Drivers on the M11 in Cambridgeshire were spotted lane-hogging but from tomorrow millions could be fined for the offence.
Drivers on the M11 and A1 in Cambridgeshire were spotted lane-hogging today (Thurs) - but from tomorrow millions could be fined for the offence. New penalties for motorists, including on-the-spot fines for tailgating and lane-hogging, will take place from Friday (Aug 16). According to a survey carried out by Populas on behalf of the AA, 29 per cent of drivers - about 12 million - are at risk of falling foul of the new legislation. They admit to hogging the middle lane of the motorway on a regular basis. It also shows that young drivers are the most likely to admit to this habit, with four in ten (41 per cent) saying they tend to stick in lane two on a motorway in moderate, free-flowing traffic. From tomorrow (Fri) there will also be an increase in fines for some existing offences, such as using a mobile phone while driving. Police will have the power to issue fixed-penalty notices for careless driving - £100 and three points on the driver's licence. The most serious offences will continue to go through court, where higher penalties may be imposed. Other offences, such as using a mobile phone at the wheel, and some speeding offences, will rise from £60 to £100 tomorrow. The fine for failing to wear a seatbelt also goes up from £60 to £100, while the driving-without-insurance fine rises from £200 to £300. The changes are being introduced following extensive public consultation with road safety groups and police forces. Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: "We are pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers - tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle lane hogs."
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Location: CAMBRIDGE ENGLAND UK
Photo credit: © Geoffrey Robinson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: angry, cars, drivers, fine, gate, hogging, jam, lane, lanes, legislation, motorway, offence, police, queues, tail, tailgating, traffic, wrong
