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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

193 replies

theundertakersmate · 14/10/2023 01:41

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?

OP posts:
Ducksinthebath · 14/10/2023 05:24

theundertakersmate · 14/10/2023 02:41

@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.

Motorway as a verb? I’ve seen it all now.

marshmallowfinder · 14/10/2023 05:28

SunsetsAndSandwiches · 14/10/2023 01:46

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.

There is no fast lane. Outside lanes. Glaring means you're taking your eyes off the road,, so not good at all, but yes, I certainly understand your annoyance! They really are dense.

SquashPenguin · 14/10/2023 05:40

Yes, if you are constantly being undertaken you are doing something wrong.

ThePoint678 · 14/10/2023 05:49

If you’re being undertaken, you’re wrong. If you’re too scared to drive on motorways properly, don’t drive on motorways.

(and in Australia we have plenty of motorways with more than two lanes - at least where I am)

MintJulia · 14/10/2023 05:50

SunsetsAndSandwiches · 14/10/2023 01:46

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.

This is careless driving, and can lose you between 3 & 9 points. Why would you do that?

It's also dangerous, unnecessary & stupid.

Mintyy2 · 14/10/2023 05:55

I can forgive people for not wanting to use lane 1 on a smart motorway. It's just so fricking dangerous.

mathanxiety · 14/10/2023 05:59

YANBU.

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/10/2023 06:19

daisychain01 · 14/10/2023 05:19

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.

At this time, a lot of people on MN aren't in the UK. There are Australians on this thread. Undertaking is perfectly legal in some countries.

And the point is that if someone is able to undertake, that probably means the person they are doing it to is lane-hogging. Both can be at fault.

WrigglyDonCat · 14/10/2023 06:24

Undertaking is 100% illegal might be illegal in the context described. People flippantly saying "oh I undertake" are breaking the law might be breaking the law.

I have to get my pedant hat on. There's no law that says overtaking on the left is illegal. There is guidance in the highway code that sets out (somewhat vaguely) when overtaking on the left is considered normal practice.

If you overtake on the left and you are charged, it will be with careless driving. It is then up to a court (assuming you don't accept a fixed penalty) to decide whether your actions were careless. Part of that consideration is whether your actions fell outside of the HC guidance.

When it comes to overtaking on the left, what is likely to get you unwanted attention is aggressive manoeuvring to gain advantage. Simply passing by continuing your journey in the lane you've been in for a while without changing speed, gesturing, flashing etc. probably wouldn't be considered careless driving.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 14/10/2023 06:24

SunsetsAndSandwiches · 14/10/2023 01:46

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.

You need to go back to driving school. So many things wrong here.

ButterMyParsnip · 14/10/2023 06:25

It's NOT illegal to undertake in the U.K. If traffic is going 65 in the left lane and happens to pass some idiot driving at 55 in the middle lane it's perfectly legal. It's only illegal when it's reckless, like someone weaving from lane to lane at 80 to overtake/undertake as quickly as possible.

NewPapaGuinea · 14/10/2023 06:27

Tell them they’re risking 3 points for “lane hogging”.

Pumpkinspie · 14/10/2023 06:27

Circumferences · 14/10/2023 01:51

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.

Big lorries, caravans, any car with a trailer - cannot drive to the 70mph speed limit. So your theory is flawed!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 14/10/2023 06:31

‘Being undertook’?

FFS.

Autumn1990 · 14/10/2023 06:33

ButterMyParsnip · 14/10/2023 06:25

It's NOT illegal to undertake in the U.K. If traffic is going 65 in the left lane and happens to pass some idiot driving at 55 in the middle lane it's perfectly legal. It's only illegal when it's reckless, like someone weaving from lane to lane at 80 to overtake/undertake as quickly as possible.

This
it’s considered more dangerous to keep changing lanes to pass the slower moving vehicle. If you have been in the left lane just carrry on and pass the vehicle. You mustn’t move into the left Lane to pass a vehicle

LongTimeListener1 · 14/10/2023 06:45

daisychain01 · 14/10/2023 05:19

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.

You need to refresh your understanding of the Highway Code.

TheSpikySpinosaurus · 14/10/2023 06:47

SunsetsAndSandwiches · 14/10/2023 01:46

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.

But this is really bad driving. Why not take some lessons in motorway driving?

allhellcantstopusnow · 14/10/2023 06:56

How is it possible to write 'undertake/undertaken' so many times in the OP and then use 'undertook' in the title?

Also, @SunsetsAndSandwiches you cannot drive, and should not be on a motorway.

Lord alive.

Globules · 14/10/2023 06:57

I'm going cross country in an hour. This thread has just reminded me what I've got to put up with on the motorways

ARGH.

BLOODY MIDDLE LANE HOGGERS.

I always find it interesting when this comes up on MN, as no one ever admits to doing it!

Fizbosshoes · 14/10/2023 07:01

I find it really annoying when the motorway is almost clear, .....but the most left hand lane is almost empty. Then you are driving in that lane and then come across someone in the next lane tootling along at about 55mph when there is no good reason why they can't simply move left ....and then you have to go 2 lanes across to overtake!

NotGettingIt · 14/10/2023 07:02

Undertaking is both illegal and dangerous, because it is unexpected. If a driver is not driving as fast as the undertaking driver requires they may then perfectly legally move into the left hand lane and then the two cars are on a collision course. Irritating though drivers not keeping up with the flow of traffic in the middle lane may be, usually there is usually space for the faster driver to make the legal manoeuvre of overtaking. They are the ones who are in the wrong.

bozzabollix · 14/10/2023 07:04

Driving instructor here. Your colleague would fail his driving test with that. You’ve got to be in the left lane unless overtaking. But people once pass effectively write their own rules to cope with their driving shortfalls. With him it’s probably a reluctance to change lanes which is probably down to bad observation skills.

NoMor · 14/10/2023 07:04

I don't undertake people as it's dangerous but if there is somebody in the lane to the right of me who is going slower than I am, I will continue at my current speed even if it means I go past them. That is not undertaking, it is staying in your lane until you need to overtake. I'm not moving two lanes to go round them, that is dangerous. People need to stay in the left lane until they overtake I agree.

Pipsquiggle · 14/10/2023 07:08

Yes, he is the issue. He needs to move over to the left

I do wish we were more like Germany. I think they are taught how to drive on motorway and are strict on lane management

Thisismynewusernamedoyoulikeit · 14/10/2023 07:12

daisychain01 · 14/10/2023 05:19

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.

No it's not.

If a driver is inappropriately in the middle lane and I am travelling at 70mph in the left lane, I could undertake. It would not be illegal.

If I screeched up the back of the driver in the middle lane, flashed my lights and then snuck around them between two lories in the left lane, yes of course that's dangerous driving and I could be prosecuted.

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