Why the hell is staying in the 'fast lane' illegal/frowned upon?

[Deleted]

4th Edit: Please don't reply unless you read the whole post, too many people are bringing up points i've already answered, stop just replying to the title.

*In Denmark, where I live it's illegal, but I don't think it is in the UK - my home country - just frowned upon.*

I really don't understand why this is a thing, I had an argument with my girlfriend about it and it seems illogical. I think that if I am driving in the 'fast lane' (stupid name by the way because it makes people think it's the autobahn), at the speed limit that it shouldn't be a problem?

I know that in Denmark, if i'm driving 110km/h on the motorway, people will still come right up my arse, and flash their lights (or sometimes beep/aggressively gesture) at me to move over so they can come by. In the UK it's not that bad, at least in Scotland, it's rare someone tells another to move out of the fast lane unless they're going too much under the speed limit.

But, if I am driving the speed limit, surely I am helping that person behind me obey the law, the only argument I can see against that is that it might make the clown drive more aggressively if he gets angrier.

If so I'd then say change the law to fit that. And to note, the only time I EVER drive over the speed limit is to maybe beat a red light, but I never drive above 130km/h (max in Denmark), because even though speed cameras in the UK aren't scarce, you know where they are, GPS tells you, but in Denmark, they are very rare, but the police go out and set cameras up random places to catch people, alot lot more than the police in the UK do.

What do people think?

Edit: This kind of answer, i'll reply to all with here;

It's not your job to help someone obey the laws, or to enforce.

I understand that point, I am only responsible for myself and those in my car if I'm driving safely, but maybe i'm saving a life. And while it's not my right to enforce the law, I am allowed to practise it, (which I do, but my point here is that it's daft) and set an example for people that don't.

2nd Edit (IMPORTANT): What people are assuming (understandable because I didn't hint eitherway), is that I am enforcing, and driving in the same manner that my opinion says it should be, I am NOT. Under all circumstances I am obeying the law, as it is said, I'm just saying, the roads would be much safer in my opinion, if they were as I have written.

3rd Edit: Sorry if I don't reply to you, the thread is getting kinda flooded now, which is good, I like the discussion ^^ But I believe i've answered the most probably questions that come.

[Twix]

Some people are in a rush/emergency. So please gtfo the fast lane and drive in the middle lane or right lane.

Thank you and have a good day.

[Deleted]

It is there to make way for those in hurry. You should be driving on the "slow" lane and not be slowing the traffic down.

TBH You deserve all the roadrage that gets thrown at you.

[poser765]

It's not your job to help someone obey the laws, or to enforce. The reason you are supposed to get out of there is because if you hang out there you end up interfering with the flow of traffic. Conflicting traffic with a large speed differential is far more dangerous than a car passing someone going 10 over the limit.

So get out of the lane. you are a being a douche by trying to monitor others, and you are creating an unsafe situation.

[Deleted]

Why the aggressive answers? You're breaking the law, it's as simple as that, it's not OK because you have an emergency or are in a hurry.

[Ninjaturtle]

I think I am missing the question in the topic. Is it illegal to drive in the lane itself? Or is the question because you are expected to drive over the speed limit in the fast lane it is by expectation illegal to use the fast lane.

The speed limit is the speed limit you can go more but if you get pulled over that is your problem. If someone gets mad at you for going the speed limit then they can go around it is their choice to gamble. It is all about you wanting to give into the pressure of people assuming because it is called a fast lane it means they must go over the speed limit. I just think the "slow" lane means you have the chance to be slowed down if people are coming in from an entrance ramp so it has interruption.

[Deleted]

It's not your job to help someone obey the laws, or to enforce. The reason you are supposed to get out of there is because if you hang out there you end up interfering with the flow of traffic. Conflicting traffic with a large speed differential is far more dangerous than a car passing someone going 10 over the limit.

So get out of the lane. you are a being a douche by trying to monitor others, and you are creating an unsafe situation.

Refer to my above post, plus - how am I interfering with the flow of traffic when it's ILLEGAL.

[Deleted]

People are weird and have developed their own road etiquette.

The inside lane (slow) is the same speed limit as all the others, the middle is for overtaking if someone is below the speed limit, and outside lane (fast) is for overtaking anything in the middle. They all have the same speed limit.
You are always meant to be in the inside lane at all times. The only exceptions are what i stated, to overtake.

Thats why its illegal to casually cruse in the middle if there is not much traffic about and likewise if you choose to go 50mph in the middle/outer lane. You will be pulled over.

[Nilinor]

You're not there to teach them the speed limit rules.

Fast lane is meant to go around slower moving vehicles, not stay there. Not everyone's speedometer is correct btw, it actually varies a few mph (which is why police generally give a 5mph leway) I had a car, where I had to go 5 over JUST to meet the actual speed limit, but no one knew why. It also depends on tire inflation, how old your engine or other parts of your car are. There should be NO reason to drive in the fast lane unless you are passing someone.

