it up? !

I would agree more if the middle lane idiot is doing 50 and you can't get out of your inside lane to overtake.

[SimonH]

90% of the time I'm in agreement with you Les, but on this occasion

I confess to being a 'middle lane driver' and the reasons why.

No way am i going to sit behind a load of wagons, or old biddies doing 50mph when I have to get my customers - or simply me - to the airport etc.

It's much more dangerous to be in and out of the inside lane. By defintion you are creating a greater chance for error/accidents in the number of moves you would need to take - probably hundreds on a long journey.

So you're a professional driver but can't judge speeds or distances

basically in the middle lane doing about 80-85mph. There is nothing too close behind me - or in front - as I leave decent gaps. Anyone bombing it, simply overtakes me in the outside lane.

I don't see anything wrong with that at all - it's how we've done it for years.

Who's we? The law also says that doing 80-85mph is wrong

The law says that's wrong - I say the law is wrong and I will further add: What is much more dangerous is opening hard shoulders for traffic to use at busy times. What if some poor bugger has broken down and the camera's not picked it up? !

I would agree more if the middle lane idiot is doing 50 and you can't get out of your inside lane to overtake.

If you don't leave a big enough gap to stop if someone is stationary when you approach, then you deserve to have your licence taken away from you

[les_taxi]

90% of the time I'm in agreement with you Les, but on this occasion

So you're a professional driver but can't judge speeds or distances

Who's we The law also says that doing 80-85mph is wrong

If you don't leave a big enough gap to stop if someone is stationary when you approach then you deserve to have your licence taken away from you

Sorry Simon, disagree with you 100%

Ok, of course I can judge speed and distances, I'm pointing out a simple fact that pulling in and out over what may be a 4 hour-8 hour journey - or any journey - would definitely lead to more chance of driver error.

I don't know what motorways you drive on Simon, but on the M1, M62 and A1, you get very few people doing 70mph dead on. We are talking realism here.

For many years, the AA and other credible motoring organisations have said the speed limit is too low - look at Germany - where there is or was no speed limit on the Autobahn's.

I would say at least 70% of motorists go faster than 70mph.

Regarding you third point; of course that's true, but again in the real world, many drivers do not leave enough of a gap - I do.

[Michael Parnham]

Sorry Simon, disagree with you 100%

Ok, of course I can judge speed and distances, I'm pointing out a simple fact that pulling in and out over what may be a 4 hour-8 hour journey - or any journey - would definitely lead to more chance of driver error.

I don't know what motorways you drive on Simon, but on the M1, M62 and A1, you get very few people doing 70mph dead on. We are talking realism here.

For many years, the AA and other credible motoring organisations have said the speed limit is too low - look at Germany - where there is or was no speed limit on the Autobahn's.

I would say at least 70% of motorists go faster than 70mph.

Regarding you third point; of course that's true, but again in the real world, many drivers do not leave enough of a gap - I do.

I do no more than 60 on motorways!

[SimonH]

Sorry Simon, disagree with you 100%

Ok, of course I can judge speed and distances, I'm pointing out a simple fact that pulling in and out over what may be a 4 hour-8 hour journey - or any journey - would definitely lead to more chance of driver error.

I don't know what motorways you drive on Simon, but on the M1, M62 and A1, you get very few people doing 70mph dead on. We are talking realism here.

For many years, the AA and other credible motoring organisations have said the speed limit is too low - look at Germany - where there is or was no speed limit on the Autobahn's.

I would say at least 70% of motorists go faster than 70mph.

Regarding you third point; of course that's true, but again in the real world, many drivers do not leave enough of a gap - I do.

On your first point, I couldn't disagree more. Driving properly, using lane discipline and keeping a safe distance will keep your brain alert as opposed to sitting in the middle lane with not much to concentrate on.

Mainly drive on the M4, M25 and M40 except when I'm going up tut north

There's no way you can draw a comparison between a German autobahn and a British motorway.

I drive a 5ltr supercharged V8, with over 500BHP, you have a guess at what speed I travel at

[les_taxi]

On your first point, I couldn't disagree more. Driving properly, using lane discipline and keeping a safe distance will keep your brain alert as opposed to sitting in the middle lane with not much to concentrate on.

Mainly drive on the M4, M25 and M40 except when I'm going up tut north

There's no way you can draw a comparison between a German autobahn and a British motorway.

I drive a 5ltr supercharged V8, with over 500BHP, you have a guess at what speed I travel at

When I'm in middle lane there is nothing that near me, my concentration is taking over slower people than me in middle lane. I do keep a safe distance but will always disagree with you about going in and out of inside lane time after time - for one thing, some people don't even indicate they are pulling out, so I'm indicating - the car behind me soes not notice it and he pulls out same time as me
Meanwhile, if I'm in centre lane driving at a steady speed, keeping safe distance I'm a hindrance to no-one

[Ako Si Jamie]

What is much more dangerous is opening hard shoulders for traffic to use at busy times. What if some poor bugger has broken down and the camera's not picked it up? !

What are the rules for the hard shoulder where they can be opened for traffic? Because they're not clear cut. I've seen motorists drive down them when the signs aren't working.

Because of this, I thought it was allowed. I did it myself about half a mile before I was due to turn off and came across a broken-down car. No red crosses, nothing.

Fortunately I saw him well in advance.