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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this driving manoeuvre was both safe and legal?

268 replies

AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 16:49

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Aeth · 27/05/2023 20:34

Minfilia · 27/05/2023 20:29

Perhaps you should consider getting a hobby? 😂

(also, the chances of anyone getting a NIP based just on the footage of a busybody are virtually nil) 🙄

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This! I do often wonder, when driving, if anyone is sad/petty enough to report every driving misdemeanour they see... Of course MN confirms it. 😂
I also strongly suspect these are the people who don't five sufficient space to lorries, etc. when switching lanes.

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 27/05/2023 20:33

The dangerous driver was the twat doing 50 in the middle lane.

I'd have done the same as you OP.

@Blarn That's madness. Thankfully I don't use the M6 any more.

PurpleFlower1983 · 27/05/2023 20:32

Your dad is right.

Minfilia · 27/05/2023 20:29

chupachucks · 27/05/2023 19:38

100% Correct, makes me wonder how so many people pass their test.

Too those that think this is okay and to the OP a word of warning alot of drivers including myself report dangerous and careless driving caught on dashcam to the many online police portals it only takes five minutes. If I was submitting footage of the middle lane hogger and I also captured you undertaking at the same time like this I can assure you. Within the next 14 days you would have a NIP coming through your door very soon and possibly 3 points.

Just because the police did not catch you today does not mean another driver has not.

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Perhaps you should consider getting a hobby? 😂

(also, the chances of anyone getting a NIP based just on the footage of a busybody are virtually nil) 🙄

Mydusa · 27/05/2023 20:29

Also if you're going to do it, do it decisively. Whatever you do, don't hang around in or near their blind spot and be aware that they may not be using their mirrors.

It can be really dangerous for someone to cut back to 50 to the left of a middle lane hogger and just hang around not passing them. Also even if you think you've left space in front for the middle lane hogger to move over, you can still present an obstacle to them doing so. They might be looking for a bigger gap than you are giving them.

underneaththeash · 27/05/2023 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

No, the person driving in the middle lane at 50 is a twat and dangerous. If that’s you - do not do it , it’s dangerous.

Howzthatmum · 27/05/2023 20:20

@AmazonAmazine I'm just wondering how you got in this situation in the first place, because it seems like you were not concentrating on your surroundings or driving.

If you were driving in the left hand lane at 70mph and you were making ground on a driver in the central lane hogging it at 50mph and taking notice of what was ahead of you, like any other competent driver you would have noticed this and had sufficient time to position yourself in the outermost right hand lane before you got to him. But no you continued in the most dangerous way, go to close and then made a late decision to undertake him.

The spurious claims about faster cars doing 70-80 in the outermost lane is an excuse because you are not competent enough to drive on a motorway, I have driven most cars both big and small every single car on the road is capable of driving in the outermost lane. If you are not capable enough to overtake a middle lane hogger doing 50mph, by joining the outside lane in a manoeuvre that literally takes a matter of seconds then you should not be on the roads.

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 20:02

AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 19:54

This scenario totally ignores waiting at 50, or maybe less, in the middle of a motorway with people coming up behind you at 70/80 mph doesn’t it. One inattentive driver and you’re fucked. Of all the things to do, being at 50 in the middle too whilst waiting for a gap is the last I’d do. If I was going to stick at 50 for a bit I’d go left

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I simply said over taking correctly wasnt weaving in and out of traffic. The poster I was replying to thinks it would be. It wasn't relevant to your OP, which I have replied on.

In your situation, you slowed down and seem to think it meant you didnt undertake. Regardless of the speed you were going, you did undertake.

Undertaking is not illegal. By it's very definition it means going past a car on the left hand side. Whilst it's not illegal, if you had slowed down to perform this manoeuvre and the driver had indicated to pull across and gone into you, you would be at fault.

In practice you were fine to carry on and there was no need to slow down from 70 to 60 to do it.

Not sure what so confusing about basic motorway rules and driving to be honest.

Aeth · 27/05/2023 20:00

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 19:55

Well one thing that is glaringly obvious from this thread is that about 80 percent of posters need to reread the highway code and should definitely not be driving on motorways.

Also seems that motorway driving lessons should be mandatory before you're allowed near them!

I was going to disagree, but read through all replies, including one about lorries and their speed restrictions that was completely incorrect - yes, I agree with you!

Qilin · 27/05/2023 19:58

Blarn · 27/05/2023 19:47

Little known fact but learner drivers can now go on motorways with a qualified instructor and dual control car. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-will-be-allowed-on-motorways-from-2018

Not on their test though, which the earlier poster was referencing.

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 19:55

Well one thing that is glaringly obvious from this thread is that about 80 percent of posters need to reread the highway code and should definitely not be driving on motorways.

Also seems that motorway driving lessons should be mandatory before you're allowed near them!

Original poster
AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 19:54

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 19:50

I never said undertaking was illegal. But if there was an accident because of what she did, she would be at fault. It's on the highway code.

