HELP !!!!  I had to work late Tuesday, meaning I hit the rush hour totally in the pouring rain at 5.15 pm.  So it WAS raining and everyone hogged the fast lane on the M4 and went 60.  Is that necessary?  Why not go on the middle or the left and leave the fast lane to those people who have the cars and tyres to go.  I know I keep ranting about the same old things, but it is p|ssing me off so much.  I have been doing a 90 mile commute for 10 years and I am wondering how much longer I can bear it.   

Last time I checked the outside lane wan't called the 'fast lane' is it not just a lane like any other, but there for overtaking?

In the pouring rain, even 60 can be too fast.  Adapt your driving to the situation.  Heavy rain = slow down and back off in my book.  Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

sooo.. lane 1 - nina, lane 2- overtaking, lane 3- me and carol

I know my car and how it handles, do you know how everyone else handles the rain, suddenly pulling out into the lane your hooning down, 60, 70 80 90 etc.  Oh ABS aint going to help when you aquaplane.  Byee. 

Hi NinjaUK, I don't aquaplane.  Because I

Hey, 'no hugging' you guys, check this out..

Queensberry_rules

Road rage. No, not all road rage, but simlpy bad driving.  Left is the key.  What a beautiful sight is a motorway empty on the middle and fast lane because everyone is doing what they need to do.  Sigh.     Meaning keeping left when there is nobody to overtake.

What's that got to do with aquaplaning?  If you are truely aquaplaning then you are nothing more than a passenger.
You hit enough standing water at high enough speed, you overwhelm your tyres ability to disperse water through the width & depth of their tread. 
Result is your tyres no longer have contact with the road....  so no steering or braking input is going to help you until either the standing water reduces, or your speed reduces naturally causing the flow of water to ease.  In the meantime, you just hope you don't swap ends or veer off.  There's no skill involved.