'Middle lane hogging' is Law of the Jungle

While England has a problem with lane discipline, they are talking
about it. America has a crisis but chooses a different approach: Ignore
it.

Survival of the fittest. Size matters. Might makes right. Welcome to
the Jungle...


'Middle lane hogging' problem exposed

Seven hundred miles of motorway are being lost due to poor lane
discipline, according to new figures launched by the RAC Foundation as
part of National Motorway Month.

Researchers for the National Motorway Month campaign conducted a
nationwide survey of 15,000 vehicles measuring tailgating and lane
discipline in July. From this survey, the RAC Foundation estimates that
'middle-lane hogs' and 'outside lane-blockers' are wasting up
to one-third of motorway capacity in peak periods, due to poor lane
discipline. This 700 miles 'lost' is equivalent to the distance
from Aberdeen to Penzance.

The police have the power to pull over motorists for poor lane
discipline and also can prosecute if they consider a driver's
behaviour amounts to inconsiderate driving. With an 11 per cent
decrease in traffic police in England and Wales since 1997, however,
and a lack of visible police presence on the motorways, many motorists
are left to get away with their selfish 'lane-hogging' behaviour.

Also identified during the survey was the problem of "phantom traffic
jams" caused by red light braking. Often poor lane discipline leads to
vehicles tailgating. Any slight incident such as changing lanes, or
leaving the motorway, may force a tailgating motorist to hit the brakes
hard. This can produce a red light (brake light) domino effect with all
the subsequent cars braking hard until they eventually come to a
standstill. This creates a phantom traffic jam although there is no
accident or hold-up other than that caused by excessive braking.

Today the RAC Foundation is calling for drivers not to hog the middle
and outside lanes, and to pull over to the left-hand lane when not
over-taking, as suggested in the Highway Code. The Foundation is also
urging drivers to keep their distance from the car in front, in order
to avoid causing phantom traffic jams through unnecessary red-light
braking.

In 1995 the message 'Don't hog the middle lane' appeared on
Variable Message Signs (VMS) over some motorways as part of an RAC
Courtesy campaign. The problem of poor lane discipline today is even
worse with increasing traffic levels, and more congested motorways. The
RAC Foundation is encouraged by the recent commitment of the Highways
Agency to pilot 'Don't hog the middle-lane' VMS messages on the
motorways and the Scottish Executive's continuing use of the signs to
encourage better lane discipline.

A recent RAC Foundation survey has shown that poor lane discipline is
in the top five annoying motorway-driving habits. The full list is:

1. Tailgaters - over 40 per cent of drivers are guilty of tailgating
on the motorways. This is annoying to other drivers and dangerous as it
limits motorists' ability to react to events ahead.

2. Middle-lane hoggers - one-third of motorway capacity is lost due
to poor-lane discipline. This frustrating behaviour is a major cause of
road-rage on motorways.

3. Non-indicators - people who don't use their indicators to signal
their intentions are both a nuisance and a danger to other motorists.

4. Swoopers - who cut across lanes with little regard for other
motorists.

5. Chatterboxes - who talk on hand-held mobile phones while driving.
Despite being banned, the Foundation's traffic survey found this is
still common practice.

http://www.carnetnews.co.uk/features/story1318.html

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
http://committed.to/justiceforpeace

> 2. Middle-lane hoggers - one-third of motorway capacity is lost due
> to poor-lane discipline. This frustrating behaviour is a major cause
of
> road-rage on motorways.


Is that the equivilence of left lane hogs in this country?

> Is that the equivilence of left lane hogs in this country?
>

That depends on what "this" country is.
Hogging the left lane is illegal in California, but they don't enforce it.
It's more fun to promote road-rage, I guess. In Oregon they will write a
citation.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California

donquijote1954 wrote:

> America has a crisis but chooses a different approach: Ignore
> it.

Well of course. You see, enforcing lane discipline and eliminating
tailgating in the States would demonstrate that highway speed limits
are largely unneccesary -- and the cops and politicians don't want
that. After all, safer highways mean less revenue for the government.

Instead, they allow unskilled nincompoops in 6,000-pound SUVs to drive
like the inattentive morons they are, nabbing them in droves for going
5-over at $150 a pop. Easy money.

__
Tim Kreitz
2003 ZX7R
2000 ZX6R
DoD #2184
http://www.timkreitz

donquijote1954 wrote:

> 1. Tailgaters - over 40 per cent of drivers are guilty of tailgating
> on the motorways. This is annoying to other drivers and dangerous as it
> limits motorists' ability to react to events ahead.
>
> 2. Middle-lane hoggers - one-third of motorway capacity is lost due
> to poor-lane discipline. This frustrating behaviour is a major cause of
> road-rage on motorways.
>
> 3. Non-indicators - people who don't use their indicators to signal
> their intentions are both a nuisance and a danger to other motorists.
>
> 4. Swoopers - who cut across lanes with little regard for other
> motorists.
>
> 5. Chatterboxes - who talk on hand-held mobile phones while driving.
> Despite being banned, the Foundation's traffic survey found this is
> still common practice.


.... here in houston, tx, usa, we get folks that drive
slow in the left lane while tailgating, then at the last
second, they swoop off the freeway without signaling
--
<< http://michaeljtobler.homelinux.com/ >>
Did you ever wonder what you'd say to God if He sneezed?

Doh, yeah got my countries mixed up, major brainfart.

Does anyone know how to make google groups automatically quote when you
reply? It keeps taking mine out.

Jason wrote:

> Does anyone know how to make google groups automatically quote when you
> reply? It keeps taking mine out.

Click on show options at the top of the message you wish to reply to and
click the reply link there.