To think this driving manoeuvre was both safe and legal?

[AmazonAmazine]

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.

I wasn’t nervous at all. On approach it was just the safest solution to a clear hazard. 3 lanes of the motorway were rapidly squeezing in to one lane, with cars racing up behind over the speed limit. I could join the congested fast moving lane with multiple lane changes taking place very close together, or pass a hazard in safer conditions the other way. I was capable, but not going over the speed limit plus having poorer acceleration I would be forcing others to slow and brake by entering the lane. I’m not going to speed, plus I’m not going to pull away that well (automatic low powered at 50… no chance)

So you reckon if someone drove at 45/50 the left lane of lorries would go slower?

Reminds me of arguing with my ex boyfriend who used to be in the inside lane on the m25 and all lanes crawling. Then he’d slow even further /stop even though he could carry on at 15mph to keep up with the car infront. Because the middle lane had stopped! I said what on earth are you doing and he said he couldn’t undertake. So he’d literally stop on the m25 even though the road was clear. He wouldn’t believe me when I said it was ok to keep going!

Those days where the m25 crawls at 59 with 80% of cars in the furthest right of four lanes…

They shouldn't have a licence if they change lane without looking. Who the hell does that?

I don't know what the lorries would do, when you are towing you are restricted to 60 anyway and tend not to move in and out too much just go with the flow in the left lane. I doubt the lorries and caravans would all slow down to keep behind the car though, there would be a huge gap in front like a rolling roadblock

You shouldn't need to undertake on a motorway.....but thanks to middle lane hogger you needed to....so you did, with competence and care. Its not illegal.

'Not illegal, but unwise'. Very apt.

Not illegal to keep your speed in the same lane. If people hog the middle lane that's on them. It's safer to go past where you were than pull out two lanes because they're an inconsiderate arsehole.

Wouldnt be taking a driving test on ghe

Often tempting, to pass on the right but illegal in the UK (unless in slow moving congestion).

I can't deny doing it, but have realised it's not worth the risk.
If the offending car decides to move left just as you pass them and you collide you'll could be looking at a charge of dangerous driving.

Sorry mean passing on the left!

Why would you be surprising them if they had a clear view of you in the left? Surely they would have had a clear view of you moving to the correct overtaking lane?

I just pass the middle lane hoggers on the left with caution, being wary of the chance they change lanes. I'm with OP, I consider that less hazardous than four lane changes.

Undertaking is not outright illegal in Britain, but it can be treated as driving without due care. I've never heard of someone who was travelling below the speed limit in the left lane and continuing past a middle lane hogger being done for it though.

I've always understood the move described in the OP as being illegal and I wouldn't do it.

I would have been very infuriated by the middle-lane hogger. But it isn't really accurate to imply there was no alternative to undertaking. If you didn't feel confident moving into the outside lane, then the alternative was just to stay in one of the other two lanes without passing the lane-hogger.

Unlikely. They’d be the one manoeuvring without looking into me. It would be like turning into a car going at a similar speed, unless I rear-ended them.

Creating a rolling road block of cars at 50, all avoiding the right lane is pretty much the worst outcome

If I went from behind them, then left, it would a potential surprise.
if I maintained my course from a good distance it isn’t going to be a case of just appearing on the left before passing.

It's not great but sometimes it feels a lot less bad than either slowing to 50 and navigating through the other 2 lanes for the sake of it, or slowing your whole lane down to 50 too.

The congestion exception I've always taken to mean nose to tail conditions, not one single car.

I would expect the police to be far harder on a middle lane hogger than someone who is clearly trying to react in the least bad way to a difficult situation.

Worst case scenario was if they drift left I toot my horn and avoid them by going into the hard shoulder. I was being very alert and watching the driver. The driver with their chin practically on the wheel and gripping it for dear life really did look set on course. I could have gestured all I wanted, but I doubt they’d have known.

Do not see a problem with this at all. The idiot middle lane driver should have moved to the left hand lane to begin with as he wasn’t overtaking anything and was hogging the lane. You were doing the speed limit and did not speed up to pass / undertake. You were driving as normal. I do not see anything wrong with this

I agree about the least bad way. Sometimes in response to hazards we have to use common sense. For example once someone stopped dead on a short slip road in front of me. Overtaking them in the road was hazardous (they could have moved out)so I stopped too as no one was behind and they was a clear view of me, and moved on safely into a clear gap. I’d obviously never normally stop on a slip road!
Another time a camper van came up behind me too fast downhill with hazards on. I briefly went over the speed limit until the road split to two lanes.

Undertaking on a motorway is where you pass a car on their left hand side. You undertook the car. It doesnt mean you have to drive into the left hand lane to do it.

The left lane is for driving in, the middle and outside are for overtaking.

The driver shouldn't have been in the middle lane unless overtaking and you should have switched two lanes to over take and then moved back across.

It's not illegal but if he had come across while you undertook, you would have been at fault.

She undertook. She went past him on the inside lane on his left hand side. That is literally the definition of undertaking, regardless of the fact she slowed down to 60 to do it.

And he wasnt in the right either.

Some people definitely need to re read their highway codes or take motorway driving lessons.

No her dad was not right at all. Why on earth do you think that? Undertaking is illegal, that means actively moving to the left in order to overtake, but OP did not do that. She is perfectly entitled to continue driving per the speed limit, regardless of slower moving traffic in other lanes.