Passing On The Left

[dizmouk2009]

Hey all.

Sorry to bring up probably what has been an ongoing debate for years but after reading a few forums I am still stuggling with this one.

Is it legal to pass a vehicle on UK motorways on the left hand side. Apparently some people call it undertaking and some call it passing (both of which seem to sound similar).

To give you an example, and please do read this example because to me it seems 'reasonable'... If you are driving down the motorway at 70mph in the left hand lane (first lane) and a vehicle is travelling in the middle lane (second lane) at 65mph are you allowed to pass the vehicle (with due care) in the current lane?

Another example, if you are travelling in the first lane at 70mph, a vehicle travelling in the second lane at 60mph and a vehicle travelling in the third lane at 65mph are you allowed to pass in the current lane or do you have to cross to the third lane and wait for the vehicle in front to either speed up or move over to the second lane?

Sorry it's a long winded question but in every debate someone has said "It's legal, look in your highway code" but has never provided a link to the highway code where it actually says you can pass in the left hand lane other than when there is congestion....

Thanks,

[RATTER15]

Here is the link:

Go to rule 268


http://www.direct.gov...highwaycode_motorways

[boxtops]

Thank you ratter, that's exactly what I believed. Phew.

[ojread2]

undertaking is not an offence in itself
There is no law stating you were undertaking so here is 6 points and a £300 fine

[boxtops]

^ pardon?!

[SeaJayPea]

Rule 267 on Ratter's excellent link says 'Overtake only on the right'. So, unless it's congested traffic, you do have to move out to the right hand lane to overtake the selfish pudding in the middle.

As ojread says, there is no such offence as undertaking, but any zealous copper would be likely to do you with careless driving if he saw you doing it.

[ojread2]

There ya go boxtops :)

[SeaJayPea]

Interesting. We have an alert ed this morning. The word I used was most certainly not 'pudding'. It wasn't really rude either, it contained an '@' and crossword solvers will be able to find it in this sentence.

[ladybirder]

http://www.direct.gov...Highwaycode/DG_070314

[237SJ]

I seem to remember that a few years ago the government was thinking of changing the law/regulations so that people could overtake on the left. In respect of that, the law/regulations now are obviously that you overtake on the right.

[joko]

undertaking and passing are 2 very different things

you do NOT have to worry, and try to match the speed of, or dawdle behind traffic, in lanes to your right for some misguided fear that you will be undertaking if you just travel along at a normal speed.

[graham77]

No it's not legal in the uk to undertake. What is legal though is pass a slower moving vehicle on the inside in slow moving traffic where the outside lane is crawling at a slower rate than the inside lane.

[ojread2]

passing/undertaking a slower moving vehicle - same thing

[ummmm]

Have you read the thread OJ?

It's not the same thing...

[ojread2]

lol umm read it? Did you then? You would know I posted at least twice more than this morning if you have
It is the same thing - it's HOW to pass/undertake that isn't

[ummmm]

If it was the same thing...it would be called the same thing. So it's not the same thing.

Yes, I have read the thread but I didn't make a mental note of who said what :-)

[ojread2]

it isn't an offence anyway, so it's moot

[joko]

oj - by your 'logic', then everyone who is travelling on the right hand side of you and is going faster than you is therefore performing the manouvre of overtaking you...

that is nonsense isnt it?


see the difference?

undertaking is just the same as overtaking - but on the left hand side rather than the right...


and passing is just, well...passing... merely travelling faster than other lanes...

[Old_Geezer]

It is illegal to undertake. The exception is if you are in a line of traffic that happens to be moving faster than the one to your right. I interpret that to concern traffic jam conditions. To do otherwise is to create a hazard. If you have a lane free on the right of the person you wish to pass then any annoyance you might feel isn't worth feeding. If you deliberately try to pass on the left then seve you right if they don't see you and opt to change lanes at the same time.

[SpikeyBush]

If the general flow of traffic on the left is faster I see no issue with passing on the left. The big problem is with those who weave in and out, often with no indication and with not enough notice to react even if they do indicate. Typical example I saw on the M6 near Corley, dawdling git in an Alfa 146 in the middle lane, a Golf GTi came up behind him like a sh!thouse rat and started to undertake just as the Alfa driver moved over, having seen said Golf closing in. Very nearly a nasty accident, and both drivers would in my view have been equally to blame had it resulted in a collision.

There needs to be as much emphasis on lane discipline as there is on speeding, drink driving and using telephones. Poor lane discipline leads directly to road rage, with undoubted escalation to more serious incidents.

[chrissa1]

I enjoyed mickrogs video.