Drivers are unknowingly breaking a motoring law on UK motorways, with a new survey revealing that three in five are unaware that middle lane driving is illegal. Dashcam manufacturer Nextbase has highlighted the issue after polling 2,000 UK adults.
Lack of Awareness
The survey found that only one in 18 drivers could correctly identify the penalty for middle lane driving, which is a £100 fine and three penalty points. Additionally, one in six road users (17%) admitted they naturally gravitate towards the middle lane when the roads are clear.
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."
Expert Insight
Francis Noakes, a driving instructor behind the viral account 'Driving School TV', stressed that middle lane hogging has become one of the most overlooked issues on the road. He said: "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."
Highway Code Rule 264
According to the Highway Code, rule 264 states: "You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slow-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past." Middle-lane hogging occurs when vehicles remain in the middle lane longer than necessary, even when there are no vehicles in the inside lane to overtake.
