gizze Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Just recently I have been getting really jarred off with the amount of idiots who sit in both the middle and the outside lane, leaving the inside lane completely empty. So I have started to undertake, alot. But am I in the wrong or not? I am not darting in and out of lanes, I am just sitting on the inside lane and overtaking on the odd occasion when I come across another car in that lane (very rare). I just sit there doing 80-85mph and watch all the people tailgating each other in the overtaking lane fade into the distance. The reason I ask is I can see people shaking their heads in disgust as if I am in the wrong, but am I? Surely I am driving correctly and everyone else is in the wrong? What do you all reckon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouse Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Very very very very rarely. And it's usually because people are pissing around in the fast lane. It is very dangerous though. A guy at my dad's work did it with some chavs who were mucking around, he ended up crashing and killing himself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I'm with you mate. I'm sure it's officially an illegal manouvre,but if you spend any amount of time on the M1 and M25 I'm sure in the end most people that have any idea behind the wheel will do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 It's against the law mate, as simple as. I've done it, usually out of frustration but then end up thinking "WTF are you risking your licence for?" Just not worth it IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I wouldn't shake my head in disgust, but you might find I happen to close the gap so you can't pull back out in front of me... I tend to sit back and relax - I'll quite often pull in to lane 1 and let them bunch up like the lemmings they are, but I'll probably more or less maintain pace with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Agree with you Gizze.. I don't make it my normal style of driving, but if I don't cut people up, and am not weaving in/out of traffic etc. then I will maintain speed in the lane i am in.... (and let the volvo/merc driver continue to hold everyone up in lane 3) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I wonder if views have changed from about a year ago. I find myself doing it from time to time, especially when the M25 widens to five lanes, I'm on the inside and the only other traffic is in lanes 4 and 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 By the way, I'd only ever undertake at any speed with a clear lane between myself and the traffic (i.e. they're in lane 3, I'm in lane 1 and lane 2 is clear). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaddyDub Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 It is illegal but Im not adverse to doing it. Anyone who has been to Portugal will understand how dangerous it can get though if everyone does it all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 The main danger in the UK is that the lemmings don't think to check if lanes 1 and 2 are clear when they decide to pull across from lane 3 100 yards before their exit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Ah but you guys have four or five lane M-ways. Here in Switzerland we only have two-lane ones, yet get loads of people undertaking in heavy traffic. People in the outside lane then accelerate to close the gap - I can't emphasize enough how dangerous it is... And all for what? Saving five or 10 minutes maximum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Highway Code is quite clear. Para 242 says: "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 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." So what does that mean?? Does it mean you can stay in the inside lane or not? It makes it sound more like you are not allowed to jump from lane 3 to lane 2 to get passed someone and then back again. I really do think there should be adverts on TV to teach people the basics and more importantly to think of others, we could bring back Charlie to do it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I do. Only after giving people a fair amount of time to shift out the way though. If there's someone in lane 2 on an otherwise clear motorway, I'll approach in lane 1, pull behind them, wait a short while to see if they move, if they don't I pull to lane 3 to overtake, and then straight back to lane 1 to make a point. Unless I'm feeling a little more fiesty then I just plough up lane 1 to make a point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torino101 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I try to avoid it in most instances - but have found myself doing in out of frustration, when some plonker is doing 45mph welded to the middle lane of the motorway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torino101 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] If there's someone in lane 2 on an otherwise clear motorway, I'll approach in lane 1, pull behind them, wait a short while to see if they move, if they don't I pull to lane 3 to overtake, and then straight back to lane 1 to make a point. [/ QUOTE ] Oh yes - I do this ALOT, make it absolutly obvious by moving dramatically from lane 1 to 3 and back to 1 to make sure they have realised the inconvenience they are causing other drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 One thing I have noticed is when you do cruise passed someone in the inside lane they do tend to then pull over, it makes them actually think 'why I am I sitting in the middle lane?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 The trouble is, if you pass on the inside and some prat decides he's not having it and pulls in on you, any resulting collision is your fault as you shouldn't have been passing him on that side. Might be unfair, but that's how it is. Not worth the risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skifly Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 the real irritating one is when you are in a bunch, clear inside lanes so you pull in matching speed of traffic so i then have a big braking distance etc so safer. Then Mr Beemer driver will watch and close the gap right up as soon as you indicate to go back out to overtake something - i didnt undertake and i looked out for safety of others and they then get all agressive about it. Feckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The trouble is, if you pass on the inside and some prat decides he's not having it and pulls in on you, any resulting collision is your fault as you shouldn't have been passing him on that side. Might be unfair, but that's how it is. Not worth the risk. [/ QUOTE ] Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 That depends how the law is interpreted. IIRC, if the traffic is travelling at less than 60mph it's not illegal, and if you are following natural progress for your lane, again it is not illegal. So if I'm the only one in my lane, and I'm doing 70mph in lane 1, and there's someone in lane 2 doing less speed than me... nah I wouldn't get away with that one would I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] That depends how the law is interpreted. IIRC, if the traffic is travelling at less than 60mph it's not illegal, and if you are following natural progress for your lane, again it is not illegal. So if I'm the only one in my lane, and I'm doing 70mph in lane 1, and there's someone in lane 2 doing less speed than me... nah I wouldn't get away with that one would I? [/ QUOTE ] I think it would be very hard to prosecute you, as long as there is traffic in the lane ahead you can just argue that you are staying in your lane and keeping up with traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtl Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I would only undertake in exceptional circumstances (someone sitting at 55 mph in outside lane with a long clear road in front of them, for example). Similarly, I always stick to the correct lane when approaching roundabouts, unlike many of the people I see on my daily commute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Yes i have done it, when pushed by some stupid prat hogging the other lanes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I undertake but only after assessment and a fair amount of time behind the offending car. I give them the chance to move into the insider lane, flash them to move inside and should they still persist then do the maneouvre in the knowledge they ain't going to move over. On motorways when you can see them half a mile away on the middle lane again I'll flash them to move inside but normally hey don't so I continue along the inside to make an example but invariably they are still in the middle lane when they are a meer spec in my rear view mirror. Sheer laziness IMO and they should be prosecuted and ordered to retest. It probably significantly accounts for congestion on the roads today because of poor lane discipline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Nope, for one simple reason; if a driver isn't aware enough to check their rear view mirror and realise that they're holding people up then are they going to be aware enough to check their inside when they suddenly lane change??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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