LANE hoggers can raise the blood pressure of even the calmest of drivers.
While many road users can attest to doing it, very few are aware that it is an actual punishable offence.
Seeing cars in the middle lane of empty motorways often infuriates other road users
Can I be fined for hogging the middle lane?
Driving in the middle lane when you are not overtaking another vehicle, also known as lane hogging, is an offence.
This is because the habit is classed as careless driving, much like driving too close to another vehicle.
This could land you with a £100 fine and three penalty points if you are given a fixed penalty notice.
Since 2013, police have had the power to hand out on-the-spot fines for drivers cruising along in the middle lane.
New road laws are introduced regularly and the introduction of smart motorways could mean harsher crackdowns on lane hoggers.
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What lane should I be in on the motorway?
The right-hand lanes are there to allow you to overtake a vehicle which is moving slower than you.
Rule 264 of the Highway Code states: “You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear.
“If you are overtaking a number of slow-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.”
You should pull into the middle or outside lane to overtake, then return to the left lane as soon as possible.
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If you stay in the middle lane you could prevent other motorists from overtaking behind you, causing traffic flow issues.
It can even force other drivers to undertake you to stop themselves from being blocked in.
When analysing more than 70 hours of motorway footage across the UK, research commissioned by Direct Line Car Insurance found just 23 per cent of drivers stick to the Highway Code and travel predominately in the inside lane, while 27 per cent drive in the outside overtaking lane.
For the remaining half, the most common reason given for middle lane hogging is that drivers think they will have to overtake lorries and slower vehicles further up the motorway, so they may as well stay where they are.
Other motorists claimed they stay in the middle lane just so they don’t have to change lanes as much, while almost a quarter do so because they think it’s faster than driving in the inside lane.
What they don’t realise is this is actually illegal.
When should I use the middle lane?
Many of us find ourselves middle-lane hogging without realising but there are plenty of valid reasons to drive in the middle lane.
It might be justified during periods of heavy traffic or to allow others to join the motorway traffic.
Although technically traffic joining the motorway has to give way to vehicles already on the motorway, it might still be wise to move into the middle lane to give cars room to join.
For those already in the middle lane, for example, if you have just overtaken a car, it might be worth staying in the middle lane until you are past the slip road.
In the event you approach a stranded vehicle on the hard shoulder, it might be safer to move to the middle lane in case any passengers step into the carriageway, or the car pulls out suddenly.
Rob Miles, director of car insurance at Direct Line, commented: “Our analysis of traffic flows shows that millions of drivers risk prosecution by travelling in the middle and outside lanes when the inside lanes are entirely clear.
“It’s important that we increase awareness of the rules and penalties, primarily because they exist to keep road users safe but also drivers face serious fines and endorsements that will stay on their record for four years.
“Many motorists claim they want to avoid changing lanes to overtake, but this is a crucial skill and in-car technologies such as blind spot and safe distance warnings can help drivers to travel safely.”
For many motorists, staying in the middle lane is done out of laziness rather than a road necessity.
Most common reasons for driving in the middle lane when the inside lane is clear
“I know that I will have to pull out to overtake lorries or other slow vehicles further up the road” – 43%
“I don’t have to change lanes as much” – 33%
“I feel safer in the middle lane” – 22%
“I prefer the visibility in the middle lane” – 22%
“It’s faster” – 13%
“I drive at the maximum speed limit so no one should be overtaking me” – 11%
“I prefer not to drive next to the kerb or central reservation” – 9%
“Regulation says that drivers should be in the middle lane” – 7%
“Everybody else drives in the middle lane” – 7%
“Nobody else drives in the middle lane so it’s clearer” – 6%
While you may feel some of these excuses are justified, powers given to police allow for them to fine you for doing so.
If you want to keep the expenses of driving to a minimum, follow the rules and do not stay in the middle lane for any length of time unless forced to do so by surrounding road conditions.