Hogging the middle lane while driving on the motorway has been a punishable offence throughout the UK since 2013. The act is classed as a careless driving offence and, if caught, police can issue offenders with an on-the-spot fine of £100.
However, according to a survey, nearly one third (32%) of motorists admit they still sit in the middle lane rather than moving over to the left lane when it’s clear to do so.
The law was first introduced over a decade ago, yet many drivers are still unaware that lane hogging is an offence. Research by the insurance comparison site Confused.com found that 37% of British drivers had no idea they could be fined £100 if caught.
Are Drivers Really Being Fined for ‘Hogging’ the Middle Lane?
Since the introduction of the law, hundreds of fines have been handed out to motorists caught hogging the middle lane, according to data gathered by Confused.com from forty-five police forces across the country.
The insurers also found that other offences recorded as careless driving could be linked directly to middle-lane hogging, such as:
- Driving too slowly
- Undertaking
- Tailgating
However, in recent years, relatively few penalties have been issued specifically for middle-lane hogging compared to the number of careless driving fines overall.
As a result, more consistency across all UK police forces is needed to ensure that middle-lane hogging is policed effectively and fairly.
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Who’s Hogging the middle lane?
Of the 2,000 UK motorists surveyed by Confused.com, nearly one third admitted to hogging the middle lane. That equates to around 12.2 million of the 38 million drivers with a full UK licence – quite an alarming statistic.
Even more striking, just over half (51%) of respondents said they believe middle-lane hogging is a selfish act while 48% agreed that it contributes significantly to traffic congestion.
Around one in five drivers said they had not been taught the correct way to drive on the motorway and therefore did not fully understand the risks of lane hogging. Alarmingly, one in ten reported being involved in or witnessing a near miss or collision caused by drivers occupying the middle lane unnecessarily.
When asked what could help reduce middle-lane hogging, half of respondents said motorway signs could be an effective way to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences.
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