True, but if the fine is so small, there is effectively no consequence for breaking the law and therefor no reason not to do it again.

In which case mandatory community service as they have plenty of time. Have a lower income threshold that no fines are imposed.

Sounds like a plan to me.

+1. This is why I disagree on punishing those who overtake on the left. Chump is say in right hand lane of a dual carriageway (turns out they want to take the turn off to the right about two miles down the road) - I will undertake is there's no good reason for them to remain in the right hand lane. IMO they should be punished for not returning to the left hand lane asap rather than me being punished for undertaking.

Similar story on the motorway where old man muppetus is driving in the middle (or right hand) lane with the entire motorway clear. Overtaking them usually has no benefit as they'll ignore it but undertake them and I find 70% will return to the lefthand lane. 10% will flash at you for undertaking. 20% just don't care.

The best thing woul be to make more than 9 points mean an immediate retest, though I do think a simple retest every ten years would get rid of people who should not be driving now. It also makes drivers aware that they shoudl maintain their driving skills rather than think that they do not have to do it again.

Undertaking is just as bad. Do what they do in Germany. If you are in the middle lane for more then 500m impose a fine. Though maybe if you are not overtaking you get three points instantly, so after a couple of miles you have enough points to get you banned. That will end middle lane morons overnight.

Ok there are some extreme middle lane hogs out there, but I wish the majority of drivers who complained about the others had a better awareness of how the road is operating around them.

Edit

After my drives on the M25 and M1 this weekend, I'd say that if I didn't keep to the middle lane, I'd have been stuck amongst the trucks and pedophiles doing 50mph. Either that or I'd be weaving between lanes so much that I'd be more of a nuisance.

I really don't know how it will work in practicality. Courts will be clogged up with claims, video evidence will then be needed to prove the 'bad driving' which means you need a police car following to tape the incident.

With budget cuts how on earth can the Police afford to put more cars on the road to deal with this when I'd rather have them dealing with serious crime?

Edit: Paul, middle lane hogging is only an issue if you're doing 50 in the middle lane.

While we're at it what about cracking down on lorries overtaking at 1mph more than another, or overtaking in non-ovetaking zones for lorries?

OMG. When I used to live down south, that used to be a major pet peeve. Used to live in Hampshire and take the A34 up to Oxford before catching the M40. Whilst driving on that A-road (especially at night), I frequently encountered one lorry trying to overtake another by 1mph whilst going uphill. The entire thing could literally take ten minutes to complete, which is rather frustrating.

+ 9 trillion.

Yes but when there is lots of traffic then yes you have no option. but middle lane morons are far more apparent when the roads are empty. If you are on the M25 during rush hour then you are stuck in the lane, not driving so badly that you are a danger to other drivers.

+googol

I've been saying that for years.

I hate the idea of having to retest every so often - but it's not a bad idea.

Driving is not a human right. It's a dangerous occupation which kills many people every year. It's more dangerous than flying, so why should a driving licence be any easier to keep up than a pilot licence?

Two wrongs don't make a right... :shrug: