Middle lane hogs

[mesmerred]

Why do people drive in the middle lane when the inside lane is empty? It's not nervous drivers, afraid of cars joining from the left as I first thought. What's the attraction? It is so annoying because we only use two thirds of our motorways. ILorry drivers get annoyed. t forces me to go in the outside lane when I don't need to be there, and I may have to speed up to get out of the way of faster drivers. I have often seen drivers "trapped" in the outside lane, with not quite enough speed to overtake a "hog" who has speeded up and with someone else breathing down their exhaust pipe.
Can someone explain why mjiddle lane driving is becoming a national pastime please?

[jd_here]

I have just returned from France where lane dicipline on the Autoroute is excellent, even from British drivers. Alas, as soon as these Brits get off the ferry they resume their membership of the Middle Lane Owners Club. My solution; as the inside lane is so little used, close them off for a month. People will soon learn! Furthermore, I suggest that the manufacturers of BMW, Mercedes, Volvos and large 4x4's advise their customers through the handbook that they ARE allowed to use the inside lanes of Motorways!!! JD

[whiskeysheri]

Aaargh! Massive bugbear of mine. It's not occasional, either, it's every time I get on the motorway!

It's out of sheer laziness. I know this as my boyfriend does it, too, and says he can't be bothered to move over when he'll need to overtake again, even if it isn't for another couple of minutes or so. :(

[jno]

mdoo, I think most motorways are 3 lanes rather than 4. I gave my reasons, mesmerred, and I was serious.

[buildersmate]

If you peer hard out the left side, it's over there, in the distance.
But is it actually not an offence to pass on the inside? If so, I'm all for it.

[jg96]

I usually pass them in lane 3 and then cut across them(safely of course) back into lane 1 it sometimes brings a result and they move into lane 1. I like to think I am doing my bit for the following drivers

[mesmerred]

I usually do the same as jg96, although occasionally I will undercut, but I suspect the police would say it was dangerous driving.
Well thank you everyone. Who knows what will happen next, as the culture of the road is changing. We will probably have some legislation to cover it soon....