Vigilante graffiti on the M6 near Preston targets middle-lane hoggers
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Questions asked by many motorway drivers have now become a prominent feature across a number of bridges on the M6.
The vigilante signage, spelled out in yellow paint, targets motorists who "hog" the middle lane of the motorway for longer than necessary.
One message reads: "Keep left unless overtaking."
Another states: "Why are you a middle lane moron?"
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Hide AdThe messages were spotted by Twitter user @QuarkMcMalus while travelling north between Preston and Lancaster this week.
He shared the images on social media, describing the scrawl as: "Some very middle-aged (but pertinent) graffiti on the M6."
The "pertinent" messages are a reminder to motorists that staying in the middle-lane for longer than necessary is an offence.
Rule 264 of The Highway Code says: "You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear.
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Hide Ad"If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past."
Middle-lane hogging comes under ‘careless driving’, along with tailgating, accidentally running a red light and even being distracted by eating or drinking.
New laws introduced in 2013 give police officers the power to hand out on-the-spot fines of £100 and three penalty points, meaning failing to keep left on the motorway could hit you in the pocket, according to the RAC.
During busy periods, middle-lane hogging can also cause congestion as traffic is forced to funnel through the outside lane to pass a lane hogger.
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Hide AdIf the driver in the middle lane moved over, the same traffic could be split over two lanes.
Overtaking is also one of the riskiest manoeuvres carried out on motorways.
It’s when motorists are most likely to crash into other vehicles – either by missing them in their blind spot, misjudging their speed or moving into a space at the same time as another vehicle.
As such, middle-lane hogging is dangerous as it forces motorists driving in the inside lane to move across two lanes instead of one when overtaking a lane hogger.
So next time you're driving on the motorway, remember to "keep left unless overtaking."