Undertaking - Forthcoming dangerous driving laws
Discussion
With the recent Bruhaha about forthcoming dangerous driving penalties on TV, I was wondering...
If you are in the driving (ie, nearside) lane, doing 70mph ish and come up upon someone in one of the two overtaking lanes doing 65mph, is it more dangerous to pass them in the lane you are in or to cross all 3 lanes, pass on the outside then cross all 3 lanes again to return to the driving lane?
Also, who is legally in the wrong? the person for technically passing on the left, or the other driver for not keeping left unless overtaking?
If you are in the driving (ie, nearside) lane, doing 70mph ish and come up upon someone in one of the two overtaking lanes doing 65mph, is it more dangerous to pass them in the lane you are in or to cross all 3 lanes, pass on the outside then cross all 3 lanes again to return to the driving lane?
Also, who is legally in the wrong? the person for technically passing on the left, or the other driver for not keeping left unless overtaking?
its a bit of a grey area. The Highway code essentially says you can undertake if traffic in your lane is moving quicker, but you shouldn't move to the left to pass a car. So technically, in your scenario, you might be ok legally to pass on the left, but I'd still not do it if there was a cop car around
Think I found my answer here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Highway code - Overtaking
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past
267
Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe and legal to do so. Overtake only on the right.
268
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.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Highway code - Overtaking
264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past
267
Do not overtake unless you are sure it is safe and legal to do so. Overtake only on the right.
268
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.
Edited by Cactussed on Friday 13th May 11:28
Yeah, it's really bugging me, this subject.
Why won't they concentrate on penalising the MLM's and trying to educate the population about lane discipline ?
They're the primary cause of this so called 'anti social driving'.
Ah, hang on.... got it !! They can make more money out of this !! Pah, why didn't I think of that sooner !!!
Why won't they concentrate on penalising the MLM's and trying to educate the population about lane discipline ?
They're the primary cause of this so called 'anti social driving'.
Ah, hang on.... got it !! They can make more money out of this !! Pah, why didn't I think of that sooner !!!
I think it's fairly safe to say that if you're cruising along at 70mph in the inside lane and some prick in the middle lane is doing 60mph for no good reason, and you don't want to carve across two lanes to get by him as you "should", a traffic cop is not going to bother with you. But may well have words with the idiot in the middle lane if he's going to pull anyone from that situation.
Thought I might be re-educated on it at the roadside one day, that seems the logical sequence of events. Remember that the guy in the middle lane absolutely should not be there if he's not overtaking anything.
Thought I might be re-educated on it at the roadside one day, that seems the logical sequence of events. Remember that the guy in the middle lane absolutely should not be there if he's not overtaking anything.
It's careless driving not dangerous driving ie departing from the standards of the reasonably prudent driver or driving without reaonable consideration for other road users.
Dangerous driving is an either way offence which would be prosecuted and requires you to fall far below the required standard.
To be fair, I suspect that transgressions will only be punished if they are blatant and obvious and in my experience, most officers are capable of distinguishing between someone undertaking a MLM and someone driving like a tw*t.
Of course, the overall effect will depend on what the Force policy is in terms of revenue and stats.
Dangerous driving is an either way offence which would be prosecuted and requires you to fall far below the required standard.
To be fair, I suspect that transgressions will only be punished if they are blatant and obvious and in my experience, most officers are capable of distinguishing between someone undertaking a MLM and someone driving like a tw*t.
Of course, the overall effect will depend on what the Force policy is in terms of revenue and stats.
McSam said:
I think it's fairly safe to say that if you're cruising along at 70mph in the inside lane and some prick in the middle lane is doing 60mph for no good reason, and you don't want to carve across two lanes to get by him as you "should", a traffic cop is not going to bother with you. But may well have words with the idiot in the middle lane if he's going to pull anyone from that situation.
Thought I might be re-educated on it at the roadside one day, that seems the logical sequence of events. Remember that the guy in the middle lane absolutely should not be there if he's not overtaking anything.
I think differently.Thought I might be re-educated on it at the roadside one day, that seems the logical sequence of events. Remember that the guy in the middle lane absolutely should not be there if he's not overtaking anything.
Bottom line is, by passing on the left, you're exposing yourself to the risk of the MLM suddenly cutting back to the offside lane - especially if you happen to be in his blind spot.
On that basis, you could still get done. And if there was an accident as a result, you as the driver overtaking in the left lane, would be at fault.
I normally stay in the left lane on the way home, simply because its pretty much desserted. Lane 1 starts at the on-slip that I join at (meaning I don't have to merge with traffic) and ends at the off-slip I leave on, some 5 miles in length which I would assume is why few people bother with the left lane. Normally they are people doing 50 when conditions would allow 60 at least.
So last night, I decide to see if I could get home "by the book", no left lane passing, no cutting up, indicating correctly etc. I made 3 passes on MLMs (L1 > L2 > L3 > L2 > L1), sat in lane 2 behind someone doing 55mph when lane 3 was full and then got fed up. I was about half way home when I started left lane passing again. I reckon it was more dangerous doing 15 lane changes on the way home rather than sticking to my personal left hand lane as per normal.
So last night, I decide to see if I could get home "by the book", no left lane passing, no cutting up, indicating correctly etc. I made 3 passes on MLMs (L1 > L2 > L3 > L2 > L1), sat in lane 2 behind someone doing 55mph when lane 3 was full and then got fed up. I was about half way home when I started left lane passing again. I reckon it was more dangerous doing 15 lane changes on the way home rather than sticking to my personal left hand lane as per normal.
highway code said:
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.
Interesting.. I usually go from 1-3-1 to overtake a MLM sitting at 65 on a motorway when I'm doing 70.Can't win!
You've got options if your on a 3 lane highway, but not on say the Edinburgh City bypass where there's only 2. Always some tossers in L2 overtaking no-one.
I have my usual routine, undertake quickly while putting some charge into my automatic wristwatch.
Don't care if I get flamed
I won't stop.
My other option is to sit like a tit getting stressed out, or tailgate them with lights flashing, which IMO is just wrong. And way more dangerous.
I have my usual routine, undertake quickly while putting some charge into my automatic wristwatch.
Don't care if I get flamed
I won't stop. My other option is to sit like a tit getting stressed out, or tailgate them with lights flashing, which IMO is just wrong. And way more dangerous.
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