First off - I'm an American living in the UK for a couple of years.

I've been impressed with how cagers treat motorcycles here compared to the states. They seem to be more aware of them on the roads. But something happened to me today that blew my mind.

I was on a dual carriageway (2 lanes each way with a divider) in the right lane (passing lane) doing about 75 mph passing a number of vehicles including the big rigs that can only do about 60 mph (don't get me started on those damn things). Speed limit is 70. I was in the left third of my lane a few feet away from the center line dividing the lanes. A small van comes up to me doing about 85 and is on my *** for about 30 seconds. I'm still passing vehicles that are in the left (slow) lane. A small gap opens up and I think about moving over, but there's one of those damn lorries (big rigs) about 1/8 mile ahead of me going less than 60 so I decide to stay in the passing lane, then would move over once I pass the lorry. Well, asshat in back of me gets impatient and attempts to pass me in my own lane since I was in the left third of it. When I looked in my mirror there was nothing there. I thought that was odd so I looked to the right and there he was even with my rear wheel. I pulled into the left lane immediately - thankfully there was no one there.

No flashing lights, no horn - this d-bag just passes me in my own lane. He was inches away from my mirror.

Now I understand that I need to pull over to the left to let faster traffic through, and obviously this guy thought I wasn't doing it fast enough. I decided to stay in the passing lane because I was still approaching slow moving vehicles in the slow lane and didn't want to be darting in and out of the traffic. But to put my life in danger by passing me in my own lane? I think I'd rather he pass me on the left in the slow lane. I was enraged.

I don't see anyone doing this when two lorries are side by side, one passing at 61 mph with the other doing 60. I guess he thought that he could push me out of his way because I'm on a bike?

Is this something that's happened to you or is this a one-off d-bag? Given the general respect I've seen cagers give drivers in this country, I was shocked.

 

It's only happened to me twice and both times it was an ******* on a rice burner cutting between me and the central reservation, but in general while your here keep an eye out for 3 series BMWs and panel vans usually driven by idiots, oh and left hand drive trucks from Europe they have a big blind spot and cause a lot of accidents pulling out in front of traffic, especially on Motorways, you can tell theyre left handers by the different Type of number plates.

 

There are idiots everywhere unfortunately.

I've not had it happen to me (yet) and I try and fill my lane up so people don't squeeze in where I don't want them.
In saying that though, in a car vs bike situation, whatever the rights and wrongs, you will probably come off worse so if it means moving over to let an obvious idiot through, even though it slows me down, I'll do it.

 

That sucks but it doesn't suprise me over here. While I've also noticed that people are more aware of bikes in the UK then in the States, I've still come across a lot of dumb drivers.