It’s been a couple of years since police were given powers to hand out fines to the infamous ‘middle lane hogger’, but two years on a driver has finally been convicted of the offence for the first time ever. Can you guess what the motorist was driving?
Book Theory Test Today says: “It was way back in August 2013 that we told you about new police powers to issue fines to any motorist caught being a middle lane hogger. Now, nearly two years later, a motorist has finally fallen foul of these new powers in what’s believed to be the first conviction of its kind.â€
Who has landed the title of ‘first convicted middle lane hogger?’
Well, it may come as no surprise to you that the infamous middle lane hogger is a white van driver. A little stereotypical perhaps, but even more surprising is that this middle lane hogger was convicted for refusing to move to the inside lane, despite the fact that he was travelling at 60mph. Yes, that’s correct a white van man doing just 60mph!
The driver’s middle lane hogging actions caused other vehicles to brake and then overtake using the outside lane when it was completely unnecessary for them to do so. A court heard that he blocked at least six other vehicles while cruising along at just 60mph and despite the fact that the inside lane was completely free.
Citroen Berlingo
Magistrates heard that the driver, who was driving a Citroen Berlingo, was presented with numerous opportunities to vacate the middle lane and move into the inside lane. However, the white van driver refused to move while travelling eastbound on the M62 near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
The driver subsequently failed to attend his hearing at Leeds Magistrates Court, and in his absence he was hit with a £500 fine, £400 in costs and a £40 victim surcharge.
Book Theory Test Today says: “It’s understood that this is the first court conviction for this type of offence and is likely to pave the way for similar convictions.â€
PC Nigel Fawcett-Jones of the Road Policing Unit said: “Lane hogging creates congestion and inconvenience to other road users. It reduces road and motorway capacities and can lead to other dangerous scenarios, like causing other drivers to ‘tailgate’ the middle lane hogger in order to get them to move.â€
He added: “The motoring public are often telling the Road Policing Unit that the middle lane hogger and tailgaters are a huge problem on Britain’s roads, but this conviction shows that the police and the courts are listening to the motoring public and doing something about it.â€
Book Theory Test Today says: “If you didn’t know, £100 on the spot fines – specifically for middle lane hoggers – were introduced by the government in August 2013. If you’ve just passed your practical driving test and you’re heading to the motorway anytime soon, if you feel that you have been in the middle lane too long, you probably have. Move over!
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