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Drivers across the UK have been caught breaking a major Highway Code rule without realising, with nearly one in six admitting they regularly hog the middle lane on motorways. New research from dashcam company Nextbase found that 17 per cent of drivers confessed to automatically moving into the middle lane even when roads are clear, despite it being illegal. Under the Highway Code, motorists must stay in the left-hand lane unless overtaking. But the survey of 2,000 adults found many drivers are ignoring the rule, while 10 per cent admitted they head straight into the outside lane. Despite this, 86 per cent of motorway users claimed they believe they follow lane rules correctly, highlighting what road safety experts describe as a major "confidence gap" among drivers. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Rule 264 of the Highway Code states: " Keep in the left lane unless overtaking. If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so. "Be aware of emergency services, traffic officers, recovery workers and other people or vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area. If you are driving in the left lane, and it is safe to do so, you should move into the adjacent lane to create more space between your vehicle and the people and stopped vehicles." Motorists caught unnecessarily sitting in the middle lane can face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence, although a staggering 94 per cent had no idea what punishment could be applied. The study also revealed that many drivers see middle lane hogging as a serious danger on UK roads. More than half of the surveyed drivers said it was more dangerous than speeding or using a mobile phone behind the wheel. In comparison, drivers caught using a mobile phone face a tougher punishment of six points and a £200 fine. London motorists were found to be the worst offenders in the country by a considerable margin, with almost three in 10 drivers in the capital admitting to middle lane hogging, nearly double the national average. Scotland recorded the lowest awareness of the rules, with only 32 per cent of drivers knowing that unnecessary middle lane driving is illegal. Drivers aged between 17 and 24 were the most likely to sit in the wrong lane, while also being the least informed about motorway regulations. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS New MOT test changes launching within weeks to impact thousands of drivers nationwide Major car brand popular in the 1980s to auction final vehicles ever produced - 'Truly prestigious' HGVs to be banned from historic bridge and face diversions from 'unsafe' 120-year-old structure Concerningly, fewer than a third of under-25s knew that middle lane driving breaks the law, the lowest figure of any age category surveyed. 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." Driving instructor Francis Noakes, who runs the popular Driving School TV social media account, said the results reflect behaviour he regularly sees while teaching learners. He shared: "The confidence gap is what really stands out in this data, and it is something I see every day on the road with my students. Most drivers genuinely believe they are doing the right thing, but the numbers tell a different story. " The research suggested there is growing public support for tougher enforcement against middle lane hogging. More than half of drivers backed the introduction of cameras designed to catch and fine offenders automatically. Support was even higher among Londoners, where 63 per cent supported the idea, and among drivers aged 25 to 34, where support rose to 65 per cent. Only around a quarter of motorists opposed the plans nationally. Among the biggest frustrations reported by drivers, 37 per cent said middle lane hoggers prevent the free movement of traffic between lanes. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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