National Highways has warned making a common mistake on the motorway could be “dangerous” and “cause accidents” as they urge road users to “embrace changes”.
Experts at the motoring group have called on road users to ditch middle lane hogging after a new poll found breaking the Highway Code rule was common on UK roads.
The latest survey found that nearly one in three drivers admit to staying in the middle lane for too long on motorways.
A staggering 32 percent of the 2,500 respondents polled by Ipsos over the summer admitted they did this “occasionally”.
Meanwhile, a further five percent accepted they “always” kept their vehicle in the centre lane while travelling on a motorway.
National Highways director of road safety Sheena Hague said making changes to their driving style would likely have a “positive effect” on road safety.
She explained: “Bad habits can make driving on our motorways a challenging experience, as those who lane hog or tailgate frustrate other drivers and make them feel unsafe.
“Both are dangerous and can cause accidents. Our campaign aims to motivate motorists to embrace little changes, which will have an overall positive effect on both them and their fellow road users, reduce congestion and keep traffic flowing.
“The message is simple: always allow plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, and unless overtaking move into the left-hand lane.”
The latest findings come as The National Highways launches a new campaign to clamp down on middle lane hoggers. According to road experts, poor lane discipline is among the issues most likely to cause other road users to feel frustrated while behind the wheel.
Instead of staying in the middle lane, the Highway Code states motorists should pull into the left-hand lane as soon as they overtake another vehicle.
Police officers can intervene in certain situations and hand out on-the-spot £100 fines for anyone driving incorrectly.
Alongside middle lane hogging, National Highways also wants to clamp down on tailgating problems.
According to data from the Department for Transport, a staggering 198 people have been killed over the last decade where “driving too close” was the main contributing factor.
Another 6,730 individuals were said to have been seriously injured in the ten years to the end of 2022.
The latest poll has found more than one-fifth of motorists (23 percent) tailgate while they are behind the wheel.
Roads minister Guy Opperman commented: “This Government is on the side of drivers and is listening to their concerns.
“That’s why this campaign, as part of our Plan for Drivers, aims to tackle middle lane hogging and tailgating, which are not only irritating but dangerous too.”