Also, I never said she should weave in and out did I? Of course that would be dangerous so why are you baffled over something I never said?!

There would be no weaving involved, it would be indicate, move over when safe, indicate again, move over when safe, overtake and repeat. That's not weaving that's how you overtake.

If you thinking overtaking on a motorway is weaving in out and out then maybe you need to learn how to do it properly

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This scenario totally ignores waiting at 50, or maybe less, in the middle of a motorway with people coming up behind you at 70/80 mph doesn’t it. One inattentive driver and you’re fucked. Of all the things to do, being at 50 in the middle too whilst waiting for a gap is the last I’d do. If I was going to stick at 50 for a bit I’d go left

OP posts:
Gothambutnotahamster · 27/05/2023 19:53

Cantthinkofaname2203 · 27/05/2023 16:52

I did a speed awareness course recently and they said undertaking in these circumstances is fine.

you were following the flow of traffic and taking the safest route. It’s the middle lane hogger in the wrong, not you.

This is correct.

User1529865 · 27/05/2023 19:53

OldTinHat · 27/05/2023 19:52

You never undertake. Very dangerous. You should have pulled into the secind lane and then overtaken in the third lane when safe to do so.

Not everyone is allowed in the third lane

Aeth · 27/05/2023 19:53

User1529865 · 27/05/2023 19:49

So what are large vehicles that can't overtake a middle lane hogger going 40 supposed to do, they are not allowed in the third lane, it's ok for cars they can just overtake.

Continue in the left lane usually, and despair at how many car drivers don't know how to drive properly and safely.

OldTinHat · 27/05/2023 19:52

You never undertake. Very dangerous. You should have pulled into the secind lane and then overtaken in the third lane when safe to do so.

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 19:50

Aprilx · 27/05/2023 19:15

OP just continued to drive. Perfectly legal and it is deemed safer to continue to drive in the same lane rather than weave in and out of lanes simply because there was a slower moving lane to her right. I am baffled that you think weaving between lanes on a motorway is safer than driving in the left lane.

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I never said undertaking was illegal. But if there was an accident because of what she did, she would be at fault. It's on the highway code.

Also, I never said she should weave in and out did I? Of course that would be dangerous so why are you baffled over something I never said?!

There would be no weaving involved, it would be indicate, move over when safe, indicate again, move over when safe, overtake and repeat. That's not weaving that's how you overtake.

If you thinking overtaking on a motorway is weaving in out and out then maybe you need to learn how to do it properly

User1529865 · 27/05/2023 19:49

So what are large vehicles that can't overtake a middle lane hogger going 40 supposed to do, they are not allowed in the third lane, it's ok for cars they can just overtake.

Original poster
AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 19:49

chupachucks · 27/05/2023 19:38

100% Correct, makes me wonder how so many people pass their test.

Too those that think this is okay and to the OP a word of warning alot of drivers including myself report dangerous and careless driving caught on dashcam to the many online police portals it only takes five minutes. If I was submitting footage of the middle lane hogger and I also captured you undertaking at the same time like this I can assure you. Within the next 14 days you would have a NIP coming through your door very soon and possibly 3 points.

Just because the police did not catch you today does not mean another driver has not.

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Having a dashcam doesn’t make you right. If you have footage, go for it. With a congested right lane and no careless manoeuvre I’m happy to share it.

OP posts:
Changingmynameyetagain · 27/05/2023 19:46

I would have continued in lane 1 past the middle lane hogger.
Staying in lane 1 is safer than moving to lane 2 then 3 then back to 2 and back in to 1.

Polkadottyas · 27/05/2023 19:42

I've done this twice on the m62 today where I couldn't get up to speed to go around the middle lane hogger but could easily get past on the inside. It was horrible and I hated doing it but the outer lane traffic was really fast and this idiot was stuck at 60. In the middle. Seemingly oblivious

chupachucks · 27/05/2023 19:38

pigsDOfly · 27/05/2023 19:32

No, that's not the way it works. It was definitely undertaking.

Show quote history

100% Correct, makes me wonder how so many people pass their test.

Too those that think this is okay and to the OP a word of warning alot of drivers including myself report dangerous and careless driving caught on dashcam to the many online police portals it only takes five minutes. If I was submitting footage of the middle lane hogger and I also captured you undertaking at the same time like this I can assure you. Within the next 14 days you would have a NIP coming through your door very soon and possibly 3 points.

Just because the police did not catch you today does not mean another driver has not.

NerrSnerr · 27/05/2023 19:36

3luckystars · 27/05/2023 19:31

you were in the one lane at all times so didn’t over or under ‘take’ any other vehicle.

you were just in your own lane

It's shocking how many people don't know how to drive on the motorway.

Dunnoburt · 27/05/2023 19:35

Undertaking is sooooo dangerous......hate to say it but I'd have made a point when overtaking properly.....(not proud to say it but I genuinely don't understand people that sit in the middle lane....)

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