DRIVERS who hog motorway lanes when the inside lane is empty are being urged to change their ways.
National Highways wants motorists who sit in the second, third and fourth lanes when there is nothing in the first lane to keep left.
And they are also encouraging drivers who drive too close to the car in front to stop tailgating.
National Highways said lane hogging and tailgating both fall under the offence of careless driving with police officers having the power to hand out on-the-spot fines of £100 and three penalty points, meaning failing to keep left on the motorway and close following could hit people in the pocket.
The campaign comes after research found that one in three drivers admit to lane hogging, while one in four are guilty of tailgating.
According to the survey, carried out by Ipsos UK on behalf of National Highways, around a third (34%) of those responding noticed middle lane hogging, and many said it made them feel frustrated or angry.
Almost seven in ten adults in England (67%) said close following, or tailgating, is a serious problem on these types of roads.
The survey of 2,500 adults, aged 16-75, also revealed nearly a quarter (23%) of drivers admitted to tailgating at least occasionally.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of people said that if they were to drive too close to the vehicle in front, this would be likely to cause an accident.
Around the same proportion (75%) said that if other drivers drive too close to their car, this would be likely to cause an accident.
National Highways Director of Road Safety Sheena Hague said: “Bad habits can make driving on our motorways a challenging experience, as those who lane hog or tailgate frustrate other drivers and make them feel unsafe. Both are dangerous and can cause accidents.
“Our campaign aims to motivate motorists to embrace little changes, which will have an overall positive effect on both them and their fellow road users, reduce congestion and keep traffic flowing.
“The message is simple – always allow plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, and unless overtaking move into the left-hand lane.”
The campaign has the support of AA president Edmund King, who, said: “Considerate driving is not just about being kind, but it is about keeping safe. The top five types of drivers loathed by AA members are the tailgaters, the lane-hoggers, the phone abusers, the lane-swappers, and the undertakers.
“All these activities are dangerous and indeed stressful for the perpetrators as well as other drivers. Sadly, some people seem to change personalities when cocooned in their metal boxes on wheels. We support National Highways’ campaign as we want to see drivers drive with a smile on their face rather than a frown.”
Also backing it was RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis, who said lane hoggers and tailgaters put road users at risk.
“Closely following another motorist, for instance, could easily result in a serious collision should the driver ahead need to brake sharply for any reason. The fact nearly one-in-four drivers surveyed admit to doing so on some of England’s fastest and busiest roads is frightening.
“Some offenders might find these habits hard to kick, which is why this campaign is so important. By understanding how we choose to drive affects others, we can each make a real difference to the safety of our roads.”
For more on the campaign, log on to: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/little-changes/#firststep
