Undertaking.....

[irocfan]

A serious question here...

If (and I'll accept it's a big if!!) my understanding is correct you are not allowed to deliberately undertake HOWEVER if you are 'going with the flow of traffic' then it is permissable... given the threads about MLMs etc if I'm happily cruising @ 70ish on the inside lane and features in the middle lane is pootling along @ 60ish are you justified in just going straight past - or is it still a nono and you've got to pull across 3 lanes of traffic because some bd fkwit thinks it's their right to sit in the middle lane (or even 'fast lane')?

Any BiBs able to comment on this?

[SS2.]

There is no specific offence of undertaking 'passing on the nearside', but the manner in which such a manoeuvre was undertaken may be capable of amounting to careless / inconsiderate / etc..

[SuperchargedVR6]

Didn't America also have this issue of poor lane discipline, so legalised 'undertaking' so that all lanes could be fully utilised to ease traffic flow? It would make sense to do that here too.

Too many people are afraid of the consequences of undertaking, so just sit there in the OSL like lemmings. And when someone does use the inside lane, oh look, everyone in the OSL bunches up to block him in.

For Sale: 100 mile stretch of Dual Carriageway. Mint inside lane.

[Big_Dog]

My view is that if I can safely go past on the inside then the problem is with the MLMs driving not mine. If they were driving correctly then I shouldn't be able to pass inside.

[HTP99]

If I am in lane 1 at a steady 65-70, which is generally the speed I do on a motorway, and there is a middle lane hogger going slower than myself then I will usually just stay there and breeze past on the N/S.

I think it is far more dangerous and bloody inconvenient aswell, to pull across into lane 3 and then have to match the speed of everyone in that lane to manouvre round one car and back into lane 1, particularly if it is busy, it also buggers up my fuel comsumption too.

I have been told, by a Policeman, that you will only get into trouble passing on the N/S if you are one of these erratic drivers who weaves in and out at great speed, undertaking and overtaking.

[John145]

On the M25 I treat it as 2 separate motorways, the inside 2 lanes being one and the outside 2/3 being another.

[Ozzie Osmond]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Didn't America also have this issue of poor lane discipline, so legalised 'undertaking' so that all lanes could be fully utilised to ease traffic flow? It would make sense to do that here too.

Not really true. Yes, on multi-lane city main roads and freeways it's something of a free-for-all. But once you get out on the open road they pay just as much attention to "Slower Traffic Keep Right" as anyone else, even ercting regular signs to that effect.

The best way to get into trouble with Bib in any country is "weaving" at high speed. Sensible driving seems to be recognised as such in UK, presumably because its at the end of the day more dangerous to have a queue of frustrated drivers than for the numpty to be treated as a witless chicane. I'd love to see some of them ticketed though.

[NISaxoVTR]

HTP99 said:

I have been told, by a Policeman, that you will only get into trouble passing on the N/S if you are one of these erratic drivers who weaves in and out at great speed, undertaking and overtaking.

I have been told, by a Policeman, that I must pay him thirty english pounds after cruising past a MLM in the inside lane on a deserted motorway late at night, no weaving involved. So it seems weaving out to lane three and back into one is plods prefered method.

[y2blade]

NISaxoVTR said:

HTP99 said:

I have been told, by a Policeman, that you will only get into trouble passing on the N/S if you are one of these erratic drivers who weaves in and out at great speed, undertaking and overtaking.

I have been told, by a Policeman, that I must pay him thirty english pounds after cruising past a MLM in the inside lane on a deserted motorway late at night, no weaving involved. So it seems weaving out to lane three and back into one is plods prefered method.

Another PH Myth Busted!

[SuperchargedVR6]

Ozzie Osmond said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Didn't America also have this issue of poor lane discipline, so legalised 'undertaking' so that all lanes could be fully utilised to ease traffic flow? It would make sense to do that here too.

Not really true. Yes, on multi-lane city main roads and freeways it's something of a free-for-all. But once you get out on the open road they pay just as much attention to "Slower Traffic Keep Right" as anyone else, even ercting regular signs to that effect.

