Ever noticed the fast lane is best for splitting?

[Jabez]

I just get into the quickest lane & on the NW motorway, after yove been on it awhile it gets very perdictable as to which lane & where will be moving the most.

[Will]

I have noticed that cars expect you to split between the two outside or "faster" lanes. They are not ready for you anywhere else. In fact you can see them flinch sometimes as you wake them up. So I go for the splitting between middle and fast. But don't go much faster than a 30 k difference.
About the bike lane, I avoid that because of all the rubbish. Don't want a puncture.

[Coldkiwi]

yup. I rely on that lane for my progress. I've had too many sleepy drivers cut me off in the outside lane A. I think its because car drivers assume anyone in the outer most lane will be going slower than them whereas they vaguely expect people in the 'fast' lane to be gaining and will take at least a cursory glance in the mirror.

its all generalisations though... comes down to the traffic on the day a lot of the time

[myvice]

I travel about 50ks a day on the Southen at peak times (any time from 5am till 10pm is a peak time) and try to sit between the two outside lanes as 1. The people in the "fast" lane are happy in there and dont want to start swopping caus then you might spill your coffe, lose your place in the newspaper or miss bits when shaving/putting on your makeup. 2. Cops generally sit in the inner two lanes or on the soft sholder so you can spot them or get a bit of distance if thay want a chat and you have nothing to tell them. 3. The gaps are bigger, I dont know why, just lucky. I pass a bike or two some mornings and I dont know why thay sit in the que, maby its fun to slowly pass out from exaust fumes? Odd, very very odd.

[Coldkiwi]

I travel about 50ks a day on the Southen at peak times (any time from 5am till 10pm is a peak time) and try to sit between the two outside lanes as 1. The people in the "fast" lane are happy in there and dont want to start swopping caus then you might spill your coffe, lose your place in the newspaper or miss bits when shaving/putting on your makeup. 2. Cops generally sit in the inner two lanes or on the soft sholder so you can spot them or get a bit of distance if thay want a chat and you have nothing to tell them. 3. The gaps are bigger, I dont know why, just lucky. I pass a bike or two some mornings and I dont know why thay sit in the que, maby its fun to slowly pass out from exaust fumes? Odd, very very odd.

sounds like a carbon copy replica of my commute mate! You bring up a good point about the cops in the outside lane. Much harder for them to spot you when splitting between fast/not-so-fast lanes due to the additional angle... more stuff to hide behind if reqd!