Mini Review...

I was arguing about why they close up, not why they do not move out. They stay in the lane because they think changing lanes is dangerous.

It us hard to see what the problem is when there is much higher (double) density of traffic in the outer lane, this because the cars are stupidly closer in order to persuade the car in front to move out of way. 'get out of my way...'.

This is not caused by the middle lane as there is plenty of space and opportunity to pull over, but apparently they want to stay in the outer lane. And when entering from the slip road, they immediately aim for the outer lane without overtaking anything. Dare I say bmw and such..

I just think that middle lane drivers are overly villified. I could understand it if someone trundled along at 69mph in the middle lane with a queue behind.

I don't like the outer lane because it attract some idiotic drivers and the cars are too close; it doesn't feel very safe. I have seen many

3-shunts in the 'fast' lane. Oddly enough, the cars in such accidents are often from the posh'er spectrum, suggesting some one-upmanship caused the accident.

[...]

Where on earth did you get that idea? The HWC is unambiguous:

"You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear."

Chris

The Highway Code is not The Law.

If there is more room in the middle lane, the road ahead is not clear.

No they are not. Lets say traffic in one lane is has 2 second gaps, and traffic in an adjacent lane has higher (double) density with 1 second gaps. If half the traffic in the denser lane moves over, then then the lane they move into now has higher (double) density. Individual drivers would keep swapping lanes because they see a gap twice the size where they just left.

It is caused by traffic building up.

Lots of drivers do, and at slower speeds.

[...]

Indeed, but the rule linked to referenced the appropriate ones.

As the police have now been given more powers to deal with the type of incorrect driving Johannes is advocating, I look forward to hearing if you are able to use that as a defence should you be stopped.

Chris

So it is ok then to stay put in the outer lane, even breaking the 70mph limit?

[...]

WTF? What has been posted in this thread that would lead anyone to that ridiculous conclusion?

Chris

Yep. My typical work journey sees a good bit of L1 with only trucks and joining/leaving traffic, L2 full of clusters of 60-69mph tailgaters in threes and fours, and a long queue in L3. What the middle-laners don't realise is hogging L2 tends to block the free change from L1-L3 and vice-versa, upsetting the flow.

The emphasis on middle lane transgressions rather than those staying put in the outer lane.

Yes it's a complicated dynamic. However, there ARE 3+ lanes, whereas logically, considering the strict rules, there should only be 2 lanes.

Seems that L2 adds to the capacity in your own description, it frees up joining traffic, but the slow speed is caused by something much further ahead, e.g. a lorry overtaking into L2; this can slow down the flow a very long distance back, the same phenomenon as e.g. rubber necking. Don't blame L2 for getting stuck in L3, just use your left indicator to pull over and Bob's ur uncle.

Logically, you can have one lane travelling at 56mph, one lane travelling at 60mph, one lane travelling at 65mph and one lane travelling at 70mph with breaking any rules.

No, it seems like some car drivers stick in L2 at 60mph because they are passing occasional lorries doing 56 mph and changing lanes is dangerous.

What has been posted in this thread to suggest that?

Only rules containing 'MUST' are linked to laws.

ACPO guidance is 'when lane one is empty'

CPS guidance is 'when other persons are inconvenienced'

You checked all of the bus lanes when you visited London? ;-)

You won't see a even a learner in a motoring school car obeying that in London. Or any police car. They both seem to believe the rule is to drive as close to the central white line as possible at all times - except when something in that lane is stopped waiting to turn right. Then they seem to think it's fine to move to the left without looking...