There is widespread confusion over middle lane driving laws, which is putting UK drivers at risk of fines, penalty points and serious accidents.
In a new survey, dashcam technology provider Nextbase has said that three-in-five UK drivers do not know the law around driving in the middle lane on UK motorways.
In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, it also found that only 1-in-18 drivers can correctly name the penalty for middle lane driving (£100 fine and three penalty points).
Under the Highway Code, drivers should keep to the left unless overtaking. Yet one-in-six (17%) of UK adults say they naturally gravitate towards the middle lane when roads are clear, while a further 10% head straight for the right, despite 86% of motorway users believing they use lanes correctly.
Although many admit to misusing the middle lane, drivers do recognise it as a serious risk on UK motorways.
Respondents rated the offence as more dangerous than using a mobile phone whilst driving (53%); speeding (51%); tailgating (50%); and not indicating (49%).
Among those who recognise middle lane driving as a problem, the top complaints are that it prevents drivers moving freely between lanes (37%), forces dangerous overtaking on the right (35%), and is simply inconsiderate and selfish behaviour (32%).
Despite widespread uncertainty around the law, over half of UK drivers (57%) support the introduction of cameras to catch and penalise middle lane drivers, rising to 63% in London and 65% among 25-to-34-year-olds. Just 25% oppose enforcement cameras nationally.
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. The fact that most people don't even know it’s illegal means it goes unchallenged every day on Britain's motorways.”
