If you’ve driven the M25, A21 or A27 recently, chances are you’ve been stuck behind someone cruising in the middle lane — despite an empty left-hand lane. It's not just frustrating — it’s dangerous, and in the UK, it's illegal.
Whether you’re driving through Essex, Kent, or Sussex, middle lane hogging is a behaviour police and National Highways have repeatedly warned against — and yes, it can lead to fines.
Middle lane hogging happens when a driver stays in the middle lane of a motorway or dual carriageway when the left lane is clear. According to the Highway Code, you should return to the left-hand lane once you’ve overtaken — otherwise, you're disrupting the natural flow of traffic and putting others at risk.
Yes. Since 2013, middle lane hogging has been classed as careless driving, and police can issue:
While it’s not always enforced due to needing direct observation, police across the South East — including Kent and Essex — regularly cite it as one of the most common motorway complaints.
Yes — and here are a few real examples:
According to a National Highways survey, 1 in 3 drivers admitted to middle lane hogging at least occasionally — and 5% said they do it often.
On busy roads like the M2, M20, A12, and A27, middle lane hogging contributes to:
With so many major routes connecting towns and coastal areas across Essex, Kent, and Sussex, safe lane discipline is essential to keeping things moving — and safe.
At AutoChain, we’re building tools to help drivers across the UK (including Kent, Essex, and Sussex) stay informed, safe, and road-legal.
We can’t stop lane hoggers (yet), but we can help you:
