I AGREE with Robert McNeil ("Why I'm baffled by the middle rages", The Herald, June 7).

When I took instruction from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) some 20 years ago, they referred to the middle lane as the safety lane. Their take on lane-changing was that by staying in the middle lane, and most importantly maintaining 70mph, traffic was free to join in the inside lane without you having to move out into the flow of traffic. Anyone wishing to pass could do so in the outside overtaking lane, but of course would be breaking the speed limit to do so. It would be good to hear the current thinking from the IAM, as I am now confused.

Gordon Rigby,

14 Hunters Way, Lochwinnoch.