Why driving isn't fun anymore :(

A recent 600 mile round trip to the South of England, confirmed my reasons why I just don't enjoy driving my car much these days. It was mostly A1(M) and M25. Last time I did a trip like this was a few years ago.

Here are a few of the observations I made during the trip.

1. The usual middle lane hoggers on the motorways, going no faster than traffic in the slow lane. I realise this has been going on for decades, but I don't remember it ever being this bad.
    
   
2. Motorcyclists squeezing between two vehicles travelling at 60+ on dual carriageways. Utter madness
    
   
3. Motorists thinking that because you are sticking religiously to the 50mph average speed camera sections of road, that they have the right to tailgate bully you into going a little faster.
   
4. Not slowing down when the heavens open and the roads become slippy.
   
5. One section of the M25 had 4 lanes condense into 1, the fast lane. There were plenty of signs warning drivers that this was occurring up ahead. A vast number of knobheads decided that the sign didn't apply to them, and carried on zooming down the other 3 lanes to pull in at the last moment. They obviously thought they were being clever and shaving some time off their journey, but they actual created more congestion.
   

These are just a few of the things I saw. I travelled late at night both ways, so I can't imagine what it would be like doing this trip during the day.

Does anyone else feel that driving has become a necessity, and not an enjoyment of freedom like it used to be?

I get fed up with people that dont understand motorways.... There is no such thing as a slow lane, or a fast lane.

There are lanes 1,2 & 3.... lanes 2 & 3 are overtaking lanes, nothing more.

I still enjoy it in the South East most of the time, but timing and choice of roads is everything. Get either of those wrong and it's hell, so local knowledge is vital for each journey.

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I get fed up with people that dont understand motorways.... There is no such thing as a slow lane, or a fast lane.

There are lanes 1,2 & 3.... lanes 2 & 3 are overtaking lanes, nothing more.

Impractical though. When the nearside lane is full of heavies it's necessary to stay in the middle lane for very protracted periods. And when that's also clogged and locked at 60 mph or so by those who won't drive faster, the faster traffic fills the outside lane.

That's the reality most of the time in the South East, all lanes full.

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Impractical though. When the nearside lane is full of heavies it's necessary to stay in the middle lane for very protracted periods. And when that's also clogged and locked at 60 mph or so by those who won't drive faster, the faster traffic fills the outside lane.

 

That's the reality most of the time in the South East, all lanes full.

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Congestion doesn't matter, the rules of motorways are still the same. If you cant move over to lane 1, then obviously you're not going to if something is there. But you should return to lane 1 whenever its appropriate.

Some people cant be bothered, because they think they'll have to move out again in 3 or 4 hundred yards. Then you have the clueless that believe its perfectly ok to stay in lane 2 whatever.

I'm down South also. I used to get wound up all the time by the others.

It's what it is down here and it's not going to get any better.

Changed my frame of mind years ago. Chuck in a flask of coffee and cup. Turn up the music and just go with the flow. Get there when I get there.

No stress nowadays.

Congestion doesn't matter, the rules of motorways are still the same. If you cant move over to lane 1, then obviously you're not going to if something is there. But you should return to lane 1 whenever its appropriate.

Some people cant be bothered, because they think they'll have to move out again in 3 or 4 hundred yards. Then you have the clueless that believe its perfectly ok to stay in lane 2 whatever.

I don't disagree and drive predomominantly in the n/s lane when I can. But in the South East on the M1, M2, M20, M25, M23, and M3 it's impossible most of the time between early morning and very late evening. That's why some of those have lane speed cameras, coping with the congestion by holding all the lanes to fixed identical speeds. That's the authorities accepting and wanting all lanes used the whole width of the motorway. Indeed that even includes the hard shoulder as well in places.

Driving the way you prescribe is historic and now largely theoretical in many parts with today's congested conditions. Indeed it can even be dangerous at times.

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I'm down South also. I used to get wound up all the time by the others.

 

It's what it is down here and it's not going to get any better.

 

Changed my frame of mind years ago. Chuck in a flask of coffee and cup. Turn up the music and just go with the flow. Get there when I get there.

 

No stress nowadays.

Yup true..... we just have to put up with it. Our roads are so congested there's not much we can do about it.

Working as a trucker most of my life, i could write a book about what other drivers do that have wound me up..... but whats the point. No one cares and everyone thinks they're a perfect driver anyway.

No one cares and everyone thinks they're a perfect driver anyway.

Almost everyone! I insist I'm a learner driver, despite my 64 years with a licence, simply because there's always something new to learn and by doing that it stops me being complacent.

Result, clean licence and full NCD since the year dot, so it pays to be a learner.

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I don't disagree and drive predomominantly in the n/s lane when I can. But in the South East on the M1, M2, M20, M25, M23, and M3 it's impossible most of the time between early morning and very late evening. That's why some of those have lane speed cameras, coping with the congestion by holding all the lanes to fixed identical speeds. That's the authorities accepting and wanting all lanes used the whole width of the motorway. Indeed that even includes the hard shoulder as well in places.

 

Driving the way you prescribe is historic and now largely theoretical in many parts with today's congested conditions. Indeed it can even be dangerous at times.

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Well i live in the south west, just off the M5, we can have horrendous congestion down here, especially in holiday season.... but its not always like that. Then i can drive to the usual motorways rules fine.... others simply cant or wont comprehend these simple rules of lane 1, 2 & 3.

Well i live in the south west, just off the M5, we can have horrendous congestion down here, especially in holiday season.... but its not always like that. Then i can drive to the usual motorways rules fine.... others simply cant or wont comprehend these simple rules of lane 1, 2 & 3.

