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Official statistics show drop in Fixed Penalty Notices
(FPN) for careless driving
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Men more likely than women to think middle lane hogging
increasing
Half of drivers think middle lane hogging and undertaking are
getting worse according to new AA research*, despite official
statistics showing the number of fixed penalty notices for
careless driving have dropped by 8.4 per cent
In 2016 police issued 16.8 thousand FPNs for careless driving,
but this fell to 15.4 thousand in 2017, the most recent
statistics** available.
But AA/Populus research shows half of drivers think middle lane
hogging (49%) and overtaking on the left/inside (50%) are getting
worse. And police recently released a video of a driver
travelling for three miles in the middle lane on the M6***.
Edmund King, AA Charitable Trust director, said: “Middle lane
hogs are always in the top three pet hates of drivers, so it
doesn’t help harmony on the roads if drivers perceive the problem
is getting worse.
“At best, middle lane hogs and under-takers are annoying, but the
reality is these habits are dangerous. Blocking lanes often leads
to other drivers tailgating which itself leads to collisions.
“The drop in Fixed Penalty Notices for careless driving probably
points more to a reduction in traffic police**** than it does to
a meaningful change in behaviour.
“Hopefully allowing learner drivers on motorways will lead to a
new generation of drivers who understand lane discipline.”
The AA/Populus research also revealed around half of drivers
think tailgating is getting worse (55%), mobile phone use (50%),
speeding (53%) and road rage (47%).
Men were more likely than women to say they thought middle lane
hogging was getting worse (53 per cent compared to 43 per cent).
There was very little regional variation, with Scottish drivers
the least likely to say middle lane hogging was getting worse
(44%) and those in the West Midlands the most (53%).
Lane hogging is also a problem of ‘smart’ motorways without hard
shoulders.
Two fifths (38%) of drivers say they will not drive in lane one
of a smart motorway where the hard shoulder has been permanently
converted into a running lane because they are worried about
running into broken down vehicles, according to a
survey***** of more than 18,000
drivers conducted by the AA.
This in turn leads to a waste of road capacity and more lane
hogging and tailgating in other lanes. The AA has consistently
called for more lay-bys on smart motorways to allay the fears of
drivers.
For more advice about Fixed Penalty Notices visitwww.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/fixed-penalty
ENDS
* Populus received 20, 827 responses from AA members to its
online poll between the 12 February and 18 February 2019. Populus
is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its
rules.
**Fixed Penalty Notices for Motoring Offences: Police powers and
procedures, England and Wales, year ending 31 March
2018. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2018
***https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6695637/Police-shame-driver-releasing-footage-coasting-middle-lane-M6-THREE-MILES.html
**** https://www.evo.co.uk/news/19768/british-road-traffic-police-numbers-on-the-decline
***** Populus received 18,077 responses from AA members to its
online poll between the 26 April and 3 May 2017. Populus is a
member of the British Polling Council and abides by its
rules.
