Driving on a motorway can get monotonous quickly - but it pays to keep your wits about you when changing lanes.
Changing lanes needs your full focus - but a common mistake many of us make when switching lanes could end up costing you in both fines and penalty points.
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'Lane hogging' is classified as an offence, with the RAC warning that it comes under “careless driving”.
Middle-lane hogging is when vehicles remain in the middle lane longer than necessary - this even applies when there aren't any vehicles in the inside lane to overtake.
During busy periods, middle-lane hogging can cause congestion as traffic funnels through the outside lane to pass a lane hogger.
If the driver in the middle lane moved over, the same traffic could be split over two lanes.
As lane hogging is a similar offence to tailgating, accidentally running a red light and even being distracted by eating or drinking, police officers have the power to hand out on-the-spot fines of £100 and three penalty points to drivers caught carrying it out.
The RAC warn: “It’s when you’re most likely to come into conflict with other vehicles – either by missing them in your blind spot, misjudging another car’s speed or moving into a space at the same time as another vehicle.
“It might seem logical, then, to remain in one lane on the motorway rather than ‘weaving’ between lanes when overtaking.
“It’s true that drivers should avoid excessive weaving.
“Use common sense – if you’ve overtaken a vehicle in lane one and you’re approaching another, you’d normally be right to remain in the middle lane.”
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