Why is the inside lane Known as the inside lane when it is closer to the outside of the motorway?

It's all with ref to the cerb.

So Near/Side is the side near to the cerb. And Off/Side is away from the cerb.

Inside is between you and the cerb so in-between or inside.

Hope this helps.

On the highway, the right lane is the bumper lane, the center lane is the sandwich lane and the left lane is the hammer lane.

On the racetrack the left lane is the inside lane and the right lane is the outside lane.

Inside and outside on the highway, just depends on who you're talking to.

oh boy this just confused me!! You know in Nascar or better yet on a track field how the inside lane is closer to the center of the circle. It's inside because it's close to the inside lol. I think you may have it confused.

They should really be referred to as lanes 1,2,3 etc....not inside, middle or outside....although I suppose the inside is nearer to the hard shoulder and the outside is further away.