Overview

• The finding equates to roughly 14 million motorists acknowledging they stay in the middle lane on motorways.
• Highway Code Rule 264 instructs drivers to keep to the left when the road is clear and to move back left after overtaking.
• Police can treat middle-lane hogging as careless driving, issuing a £100 fixed penalty and three points on a licence.
• The RAC cites a lack of practical motorway training in the driving test and simple convenience, which can lead to queues as traffic bunches into the outside lane.
• Enforcement is difficult due to fewer traffic officers and the limits of cameras, with separate warnings noting tougher passenger phone rules that can bring fines up to £1,000.