Every year, an average of 2,000 drivers in Belgium are fined for continuously driving in the central section of the motorway (middle lane driving), according to police figures revealed on Flemish radio on Monday.
Middle-lane driving is banned in Belgium, and drivers often get fined for it. In the first four months of 2023 alone, 967 drivers were fined for continuing to drive in the middle lane of the motorway when they could have driven in the right lane. In previous years, an average of 2,000 fines were issued annually. 2019 was a record year with 2,718 offences.
"If you do not have to, driving in the middle lane is never allowed in Belgium," said VRT traffic expert Hajo Beeckman.
Drivers often complain that they are forced to perform dangerous manoeuvres to overtake drivers in the middle lane: either by driving into the left lane to overtake them, or by staying on the right lane and overtaking them on the right – which is not allowed.
Disrupting the flow of traffic
"You should never overtake on the right. The reasoning is that people who keep driving unnecessarily in the middle lane create dangerous situations, because they tempt people to overtake on the right," Beeckman said. "Additionally, you often create traffic jams if you keep driving unnecessarily in the middle lane."
While it is not obvious to identify such violations, middle-lane driving police checks are regularly carried out, said An Berger of the Federal Police. "You have to be able to watch a car for a long time and that is not always so simple. But we do check it and issue fines."
Berger stressed that driving in the middle lane unnecessarily is dangerous, because the flow of traffic is disrupted. "And your behaviour is unpredictable: other drivers do not really know what you are going to do. But the rules are there so that your behaviour is predictable."
A fine can range from €116 to €160. However, the law allows for three situations where middle-lane driving is allowed.
- In built-up areas, you are allowed to drive over a longer distance in the middle or left lane. "You may choose the lane that suits you best. Suppose you have to turn left in a kilometre, you are allowed to drive in the left lane over a longer distance," Beeckman said.
- If it is very busy on the motorway and traffic slows down or is almost at a standstill, you may also stay in the left or middle lane. "You join the traffic jam in your own lane."
- When there are blue traffic signs above the road indicating a direction of travel, you may choose the lane that indicates your direction. "As soon as you pass such a sign, you may keep your lane. Other drivers following a different direction are allowed to overtake you on the right at that time."
