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There’s always a chance that bad driving chances to slip into the outside lane, causing
could result in injury or death to an innocent cars in that lane to brake sharply.
person. This is undoubtedly one of the main
reasons people get so irate about terrible or Anyone hogging the middle lane would be in
reckless driving habits. With this in mind, we breach of Part 264 of the Highway Code. They
present a dozen of the most inconsiderate or could face a £100 spot fine and three points
downright dangerous driving habits that many on their licence.
of us deal with on a regular basis.
Hogging the outside lane
Tailgating Staying in the outside lane, which is intended
Unlike some of the others listed here, for overtaking only, could cause serious
tailgating is not only profoundly irritating, but tailbacks and encourage cars to pass on
also dangerous.This is because it tends to be the left. It’s also a breach of Part 264 of the
on motorways and dual carriageways, that Highway Code.
another motorist will attempt to pressurise you
to move over. Undertaking
The two previous examples of poor driving
The main issues here are that the driver can prompt drivers to pass a lane hog by
being pressurised may spend too much time undertaking, which means passing on the left.
looking in their rear mirror. And rising anxiety
could lead to mistakes, such as speeding up This isn’t illegal in itself unless it is deemed
to pacify the bully behind. Also, if incident dangerous. But it could cause accidents if
happens ahead, and you have to brake, the the car being passed, or one further ahead,
tailgater could then ram into your car. moves to their left.
The best solution is to safely move into a Driving with full-beam lamps
different lane to let them pass.
It‘s not illegal to drive with full-beam lights on,
If you can’t, you could gradually slow down but it is inconsiderate to fellow road users who
to a still sensible speed. Then, if a tailgater can be blinded by the light.
does slam into your car there’s less chance It can be dangerous both to other drivers, and
of grievous injury or significant damage. This of course to the person leaving full-beam on,
might annoy the driver behind, but it’s a safer as an oncoming vehicle could swerve into
course of action.
their path.
Hogging the middle lane Failing to indicate
Driving in the middle lane rather than moving Failing to indicate when changing direction is
over to the left lane could cause a huge another annoying and potentially dangerous
tailback on motorways, ratcheting up the habit. It’s not illegal, but nevertheless it’s to be
stress levels. avoided.
It could lead to accidents, as drivers take
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