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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/05/middle-lane-hoggers-face-tougher-fines
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Middle-lane hoggers and inconsiderate drivers to face higher fines | Middle-lane hoggers and inconsiderate drivers to face higher fines |
| (4 months later) | |
| Drivers who needlessly hog the middle lane on motorways face fines of £100 as well as three penalty points under new government measures designed to crack down on careless motoring. | Drivers who needlessly hog the middle lane on motorways face fines of £100 as well as three penalty points under new government measures designed to crack down on careless motoring. |
| Fines for a number of other offences on the road – including using a handheld mobile phone while driving, or jumping traffic lights – are also expected to be increased from £60 to £100 after the unveiling of the package on Wednesday. | Fines for a number of other offences on the road – including using a handheld mobile phone while driving, or jumping traffic lights – are also expected to be increased from £60 to £100 after the unveiling of the package on Wednesday. |
| Traffic police will decide when motorists are considered to have been hogging the middle lane and issue on-the-spot fines to offenders. | Traffic police will decide when motorists are considered to have been hogging the middle lane and issue on-the-spot fines to offenders. |
| Although some commentators have argued that fines are not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because cases are often not clear-cut, motoring organisations have long called for better lane discipline by drivers, which they say could dramatically solve congestion problems. | Although some commentators have argued that fines are not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because cases are often not clear-cut, motoring organisations have long called for better lane discipline by drivers, which they say could dramatically solve congestion problems. |
| The Highway Code states: "You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. | The Highway Code states: "You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking." | "Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking." |
| Unveiling the plans, transport minister Stephen Hammond is expected to describe careless drivers as "a menace" whose negligence puts innocent people's lives at risk. | Unveiling the plans, transport minister Stephen Hammond is expected to describe careless drivers as "a menace" whose negligence puts innocent people's lives at risk. |
| "That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court," he will add. | "That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court," he will add. |
| Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, warned last month that sending a text message or making a phone call while at the wheel would land drivers with harsher penalties. | Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, warned last month that sending a text message or making a phone call while at the wheel would land drivers with harsher penalties. |
| McLoughlin, who admitted that he had in the past used a mobile phone to make calls while driving, but would not do so now, told a conference in London last month: "We want to send a clear message to dangerous drivers: if you continue to show complete disregard for the safety of other road users, we will catch you – and we will punish you." | McLoughlin, who admitted that he had in the past used a mobile phone to make calls while driving, but would not do so now, told a conference in London last month: "We want to send a clear message to dangerous drivers: if you continue to show complete disregard for the safety of other road users, we will catch you – and we will punish you." |
| More than a million drivers have been convicted of using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel since 2003, when using one other than for making an emergency call was made illegal. | More than a million drivers have been convicted of using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel since 2003, when using one other than for making an emergency call was made illegal. |
| Careless, reckless or hurried driving has been recorded as being a contributory factor in 16% of accidents, according to statistics from the Department for Transport. | Careless, reckless or hurried driving has been recorded as being a contributory factor in 16% of accidents, according to statistics from the Department for Transport. |
| A failure to look properly was the most-reported contributory factor in accidents of any severity and was mentioned in 42% of incidents. | A failure to look properly was the most-reported contributory factor in accidents of any severity and was mentioned in 42% of incidents. |
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