80 past a van

[Zefan]

Erm?

Inside lane is the leftmost lane in this country.

I stand corrected. I have thought I was wrong all my life, as I instinctively call the left lane the inside lane and have been "corrected" by people a lot - hence my previous post. I'm glad I've been saying it right (although in the back of the mind thinking I'm wrong) all this time.

Why on earth is it be different between us and other countries?!

 

[HummuH1]

Outside as in outside of the main driving lane. You pull out of it to overtake and pull in once you're past.

Or possibly stems from racing, where most basic tracks seem to run anti-clockwise, meaning the left lane is the inside and anything to the right is outside.

No, not from racing.

For starters, most tracks in this country are run clockwise, not anti-clockwise. Secondly, the inside can be anywhere on the track, depends which way the corner goes or more appropriately, depending on which way the next corner ahead goes.

I thought it all stemmed from the "kerb" (real or hypothetical). In racing, being closest to the kerb is the "inside" and on the UK's highways, the inside is closest to the kerb. That's why it's the reverse for countries that drive on the right.

 

[ttaskmaster]

I could overtake you in Lane 3 (right-most) at anything up to 120mph

f we're being correct, *I* could overtake you at anything up to 160mph (FJ1200, y'see), but legally only up to 70!

For starters, most tracks in this country are run clockwise, not anti-clockwise.

Sorry, should have said - The older oval/round tracks dating back from ye olde horse-racing ran anti-clockwise. Most vehicle culture and stuff seems to originate from horsey days (the width of a horse's bum story, for example).

In racing, being closest to the kerb is the "inside" and on the UK's highways, the inside is closest to the kerb. That's why it's the reverse for countries that drive on the right.

That would account for 'nearside', as in the side near the kerb, but why would that be the 'in' side? Inside of what?
Ye olde folk were pretty precise on their choice of words back in them days...

 

[cainer]

Inside Lane is the lane to the left of the carriageway you are on, with overtaking intended to take place to the right, or on the outside lane, of the carriageway. Ignore the fact there is often an opposing carriageway to your right, it's irrelevant in describing the lanes in your own carriageway.

this, any thoughts other than this causes me to have a 'who's on first, what's on second' moment in my head

 

[RossDagley]

f we're being correct, *I* could overtake you at anything up to 160mph (FJ1200, y'see), but legally only up to 70!

I'll wave as I come past at 180mph...



Actually I wont. I'll be my usual "grip of death" on the wheel at 180mph

 

[theone8181]

f we're being correct, *I* could overtake you at anything up to 160mph (FJ1200, y'see), but legally only up to 70!


Sorry, should have said - The older oval/round tracks dating back from ye olde horse-racing ran anti-clockwise. Most vehicle culture and stuff seems to originate from horsey days (the width of a horse's bum story, for example).


That would account for 'nearside', as in the side near the kerb, but why would that be the 'in' side? Inside of what?
Ye olde folk were pretty precise on their choice of words back in them days...

Ive heard the reason we drive on the right is a throwback to being able to draw a sword as everyone was right handed.

 

[Fuzz]

Along with this inside, outside lane malarky I keep seeing people refer to roundabouts and using the inside / outside terminology.
This really ****s with my brain when a lot of you seem to call the centre of the roundabout the inside...

LEFT lane is INSIDE for me in all cases in the UK, whether a slip road, a Motorway, a dual carriageway or a roundabout.

 

[Fuzz]

Ive heard the reason we drive on the right is a throwback to being able to draw a sword as everyone was right handed.

Err we drive on the left...

and the reason...

Up to the late 1700's, everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it's the sensible option for feudal, violent societies of mostly right-handed people.

Jousting knights with their lances under their right arm naturally passed on each other's right, and if you passed a stranger on the road you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.

Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon.The reason it changed under Napoleon was because he was left handed his armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent.

From then on, any part of the world which was at some time part of the British Empire was thus left hand and any part colonised by the French was right hand.

 

[theone8181]

Err we drive on the left...

and the reason...

Up to the late 1700's, everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it's the sensible option for feudal, violent societies of mostly right-handed people.

Jousting knights with their lances under their right arm naturally passed on each other's right, and if you passed a stranger on the road you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.

Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon.The reason it changed under Napoleon was because he was left handed his armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent.

From then on, any part of the world which was at some time part of the British Empire was thus left hand and any part colonised by the French was right hand.

Sorry i knew typing while talking to the wife and playing with baby was a bad idea

 

[ttaskmaster]

I'll wave as I come past at 180mph...

I'll be firmly sat in Lane 3. How ya gonna get past then... undertaking?

Jousting knights with their lances under their right arm naturally passed on each other's right, and if you passed a stranger on the road you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.

With all due respect - That makes no sense as a lance would stick out to the right and unbalance the rider. It makes more sense the other way around, particularly if you also wear a shield, as it would be on your left and useless if you're being thrust at from your right.
Add to that the numerous Medieval and Rennaisance depictions of jousters passing on each others' left side, anyway...

I would also question the walking/sword arm thing, as someone who has to walk along a road probably could not afford a sword in the first place. They may have a knife, or at best they'd have a cudgel, but most likely a Quarterstaff (especially in England), in which case it doesn't matter which side you're attacking them from!