Lorries to be banned from driving in the middle lane

Lorries will be forced to stay on the inside lane of motorways in an attempt to speed up traffic.

Motoring groups said lorries overtaking each other caused delays to car drivers and were a major cause of motorway crashes.

The haulage industry is angered by the scheme, which is having a trial run in the West Midlands and will lead to more than 400,000 heavy goods vehicles being banned from overtaking on all busy stretches of motorway.

The Highways Agency said the ban was needed to increase motorway capacity. A spokesman said: "Lorries two abreast, one overtaking the other, cause long delays for other drivers while the open road stretches ahead of the lorries."

The spokesman added: "We see this scheme as one of our tools in tackling congestion on the strategic motorway network."