Colin,
A few years ago I would have agreed with your argument in it's entirety, however traffic flow stats show that it is smoother and safer for both lanes in such situations, to be used to their fullest capacity right up to the pinch point.
As a result, you should be seeing fewer and fewer "Get In Lane Now" signs, however my advice is that should you happen across such a sign this summer, please follow the instruction as the authorities will have deemed that method to be most appropriate for the location, and continue to rant (as I would) about anyone continuing past you in defiance of the signs, whatever type or class of vehicle they may be driving.
At the same time, if you come across "Use Both Lanes" and "Merge In Turn" signs, that signage will have been deemed most appropriate for that given location.
The reasoning behind such a decision is based on valid safety implications ie. Where long tailbacks of several miles are perceivable during peak times, it makes no sense at all for those tailbacks to be longer than they need to be and confined to one lane.
Consider the number of extra junctions, interchanges and on/off slip roads that could be affected, with the knock on effect into the smaller roads and communities around such locations, and the fact that every such blocked junction increases the risks of collisions and further delays and misery to those caught up in them.
It is not my arrogance that takes me down an empty lane when it is signed for me to do so, it is my ability to read and obey a simple instruction.. Oh and of course my working knowledge gained from many years of working our Motorways and Dual Carriageways (apologies if you perceive that too as arrogance), it's just what I've done for years, and I have in that time seen drivers prosecuted for unnecessary obstruction when they do block the lanes as described in my earlier post.
"Rolling Road Block" is a term you used, which I think you will find only the Police can legally carry out, and for very good reason too, the lorry or van drivers are not suitably trained and do not have to consider the safety implications of such a manoeuvre and they are definitely not the ones that have to pick up the pieces when it goes wrong, you wouldn't see them for dust.
I agree that if you sit in the inside lane for ages, against the advice of the signs, that human nature will get you fuming at the motorists passing you and driving correctly, so next time you find yourself in such a position, why not safely indicate out and try the other lane, it might just free your inhibitions and you never know, if enough people switch on to it.,it might just catch on and reduce the delays.
I could not begin to understand the financial implications of a major banking decision or the life saving decision of a surgeon saving a life in an emergency, similarly I would not expect a person that has not had a career on the roads to understand some of the decision making that goes on behind the scenes, but the signs are explicit and easy to follow.
On the other matter of my car, Yes I do drive a "German thingie" but it's only a Volkswagen..nice, safe, well built and an excellent towcar, but IMHO not as posh as Mercs, BMWs or Audis and certainly nothing for me to be arrogant about.
Most of the time I drive around in my little Toyota Aygo, keeping the VW mainly for towing and I can guarantee you that sitting that low down with only a foot of bonnet and boot to protect you does not make you feel arrogant, it actually humbles you.
One thing I am certainly not though, is jealous of anyone having a better car than me, nor do I have an inferiority complex, which is where (some of) the above comments seem to be stemming from.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that they are only cars, to get us from A to B.
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