The best way to get into trouble with Bib in any country is "weaving" at high speed. Sensible driving seems to be recognised as such in UK, presumably because its at the end of the day more dangerous to have a queue of frustrated drivers than for the numpty to be treated as a witless chicane. I'd love to see some of them ticketed though.

Yeah that's what I meant. Having sat in traffic in LA, seeing all lanes being used and no one getting the hump, I was thinking surely the M25 would benefit from a free-for-all, even if just during peak hours?

And by consequences, I meant from the person being undertaken, not from the rozzers.

[SS2.]

NISaxoVTR said:

I have been told, by a Policeman, that I must pay him thirty english pounds after cruising past a MLM in the inside lane on a deserted motorway late at night, no weaving involved.

Did he tell you why he was lightening your wallet by thirty sheets ?

[masermartin]

FWIW I have found that my journeys on the motorways and dual carriageways of this fair isle have become significantly less stressful since I started passing MLM's on the nearside.

[Gixer]

I chatted to a bike cop about this years ago. His response was that it's far safer to go under than move out 2 or even 3 lanes and then all the way back in again. I maintain my speed and go under, unless I don't have an escape route because something is on the hard shoulder etc. I'll then move out to overtake and back in or wait until there is an escape route again.

Constant lane swapping to make progress won't go down well though

[collateral]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Didn't America also have this issue of poor lane discipline, so legalised 'undertaking' so that all lanes could be fully utilised to ease traffic flow? It would make sense to do that here too.

Not really true. Yes, on multi-lane city main roads and freeways it's something of a free-for-all. But once you get out on the open road they pay just as much attention to "Slower Traffic Keep Right" as anyone else, even ercting regular signs to that effect.

The best way to get into trouble with Bib in any country is "weaving" at high speed. Sensible driving seems to be recognised as such in UK, presumably because its at the end of the day more dangerous to have a queue of frustrated drivers than for the numpty to be treated as a witless chicane. I'd love to see some of them ticketed though.

Yeah that's what I meant. Having sat in traffic in LA, seeing all lanes being used and no one getting the hump, I was thinking surely the M25 would benefit from a free-for-all, even if just during peak hours?

And by consequences, I meant from the person being undertaken, not from the rozzers.

Some states permit undertaking and others don't, so saying 'America allows it' is wrong.

[Beefmeister]

After driving on the freeways in Miami recently, the idea of legalising undertaking is absurd. It was a complete free for all, cars going everywhere at all speeds and with zero discipline. It was absolutely terrifying.

And for anyone who thinks I'm a big girl, I've lived and driven daily in Turin and Delhi, the experience in Miami was much worse due to the much higher speeds involved.

[PistonSmegs]

Big_Dog said:

My view is that if I can safely go past on the inside then the problem is with the MLMs driving not mine. If they were driving correctly then I shouldn't be able to pass inside.

I agree with this.

[Bonefish Blues]

masermartin said:

FWIW I have found that my journeys on the motorways and dual carriageways of this fair isle have become significantly less stressful since I started passing MLM's on the nearside.

This too. Now routine for me, esp. on the 4-lane stretches where the MLMs now inhabit L3, giving me a buffer lane.

[Ari]

NISaxoVTR said:

I have been told, by a Policeman, that I must pay him thirty english pounds after cruising past a MLM in the inside lane on a deserted motorway late at night, no weaving involved. So it seems weaving out to lane three and back into one is plods prefered method.

Don't confuse them with the facts...

[mike9009]

Ari said:

NISaxoVTR said:

I have been told, by a Policeman, that I must pay him thirty english pounds after cruising past a MLM in the inside lane on a deserted motorway late at night, no weaving involved. So it seems weaving out to lane three and back into one is plods prefered method.

Don't confuse them with the facts...

Seriously - what are the facts!?? As usual it is all rumour and banter. Any BiB or links to what the law says on this?

I have taken to undertaking MLMs (ie. staying in Lane 1) but always used to go round and back - but consider this more dangerous than the undertake now....

[SS2.]

mike9009 said:

Seriously - what are the facts!??

Fundamentally, that passing on the nearside does not create a specific offence.