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.

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.

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

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.

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

Not everyone is allowed in the third lane

This is correct.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

@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.

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.

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.

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) 🙄

Your dad is right.

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.

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.

Many years ago I worked for a driving school, we had to deal with a man who had been imprisoned and lost his licence for death by dangerous driving. He had undertaken a car on the motorway and caused an accident killing the occupants of the other vehicle. Once out of prison and ban was up, he had to retake his driving test. It's something that has always stuck with me, despite this being 20+ years ago so I never, ever do it personally although I see it often. It even terrifies the life out of me in a contra flow when the slow lane is moving faster. It always makes me think of that man and those poor people 😢

he is being a twat. Yes. I didn’t say he wasn’t.

as are you given your response

If you are terrified by contra flow genuinely I really recommend talking to someone. It’s well outside a normal reaction to a second hand story and stress and anxiety you can shift. If you are perceiving everyday driving situations as terrifying and they impact your judgement it’s a risk. Trying to phrase this kindly.

My lane was clear. The middle lane I just saw cars moving right until I saw them…. How would I see them until there were no cars between us? By which point I was reasonably close

Yabu. It's undertaking. You move into the middle lane and then you wait for a gap to get into the fast lane to overtake him. Inconvenient, yes. Annoying, yes. Against the Highway Code to undertake - always yes.

I have to admit- As someone who reported a car hitting my parked car, gave the details of a witness and offered to provide ring doorbell footage with a clear view of the numberplate and couldn’t get a police reaction… it doesn’t really make me think it’s a productive hobby

I think most posters don’t actually understand the Highway Code. It’s not a law. For example the first rules are for pedestrians. For example Pedestrians:
Rule 3Help other road users to see you. Wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, use reflective materials (eg armbands, sashes, waistcoats, jackets, footwear), which can be seen by drivers using headlights up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.

Do posters think if they send their dashcam footage in of a bloke in a black jacket walking at night by the side of the road the police will prosecute?

It’s not a legal document document containing Highway laws. Whilst it govern show to use the road, it’s not a list of offences. Offences are separate, eg driving without care and attention. Obviously ignoring a rule MAY constitute a legal offence, but it’s not automatic and they aren’t the same thing.

No one can be prosecuted or fined for ‘breaking the Highway code’, though an offence can arise from not following it. So a careful undertake, done safely in certain circumstances is not necessarily an offence. A reckless or careless one is.