Drivers who hog the middle lane on motorways face a £100 fine and three penalty points, as new research reveals widespread ignorance of the law. The Highway Code rule, which requires motorists to stay in the left lane unless overtaking, is being ignored by many road users.
Survey Reveals Common Practice
A survey of 2,000 adults by dashcam company Nextbase found that 17% of drivers admitted to automatically moving into the middle lane even when the road is clear. A further 10% confessed to heading straight for the outside lane. Despite this, 86% of motorway users claimed they believe they follow lane rules correctly.
Highway Code Rule 264
Rule 264 of the Highway Code states: "Keep in the left lane unless overtaking. If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so." It also advises drivers to move left when safe to create space for emergency vehicles and stopped traffic.
Motorists caught unnecessarily sitting in the middle lane can face a £100 fine and three penalty points. However, a staggering 94% of drivers had no idea what punishment could be applied.
Expert Warnings
Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, said: "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."
Driving instructor Francis Noakes, who runs the Driving School TV social media account, added: "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."
