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[aaronjb]

So keep to the left and keep a constant speed... but be VERY CAREFUL in case the plonker suddenly sees you and makes a dirty dive left ...

I do that from time to time but, as you say, it's often with a good deal of trepidation even if I know there isn't a junction for miles (and I won't do it on the approach to a junction for obvious reasons) as ML*s are well known for their unprompted and utterly unpredictable lane swaps..

[05omegav6]

Saw a car yesterday travelling at 47mph in lane two of the M25 yesterday afternoon. Retarded doesn't come close

This is a common problem there. Take a muppet who has probably never been taught how to drive on a 3 lane motorway properly and give them an extra couple of lanes to worry about....

It seems that they need to be a maximum of 1 lane away from the central reservation, otherwise they feel lost.

  I thought at the time that the car looked familiar, (conspicuous number plate RON...R on a 15 year old Rover), and suspect that it was a case of 'If I sit here travelling well below the speed limit, then I won't get pulled over and my car won't get searched...'

[cam2502]

Well that's BMW drivers oppsed then 

Oi!!!  ....... 

[cleggy]

They could always do it with cameras, gauge the distance between cars and use ANPR to nab the tailgater, same could be said for middle lane dawdlers 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I have mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand there is an awful lot of bad driving (tailgating, middle lane hogging, texting on the move and so on) . So any action would be good.

On the other side it may become like in other European countries. Targeted (got to do so many people a month , so more likely to get done towards month end......), a source of personal revenue for the officers concerned, and a source of revenue for the police force in general. Will you get a receipt.? Will you be able to pay £50 cash to avoid a £100 fine and penalty points. Will the insurance companies have a field day pushing premiums up more?

No Varche that cannot happen in the UK.

Indeed, these fines, as of now, are in the form of Fixed Penalties that is a ticket (like an invoice) that gives you a limited time to pay your fine to the DVLA, and they will also attach the Penalty Points to your licence records.  It is all done by paper by the officers, and no cash will ever change hands.

I thoroughly agree with these changes, and personally would have increased the fine for using a mobile phone whilst driving to £200 and 6 penalty points for the first offence, and doubling for the second. Then I would treble the penalties the penalties for tailgating, with automatic bans for the worst offenders, especially those driving any type of commercial vehicle, especially PSV's and HGV's.

As for driving whilst under the influence of drink, I would introduce a life ban and £5,000 fine on anyone caught with more than double the current limit, with an automatic ban and a £1,000 fine for those between 35 microgrammes and 69mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath or 80 milligrammes and 159mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.  As for those under the influence of drugs that is more complicated, but with new equipment being supplied to the police it should become easier to prosecute to the same degree as with drink driving.

 

[Doctor Gollum]

It is quite legal to "undertake" .. if done correctly.....

The term "undertaking" means actually moving deliberately to pass a car on the left hand side.

If you are travelling in the left lane, and the traffic on your right is moving slower than you, it is permissible to continue without changing lanes .. we do it all the time in traffic queues..... so if you are doing 56 in the left lane, and a plonker in the middle lane is doing 50 .. there is no need to move out... just continue in a straight line and go past.

If you are in the middle lane and you meet such an idiot you must move to the right to pass, as a move to the left is an undertake, not a "traffic moving slower on your right"

So keep to the left and keep a constant speed... but be VERY CAREFUL in case the plonker suddenly sees you and makes a dirty dive left ...

I do this lots with the tin tent on the back as I'm not allowed in the outer lane, and I don't want to sit behind said plonker doing 50 in the middle lane when I can legally do 60 ..

This is where, in practical terms, there's very little difference between passing the car in lane 2 on either side. As they are as equally, if not more, likely to move into your path in lane 3 as they are if your in lane 1.

Hopefully the lane hogging will cure some of the tailgating as well.

But as Mark says, and its the same as with mobile phones, they can make the fine as expensive as they like, there's no coppers about to see it.

I just hope the headlines will increase awareness. But I won't hold me breath.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

It is quite legal to "undertake" .. if done correctly.....

The term "undertaking" means actually moving deliberately to pass a car on the left hand side.

If you are travelling in the left lane, and the traffic on your right is moving slower than you, it is permissible to continue without changing lanes .. we do it all the time in traffic queues..... so if you are doing 56 in the left lane, and a plonker in the middle lane is doing 50 .. there is no need to move out... just continue in a straight line and go past.

If you are in the middle lane and you meet such an idiot you must move to the right to pass, as a move to the left is an undertake, not a "traffic moving slower on your right"

So keep to the left and keep a constant speed... but be VERY CAREFUL in case the plonker suddenly sees you and makes a dirty dive left ...

I do this lots with the tin tent on the back as I'm not allowed in the outer lane, and I don't want to sit behind said plonker doing 50 in the middle lane when I can legally do 60 ..

This is where, in practical terms, there's very little difference between passing the car in lane 2 on either side. As they are as equally, if not more, likely to move into your path in lane 3 as they are if your in lane 1.

Hopefully the lane hogging will cure some of the tailgating as well.

But as Mark says, and its the same as with mobile phones, they can make the fine as expensive as they like, there's no coppers about to see it.

I just hope the headlines will increase awareness. But I won't hold me breath.

An increasing number of cameras will help identify more offenders.

[Doctor Gollum]

Would have to be video, as it would need to the context of the surrounding situation. Can't see that happening any time soon in the current economic climate, can you?

Stills won't capture the ground before a rear facing camera, or behind a forward facing one.

[Doctor Gollum]

Bloody BBC. Cover the story in their own fashion as usual. Concentrating on tail gating instead of the route cause of hogging, which gets no mention at all. Ffs. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Should also add, that it is refreshing to see a move away from the blanket all ills "sipped kills" line. 

[aaronjb]

Should also add, that it is refreshing to see a move away from the blanket all ills "sipped kills" line. 

Speaking of sipping.. We just had a heated debate about the new pub they're opening in a motorway services..

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Would have to be video, as it would need to the context of the surrounding situation. Can't see that happening any time soon in the current economic climate, can you?

Stills won't capture the ground before a rear facing camera, or behind a forward facing one.

Don't know Chris really, but I know now Sussex police are actually able to recruit additional officers and the pressure is on politically for there, at least, to be no reduction in front line officers.  IT, with new APNR cameras are also already making a difference.  So we shall see!

God, I've just re-read that and what a mouthfull; won't change it though!

[omega3000]

Well that's BMW drivers oppsed then 

Oi!!!  ....... 

 

[aaronjb]

Well that's BMW drivers oppsed then 

Don't be daft, we drive in the BMWoutside lane.. 

[Rog]

Should also add, that it is refreshing to see a move away from the blanket all ills "sipped kills" line. 

Speaking of sipping.. We just had a heated debate about the new pub they're opening in a motorway services..

Seems a bit of a silly idea, however there is a hotel there also. If I stayed there the idea of being able to have a pint would be quite appealing.  BUT on services without a hotel, silly