HGV drivers............

[slowmotion]

Almost any large vehicle close to you on narrow lanes in a contraflow is a bit scary. By and large, HGV drivers seem pretty good to me, both in roadworks and on the open road. I certainly don't view them as bullies. Maybe it's because I'm in a white van. I doubt it.

 

[pplpilot]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedometer#Error

 

[Brandane]

That ^^^^^ is bullshot!! If I am driving at 70mph as indicated by my sat nav nothing should overtake me as I am driving at the legal speed limit therefore "faster traffic" is traffic that is speeding.
If you have ever been on a driver awareness course as i have you will (or should ) know that there is no such thing as an "overtaking lane" on the motorway nor is there a "slow lane" or a "fast lane". the designated speed on any lane on the motorway is 70mph, all three lanes are designed to be driven in at that speed. all three lanes can be used by motorists other than those restricted by size or weight etc, it is FACT that one can drive in ANY of those lanes at 70mph providing one is not causing an obstruction or otherwise causing other motorway traffic to be hindered or endangering other road users. The highway code does not state this but talk to any copper or go a driver awareness course and you will find out this is fact.

What utter, utter, TOSH! I had a sliver of sympathy with your original post, until I read this.
The highway code makes it quite clear that we drive on the left in this country, and that once an overtake has been carried out, the proper way to drive is to return to the left lane.
You sound a bit like a wannabe traffic policeman, driving in the right hand lanes at the maximum limit (according to YOUR speedometer) and woe betide anyone who wants past you. No wonder other drivers get frustrated and flash their lights at you. Just keep to the left unless overtaking; it's really not difficult.

 

[Brandane]

assuming a very constant 55 mph over 80 miles = 1h 36m V's 1h 27m , not including speed ups and slow downs... show me where you can maintain 55 mph for 80 miles. My brother is an HGV driver and he comes out with this hitting targets nonsense, when you hit him with the numbers he soon changes his stance..

Glasgow airport to Manchester airport on a nightshift, for starters. You can pretty much maintain a constant 55 mph from door to door. In fact, if you don't, you will be struggling to cover the run in 4.5 hours, at which point you have to take a statutory 45 minute break. If you take that break on the southbound run before Manchester airport, then you will run out of time on the return journey somewhere about Hamilton (assuming you have already used your twice weekly one hour extensions to driving time); resulting in another driver being dispatched in a van to rescue the lorry. You can then expect to be kicked up and down the managers office on your return!

 

[Levo-Lon]

Glasgow airport to Manchester airport on a nightshift, for starters. You can pretty much maintain a constant 55 mph from door to door. In fact, if you don't, you will be struggling to cover the run in 4.5 hours, at which point you have to take a statutory 45 minute break. If you take that break on the southbound run before Manchester airport, then you will run out of time on the return journey somewhere about Hamilton (assuming you have already used your twice weekly one hour extensions to driving time); resulting in another driver being dispatched in a van to rescue the lorry. You can then expect to be kicked up and down the managers office on your return!

my house to Edinburgh..about 400 i think..5 miles to the A1..next stop Edinburgh,the A1 is often quiet once you leave the south..

 

[Brandane]

The law was recently changed so police could prosecute middle lane hoggers, nothing to do with using the "overtaking lanes" properly.
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motori...-beware-youre-breaking-the-law-11363989000725

Errrm; according to that article, it has everything to do with using the overtaking lanes properly.
From your linked article......

However, the Highway Code Rule 264 clearly states that all drivers must keep to the left-hand lane when not overtaking. This means all drivers of all vehicles should be in lane one unless they are passing slower vehicles.

While some might think it pointless to change lanes for a short distance and period of time, it is good driving practice. It allows cars behind to pass without using the third lane, which in turn helps keep traffic flowing smoothly.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Getting in lane early for roadworks also ..instaed of trying to push in at the last second and stopping the flow..

 

[steve50]

Errrm; according to that article, it has everything to do with using the overtaking lanes properly.
From your linked article......

Okay, so lets say everyone drives exactly in accordance with the (outdated) highway code, there would only be two lanes required at anytime because everyone would be dutifully driving in the nearside lane just popping out every now and then to pass a slower moving hgv and all the hgv's would stay in the nearside lane so the faster moving traffic could pass safely and we would all be driving with big smiles on our faces and wearing rose tinted glasses, occasionally we could stop at the motorway services and exchange pleasantries with a truck driver whilst hugging a tree.

In the real world we all know it doesn't happen like that and as I already said the highway code is just that , a code of conduct written many years ago to suit the motoring needs of drivers and trafffic back in that era.
The highway code was first written and published in 1931 and very little of it has been updated since, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Highway_Code

Quote: Any failure to comply with the Code is not an offence in itself, but can be taken into account by a court. The mandatory rules reflect the Statute Law, which may (and usually does) provide a separate penalty.

