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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ed Cullinane & Graeme Murray

Motorists divided after BMW drives in middle lane of empty motorway at 5am

Motorists were divided over footage showing a BMW driving in middle lane of an empty M5 at 5am

An image of the vehicle shows it in the centre lane with no other road users seen anywhere.

Annoyed viewer Dave Harford used social networking site Twitter to vent his frustration.

He believes drivers should keep to the left.

Dave started an online battle between those in favour and critics of the driver.

He told WalesOnline the car was travelling at around 50mph and had been using the middle lane for more than a mile.

He said that it was an example of similar cases he sees on a daily basis and called lane hogging 'illegal' as it forces cars to enter the outside lane to overtake.

The image of the vehicle sparked an online row (Dave Harford / SWNS)

Dave, 43, from Worcester, added: "Traffic was behind this vehicle and said traffic had to move to lane 3 to go past him - causing more risk.

"Yes. The car was a BMW, but they’re aren’t the only ones who do it. People need to take responsibility for their actions and stop blaming others and finding excuses.

"It’s lane hogging. It’s illegal and causes congestion when lots of traffic is around."

On its website, the RAC explains that it is lane hogging is example of 'careless driving' that could see you fined up to £100.

The website says: "Yes, it is an offence, although it 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."

Critics of the vehicle were quick to jump on the bandwagon.

And one poster replied: "The lanes to the right are overtaking lanes. If you're not overtaking, you shouldn't be in it. The clue is in the name..."

While another critic added: "Middle Lane hoggers are just poor drivers with no confidence to change lanes confidently, shouldn’t be on the motorway."

One person explained their frustration, adding: "As someone who drives a vehicle that can't go into lane three, I find middle lane hoggers really annoying.

"Especially when they then sit at 55-60 and won't pull over so you have to hang back since I can't undertake or undertake since both are illegal."

There were some who defended the driver however and argued it was not 'hogging' the lane as no other vehicles were around for miles.

The poster responded: "This is not an example of hogging as there are no other vehicles wanting/needing to occupy that lane."

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