Motorway Driving

How often have you been travelling down the outside lane of a motorway, only to have your way blocked by someone dawdling along in the outside lane, seemingly unaware of your approach? The Highway code states quite clearly "Lane discipline: 238: You should drive in the left-hand lane if the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower moving vehicles it may be safer to remain in the centre or outer lanes until the manoeuvre is completed rather than continually changing lanes. Return to the left-hand lane once you have overtaken all the vehicles or if you are delaying traffic behind you."

So why is it that this seemingly simple instruction is ignored to the frustration of other road users? There seem to be a number of different types of lane hog, namely:

- The elderly - "I am out for a Sunday drive and have no idea how to drive on a motorway"
- The law abiding citizen - "The speed limit is 70mph therefore I will travel at this speed in the outside lane regaradless. No one needs to overtake me as that would mean breaking the law"
- The Blocker - "Ha ha! He must be joking. There is no way I am letting him pass"
- The Cretin - "I will not pull in until I have passed that car (that is half a mile ahead)"
- The Police - "I enjoy driving at 68mph and laughing at all the motorists crawling past at 69mph

I am sure there are loads more types - perhaps you have some favourites. At the end of the day though it is FRUSTRATING! All I am trying to do is get from A to B in a timely fashion. Why do people have to try and make it an unpleasurable activity!!