theonlywayisup
11-04-2022, 11:50 AM
The one thing that makes me really annoyed and frustrated is observing those drivers that constantly drive in the middle lane of a three lane motorway or the over-taking lane in dual carriageway. Don't they know that due to their actions they are restricting the capacity of the road! Why do they do it? The Edinburgh City Bypass is the perfect example; long queues of cars in the right lane all overtaking the slow lorry but then refusing to pull into the left hand lane to allow 'faster' cars to pass. It's even worse in the three lane motorways, especially at busy periods.
I would love more police forces starting to issue fines to these middle lane / fast lane hoggers. Below was one report that I was reading.
The middle-lane hogger is back pootling along the second lane with a blissful unawareness of the rules of the road or their fellow drivers. As well as being against the law, it can see other drivers resort to illegal undertaking or create frustration for other drivers who can face moving from the inside lane to the outside lane and then back to the inside lane.
Middle-lane hogging is simply staying in the second lane when you should have moved over to the inside lane. Contrary to some people's views, there isn't a 'slow lane' to the left and a 'fast lane' to the right.
And it is an offence, coming under 'careless driving' as does tailgating, accidentally running a red light, or being distracted by eating or drinking. Rules introduced by the Government in 2013 gave police officers powers to hand out on-the-spot fines of £100, or three penalty points.
Speaking to the Express last year, Simon Williams, RAC road safety spokesman: “Middle-lane hogging is often one of drivers’ biggest annoyances on the motorway as it needlessly causes congestion. The Highway Code makes it clear that drivers should keep left unless overtaking.
“Despite this many drivers sit in the middle lane with nothing to their inside, frustrating others by forcing them to overtake in the outside lane, or worse still illegally on the inside."
And drivers have been stopped for being a middle-lane hog. A Mercedes was seen joining the M60 in Manchester on February 13 this year and then moving straight to the middle lane, despite lane one being clear.
Greater Manchester Police said the driver continued to hog the middle lane at 49mph for one junction. They added the driver said "he didn’t want to use the ‘slow lane’ or the ‘fast lane’?!" and officers issued a Traffic Offence Report.
The RAC in its driver information page about middle-lane hogging, says there are some times when it's okay to sit in the middle lane.
It says one time is when approaching a slip road joining the motorway: "Although technically traffic joining the motorway has to give way to vehicles already on the motorway, it might be wise to move into the middle lane to give cars room to join," the motoring organisation says.
It adds: Similarly, if you’ve overtaken a car in the inside lane and are approaching a junction, in some circumstances it might be worth remaining in the middle lane until you’re past the slip road and it’s safe to move over. If you’re approaching a stranded vehicle on the hard shoulder, it might be worth moving into the middle lane in case any passengers step into the carriageway, or the car pulls out suddenly."
I would love more police forces starting to issue fines to these middle lane / fast lane hoggers. Below was one report that I was reading.
The middle-lane hogger is back pootling along the second lane with a blissful unawareness of the rules of the road or their fellow drivers. As well as being against the law, it can see other drivers resort to illegal undertaking or create frustration for other drivers who can face moving from the inside lane to the outside lane and then back to the inside lane.
Middle-lane hogging is simply staying in the second lane when you should have moved over to the inside lane. Contrary to some people's views, there isn't a 'slow lane' to the left and a 'fast lane' to the right.
And it is an offence, coming under 'careless driving' as does tailgating, accidentally running a red light, or being distracted by eating or drinking. Rules introduced by the Government in 2013 gave police officers powers to hand out on-the-spot fines of £100, or three penalty points.
Speaking to the Express last year, Simon Williams, RAC road safety spokesman: “Middle-lane hogging is often one of drivers’ biggest annoyances on the motorway as it needlessly causes congestion. The Highway Code makes it clear that drivers should keep left unless overtaking.
“Despite this many drivers sit in the middle lane with nothing to their inside, frustrating others by forcing them to overtake in the outside lane, or worse still illegally on the inside."
And drivers have been stopped for being a middle-lane hog. A Mercedes was seen joining the M60 in Manchester on February 13 this year and then moving straight to the middle lane, despite lane one being clear.
Greater Manchester Police said the driver continued to hog the middle lane at 49mph for one junction. They added the driver said "he didn’t want to use the ‘slow lane’ or the ‘fast lane’?!" and officers issued a Traffic Offence Report.
The RAC in its driver information page about middle-lane hogging, says there are some times when it's okay to sit in the middle lane.
It says one time is when approaching a slip road joining the motorway: "Although technically traffic joining the motorway has to give way to vehicles already on the motorway, it might be wise to move into the middle lane to give cars room to join," the motoring organisation says.
It adds: Similarly, if you’ve overtaken a car in the inside lane and are approaching a junction, in some circumstances it might be worth remaining in the middle lane until you’re past the slip road and it’s safe to move over. If you’re approaching a stranded vehicle on the hard shoulder, it might be worth moving into the middle lane in case any passengers step into the carriageway, or the car pulls out suddenly."