Exos,
"Probably need to read your highway code them mate
B) The INSIDE LANE (aka) SLOW LANE: This lane is for slow moving vehicles such as lorries, caravans on tow, and vehicles traveling below 65 mph. As a rule, the minimum speed to travel on the motorway is 50 mph, anything below this becomes dangerous unless specified by roadwork signs and traffic flow signals (note: this is not taking into account the weather). Apart from slow moving vehicles, the inside lane is used for entering and exiting the motorway. A good rule of thumb, if you are in the inside lane and are approaching a motorway entrance where vehicles are joining the motorway, indicate and move over to the centre lane to give room to those vehicles trying to get on the motorway. And when leaving the motorway try to manoeuvre to the outside lane a good mile before you need to exit, this will decrease the possibility of needing to cut across traffic to get off the motorway.
C) The CENTER LANE: The average speed of the centre lane is 70 mph. this lane is also used for slow moving vehicles who are overtaking even slower vehicles from the slow lane. A rule of thumb, if you are cruising along in the centre lane and notice in your rear view mirror a vehicle rapidly approaching, the polite thing to do is indicate and move to the slow lane and let this vehicle pass. If the slow lane is unavailable, then you are well within your right to stay in your lane at your speed. Please note at this point, the Highway code is not just a set of rules in a book, it is actually a code of honour amongst drivers, to show courtesy to your fellow driver actually makes the roads a safer place and increases the joy of driving for all. So if at all possible, do not hog the centre lane, if you do not feel like driving at 70 mph the inside lane is there for you.
D) The OVERTAKING LANE: The purpose of this lane is simple, to overtake, nothing more and nothing less. If you are in the centre lane doing 70 mph and a lorry pulls into your lane doing 65 mph because he is overtaking another lorry traveling at 50 mph, you have the outside lane to move to so you may maintain your speed at 70 mph until it is safe to move back to the centre lane. The outside lane is NOT just another lane to drive in, and it is very important to leave this lane free specifically for overtaking. It is actually illegal to Undertake a car (that is to pass a vehicle from the left hand side) so by driving slowly in the outside lane, you would be forcing other drivers to break the law, should they wish to pass you."
Don't know where you got that from mate, but I don't think it is the Highway Code !
Rule 264 is fromthe Highway Code :: 264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.
[Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6]
So the Inside Lane is just the Inside Lane NOT a Slow Lane, I think the "aka Slow Lane" derives from those that sit in the middle lane all day. The Middle and Outside Lanes are for Overtaking Only.
As for anyone who says "but I am doing 70 mph, so anyone who overtakes me is breaking the law" I say "But you are breaking the law by sitting in the middle lane, so does that make you any better or worse than those breaking the speed limit ?"
Very few drivers today show any common sense or courtesy while driving and this to me is "Driving with undue care and attention" a ruling that had largely been ignored unless it had resulted in an accident.
I will admit to speeding on a motorway when conditions have enabled me to do so, but I have only ever sat in the Middle lane when I have been unable to get out onto the Outside lane because of other overtaking traffic, which probably would have been in the Middle Lane had the idoit at the front of the queue of traffic in the Middle lane pulled over onto the Inside lane and allowed others to pass.
