To think if you're being undertook, you might be driving wrong.

[theundertakersmate]

NC for unpopular opinion.

I don't undertake on the motorway, for a disclaimer. But I do drive long distance on a smart motorway where there are 4 open lanes. I find it insanely frustrating the amount of people who do not move to the left. I understand it's hard when there are no hard shoulders but as I don't undertake, I fully go round people in overtaking and get back into the left lane, as we are meant to.

A colleague does a similar route and instead of my problems, he constantly complains about people repeatedly undertaking him. He says it always happens.

AIBU to think that, while undertaking is dangerous and not my way of driving, if you are ALWAYS being undertaken, to the point you rant about it always happening in your workplace... maybe you are the problem and are sitting middle lane??

Surely, if a person can physically undertake you, you aren't using the lanes appropriately?

I’m with you! I hate it when people talk about the “fast lane” and “slow lane” on the motorway as if it’s just a choice to cruise at 60mph or speed at 80, depending on which lane you’re in. It’s not a bloody swimming pool! Use the overtaking lanes for overtaking, not for driving the whole way (unless, of course, you’re overtaking every single person on the left of you?)

Agree. I hate going in the fast lane so I do sometimes resort to undertaking cars. I do usually drive alongside them, occasionally glaring, having flashed my lights at them first.

Surely everyone should just drive up to the speed limit to facilitate the flow of traffic but go no faster, and no one should need to dramatically speed past another driver. I don't understand the need to undertake on motorways unless you actually want to speed or drive dangerously.

Why would you not just use the overtaking lane instead of flashing and glaring? That's what it's there for, assuming you're travelling on a 3 lane or more motorway.

This is also dangerous driving. Please just overtake or stick to the left lane and put up with slow drivers.

@DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz exactly!! It's like people feel that they're emasculated by driving in the left lane.

@Circumferences first things first, you assume that these people are doing the speed limit. When I describe my driving down the same stretch, im talking giant lorries who drive in the 2nd lane and avoid the left lane.

Secondly, while speeding is illegal and not ok, you, or other standard drivers are not the police. The rules of the road are keep left unless overtaking. There is no excuse for rendering an entire inside lane useless because you feel you're doing the right speed.

Are you from Kent?

Completely agree it does my head in. On a near empty four lane motorway, to have to go from lane 1 to lane 4 to go around someone who cannot maintain a constant speed vaguely near the limit. I swear motorway driving should be a whole seperate course in addition to driving test. I once had a colleague who said she drove in the middle lane the whole time as was nervous of moving lanes. Made me question why you are on the motorway?!

@TooDrunkToDust Cheshire, but clearly it's an issue everywhere!!

@Chronicallyknackered

Totally agree. If you're too nervous to change lanes, then at best stay left. If you can't do that, don't motorway. I find it infuriating. And I'm not a wuss about it either, a close family member openly admits to middle lane driving as she 'cant be arsed getting stuck in the slow lane' ... my explanation that if everyone drove in the left when not overtaking fell on deaf ears.

If there's nothing in front and a queue behind you're either drinking too slowly or in the wrong lane. Drives me potty.

Driving!!!

@MrsTerryPratchett hahahaha!!

I think some sort of exception needs to be made for the eastbound M25 at J5 because the two exit lanes are on the right, which is totally not like any other motorway junction I've come across, and very confusing the first time you have to use it as i did in May.

But I agree that drivers sometimes don't seem to know about keeping left except when overtaking.

I'd also like to ban lorries from overtaking each other on dual carriageways going uphill like that bit of the northbound A34, where they seem to wait till then to do it just in front of me.

Hic

People who undertake on a slip road, why are you doing this? Are you thinking at all? It’s a give way. A few weeks back my friend witnessed an accident due to this. The bloke speeding on the slip road, undertaking, pulled in in front of a car, clipped it. The clipped car span around and then undertaking slip road speeder lost control of his car and shot off the road, full speed, hit a tree, the tree then FELL on his car and crushed it. The occupants of the car that was clipped were fine. Not sure about the bloke. Friend only avoided as he had in fact left adequate distance.

We have this in Australia, too.
Though are roads/highways/freeways (or your motorways) are only 2 lanes, not 4 (we could only wish for 4), usually for us the trucks, buses and people with caravans are in the left and everyone else on the right but occasionally if it's just normal traffic eg cars everyone just goes wherever they want and pay no attention to the keep left except overtaking so my partner and I undertake quite often as they do like 80/90 (50-55 miles which are some highways) in 110 (68 miles which are most freeways) zone in the right hand lane most of the time it seems like it's a free for all.

You never really hear of fines being given for driving in the right-hand lane, mostly just for speeding as most do about 120-140 (75 -84 mph) on the freeways.

This is dangerous driving. Overtake or sit behind them. Your poor driving ability (not liking the "fast" lane) is no excuse for this terrible behaviour.

Hgvs can’t overtake on a three lane motorway bearing in mind they are limited to 56 mph if you’re being undertaken by them you’re probably going to slow

smart hard shoulder less motorways are dangerous.

I think it's more problematic when the speed limit is reduced. The etiquette is difficult to follow and there are big trucks in the right lanes.

dangerous dangerous dangerous

People who undertake are vulgar.

Surely, if I'm undertaking you, you're in the wrong lane?
If I'm minding my own business, driving at 60/70mph, down a motorway, or dual carriageway, in the left hand lane, as is correct, and you're driving more slowly than me, in any other lane, then you're the problem.
Why would I increase my speed, and go all the way out to the third lane, when there's no-one in front of me? It's not that I want to overtake you. I'm just maintaining the correct speed, in the correct lane.
Why would I, alternatively, slow down to 50, in the left hand lane, just because you're in the wrong lane? If you're not overtaking me, then you shouldn't be in the overtaking lane.

Undertaking is 100% illegal in the context described. People flippantly saying "oh I undertake" are breaking the law. Frightening that you don't know the Highway Code.

Sounds like there are some absolutely appalling drivers @MockneyReject right here on this thread!

Did you point out to him that he was clearly driving badly?