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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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6
Madamecastafiore · 27/05/2023 19:09

No it's not illegal, it's illegal to move lane to undertake but not if you're already there. Much more dangerous to move across 2 lanes to over take a middle lane hogging twat. I did ask advice to answer this question as FIL pulled me up on it once so I asked a local traffic officer.

underneaththeash · 27/05/2023 19:10

I’d have gone up behind the slow car - flashed them
snd indicated for them to move over. Often if people haven’t learnt to drive here they’re unaware that you don’t sit in the middle lane.

GiveupHQ · 27/05/2023 19:13

This reply has been deleted

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Aprilx · 27/05/2023 19:15

AbreathofFrenchair · 27/05/2023 19:06

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.

Show quote history

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.

DappledThings · 27/05/2023 19:18

I would have moved over two lanes and glared at them as I did then moved back two lanes in the vain hope that they notice how much I've had to manoeuvre because of their shit driving. They never do of course but I live in hope.

Bathintheshed · 27/05/2023 19:19

It's only an undertake if you changed lanes. You simply drove along in your lane at the speed limit, perfectly legal.

Original poster
AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 19:21

underneaththeash · 27/05/2023 19:10

I’d have gone up behind the slow car - flashed them
snd indicated for them to move over. Often if people haven’t learnt to drive here they’re unaware that you don’t sit in the middle lane.

Yes flash. Lucky dip for brake checking you, a squirt of screen wash or a slow down. British drivers aren’t prone to thinking ‘oh yes, thank you for that non-aggressive flash. You are correct and I will pull over’
also the Highway Code does say. ‘Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users’, there’s a fair chance captain rolling roadblock will claim it’s intimidating aid there’s any subsequent issue.

OP posts:
bobblyjob · 27/05/2023 19:24

Come to Australia 😉It’s allowed here and it’s great. So many middle lane drivers and often an empty left lane. They are more likely to get in trouble than you as long as you are not swerving around like an idiot

ReliantRobyn · 27/05/2023 19:24

Divorcedalongtime · 27/05/2023 16:51

Safe yes, illegal also yes. Many of us would have chosen to do what you did but your dad is still right

It's not illegal. Worrying you are on the roads !

Iyiyiiii · 27/05/2023 19:26

AmazonAmazine · 27/05/2023 18:55

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.

Show quote history

You would be more of a surprise undertaking than overtaking though

Either way they probably had no idea you were there anyway

NerrSnerr · 27/05/2023 19:26

Puzzledanddissatisfied · 27/05/2023 16:51

So you continued driving in your own lane past a car in the middle lane? That’s perfectly fine, that’s not overtaking, that’s just continuing to drive.

It's undertaking

Random789 · 27/05/2023 19:27

Hghway Code, rule 268: "Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/motorways-253-to-273.

Some people on this thread seem to be saying that undertaking is only illegal if you move into a lane on your left to do it. But this line in the Highway Code seems to say that it is illegal regardless of whether you are already on the left or you move into a lane on your left.

I can't see what the point would be of a rule that only made undertaking illegal if you moved into a lane on your left to do it, but didn't make the same manouevre illegal if you were already on the left.

The Highway Code - Motorways (253 to 274) - Guidance - GOV.UK

Rules for motorways, including rules for signals, joining the motorway, driving on the motorway, lane discipline, overtaking, stopping and leaving the motorway. A number of the rules for motorways also apply to other high-speed roads.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/motorways-253-to-273

pigsDOfly · 27/05/2023 19:27

I suspect most of us have done this when we've encountered an idiot hogging the middle lane, I know I have.

However, undertaking like that, although not illegal is really dangerous and ill advised and will be considered careless driving if it causes an accident, which it very well might.

The reason it's not illegal is because if it were you wouldn't be able to move in the left lane when all lanes are congested, which is really the only time it's considered permissible to pass traffic that's going slower in the lane to your right.

That's not what the OP did. She drove down the empty left hand lane and passed the middle lane hogger on the inside.

As annoying as it is, in those circumstances what you really should do is to move behind the middle lane person and attempt to overtake on the right when possible.

NerrSnerr · 27/05/2023 19:28

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2023 16:57

Overtaking on the nearside (left) is legally acceptable if you are driving on a multi-lane carriageway in congested conditions, and the lane to the left is moving at a faster speed than lanes to the right

It clearly wasn't congested as the OP said she was driving 70.

Callyem · 27/05/2023 19:28

The middle lane driver is annoying af but as no traffic was involved, passing on the left is incorrect. I'd probably have done the same, but think the 'by the book' thing to do would have been to change lanes. Doing so early enough would have meant you didn't need to slow down before nipping into lane 3 and overtaking.

chupachucks · 27/05/2023 19:29

https://www.askthe.police.uk/faq/?id=bbff70f6-0c7a-ec11-8d21-6045bd0f2a10

Question 891 answers your OP.
You performed a manoeuvre that would be classed as carless driving although not illegal in it's self. Claiming your car is not powerful enough to join the outside lane is a petty excuse. Both you and the middle lane hogger were at fault and both equally bad drivers.

FAQ

https://www.askthe.police.uk/faq?id=bbff70f6-0c7a-ec11-8d21-6045bd0f2a10

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

pigsDOfly · 27/05/2023 19:32

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

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

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....)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Show quote history

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:
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