With the new laws that have been brought in recently about middle lane hogging what actually constitutes lane hogging? I drove back from the lakes today, mostly motorway driving. Now I appreciate that some people just stick to middle lane, I saw that loads of time today, nothing in the inside lane but the car was just stuck in the middle lane. But when does a car start to hog a lane? I was in the middle lane and passed a lorry, there was another lorry about 200 meters in front of me so I stayed in the middle lane and overtook the next lorry. Should I have gone into lane 1 then gone around the lorry and back into lane 1? It got me thinking that is it better to stay in the middle lane until a good section of lane 1 is clear or should I weave in and out of the two lanes?

What is the best course of action? Is there a time limit or distance limit for when you go into lane 1? Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Highway code;

You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.

Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6 Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

I think this new rule may be invoked more by reference to what is behind rather then in front. The word "hogging", while not actually in any regulation, infers depriving another of the oportunity to do or use something, so if there is no-one behind can a driver be accused of depriving no-one of the chance of something?

Oh - and the M8 in Glasgow still has exit and entrance slip roads on the right-hand-side which makes nonsense of a number of general traffic regulations including this one. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

Now with slip roads to the right what happens with undertaking? As I remember when joining a motorway you need to join at the same speed as the traffic, if a car that is joining the motorway from the right gets undertaken then it is clearly not at the correct speed? Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

It is all a bit weird - even for those that know it is there. It's not helped by there being also a slip road on the left at more-or-less the same locations, so a three lane suddenly becomes five lane. There are also a few places where there are junctions on the slip roads, and even one where you can start up a slip road to join the motorway and then fork off onto another slip and end up back on the normal streets without ever being on the motorway at all! Of course, HGVs using these right-hand slip roads have to travel in the outside lane from which they are banned!

The saving grace is that most of the traffic using that stretch of road does so in "rush" hour and travels at walking pace. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

I was travelling back from Devon to Leeds the other day and the motorways were clear. Was driving at around 85 mainly in the middle lane because there was still a lot of freight.

Then got a puncture so had to travel the final 157 miles at reduced speed due to the 50mph tyre. You don't half notice a difference spending most the time in the slow lane especially when the traffic increases.

its funny as in France they don't seem to have an issue with lane discipline !
When i returned from the tunnel towing i was stuck behind a ford KA for over 16 miles in the middle lane that refused to pull over and as i was towing after 16 miles and flashing my headlamps & blasting the horn i had to undertake ! as i had no choice !
Now he was an ignorant middle lane hogger !

It's for the obvious cases.......e.g .lane 2 owners club member when lane 1 is clear, offence proven by causing lane 1 users, to move to lane 3, around the 'hogger' and back to lane 1 (where applicable for veh type) obviously witnessed by an officer and therefore evidence captured. Or alternatively, evidence captured by observing vehicle over distance using lane 2 with lane 1 clear for use. (Inc all variations of this)

Again.....undertaking, for those clear cut offences, not making progress in slow moving traffic or joining from a slip. But when a clear advantage is gained; e.g use of lane 1 to make progress past traffic to then move to lane 3 and continue. (Inc all variations)

There will always be exceptions, common sense approach and mitigating circumstances.

The above is my interpretation only......and this process is to be ticketing/prosecuting those that clearly cause inconvenience or disrupt others by their actions where evidence is captured and witnessed.

But what do I know

 2013 FL2 - Black Edition Auto
2013 FL2 - Black Edition Manual GONE!
Founder of the 'Microscopic LR Spoiler Badge Club'
Destroyer of chrome rears.....

Oldgeezer. I think on the continent the convention is to put on your left indicator to tell someone to get out of your way. 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

Navigator wrote:

The word "hogging", while not actually in any regulation, infers depriving another of the oportunity to do or use something, .