This is interesting....*car insurance*

[harryj1995]

I'm 17 and for me to get insured on a 1 liter corsa is over £3500

[Marcos]

I've not been on it myself, but I know people who've been on it and they've said it's very good and has made them more careful.

It comes back to the age old issue though that no one wants to tackle: We urgently need more traffic cops that are pulling over bad drivers. I'm sick and tired of seeing people who don't know how to use indicators, or think the middle lane on the motorway is the default one.

See, I agree with you on the indicators, but I don't have a problem with the middle-lane guys, they're much better than the "darting in and out of the slow and middle lane to overtake every car" guys

[Marcos]

I'm more amazed your age didn't make more difference. I learnt to drive late at 25yo and my first premium (in a very similar car) was under £600.

See I dont get it, are you born in the UK and live in a nice area?

[scaryjim]

See, I agree with you on the indicators, but I don't have a problem with the middle-lane guys, they're much better than the "darting in and out of the slow and middle lane to overtake every car" guys

You mean the "doing it right and only using the outer lanes for overtaking" guys? Unless you are currently overtaking a vehicle you should be using the left-hand lane. Sitting in the middle lane is *not* the correct option...

[Biscuit]

You mean the "doing it right and only using the outer lanes for overtaking" guys? Unless you are currently overtaking a vehicle you should be using the left-hand lane. Sitting in the middle lane is *not* the correct option...

My thoughts exactly

[Apex]

except when the left hand lane has some one doing 50mph.....

[Biscuit]

except when the left hand lane has some one doing 50mph.....

So overtake them then move back in?

[Willzzz]

You mean the "doing it right and only using the outer lanes for overtaking" guys? Unless you are currently overtaking a vehicle you should be using the left-hand lane. Sitting in the middle lane is *not* the correct option...

It all depends on conditions, if I have overtaken someone in the slow lane and see someone else further on that I am going to overtake slightly later then I will tend to stay in the middle lane. Unless it is particularly busy and there are numerous faster cars behind me.

As long as sitting in the middle lane isn't hurting anyone then it's fine. Just be aware of other drivers and be courteous.

[kalniel]

It all depends on conditions, if I have overtaken someone in the slow lane and see someone else further on that I am going to overtake slightly later then I will tend to stay in the middle lane.

That's fine - you're already planning your overtake on a car not too far ahead.

As long as sitting in the middle lane isn't hurting anyone then it's fine.

No it's not fine. Unless you are overtaking there's no reason to be in it. You vastly reduce the visibility and space for other drivers. Someone approaching fast in the nearside lane might come across you and then have to perform a more dangerous manoeuvr that takes much longer going from lane one to lane three, and back again. Alternatively they have to wait for you to notice and move back into the nearside lane before they move out into lane two. Whatever the option it requires extra time and more dangerous manoeuvring than had you correctly been in the nearside lane.

Put it another way, if you drive in the nearside lane then you don't have to have your eyes glued to the rear view mirror and you are already in the right position for others to safely overtake, saving time, manoeuvres and increasing everyone's safety and observation.

[Agent]

See, I agree with you on the indicators, but I don't have a problem with the middle-lane guys, they're much better than the "darting in and out of the slow and middle lane to overtake every car" guys

Some of the issues are already covered above, but ones stuck in the middle lane in my experience are in a world of their own. They seem less likely to check mirrors before moving and seem a lot less alert (which isn't supprising really as they are already breaking the highway code).

I guess it depends what you mean by darting in and out. There is no way you should be doing it for every car (assuming a normal busy motorway), but if you're not overtaking someone or are travelling at a speed to be overtaking someone in the near distance, you should not be in the middle lane.

If anything, it causes more swerving from the ones using the motorway correctly. Imagine you have someone doing 60 in the middle land (I see it all the time), and then someone in the first lane approaches at 70. They need to go across 2 lanes, overtake and cross back 2 lanes again. It's crazy.

[Agent]

As long as sitting in the middle lane isn't hurting anyone then it's fine. Just be aware of other drivers and be courteous.

You're not being courteous by hogging the middle lane though. You're breaking the highway code while others are following it.

Sorry for the DM link here, but it looks like fines and points could soon be on the way for it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ailgating.html

[JimmyBoy]

Middle lane drivers are infuriating! They are in the way of any other driver who is using the motorway properly thus creating an obstacle and a danger!

[Biscuit]

You're not being courteous by hogging the middle lane though. You're breaking the highway code while others are following it.

Sorry for the DM link here, but it looks like fines and points could soon be on the way for it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ailgating.html

I think its sensible to fine people for being in the wrong lane of the motorway or tailgating, but i think its unfair to get too strict on roundabouts. I try so hard to get into the right lane for a roundabout as early as possible but there are so many times you get closer and the lane indications prove that you were wrong. I always mirror signal manouver to correct and thank anyone who lets me in but sometimes its still a little erratic or could be construed as illegal. Some roundabouts are just plain tricky at busy times

[JimmyBoy]

I think its sensible to fine people for being in the wrong lane of the motorway or tailgating, but i think its unfair to get too strict on roundabouts. I try so hard to get into the right lane for a roundabout as early as possible but there are so many times you get closer and the lane indications prove that you were wrong. I always mirror signal manouver to correct and thank anyone who lets me in but sometimes its still a little erratic or could be construed as illegal. Some roundabouts are just plain tricky at busy times

Would have to agree with you here! It's even worse when you don't know the area at all! It's easy to get caught out!

[kalniel]

I think its sensible to fine people for being in the wrong lane of the motorway or tailgating, but i think its unfair to get too strict on roundabouts. I try so hard to get into the right lane for a roundabout as early as possible but there are so many times you get closer and the lane indications prove that you were wrong. I always mirror signal manouver to correct and thank anyone who lets me in but sometimes its still a little erratic or could be construed as illegal. Some roundabouts are just plain tricky at busy times

I agree with you if you are correctly looking and signalling etc. But every other day I'm in involved in a near collision at dual lane roundabouts where a car enters the roundabout in the right hand lane and then proceeds to try and transpose themselves into my car in the left hand lane, either as we're going around the roundabout to the second exit (straight on), or on the exit itself. Worst thing is there is no need to as the exits are mostly dual lane as well.

In all cases they've come up from behind me and started to overtake, so should know that I won't have magically vanished, but it's a sadly predictable occurrence.

I guess the basic failing here isn't that of not knowing a particular roundabout layout, just not knowing that you can (and should if single carriage exit) use the left hand lane to go straight on (second exit) on a roundabout. That is elementary and should be brought up.

[Biscuit]

I guess the basic failing here isn't that of not knowing a particular roundabout layout, just not knowing that you can (and should if single carriage exit) use the left hand lane to go straight on (second exit) on a roundabout. That is elementary and should be brought up.

Sometimes, on slightly smaller roundabouts with many exits, it's not entirely obvious if the exit you want is classed as straight forward though.

Also, what about things like the magic round about in Swindon... Good luck not making any mistakes on that monstrosity!