If you have driven on our motorways recently, you will be well aware of how dangerous and stagnant they have become due to 'middle lane driving'. The majority of drivers seem to have forgotten or are unaware of the Highway Code (rule 264) which tells us to keep left unless overtaking. Something needs to be done, urgently, to raise more awareness of this rule.

Since May 2023, I have been in touch with National Highways, a government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major A roads. I requested that they display regular and multiple signs on their gantry message boards (known as Variable Message Signs - VMS) saying "KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING".

They have explained the strategies that they use to tackle the problem, along with their limitations, as follows:

• They are legally limited to two messages on their gantry message boards (VMS) in relation to this issue: "KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING" & "DON'T HOG THE MIDDLE LANE" 
• Their research shows that 'sign blindness' can occur if messages are shown too often and regularly. Drivers then don't see the safety and road closure messages
• They use their social media platforms, web content and collaborate with tv production companies to make gritty behind-the-scenes documentaries
• They have committed to displaying 100 of these signs on their VMS across the whole network, starting with 2 weeks 17th-30th July 2023. This will now occur quarterly throughout the year

These strategies are NOT working and need reviewing/modernising with our changing roads and drivers.

I would like to suggest the following:

• When displaying the signs, flash the lights on the VMS to draw more attention to it
• Display 100 signs across the network for two weeks every month (instead of quarterly for two weeks) OR display a sign after each junction for one week each month. More often or more signs (or both!) 
• Scrap the outdated "DON'T HOG THE MIDDLE LANE" message. As our motorways are now often 4 or more lanes, the word 'middle' has become irrelevant. I would also argue that the word 'hog' is slang/informal and would not be understood by anyone with English as a second language
• Utilise National Highways Traffic Officer's marked cars to move offenders over to the left
• British Transport Police to issue fines to the worst offenders
• Launch a new, modernised 'Public Information Drive' to share with national press and media for coverage

I am now at the stage of the National Highways complaint process where I would like to show them public support for my request. This issue needs to be dealt with urgently to create a motorway network that is safe, reliable and fluid.