Page 3 | To think this driving manoeuvre was both safe and legal?

AmazonAmazine · 2023-05-27T15:49:20+00:00

Arguing with my dad who was the passenger! 3 lane motorway. I was in the left lane, cruising around 70 as no one in front. Came up to a car in the centre lane doing around 50mph. The right lane was running fast, I’d guess over 70. I assessed the safest thing to do was carry on being very vigilant and slow a little bit and steadily pass the slow car in my lane at around 60. The alternative was get behind it then attempt to accelerate into the fast flowing right lane, accelerating in between higher powered cars from a much lower speed. I’d been forced to slow a bit on approach already, there was no obvious gap in the right lane which everyone as crowding into on approach from the centre lane. The middle car clearly wasn’t shifting, the left lane ahead of me was very clear. The road wasn’t otherwise particularly busy, the right lane was just busy because of this car. I was very aware, ultimately had a hard shoulder for emergency and I was watching the car well for any sign of switching lane. iabu- you should have crossed back and forth over two lanes, as it’s always the passing lane Ianbu- this was the safest way of dealing with the hazard.

Gothambutnotahamster · 28/05/2023 10:05

Were they police or were they Traffic Officers? Traffic officers aren't police and have no authority to stop a car that is driving in an illegal manner.

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 10:04

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:45

Oh faux not understanding? Because it implies I’m going on at him rudely. Because it’s based on a scenario in your head.

He’s a laugh. We fell into joking about orbiting the car via lanes 3 and 1 to see if they’d notice. Then made a joke about who was right getting out the car. Because Aibu (fortunately isn’t like life)

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Sure you did OP

and then started a rather frenzied mumsnet thread about your argument with him

Laughingravy · 28/05/2023 10:02

It isn't illegal but safe is a different matter.

M1 near Wakefield, late evening on a Sunday so almost empty. It's four lanes and no hard shoulder. We are doing 65mph in lane one, catching a car in lane three doing around 50mph. We, in turn, are being caught up by a traffic police patrol in lane two. We 'undertake' the car in lane three and a minute later the police do so in their lane. The car in lane three does nothing and was still sat in lane three when last viewed in the rear view mirror. At the very least the police should have had a word for that drivers own safety but they just carried on. They had 'undertaken' just the same as us.

There needs to be much more of an effort to discourage middle lane morons but in the meantime passing to the nearside is legal but should be done with a lot of caution.

Like Sergeant Esterhaus said in Hill Street Blues: 'Lets be careful out there'

AbreathofFrenchair · 28/05/2023 10:02

KimberleyClark · 28/05/2023 09:57

If the MLH was doing 50 wouldn’t the OP have had to slow right down, from 70 to 40, to get in behind them before moving to the right hand lane to overtake? Causing a hazard to any traffic coming up behind her?

Except she slowed down to match their speed before undertaking, which also would have impacted traffic behind her.

It all boils down to the OP convinced she didnt undertake because she slowed down and that overtaking is dangerous.

What she should have done was continue as she was, as opposed to slowing down and insisting the middle and outside lanes were too busy for her to be able to overtake.

Either way, if he had decided to pull over into the left whilst she was in his blindspot undertaking, she would have been at fault but insists she wouldn't be

AbreathofFrenchair · 28/05/2023 09:59

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:30

Whatever year I say I took a test I’m sure you’ll find a reason to say it’s the worst possible time 😁
for entertainment :
car-2001
minibus bus-2006 with work
motorbike- 2018
Tell me how this makes me the worst driver in the road and entirely wrong

No one called the worst driver.

Just pointed out that you undertook, and it it had caused an accident, it would have been your fault.

Also, if you were on the left hand lane and the car in the middle was doing 50 miles an hour, you should have seen him in enough time to overtake properly as opposed to slowing down to match his speed to undertake.

I don't believe the middle and outside lane were that busy you couldn't get across yet the left lane was empty that you could drop 20 miles an hour to undertake someone without it impacting anyone else.

KimberleyClark · 28/05/2023 09:57

If the MLH was doing 50 wouldn’t the OP have had to slow right down, from 70 to 40, to get in behind them before moving to the right hand lane to overtake? Causing a hazard to any traffic coming up behind her?

AbreathofFrenchair · 28/05/2023 09:54

Aprilx · 28/05/2023 07:13

Whatever word you want to use and I will use weaving, you think that crossing two lanes of traffic and then crossing back again in a short space of time is safer than driving straight in the left lane? Yes I do find that baffling but you decide to focus on the word weaving rather than answer my actual question.

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It it's done correctly then yes, it is safe.

Weaving implies in and out without paying attention so why would you do that?

Do you never overtake when driving? And if so, do you refer to that as weaving or do you actually do it properly and safely?

The point is, despite you being reluctant to accept the rules of the highway code and the law, that what the OP did was fine, however if there was an accident because she undertook, then she would be at fault because she slowed down to undertake as opposed to overtaking properly.

Why are you struggling to understand that?

Original poster

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:45

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:41

Why is it an insult to feel sympathy for your father

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Oh faux not understanding? Because it implies I’m going on at him rudely. Because it’s based on a scenario in your head.

