Lane two hoggers..

[RobM77]

Following on from the middle lane hogging thread, has anyone else noticed another unusual driving trait that has appeared over the last 2 or 3 years - lane two hoggers?

What these people do is if a road goes from one lane to two lanes for a period, they'll automatically move to lane two, even when there's nothing to overtake. You even get this on sections where at traffic lights a one lane road has two lanes for straight on which then merge again after the junction. Yesterday evening I was driving up the A30 past Virginia Water, and at every set of red lights I was at the front of the queue and in lane one, pulling away slowly and gently each time. The car behind me got over to lane two and sat next to me at every single red light, and at no point made any attempt to get in front of me - every time the lights went green they allowed me to pull away first, and then at the merge point 50 yards away, they just tucked in behind me, quite content.

I've often followed cars along sections which go from one lane to two quite frequently (e.g. A303, or the road up past Ringwood), and the car in front moves to lane two as soon as the two lane section appears, overtakes nothing, and then moves back in once it goes back to one lane.

This behaviour didn't exist until about 3 years ago. Anyone else noticed it, and can anyone explain it? My only guess is that it's to stop people getting past them.

[roachcoach]

They're in the "fast" lane, because let's be perfectly honest - that is how it is seen. They're not going "slow" so they should be there. QED.


What is interesting, is how many suddenly find their accelerator, if you should start to dawdle past in the inside lane. Particularly amusing if you're taking the slip off and they don't realise, they're so hellbent on watching you/blocking any possible undertake they almost rear end the car in front. Well, I find it amusing anyway

[Munter]

doogz said:

I've seen it a lot on the A9, more than 3 years ago, since i passed my test really.

It's cos that's the fast lane, innit.

I was going to say that. They have been doing it at least since 1996.

[Slinky]

I must admit, I tend to stay in lane 2 of the two lane A45/M45 (albeit when empty) as the trucker ruts in lane 1 are awful!

I do, however, move out of the way if I spot something incoming..

[R0G]

Slinky said:

I must admit, I tend to stay in lane 2 of the two lane A45/M45 (albeit when empty) as the trucker ruts in lane 1 are awful!

I do, however, move out of the way if I spot something incoming..

Me too

If I have overtaken something then I might stay in lane 2 for ages with the usual caveats

[BertBert]

I don't drive into london much as public transport is much better, but I had cause to drive from Croydon to London Bridge sunday afternoon. A lot of the way is essentially two lane as the LH lane is the bus lane which is not operational on sundays. But there was so much crap on the left I gave up.

Blue cycle lanes a mile wide, roadworks, parked cars etc. In the end it was just too painful barging back in to what was L2 so I stuck there.

Bert

[lyonspride]

Many reasons for this (like slip lanes joining), but a hell of a lot of people do it because they simply don't like being overtaken.... A problem which has been increasing along with this in the mentioned 2 - 3 years, more and more people are driving on their ego's.

[RobM77]

I've tried waiting patiently behind these people, and they just stay there. I've also tried a flash or two, and they normally get angry at that, and I don't want any trouble. What I've taken to doing now instead is simply undertaking them. Doing so after a flash can be dangerous because then they often then try and block you by moving back over, so I do it straight away when I come across such a driver.

That may be a slightly dodgy thing to do, but some of these people are sat at 50mph in a 60 or 70mph limit with nothing in front of them in sight, and getting past and then accelerating back up to a safe speed can make considerable progress.

[croyde]

Anyone who drives like that, sitting in the outside lane when there is no need, I treat with caution as they are obviously not very aware of their surroundings and are probably a bit thick.

[robbyd]

yes -

This has crept in over the last few years round here - people will get into L2 a R turn three miles down the road - more often than not, driving well below the limit. It happens even if L1 is empty on some sections of DC - they still use L2 for the whole stretch. I can only imagine these drivers are not feeling comfortable with lane changing. Drives you mad, and it doesn't help with 3 lane sections (around traffic lights, for example) being permanently chevroned down to 2 lanes! And they wonder why we overtake on the left!

[grumpyscot]

This is one of the reasons I use the bus lanes when they're not active - I can legally undertake the outside lane hoggers.

[lyonspride]

Came across one of these this morning, followed her down a twisty/long 50mph A road at 30mph, there's nowhere to overtake on this road, so might as well just sit back and wait. Then when we got to the 50mph DC she immediately jumped into lane 2 and sat there doing 35mph..... I sat behind her hoping she'd move, she just stared at me, so I "found an inventive way" to get past, 1/4 mile later at the next traffic island I see her in my rear view, she finally moves to the left hand lane to go left

I think when I first came up behind her at 50mph, she though "oh great here's one in a hurry, lets see how much I can piss him off".

[Ian R]

Just ride at a safe distance behind them with your right hand indicator on, if no responce a short blast of high beam normally gets the message across. This is how the French do it and it always seems to work there.

[A.J.M]

Noticing this more as well, latest case was a woman in a white TT, lane 2, so i flashed as i was making progess comin up behind her (fnaff etc) she moves over, and when i pass she moved back into lane 2...

Had a gi=uy in a mk4 gold with those 18's that most golf's have sitting in lane 2 once, i flashed him. No reply so after a few minutes, i undertook and flashed my left indicator at him several times as i moved ahead, he still remained in lane 2.

Completely oblivious to everything around him i think...

[lyonspride]

Suggestions of flashing lights etc etc, not the best of idea's......
These days people are likely to turn aggressive, it's often best to cause minimum fuss.

[R0G]

lyonspride said:

Suggestions of flashing lights etc etc, not the best of idea's......
These days people are likely to turn aggressive, it's often best to cause minimum fuss.

I found that if the lights are flashed with at least the minimum safe distance kept then that does not offend

It's the flashing of the lights when close behind that often causes offence

[Balmoral Green]

A.J.M said:

woman in a white TT, lane 2, so i flashed as i was making progess comin up behind her (fnaff etc) she moves over, and when i pass she moved back into lane 2...

I see this so often, I just don't get it?

They move over, the passing car returns to L1, they return to L2, then someone else comes up behind them, they pull over, the next person passes and returns to L1, once again they return to L2, and repeat.

They appear to be quite happy to move to L1 to let someone pass, but they immediately return to L2.

WTF for

And no, it's not because L1 is rutted, the passing cars are all pulling into it and using it.

[Ian R]

Have these people been on advanced driving courses? you are taught to drive in lane 2 of a dual carrage way at night to avoid any possible obstructions that may have fallen of lorries etc?? But to do it all the time - why??

[lyonspride]

R0G said:

I found that if the lights are flashed with at least the minimum safe distance kept then that does not offend

It's the flashing of the lights when close behind that often causes offence

I know what your saying, but I once flashed my lights at a guy who practically did an emergency stop on a NSL dual-carriageway when he noticed a static speed camera. The guy in the lane next to him moved into lane 2 and then proceeded to brake test me several times whilst giving me the middle finger. He wasn't even the one I flashed my lights at, but he sure as hell wanted a fight over it.
Some people are complete lunatics, your much better off keeping a low profile and making your moves fast and silent.

[HellDiver]

I tend to stick to Lane 2. I'd rather not bounce and crash my way through the 4-6" ruts left by the trucks in Lane 1, especially in the wet where you end up driving down two canals.

When they fix the roads, I'll drive in Lane 1.