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Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:56 am
by jaynana
as in the news today - very welcome!

how will this be implemented?

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:04 am
by Riggie
Given the reduction in police patrols on the M'Way due to budget cuts, I'm not sure how this will be enforced.

I welcome it - one of my biggest bugbears!

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:23 am
by X5Sport
BBC Website article

It is indeed about time.  The only way I can see it being enforced is through the use of even more cameras as there are nowhere near enough Traffic Police to be effective, or perhaps the DoT patrols that are about will have evidence cameras fitted and will record offenders for later processing.

The penalties for mobile phone use have been there for years and yet we know just how ineffective they are, so I'm sorry but I can't see this working either.  Mobile phone use is considered to be as, or possibly more dangerous that drink/drug driving but now it's still just a slap on the wrist - OK some insurance companies are refusing to insure anyone with a phone offence, but.........

Richard

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:14 am
by Greydog
As already commented a worthy ruling but I fear little thought as to how it will be enforced.
I live in the South East and make regular trips to the North East when using the M23, M25, M1, A1M the lane 1 and often lane 2 are full of trucks which puts any vehicle traveling at more than 58 mph in lane 3 anyway.
Lane discipline has always been a frustration over many years of driving, I used to travel in Europe a lot for business and my wife first noticed cars on the M20 heading for the Tunnel would be in the middle lane for miles yet once in France their lane discipline improved??? Maybe we should also adopt the French rule that you can also be fined for not signalling a lane change, mind you that also would be impossible/impractical to enforce.

In order to hog the middle lane you now have to travel at silly O'clock in the morning which would bring even less chance of seeing a Traffic car so how it will be enforced I can't see.

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:34 am
by ChrisLux
This is my worst complaint about coming back to UK on hols driving .  :rant:
It's so frustrating . M25 clockwise , lanes 1,2,3 empty , lane 4 travelling at 55 mph !!
And all the way up M40 , M42 , M5 , M6 .
These people shud not be allowed to drive anymore until they learn the Highway Code ;
Drive in the appropriate lane until such time you need to overtake a vehicle .

I don't see any way to implement it , but I hope they find a way for sure .

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:01 pm
by X5Sport
Middle lane driving/hogging has been an offence for the last 30 years - something like "Driving without due consideration for other road users" - but precious little was ever done.

This is no more than a headline grabbing paper exercise which means sod all in the real world!!  The Minister is just changing slightly something that already exists.

You still need 'spotters' to pick up the problem - which when I worked for Surrey Police was why we had dedicated motorway cars, traffic cars and bikes.  I think in my current county the fleet is something like 9 vehicles, all on the M1 around Luton I expect

I've travelled thousands of miles on the A1M and M25/M3/M4 and never seen a police vehicle recently.

Richard

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:58 pm
by sramsay
Give it 20 years and cars will have to drive themselves on the motorway so problem solved!  The 'driver' will be able to have a glass of wine, tweet away and go for a kip on the back seat...

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:23 pm
by snipez999
I still say the best way to promote better driving standards is to use motorway sin bins. Pull over if your reg comes on overhead sign or get fined. Whilst spending 15 minutes in sin bin you will be able to access literature or be shown looped film on the kinds of unacceptable driving you have been guilty of. Could have costa coffee shops in them to provide jobs as well. It would punish people who inconvenience others by adding time to their journey.

Either that or police marksmen shoot out their rears.....


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk 2

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:33 pm
by X5Sport
[quote="snipez999"]
Either that or police marksmen shoot out their rears.....
[/quote]

I thought they did that anyway.......it's why you show a Police Dog your ID, not the copper.....the dog's the intelligent one.









Sorry, I'll go to bed now... :target:

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:09 pm
by Finglonga
[quote="jaynana"]

how will this be implemented?
[/quote]

If it is the same as using a mobile phone it will not be implemented as there are not enough police out patrolling the roads.

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:44 pm
by jaynana
[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="snipez999"]
Either that or police marksmen shoot out their rears.....
[/quote]

I thought they did that anyway.......it's why you show a Police Dog your ID, not the copper.....the dog's the intelligent one.

[/quote]

that should work, can ask them to sit on every gantry. will create jobs too!  :-[

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:44 am
by snipez999
Ruff justice that


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk 2

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:16 am
by 535dboy
All you BMW drivers will just hog the outside lane now so nothing will improve!

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:44 am
by sus
just been fined £100 for travelling too close to the vehicle in front.....bit harsh i was being towed by the AA :))

Re: Middle Lane Hoggers to be fined

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:53 am
by Greydog
[quote="535dboy"]
All you BMW drivers will just hog the outside lane now so nothing will improve!
[/quote]

No chance of that happening it's full of Audi's and Mercedes Sprinter vans!!