Three in five drivers are unaware of the road rule
Drivers are facing big hikes in VED rates from next April and the DVLA this week issued a new alert to prepare people(Image: PA)
Millions of motorists are probably breaking a motorway regulation daily without realising they’re doing anything incorrect.
This follows a survey revealing three in five drivers confessed to being unaware there was anything improper about middle-lane hogging. This occurs when vehicles remain in the centre lane of a motorway despite the inside lane being clear of traffic to overtake.
This behaviour can prove hazardous and contributes to traffic jams as other motorists are compelled to pull out into the fast lane to overtake them. Studies indicate it’s amongst the most poorly understood highway regulations, reports Birmingham Live.
Police can issue fines if they catch offenders, though in practice millions of drivers escape punishment. A survey of 2,000 UK adults also discovered that just one in 18 motorists can accurately identify the penalty for middle lane driving, which stands at a £100 fine and three penalty points.
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It’s typical to spot cars cruising along in the middle lane on quiet motorways, apparently unaware they’re doing anything improper.
Motorists should only utilise the middle lane when overtaking slower-moving traffic in the inside lane. Once the inside lane becomes clear, they should pull back over.
Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, commented: “Middle lane driving doesn’t get the same attention as using a phone at the wheel or tailgating, but the risks are still high.
“When drivers sit in the middle lane unnecessarily, others are forced into overtaking manoeuvres they wouldn’t otherwise need to make, and that creates danger.
“The fact that most people don’t even know it’s illegal means it goes unchallenged every day on Britain’s motorways.”
Francis Noakes, an online driving instructor, added: “The confidence gap is what really stands out in this data, and it is something I see every day on the road with my students.
“Most drivers genuinely believe they are doing the right thing, but the numbers tell a different story. Until awareness improves and enforcement catches up, middle lane driving will stay one of the most common and most overlooked problems on UK roads.”
