Stupid and dangerous road users driving me up the wall

Its advantages were highlighted on a recent journey down the M6 from the Lake District. As I was in the passenger seat, I was able to watch the stupid driving of others from an objective point of view, plus the fact that we could have called up recordings should an accident have occurred.

Like the female driver who drove for miles in the centre lane not overtaking. Like the white van driver who drove, with a large gap in front of him, for miles in the fast lane whilst traffic built up behind him. Like the numerous HGVs who drove in the centre lanes at the same speed as the vehicle that they were trying to pass whilst driving up slopes. Like the idiots who pulled out of access slip roads straight into traffic without waiting for a gap.

Most of the above cause traffic tailbacks and frustration, which can cause accidents and only need a bit of thought by the drivers. After all, the nearside lane is THE driving lane, and the centre and outside lanes are for overtaking only. But the lorry situation is one that can be solved by the government taking action.

On many inclines on the continent, lorry overtaking by other lorries is banned at certain times (this regulation is also in place on stretches of some UK motorways such as the M4 in South Wales and the A14 east of the M1). Why cannot this be introduced on the M6? Pulling out of slip roads can be prevented by having barriers on the motorway side of the slips until it is safer to pull out (as is done on the continent).

Frustration while driving is a cause of accidents. So?

Peter Cole, Kingswinford