A motorist was recently pulled over by authorities on the M6 in Warwickshire and issued a ticket for violating a traffic rule that he may have been unaware of. The driver, who was driving between 55mph and 60mph in the middle lane, was deemed to be driving too slowly and hogging the middle lane, according to police officers.
Warwickshire Police described the driver’s behavior as below the expected standard of driving and highlighted that they have observed an increasing number of drivers exhibiting similar conduct, seemingly oblivious to the associated risks. The police officers of A Unit OPU spotted the driver on the M6 Northbound in the middle lane, traveling at a speed below the limit without any slower traffic in the left lane.
The driver was subsequently escorted off the motorway and issued a ticket for failing to demonstrate reasonable consideration for other road users. It is anticipated that the driver will be required to attend a driver improvement course, which will incur a cost. The police officers emphasized that driving significantly below the speed limit in an overtaking lane when there are no obstacles or slower vehicles to the left is considered substandard driving practice.
The police warned that occupying the overtaking lane at a speed well below the limit may lead other road users to assume that it is safe to overtake on the right, increasing the risk of unnecessary lane changes. They stressed the importance of keeping to the left unless overtaking or avoiding hazards to avoid penalties such as a fine of £100 and up to 3 points on the driver’s license.