​Middle Lane Hogging

This is a possible habit that can be picked up after you pass your driving test.

​Be conscious of being a ‘middle lane hogger’ and if you are, make sure you are aware about the possible penalties and inconvenience that could be caused.

Is Middle Lane Hogging, also known as inconsiderate driving, really a problem? Surely being in the middle lane gives you the choice of either lane?

​This has become very topical since the change of legislation towards the beginning of 2013. It is argued by many motorists that being in the middle lane gives you the option to use the lanes either side if required.

This is one of the main reason why up until now there haven’t been too many changes to middle lane hogging.

​What are the middle lane hoggers actually doing wrong?

• Cause motorists to perform dangerous manoeuvres
  This includes undertaking and accelerating across all the lanes of the motorway to pass. If a motorist is travelling at 65mph in the middle lane of a three way motorway, there could be a person travelling at 70mph on the inside lane.
  
  It is also possible for a motorist to be in the middle lane at 65mph and so not to undertake, accelerating across the entire motorway. If you are ever in this situation make sure you do not rush across and check your blind spot.
  
  It also makes motorists angry, which in turn causes them to weave in and out whilst driving on the motorway to try and pass these cars.
  
  
• Cause congestion 
  It is found by the RAC that a third of all motorway capacity is being taken up due to middle lane hoggers. This is as a large percentage of people are forced into other lanes which they would not usually need to be in if they had access to the middle lane. On a three lane motorway the far left lane (in the UK) would usually be used by the general motorist. The second lane would be used as an overtaking lane for motorists overtaking people in the first lane. If this lane is being used when the first lane is clear, it would cause people overtaking to have to go into the third lane and so on, occupying a lot of unnecessary road.
  
  
• It is against the Highway Code
  Section 264 of the Highway Code clearly outlines that you should always drive to the left when the road ahead is clear and if you overtake you should return back to the left hand lane when safe to do so.

In 2013 the Government issued new penalties for careless driving which included on-the-spot penalties for tailgating and poor lane discipline. It wasn’t until mid-2015 that the first motorist was convicted on the crackdown of middle-lane hogging.

Penalties 
A driver breaking this law is usually given an on-the-spot fine of £100 as well as three penalty points on their licence. The first driver to be convicted of the care of middle-lane hogging refused to pay the initial fine and after a Court hearing was made to pay fines of £920 and was given 5 points. He did not appear in Court and has since denied the allegation against him.
If anyone has any questions on this, please feel free to ask us and if you need any training in driving on numerous different road types including motorways, it may be worth considering to carry out a ‘Pass Plus’ course.
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When on a motorway
Don’t let these laws make you forget about your stopping distance only return to the correct lane if it is safe to do so and won’t put any lives at risk. This law is important only if the far left lane is clear and people are using the middle lane instead.