I know that's true and I've seen it for myself closer to you. I occasionally drive down to Dorset, using the M27 westbound in the later stages, and on that it's usually clear enough to use with the correct lane discipline. But as you say, theres always some middle lane hoggers and even the odd fast lane ones, and they irritate me just as much.

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A few years back, the police were given powers to fine drivers for lane hogging in lanes 2 & 3. I was all for it.

Has anyone ever been fined ? ..... it doesn't seem to be enforced at all !

I get fed up with people that dont understand motorways.... There is no such thing as a slow lane, or a fast lane.

There are lanes 1,2 & 3.... lanes 2 & 3 are overtaking lanes, nothing more.

Whoops, I did ponder over whether to correctly describe the lanes, but thought I would quote an old fashioned description.

I do understand motorways... honest

Nearly forgot. I did have a motorcyclist at one stage, riding at 65mph literally feet from my rear bumper. I was overtaking at the time, and passing a lorry ready to pull back into the first lane as soon as I safely could. They were a good 300 metres back when I carried out the manoeuvre, so must have been bombing it.

The point is, if I had to brake for whatever reason, they would have been history. I have absolutely nothing against motorcyclists, but it's utter lunacy to play with one's life like that

Whoops, I did ponder over whether to correctly describe the lanes, but thought I would quote an old fashioned description.

 

I do understand motorways... honest

Its the continual use of calling motorway lanes 'the slow lane' and 'the fast lane' that makes some people ignorant of how motorway lanes should be used.

I've actually heard some of these people talking about fast & slow lanes in a literal sense. Like.... "I'm going too fast to be in the slow lane".... said when lane 1 is empty.

I realise I'm very privileged to live where I do as for me, driving is still an absolute pleasure.

On the whole folk are very courteous, the scenery is fantastic and no motorways to raise my blood pressure.

The roads could do with a few less potholes but I guess that's pretty well a country wide problem.

Sympathies to you guys, I know what it's like having spent many years driving around Manchester and would never ever want to go back to that again.

Dave.

Its the continual use of calling motorway lanes 'the slow lane' and 'the fast lane' that makes some people ignorant of how motorway lanes should be used.

I've actually heard some of these people talking about fast & slow lanes in a literal sense. Like.... "I'm going too fast to be in the slow lane".... said when lane 1 is empty.

I know it's not politically correct, but you'd be surprised how many people still use the terms fast and slow lane. You are totally correct about some drivers just not understanding the rules of the motorway, maybe due to hearing these terms and taking them too literally.

Whoops, I did ponder over whether to correctly describe the lanes, but thought I would quote an old fashioned description.

It's really American naming originally, and commonly heard down here since it is how we've adapted to our congestion. We drive in the lane for our speed when all the lanes are full up since it's the only way that makes sense.

Early morning and late evening on the M25 south the lanes divide up into 55ish near side mainly of trucks, the next one or two lanes at around 60 and 70ish mph and the outside lane at 80 to 90 or more. I'm often on the outside lane at around that but move over from time to time for the odd 100 plus car coming up fast. But that's the only time I change lanes when they are all very full of traffic since it's safer that way, and all the regular and local drivers do the same.

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I know it's not politically correct, but you'd be surprised how many people still use the terms fast and slow lane. You are totally correct about some drivers just not understanding the rules of the motorway, maybe due to hearing these terms and taking them too literally.

I can be driving down lane 1 and getting closer & closer to a slower driver sitting in lane 2.... so when i reach them, i have to pull out into lane 2, then lane 3 to overtake them.

As i pass i usually give them some sort of sign of what i think of them..... many times these people will look at me with no comprehension whatsoever that they've done anything wrong.

These are the sort of people that believe in slow lanes & fast lanes.

I actively despise driving anywhere now in the car, standard of driving has diminished year on year.

I cycle to work and roadtest motorbikes daily, I would say at least once a day I have to take avoiding action to prevent being knocked into or off buy bus/ car drivers not paying any attention to their surroundings.

People staring into their phones while crossing the road is also far too common, as it the pushchair/ pram being pushed into the road while the parent is safely out of harms way..

Common sense seems to be long forgotten!.

My god, isn't negativity fun...

I still love driving. Cars are best they,ve ever been. Road deaths and serious injury lowest they have ever been.

Drove back from days sailing today, enjoyed drive as much as sail. Car did 52 mpg, goes great when asked. Handles brilliant, for a big bus ( mondei diesel estate 2 2 ) Carries all windsurf gear inside and bike on back. Cheap to buy, cheap to run. Cruised through France last month at 100 mph. Testament to modern cars. Cant fault it. Goes like a sport car from 80,s but still economical , quiet and comfortable.

Edited July 8, 20169 yr by (NoLongerRegistered#15675)

My god, isn't negativity fun...

I still love driving. Cars are best they,ve ever been. Road deaths and serious injury lowest they have ever been.

Drove back from days sailing today, enjoyed drive as much as sail. Car did 52 mpg, goes great when asked. Handles brilliant, for a big bus ( mondei diesel estate 2 2 ) Carries all windsurf gear inside and bike on back. Cheap to buy, cheap to run. Cruised through France last month at 100 mph. Testament to modern cars. Cant fault it. Goes like a sport car from 80,s but still economical , quiet and comfortable.

I second every word Flud, driving is indeed still great, even the least of today's cars being infinitely better than those of yesteryear.

The only downside is the UK roads, both condition and congestion, but at least we are in considerable climate controlled comfort while enduring them.

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