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LESS than a quarter of UK drivers stick to the inside lane of a motorway, it has been revealed.

Data collected by insurance firm Direct Line, which analysed more than 70 hours of motorway footage, found that drivers ‘blatantly’ ignored the Highway Code, which states “You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear.”

A poll by the car insurance firm found that just 23 per cent of motorists said they followed the rule, and 43 per cent admitted to driving in the middle lane despite the inside lane being free.

Meanwhile, nearly half of the 2,004 people polled (49 per cent) said they weren’t even aware that they could be prosecuted for the offence.

Careless driving is punishable by a £100 on the spot fine by the police. In the most extreme cases, drivers can also be prosecuted which could see them hit with between three and nine points on their driving licence and fine of up to 175 per cent of their weekly income.

Direct Line director of car insurance, Rob Miles, said: “Our analysis of traffic flows shows that millions of drivers risk prosecution by travelling in the middle and outside lanes when the inside lanes are entirely clear.

“It’s important that we increase awareness of the rules and penalties, primarily because they exist to keep road users safe, but also because drivers face serious fines and endorsements that will stay on their record for four years.”