A third of drivers admit to hogging the middle lane on motorways, survey finds – operators launch campaign to challenge this ‘bad habit’

Nearly a third of drivers admit to hogging the center lane on motorways, according to a National Highways survey.

Nearly 32 percent of respondents said they did it at least “occasionally,” including 5 percent who confessed to doing it “always.”

The Highway Code establishes that drivers on highways and expressways must use the left lane unless they are overtaking.

And while it warns drivers to leave “at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on high-speed roads”, more than a fifth (23 per cent) admitted following too closely.

Both offenses can be prosecuted as careless driving, for which police can impose £100 on-the-spot fines and three penalty points.

Sheena Hague, from National Highways, said: “Bad habits can make driving on our motorways a challenging experience, as those who hog the lane or stay behind frustrate other drivers and make them feel unsafe.” Both are dangerous and can cause accidents.

“The message is simple: always leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you and, unless you are overtaking, stay in the left lane.”

Department for Transport figures show that 198 people were killed and another 6,730 seriously injured in accidents on British roads in the ten years to the end of 2022, in which a vehicle “going too close” was a contributing factor.

National Highways has launched a campaign with the slogan “small changes, change everything”, warning of the impact of hogging and center lane following.

The government-owned company said poor lane discipline is one of the behaviors most likely to cause other road users to become frustrated, while tailgating often makes people feel anxious, stressed or unsafe. .

Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “This Government is on the side of drivers and listening to their concerns.”

“That’s why this campaign, as part of our Driver Plan, aims to tackle center lane hogging and tailgating, which are not only irritating but also dangerous.”

AA president Edmund King added: “Considerate driving is not just about being kind, it’s also about staying safe.”

‘The five main types of drivers detested by AA members are tailgaters, lane hogs, phone abusers, lane swerves, and buryers.

‘All of these activities are dangerous and indeed stressful for the perpetrators and other drivers.

“Unfortunately, some people seem to change personalities when they are wrapped up in their metal boxes on wheels.”

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘Hogging the center lane and tailgating are much more than mere annoyances for drivers – these actions put everyone on the roads at risk.

‘Tailoring another motorist could easily lead to a serious collision if the driver in front needed to brake suddenly for any reason.

“The fact that almost one in four drivers surveyed admit to doing so on some of the fastest and busiest roads in England is terrifying.”