Watch: Social media shame for middle-lane hogger

A motorist caught hogging the middle lane of the M6 has been outed on social media by police officers.

Staffordshire Police posted footage on Twitter after officers followed a car driving in the middle lane of the M6 Toll on Saturday night, despite there being no other traffic in the left-hand lane.

The driver even moved into the right-hand lane at one point after being flashed and overtaken by another motorist in a Mercedes-Benz.

Source: Staffordshire Police

Central Motorway Police Group, which covers both the West Midlands and Staffordshire, wrote that middle-lane hogging is “drivers’ biggest pet hate.”

“The driver had been driving for just over a year and had even had extra tuition on motorway driving. It's clear he didn't pay attention. The motorist was reported for driving without due care and attention.

“He said he panicked, more likely it was to show the Mercedes driver, who flashed him and clearly tried to give lane advice after overtaking him, that he had no intention of using lane one.”

The offending motorist faces penalty points and a fine, or alternatively could be invited to a driving awareness course if he is eligible.

Rule 264 of the Highway Code states: “You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slow-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.”

Middle-lane hogging is classified as a ‘careless driving’ offence, the same as tailgating or being distracted by eating and drinking behind the wheel.

New laws were introduced back in 2013 which gave police officers the power to hand out three penalty points and £100 on-the-spot fines to offenders.

Police forces have recently begun to crackdown on middle-lane hoggers, including Thames Valley Police which pulled over five offenders on the M4 in just one night back in September. 

Officers then publicly shamed the offenders on the force’s Twitter account, including one motorist who drove in the middle lane for over seven miles.

Worried you might be an offender? Know someone in your family with this bad habit? Check out our guide to the facts behind middle-lane hogging.

Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.