That would be that there are a not insubstantial number of drivers who really have absolutely no idea of how to overtake – or let others overtake them.

In an ideal world where everyone understood how overtaking worked, traffic would flow more smoothly and we’d have fewer frustrated motorists stuck behind a driver going slower than the speed limit.

Sadly it’s not an idea world and we end up with clueless and/or discourteous drivers who hold up other motorists who simply want to drive at the posted speed limit.

On Sunday afternoon, I was heading back to Wollongong along Picton Road. I caught up to a line of about five cars who only reached the speed limit intermittently.

And so we travelled in a long single file, while I watched for signs telling me how far away the next overtaking lane was.

When that lane arrived my relief turned to frustration as the car at the head of the queue who had been holding everyone up increased their speed.

The gap between myself and them widened as I chose to stick to the speed limit.

However, like all good things, overtaking lanes must come to an end.

When that happened, the driver at the front of the queue slowed down again, which meant I was again stuck behind them.

I’ve seen this habit many times before and it never ceases to frustrate me.

It’s selfish to drive slower than the speed limit and hold up others but then speed up when an extra lane appears and deny them the chance to get around you.

If you’re going to drive under the limit when there’s only one lane, then stay at that speed when an overtaking lane opens up.

That overtaking lane is for everyone else – not you.