Breaking Down The £100 Middle Lane-Hogger Motorway Fine

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Middle lane-hoggers beware: motorway culprits can now be fined up to £100 and receive points on their license under new rules expected to be passed by Parliament.

Such drivers have frustrated fellow road users for years and the Police finally have the power to crack down on the behaviour.

The effect a middle lane-hogger can have on the flow of traffic is huge. As undertaking is illegal, clogged up outer lanes are the unfortunate by-product as other drivers attempt to pass. Some studies even argue that hoggers reduce the physical capacity of a motorway.

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What cannot be argued, though, is that the flow of traffic is significantly hindered by slow moving traffic in the middle lane. This results in frustrated drivers tailgating and switching lanes with little space, as well as making it difficult for the emergency services to negotiate traffic as other vehicles cannot move across. All this could be avoided by simply moving left.

The Highway Code clearly states that "you should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear." If you're passing slower moving vehicles "you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past." This opens up the right-hand lanes to faster moving traffic and naturally improves traffic flow.

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Simply put, there is no reason to sit in the middle lane, and the conclusion I have come to while observing these lane hoggers is that it demonstrates a terrifying lack of awareness of your surroundings and the rules of the road. These drivers are clearly oblivious to the congestion they are causing.

For this reason alone, giving the Police the power to reprimand these drivers is a welcome one. They must have their attention drawn to the fact that concentrating on their surroundings whilst behind the wheel is vital. Unfortunately it is hard to believe that the problem will ever be eradicated, so what can we do to help?

First, try not to whip your phone out and record the crime, otherwise it's pot calling kettle black time. Also, if you find yourself daydreaming in the middle lane, move left and give yourself a mental slap. Obviously no member of #TeamCT would ever drive so inconsiderately, but there is an answer should you come across a dawdler with traffic bunching up to the right. And for this we must return to the highway code. Rule 268 forbids undertaking, however;

In congested conditions... traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.

While this obviously applies more to traffic jams, the point is that changing lanes and bunching up unnecessarily is more dangerous than passing on the inside within the speed limit. As long as you approach the pass from a distance without darting across lanes (in which case you could, quite rightly, be charged with careless driving) your argument for safety holds more weight than the hogger that's been sat in the middle lane at 50mph.

So remember, pay attention to your surroundings, don't drive like a tool, and the motorways will return to being a wonderful place. Now let's go have a pint...