I do enjoy those odd moments when you're travelling either late or very early in the morning and the M/Way is empty save for one car in the middle lane.

I enjoy the approach in lane 1, the exaggerated move to lane 3 with indicators and everything and then the move back to lane 1 smugly thinking I made a point to Mr Totally-Oblivious in the middle lane.

 

Its definitely legitimate to undertake if the car in the outside lane is travelling slower than you are and there is space in the inside lane(s).

 

The trouble is these mindless twits are there for a reason.
And so on seeing you they close every available gap to stop you pulling back out into 2 to overtake.
Moronic sheep.

Its only bad in commuter traffic, I dread the M5 at 17:00 onwards.
At least it's not my insurance, so I just 'create space' where it is needed.

 

I work on the principle that the berk sitting in the middle lane of an empty motorway is one of lifes losers, with a bitter cynical outlook, is stuck in a lowly job and forever answerable to others.
Thus for the only time in his ( there are nearly always male ) sad life he has power over others by sitting in the middle lane forcing others to notice him and take action as a result of HIS presence. For him the joy of being bloody awkward makes up for being a powerless invisible being.

The very last thing I want to do is give him the satisfaction that I'm even aware he shares the same planet as me, let alone motorway. So if I am approaching in lane 1 I merely continue past him on the inside.
Never ever flash my lights, shake a fist, give the finger, or swerve around.

Should I for whatever reason be approaching him in the same lane maybe having overtaken other vehicles in lane 1, I may well resume travelling in lane 1, and again undertake him.
AT ALL TIMES WATCHING IN CASE HE DECIDES TO LUNGE FOR LANE 1 JUST FOR.BLOODYMINDEDNESS HAVING SPOTTED ME COMING UP ON HIS INSIDE.
Notwithstanding this will still undertake on many occasions.

I always try to make it obvious I'm not switching lanes to undertake just making good but not overly fast progress past a slower vehicle.

Remember if the middle lane hogger is not getting the satisfaction of annoying others his behaviour is wasted. He just looks silly and so do you if you rise to his bait.

 

quite so

I don't see it as part of my life's work to educate other road users

light flashing, gestures and exaggerated moves are all pretty much guaranteed to spark a reaction

 

I suppose that hogging the middle lane in an other wise empty motorway may be inconsiderate, but it's not inherently dangerous. An undertake manouver is pretty risky, and specified as such in the Highway Code.

 

I tend to find that the middle lane people are often the most aggressive people on the motorways.

Pot...Kettle...?

I find it disturbing how close people will drive to each other, often in cars that probably couldn't stop if they wanted too.

You wouldn't risk cleaning your teeth with a chainsaw would you?

 

By the sounds of it, if you are seen moving into the left hand lane because the car in front it going to slow and the right hand lane is slow, you would be pulled by the cops...

I agree, if everyone kept left, like people on the continent (generally!) keep right, the issue of traffic flow would be a lot better!

 

Suffered it again on the way to work and there is no third lane to go into so you have to sit behind the Peugeot going at 55mph and not overtaking a single thing or undertake.

I always hang back and give them ample opportunity to spot me and wake up and move over and if after a suitable time this hasn't happened I go for the slow undertake rather than going up behind, flashing lighs etc.

I know there is enough signage on the roadside but I think people should be reminded that these lanes are for overtaking, not sitting in and enjoying the journey!

 

I have always undertaken if converient, rather than forcing my way into lane 3. By definition the middle lane hoggers have no reason to move into lane 1 unless they are coming up to their exit. Also think it's better to undertake faster rather than slower, so you are not in anyone's blind spot for too long. As Simon said earlier, there is always the hardshoulder if you are caught out.