Pete Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Picture this... a motorway with two lanes. It splits to three lanes, with the far left lane for coming off at the next junction - about a mile or more. There's white line marking indicating an obvious split of road types (much closer, tighter spacing). So, if you're in this lane and pass someone who is in the centre lane (or inside lane) - are you committing a traffic offence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Not unless you pass the person then pull in front of them, if you're staying in that lane as you're coming off at the junction you're fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I (genuinely) thought this was going to be something about dead people! Anyway - I agree with Michael. Although I was nervous doing exactly that past a police car on the way back from Heathrow last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Not unless you pass the person then pull in front of them, if you're staying in that lane as you're coming off at the junction you're fine. I was taught on my lessons that it's classified as a different road when the lines change, hence it's not undertaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I was taught on my lessons that it's classified as a different road when the lines change, hence it's not undertaking I never got any motorway lessons or heads up as learners are not allowed on motorways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 2, 2007 Author Share Posted March 2, 2007 Ah - I see you all thought the same as myself. A solicitor we were talking to the other day got done for this very thing and told it was still classed as the motorway and therefore undertaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I never got any motorway lessons or heads up as learners are not allowed on motorways. You don't need to be on a motorway, A roads can have these lanes too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 You don't need to be on a motorway, A roads can have these lanes too. Ahh I see, all clear now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edd_t Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Not unless you pass the person then pull in front of them, if you're staying in that lane as you're coming off at the junction you're fine. yup that I never got any motorway lessons or heads up as learners are not allowed on motorways. I got motorway lessons when I did Pass Plus, which I totally think is worth the money. But that sort of stuff is in the highway code aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Ah - I see you all thought the same as myself. A solicitor we were talking to the other day got done for this very thing and told it was still classed as the motorway and therefore undertaking. But that's rediculous, on my way home from work it's quite often that the traffic is held up in the middle and outside lane while the left hand lane is moving pretty quickly still due to everyone coming off at the next junction. By that reasoning then I'm undertaking them all too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letmeshowyou Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 the highway code is quite clear on all of these points: http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/ Pete, why didn't he quote it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopite Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I have this on the A19 when i come off for the Norton exit, the A9's 2 lanes still and usually crawling at 40mph or so, the filter lane moves much quicker so I just go down there and come off at my exit, haven't had any problems so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavies Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I too thought that it was fine to go past traffic on the left if your lane just happens to be clear and moving at a quicker pace!?!? I would have thought to get nicked for doing this you would actually have to be pulling back out after the stint on the inside?? Perhaps we simply don't have the solicitors entire story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 A solicitor we were talking to the other day got done for this very thing You didn't.......hire him for a motoring offence did you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavies Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 242: Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Any rules about people who hog the right hand lane and wont move over, ive been a bit naughty in the past and done the odd undertaking manuever to these people! Also why do these people do this, just sit in one lane, ive never understood it or been driven by anyone that does it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Are you thinking like the bit on the M54 between Jct's 1 and 2 (I think, or 2 & 3...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I do this every night on a 4 lane section of the M62 where the inside lane acts as a feed from the M1 and then a road off the motorway onto a large A road. If I didn't the M1 would get blocked. You do get a lot of people cutting into the inside lane and then pulling back onto the motorway though, most annoying... but not as annoying as the people who feel the need to get onto the motorway as soon as the lines become dotted and just stop with their indicator on when the next mile of road is clear and they could filter in at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhGod Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 On a similar note then what about when you're in the left hand lane, and there's someone doing 60 in the middle lane with no/minimal other traffic around (late evening/night). I'm not sure whether to keep on going past them in the left lane, or whether I have to indicate and pull out in the far right lane, pass them there, then pull all the back to the left hand lane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 its just the same that if your in the inner lane doing 70mph and the person is in the center lane doing 60mph, when you go past them it isnt classed as undertaking, or it shouldnt be anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhGod Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Aye, 'tis what I thought. It just feels...funny... to go past on the left - and you sometimes get them beeping and making 'interesting' hand signals at you as if *you're* doing something crazy/wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiversteve Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 So far as I can tell, and I've talkked to traffic cops and IAM on this one, the current highway code does not illustrate these particular types of lane markings. There is a mile long stretch of the A27 outside Brighton that has just one of these lanes on both the east and west cariageways but...... You enter the lane from a sliproad off a roundabout and have a straight run, no lane changing, onto the next off slip. Traffic from the A27 can join this lane anywhere on its length apart from the last few yards. A class 1 police driver, the one on this site may confirm, has told me that for the purposes of the law they would classify such a marked lane as a separate road (they cant use the highway code as reference for best practice as they can in most motoring cases due to the missing info in the HC). But..... such road lanes should be used with caution. Unnecessary lane changing should be avoided and any rapid manoeviring could be classified as careless or dangerous driving. Having said all this the particular lane in question is the scene of lots of minor shunts in the rush hour with people in the lane deliberately blocking cars from the main A27 onto the exit slip. Not the safest of places first thing in the morning but fine during normal traffic. Take care out there. Over to Class One perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASHTHEBISHOP Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Aye, 'tis what I thought. It just feels...funny... to go past on the left - and you sometimes get them beeping and making 'interesting' hand signals at you as if *you're* doing something crazy/wrong. Ironic Seems to be more and more who lane hog and i dont give them long before i go past on the inside or try and take the fornt of their car off for making me travel across the lanes and back to the inside. Not good but it does pi$$ me off and my patience is getting worse in my old age lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 2, 2007 Author Share Posted March 2, 2007 Pete, why didn't he quote it? She. No idea, I guess she just believed them. You didn't.......hire him for a motoring offence did you? No mate No likely to either! Are you thinking like the bit on the M54 between Jct's 1 and 2 (I think, or 2 & 3...) No, further up near Telford...but same situation. Over to Class One perhaps I was hoping Doug might comment too. As mentioned above - maybe I wasn't given the full story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 No, further up near Telford...but same situation. Between J4 and 5 then, I know that stretch very well, yes I would undertake and have quite a few times, especially if I was going on a J4, and off at J5, I know I've read somewhere that you're allowed to pass on the left if a) You're leaving the motorway, and b) Traffic in the middle lane is going slower than you (Really sounds like something that wouldn't be written, I have to remember where I read that!!) However, the Highway Code only seems to mention a Traffic Jam situation : 242: Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake. Which doesn't mention anything about what I've read somewhere before, I'll try my best to remember where I saw it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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