Undertaking on motorways

greenface

i often cruise the middle lane then i can have a few little naps before hitting the sides

madmittens

I drive a lot of motorway miles (car and bike) and have come to the conclusion that, as long as you're watching your mirrors for that BMW that 'doesn't look quite right', and not in the variable speed limit sections of M25, M42 etc., that pretty much anything goes :cool:

Markyt

I've never had a problem undertaking anything, even under the noses of traffplod. As long as you are clear about your intentions, and give the mobile chicane some warning of your intentions (flash them, give them chance to move, indicate, check, move, pass) it's fine.

fitshase

All of this is why I believe it should be mandatory for motorway lessons and a test before being given a full licence. Get learners to pass an intermediate test which allows them on roads but not motorways. Then, to get a full licence, they have to take motorway lessons and pass another test.

I worked with a guy who just passed his test and bought a car. We were driving to site and he sat in the outside lane doing 65mph (I was hiding in the back seat to avoid embarrasment!) complaining that cars were flashing him! I tried to explain that he should be in the inside lane unless overtaking but he wouldn't listen. His response was, "I know how to drive as I've just passed my test!".

It still amazes me the amount of people I know who think lane 1 of a motorway is 50mph, lane 2 is 60mph and lane 3 is 70mph! It's not touched upon on lessons because they are not allowed on motorways! Why is it not compulsory to have lessons on motorway driving?

BillTrac

Hammyman wrote: »

She was not breaking the law. You are allowed to undertake if the lane to the right is travelling slower than you are. Its in the Highway Code.

Highway Code Rule Number 268:

"Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.

Actually you are wrong. You cannot undertake just because the lane you are in can move faster than the lane to your right. Unless, the lane to your right is stationary. Read the highway code. Too many idiots deciding to undertake just because their lane is empty and all the !!!!!! are in the lane to their right.

Your gf was really WRONG!!

BillTrac

Markyt wrote: »

I've never had a problem undertaking anything, even under the noses of traffplod. As long as you are clear about your intentions, and give the mobile chicane some warning of your intentions (flash them, give them chance to move, indicate, check, move, pass) it's fine.

Actually no it isn't fine. It is actually illegal

cheesecake0117

I genrally undertake is in slow moving traffic. I often undertake people while slowing down for conjestion ahead beacuse they needlessly brake to slow down rather than simply taking thier foot of the accelarator. I will sometimes undertake cars if it means I have to go from lane 1 to lane 3 just to pass but these drivers should be taken off the road.

The worst is people who fail to move over when someone is up their backside beacuse they either failed to use their mirrors or just pretend that they dindn't see the car behind.

Hammyman

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

I do not believe that it is ever compulsory to indicate.

Yes, I will always indicate when by doing so I can impart useful information to another road user, and yes, indicating is regarded as good practice in many areas of the Highway Code, but I am not aware of any circumstance where there is a legal requirement to indicate.

If its not a requirement, why are cars required to have indicators and why do you fail your test if you don't indicate when there are either cars or pedestrians around?

Hammyman

BillTrac wrote: »

Actually you are wrong. You cannot undertake just because the lane you are in can move faster than the lane to your right. Unless, the lane to your right is stationary. Read the highway code. Too many idiots deciding to undertake just because their lane is empty and all the !!!!!! are in the lane to their right.

Your gf was really WRONG!!

I never mentioned a gf.

BTW, I've done more motorway miles than you'll ever drive in total on all roads in your entire lifetime.

There is nothing in the HC which mentions traffic to the right being stationary. Perhaps you'd like to mention where it does in the bit I posted which is directly from the Highway Code?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

fitshase wrote: »

It still amazes me the amount of people I know who think lane 1 of a motorway is 50mph, lane 2 is 60mph and lane 3 is 70mph! It's not touched upon on lessons because they are not allowed on motorways! Why is it not compulsory to have lessons on motorway driving?

Which motorway does one learn on when one lives in the Scottish Highlands, or Norwich, or Cornwall, or western Wales?