He’s a laugh. We fell into joking about orbiting the car via lanes 3 and 1 to see if they’d notice. Then made a joke about who was right getting out the car. Because Aibu (fortunately isn’t like life)

OP posts:

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:41

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:35

Lol, someone has tried this a few posts up. Re-used insult is answered on the previous page

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Why is it an insult to feel sympathy for your father

Willyoujustbequiet · 28/05/2023 09:39

No you don't undertake. Against the highway code. I'm with your dad.

Hearti · 28/05/2023 09:36

I would have read the road ahead to enable more time to be in the correct lane and overtake legally. Undertaking is something which happens when not paying enough attention to what’s happening ahead

Original poster

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:35

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:33

I really can’t help but feel a great deal of sympathy for your dad!

I am guessing he’s still making his way home after you turfed him out roadside 😂

Lol, someone has tried this a few posts up. Re-used insult is answered on the previous page

OP posts:

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:33

I really can’t help but feel a great deal of sympathy for your dad!

I am guessing he’s still making his way home after you turfed him out roadside 😂

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:32

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:30

Whatever year I say I took a test I’m sure you’ll find a reason to say it’s the worst possible time 😁
for entertainment :
car-2001
minibus bus-2006 with work
motorbike- 2018
Tell me how this makes me the worst driver in the road and entirely wrong

One for hyperbole aren’t you

has anyone called you the “worst driver in the road”?

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:31

If you undertake inappropriately, you could receive a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for careless driving or driving without due care and attention. This could possibly result in 3 points on your license and a £100 fine if it is a minor offence, further sanctions could be imposed depending on the extent of the offence.

Original poster

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:30

Whatever year I say I took a test I’m sure you’ll find a reason to say it’s the worst possible time 😁
for entertainment :
car-2001
minibus bus-2006 with work
motorbike- 2018
Tell me how this makes me the worst driver in the road and entirely wrong

OP posts:

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:29

Fewer than one in three (27%) people got this one right, making it the most commonly-failed question. This may be due to the fact that, as soon as we hear the word “undertaking”, most of us immediately assume this isn’t allowed, in any circumstance.

the op certainly never assumed this!

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:26

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:21

Lol… does it say ‘is ONLY allowed’? Nope. It doesn’t say ‘when a vehicle is broken down in the right lane’ or ‘when directed to stay in lane on a motorway gantry’ or ‘if directed by a police officer’ or ‘if a street cleaning vehicle is cleaning the right hand gutters or a tractor with a trailer is slowly cutting roadside shrubs’. It’s not an extensive list of every possible scenario that’s ever happened on a road. It’s a concise guide for new drivers.

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These are the only three instances where it is “allowed”

illegal? No
within the rules of the highest code? No
would you fail if you had selected one of the other options (it’s multiple choice. How long ago did you take your test out of interest?) Yes

Original poster

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:24

Seriously though. If, like on every Aibu thread, you ignore the posters who can’t express themselves without using insults (you are a danger!!!!!), quote half bits of things (ignore the words like May or the next sentence), jump to extreme presumptions (like you’re still arguing with your dad) it’s not that difficult to get a sensible opinion.
Its how to read Aibu nowadays

OP posts:

Original poster

AmazonAmazine · 28/05/2023 09:21

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:14

According to my son’s theory test guide book….

Undertaking a vehicle is allowed:

in slow-moving traffic queues, when the vehicles in the right-hand lane are moving more slowly
when the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right
when you’re in a one-way street

Lol… does it say ‘is ONLY allowed’? Nope. It doesn’t say ‘when a vehicle is broken down in the right lane’ or ‘when directed to stay in lane on a motorway gantry’ or ‘if directed by a police officer’ or ‘if a street cleaning vehicle is cleaning the right hand gutters or a tractor with a trailer is slowly cutting roadside shrubs’. It’s not an extensive list of every possible scenario that’s ever happened on a road. It’s a concise guide for new drivers.

OP posts:

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:18

IamnotSethRogan · 28/05/2023 09:10

It’s been worthwhile because some people have shared the info given directly on speed awareness courses. That’s really useful and was what I was looking for- if anyone had direct knowledge

A person saying they heard something on a speed awareness course is not a valid source.

And given the source obviously has a pretty lax approach to the law and rules given they were on a speed awareness course… I’m not inclined to really listen to their perspective on driving anyway!

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:16

Had you selected an answer

”because a vehicle was hogging the middle lane”

you would have been marked as incorrect in your theory test

GiveupHQ · 28/05/2023 09:14

According to my son’s theory test guide book….

Undertaking a vehicle is allowed:

in slow-moving traffic queues, when the vehicles in the right-hand lane are moving more slowly
when the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right
when you’re in a one-way street

IamnotSethRogan · 28/05/2023 09:10

It’s been worthwhile because some people have shared the info given directly on speed awareness courses. That’s really useful and was what I was looking for- if anyone had direct knowledge

A person saying they heard something on a speed awareness course is not a valid source.

Eleganz · 28/05/2023 09:07

Cantthinkofaname2203 · 28/05/2023 08:30

No it isn’t.

the Highway Code is a code, not a legal guide.

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Not true. The highway code is a mixture of legal requirements and guidance. The key is in the wording of particular rules within the guidance. A key indicator of when something is a legal requirement is the use of "must/must not" rather than "should/should not".

However even breaching should/should not rules can be used as evidence against you in support of a prosecution of a traffic offence such as driving without due care and attention.

Basically, follow the highway code please.