(Untitled)

[al_fruitbat]

So, we were driving along the North Circular on our way to see Chrestomancy and TheHattedOne. Approaching the notorious Hangar Lane gyratory, I said to _alanna "OK, you want to be in the outside lane here", only to be somewhat surprised when she indicated right and moved into the fast lane

Comments

[metame]

I'm with the "odd-but-that-is-how-it-is" majority here. I always guessed that "inside" and "outside" picked up their meanings in reference to overtaking.

[cuthbertcross]

See him? I'm with him. (though I share your frustration regarding Numptys).

[cardinalsin]

I just wouldn't use the term "outside lane" at all when giving directions - "you need to be in the left hand lane" is what I'd say. I don't think I've ever used the term, or had it used against me, in anger. My gut instinct was that your version was right, but I see from the above responses that my gut instinct was wrong!

[mrlloyd]

You overtake people on the outside... I can't ever imagine saying that the other way round.

So while the assignation of terms to the sides of the road is pretty arbitrary I'd say the standard usage is Alanna's