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The Dangers of Middle Lane Hogging

Has ‘middle lane hogging’ caused a crisis on our motorways? Some would argue ‘yes’. There seems to be a fundamental problem in the UK with drivers not understanding how a motorway is supposed to work. In this article we’re delving into the issues surrounding middle lane hogging, and how we can all work to fix it.

What is Middle Lane Hogging?

Simply put, middle lane hogging is when a vehicle hogs the middle lane. They will persistently stick to this lane, never pulling back into the left hand land until their junction comes up. While this seems like a very surface level problem, the issue actually runs a little deeper than you might think.

For drivers who are new to the road, or do not regularly drive on the motorway, then the prospect of 3 or 4 lanes can be fairly daunting. It can also be confusing to determine which lane you should be in at any given time.

Does this lane feed into a slip road? Will it merge at any point? This confusion can sometimes lead drivers to stick to the middle lane, when actually this is against the Highway Code.

Why is Lane Discipline Important?

So why is middle lane hogging a problem? What tangible negative effects does it have on the motorway and everyone who drives on it? Here’s just a few.

1) It slows down traffic and causes congestion

When the middle lane is clogged, it stops left lane users from being able to overtake properly, or to continue at appropriate speeds. This causes congestion to build up on the motorway, and for people to move from the left-hand lane to the middle and right-hand lanes. This is a major contributor to road traffic collisions, whether it be a minor bump or a major, life threatening accident.

By using all the lanes correctly, all road users are able to dive smoother. Additionally, if you are causing a tail of traffic, you are unaware of how far back the effects of your actions are being felt. You could be impeding an emergency vehicle on its way to an urgent call.

2) It encourages dangerous driving

Perhaps the biggest issue with middle lane hogging is that it encourages dangerous driving such as undertaking. If a driver is sitting in the middle or right-hand lane, it makes overtaking them more difficult. This causes some drivers to try and undertake them, which is not only very dangerous, it’s illegal.

A driver undertaking another is at risk of being hit if the first driver chooses to pull into their lane. This is because a driver who undertakes risks sitting in the blind spot of the first driver, and is therefore harder to see. One of the leading causes of accidents on the road is due to drivers undertaking and trying to push in front of slower drivers.

3) You’ll be punished

Even if you couldn’t care less about impeding other drivers, you’ll definitely care about this one. Once the police realised how serious an issue middle lane hogging is, they made it a road traffic offense. Middle lane hogging is now listed under offenses of ‘driving without due care and attention’.

This means that if you are caught middle lane hogging by the police, you will receive a fine upwards of £100 and 3 points on your driving licence, and rightly so. In 2015, one driver was convicted of middle lane hogging and was ordered to pay just shy of £1,000, plus five penalty points.

Driving Safely on the Motorway

Here at Pendle Leasing we are huge supporters of safe and responsible drivers. If you are a new driver who is looking to gain some extra experience on motorways, we recommend considering a Pass Plus Certificate. This is an additional qualification you can obtain once your initial driving test has been passed.

It entails an instructor taking you onto motorways and teaching you how to use them correctly. Having motorway driving introduced to you by an experienced driver is much better than trying to learn yourself. They will explain how the lanes work, what all the signs mean and how to drive appropriately in each one.

For more information, take a look at our top tips for new drivers, which provides a wealth of information that will help you drive safely and sensibly.