A nation of middle lane hoggers

The South East of England is the country’s middle lane hogging hot spot, according to a new study by Direct Line Car Insurance.

The analysis of traffic flow data from nearly 6,500 sites on the Highways Agency motorway network reveals that the M4, near Slough, has the highest incidence of lane hogging. The study compared the amount of time on each motorway that occupancy in the middle lane exceeded the inside lane, and found that this occurred 27 per cent of the time on this particular stretch of motorway.

The M25 appears five times in the lane hogging top 10, which consists entirely of motorways in London or the South East and is perhaps a symptom of the levels of congestion in this area of the country. 

Separate analysis2 by the insurer shows that the majority (78 per cent) of drivers know that you should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear, and more than half (52 per cent) know that middle lane hogging is illegal. Yet despite this, 59 per cent still admit to middle lane hogging, with one in 10 drivers (nine per cent) admitting to always or regularly doing so, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

The most common reason for why motorists drove in the middle lane was because it is an easier way to drive on motorways because it saves changing lanes (43 per cent). More than a third (38 per cent) claim to dominate the middle lane only when the road is quiet, and 32 per cent do it without realising.

Rob Miles, director of Motor at Direct Line commented: “Lane hogging causes congestion, reduces the capacity of the roads, and most crucially, can be dangerous.  It is also illegal which means drivers could face a £100 on-the-spot fine and three points on their license if caught. Motorists are risking their own safety and the safety of other road users through their actions so we’d urge them to be aware of the other lanes and drivers around them when on the road. If the inside lane has space, you should move into it.”

Drivers aged 65 and over are the most aware that middle lane hogging is illegal (59 per cent compared to 41 per cent of those aged 18 to 24) however, they are also the worst offenders, with 66 per cent admitting to lane hogging compared to the national average of 59 per cent.