Another reason is emergency vehicles, do you honestly expect them to weave in and out of traffic just cause you like having no one in front of you? You could say you would just pull to slow lane when they come up, but what if you cant? there is a good chance someone could be there! Also, if your crossing a bridge, its not like you can pull off to the side of the road to let them pass. Congratulations, you might have let someone die just cause you want to drive on that side of the road.

Yeah, thats REALLY super unlikely, but when you have a million drivers who all want to do the same thing, guess what, its bound to happen.

[Deleted]

I think I am missing the question in the topic. Is it illegal to drive in the lane itself? Or is the question because you are expected to drive over the speed limit in the fast lane it is by expectation illegal to use the fast lane.

In Denmark, you use the 'fast lane' to take over, but if you take over and keep driving in it (or just drive in it) it's illegal.

[Deleted]

Some people are in a rush/emergency. So please gtfo the fast lane and drive in the middle lane or right lane.

Thank you and have a good day.

Regardless of being in a rush/emergency, his question is: "Why is it illegal/frowned upon?"
It may be frowned upon, but to be illegal seems ridiculous.
Being in a rush/emergency still doesn't excuse you from breaking the speed limit, so unless there is an emergency vehicle (Fire Engine, Police, Ambulance) bearing down on you and you are not driving below the speed limit, it shouldn't make a difference either way.

[Deleted]

-snip-

Emergency vehicles I'd of course make an exception for.

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Regardless of being in a rush/emergency, his question is: "Why is it illegal/frowned upon?"
It may be frowned upon, but to be illegal seems ridiculous.
Being in a rush/emergency still doesn't excuse you from breaking the speed limit, so unless there is an emergency vehicle (Fire Engine, Police, Ambulance) bearing down on you and you are not driving below the speed limit, it shouldn't make a difference either way.

Thank you, apparently I can't explain my point clearly to most people.

[poser765]

Refer to my above post, plus - how am I interfering with the flow of traffic when it's ILLEGAL.

The legality is moot to the actual situation. The reality around here is the flow of traffic is usually 5-10 over. so by going the speed limit you are interrupting the natural flow of traffic by creating an artificial speed barrier. That is unsafe and, again, not your place.

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Emergency vehicles I'd of course make an exception for.

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Thank you, apparently I can't explain my point clearly to most people.

As I've explained, while it's illegal to speed it's also illegal to cause a traffic hazard.

[skitzin]

For several reasons such as that lane is actually for overtaking not crusing along in. It also helps provide a clear path for emergency vehicles to go through without getting stuck behind an idiot doing 9 miles an hour.

[Deleted]

The legality is moot to the actual situation. The reality around here is the flow of traffic is usually 5-10 over. so by going the speed limit you are interrupting the natural flow of traffic by creating an artificial speed barrier. That is unsafe and, again, not your place.

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As I've explained, while it's illegal to speed it's also illegal to cause a traffic hazard.

It's a fair point now that you mention it, but just because the majority of people break the law, doesn't mean everyone should because it makes it 'easier' in general.

[Deleted]

As I've explained, while it's illegal to speed it's also illegal to cause a traffic hazard.

Yes, but if you are driving at the speed limit and move over if an emergency vehicle is coming, you are not causing a hazard. If there is an accident due to someone wanting to go faster, that is THEIR fault, not yours.

[Zaqwert]

Traffic is safer and more efficient when it flows properly, like water.

Cars are expected to self sort themselves to produce most optimum flow.

Basically if you're going faster than someone, be on one side, and if they're going faster, be on the other.

By driving slow in the fast lane you are f'ing up the whole system.

It causes additional traffic and makes the roads more dangerous.

That's why.

[malkara]

There are multiple lanes to allow people to overtake each other, by sitting in the fast lane at a set speed and not moving you are preventing this from being possible - thus working against the dynamics/usages of the highway.

[poser765]

It's a fair point now that you mention it, but just because the majority of people break the law, doesn't mean everyone should because it makes it 'easier' in general.

I'm not advocating ANYONE breaking the law...just pointing out that it happens. I drive the speed limit almost always. I do it knowing two things. 1. People WILL drive faster than me regardless of hour illegal it is, and 2. my being in the traditional fast lane will cause problems which could potentially be unsafe.

NOTE. I wasn't implying you are a douche, I was just saying that ANYONE taking it upon themselves to monitor others with something like this is a douche move.

[Torgent]

Refer to my above post, plus - how am I interfering with the flow of traffic when it's ILLEGAL.

You're not a cop. You're just being a dick to everyone when you could get into the other lane. But no, you'd rather be an asshole then bitch when people are pissed off at you. Learn the rules of the road, stop enforcing the law. If someone wants to speed, that's their business, not yours.