London has been named the middle lane driving capital of the UK, with new research from Britain’s leading dash cam brand Nextbase revealing that nearly one in three London drivers admit to defaulting to the middle lane on a clear road (29%), almost double the national average of 17%.
A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that despite this, six in ten London drivers (64%) don’t know middle lane driving is illegal, with just one in fourteen able to correctly name the penalty, a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Under the Highway Code, drivers should keep left unless overtaking. Yet in London the problem is more severe than anywhere else in the country. While 44% of drivers nationally use the left lane by default, just 28% of Londoners do the same, with a further 14% heading straight for the right lane. In total, more than four in ten London drivers are using motorway lanes incorrectly by default, despite 82% believing they use lanes correctly.
Although many London drivers admit to misusing the middle lane, they do recognise it as a serious risk. London respondents rated middle lane driving as more dangerous than:
Using a mobile phone whilst driving (57%)
Speeding (54%)
Tailgating (53%)
Not indicating (60%)
This is despite middle lane hogging carrying just three points and a £100 fine compared to mobile phone use’s six points and £200.
Support for enforcement
Despite the high rates of middle lane use, Londoners are among the most vocal supporters of camera enforcement. Nearly two thirds (63%) back the introduction of cameras to catch and penalise middle lane drivers, above the national average of 57%. Just 30% oppose enforcement cameras in the capital.
Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, said,”London topping the table as the middle lane capital of the UK is not entirely surprising, given the volume of traffic and the number of drivers who learned to drive in a city where motorways are less common. But the findings also highlight a wider issue around motorway awareness and driving habits. Greater understanding of the rules and why they exist will be key to improving motorway safety for everyone.”
Francis Noakes, the online driving instructor behind the viral account Driving School TV, has partnered with Nextbase to help raise awareness for the issue. He said, “London roads are some of the most demanding in the country, and that can create bad habits that drivers then take onto the motorway. Students often tell me the middle lane feels safer, particularly those used to busy city driving, which is understandable, but in reality it is still illegal and dangerous.”
Support for enforcement
Despite the high rates of middle lane use, Londoners are among the most vocal supporters of camera enforcement. Nearly two thirds (63%) back the introduction of cameras to catch and penalise middle lane drivers, above the national average of 57%. Just 30% oppose enforcement cameras in the capital.
Bryn Brooker of Nextbase’s tips for using the motorway correctly
Keep left unless overtaking. The left lane is the default on any motorway or dual carriageway. Move out to overtake, then move back in.
Check your mirrors before you move. Before pulling out to overtake, check your mirrors and blind spot. Indicate early so other drivers know what you are doing.
Don’t sit alongside lorries. A common reason drivers drift into the middle lane is to avoid sitting next to heavy goods vehicles. If it is safe to do so, pass them and return to the left lane.
Be aware of your speed. Sitting in the middle lane often goes hand in hand with driving below the speed of traffic around you. Keep your speed consistent and appropriate for the conditions.
Fit a dash cam. If you are involved in an incident caused by another driver’s poor lane discipline, dash cam footage can be the difference between a valid insurance claim and a disputed one. A clearly visible dash cam can also encourage better behaviour from other drivers around you.
As part of the campaign, Nextbase took to the streets of London, planting 30 people playing middle lane hoggers in the middle of Carnaby Street, to bring to life the frustration and danger of middle lane driving.