Even the braking distances remain the same from when some of us were driving ford anglias that required stopping distances of hundreds of feet to stop from 30mph, it is grossly outdated and desperately needs reviewing and bringing right up to date to fit in with todays roads and vehicles.

 

[DRHysted]

Okay, so lets say everyone drives exactly in accordance with the (outdated) highway code, there would only be two lanes required at anytime because everyone would be dutifully driving in the nearside lane just popping out every now and then to pass a slower moving hgv and all the hgv's would stay in the nearside lane so the faster moving traffic could pass safely and we would all be driving with big smiles on our faces and wearing rose tinted glasses, occasionally we could stop at the motorway services and exchange pleasantries with a truck driver whilst hugging a tree.

In the real world we all know it doesn't happen like that and as I already said the highway code is just that , a code of conduct written many years ago to suit the motoring needs of drivers and trafffic back in that era.
The highway code was first written and published in 1931 and very little of it has been updated since, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Highway_Code

Quote: Any failure to comply with the Code is not an offence in itself, but can be taken into account by a court. The mandatory rules reflect the Statute Law, which may (and usually does) provide a separate penalty.

Even the braking distances remain the same from when some of us were driving ford anglias that required stopping distances of hundreds of feet to stop from 30mph, it is grossly outdated and desperately needs reviewing and bringing right up to date to fit in with todays roads and vehicles.

We either comply with the HC or we don't. I'm presuming you're one who doesn't think you need to.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I'd rather have a HGV tailgate me, than be around a city with a 17 year old facetweeting their lunch.

 

[steve50]

We either comply with the HC or we don't. I'm presuming you're one who doesn't think you need to.

You would presume wrong, the hc is there for guidance and as the motorways get wider and traffic busier we should adapt our driving and the hc should be adopted to suit modern driving standards. We all know the rule about staying in the left hand lane but with the volume of today's traffic that rule is very difficult to apply, anyone who uses the motorways early morning and early evening will know this only too well.

 

[Brandane]

We all know the rule about staying in the left hand lane but with the volume of today's traffic that rule is very difficult to apply, anyone who uses the motorways early morning and early evening will know this only too well.

I regularly use the motorways at all times of the day and night, and it doesn't seem to make much difference to a lot of people's lane sense. 2am on the empty M6 going through the Lake District, and you still get people chugging along in the middle lane at 50mph when the left lane is empty (apart from some knight of the road HGV driver heading for Manchester airport, who is not allowed in the right hand lane, and therefore goes into the middle lane and gives the middle lane hog a gentle flash of the lights - from a safe distance, naturally - to try and coax them into using the left lane ).

 

[mark st1]

Ideally both lanes would fill with slower-moving traffic that filters alternately at the pinch point. However, people are so hung up on the selfish "hey, no pushing in" mindset that the filtering patiently thing doesn't usually work.

This would make driving a bit more pleasurable. As you say though to many "I ain't letting them in" actually whiteness quite often low speed rear end shunts at a particular pinch point in Maidenhead where people are so intent on looking in there mirror not letting anyone in they hit the car in front. Madness

 

[Inertia]

I think driving standards in general need improving, not getting over into the left lane isnt what causes huge Jams. Its usually people not anticipating whats going on around them and having to react by hitting their brakes, causing others behind to hit their brakes as they wonder wtf happened. If we all traveled at a lawful speed and stopped darting in and out of lanes to gain an extra car length then congestion probably wouldnt be as bad. just IMO of course

 

[steve50]

What utter, utter, TOSH! I had a sliver of sympathy with your original post, until I read this.
The highway code makes it quite clear that we drive on the left in this country, and that once an overtake has been carried out, the proper way to drive is to return to the left lane.
You sound a bit like a wannabe traffic policeman, driving in the right hand lanes at the maximum limit (according to YOUR speedometer) and woe betide anyone who wants past you. No wonder other drivers get frustrated and flash their lights at you. Just keep to the left unless overtaking; it's really not difficult.

You are reading something into my reply that doesn't exist. What I said was, if I am driving at 70mph as indicated by my sat nav then anyone overtaking is over the speed limit, that is their choice i am not trying to police the roads anymore than you are, nor did I say that I stayed in the right hand lane!
It is fact that you can drive at 70mph in any of the three lanes of the motorway unless speed restrictions are in place. Oh, and it only happened to me once. My op related to what I witnessed going to Manchester this last Sunday night not what happened to me personally and I never asked for sympathy.
I am as courteous a driver as any you will ever come across both in my car and on my bike, I try not to piss anyone off because you never know if the other driver is some bellend with a baseball bat at the side of his seat, I was the victim of a road rage incident many years ago which resulted in me receiving an injury, why would i want to go there again?
Perhaps you are just reading my reply wrong or reading something into it that is not there but you obviously have jumped to the wrong conclusion about me.