Driver's reactions to being undertaken

Chuk_Chuk

Chuk_Chuk

Chuk_Chuk

Soldato
Joined
12 May 2014
Posts
5,392
Today on the way to work and back home, 2 interesting undertaking situations occurred.

The first was on the way to work I accidentally undertook a van (I had not intended to undertake when I pulled into the left lane but took an opportunity I saw). The van driver doesn't like it and closes a 10 m gap to catch up to me (I'm doing 85) he then swerves across 2 lanes of the motorway. Undertakes me and a vehicle in the center lane then swerves all the way back to complete his undertake. This is a large transit van and nearly topples over coming back across. If it wasn't for the fact I knew what he was going to do we would have collided as there was barely enough room for him to fit in, in front of me.

The strange part about it is that after we overtake some cars in the center lane he moves over as if nothing happens and I don't see the van again.

The other situation was on my way home I'm stuck behind a Mercedes and an insignia (insignia at the front). We are doing 70 mph on the outer lane (3 lane carriageway) and the other two lanes a clear no vehicles for about 1 mile or so down the road.

I decide to undertake and just as I start coming up the inside the Mercedes decides to undertake as well. So me and the Mercedes are in the middle lane trying to undertake the insignia who decides to speed up and it ends up being a drag race. I back off, once I get to 85 but the Mercedes and insignia are still going. The Mercedes backs off as there are now cars in the way and he pulls up behind the insignia (I don't hear any horns and I don't see any lights flashing). The insignia overtakes the car that was blocking the Mercedes way and then pulls into the center lane and allows the Mercedes to pass.

I acknowledge that undertaking is technically illegal but I don't understand why drivers hate being overtaken even when they know they are in the wrong lane?
 
I understand the frustration, but these days I just back off. Usually that bundle of traffic disperses and I carry on. You'll be home a few seconds later, but without the frustration.
 
So basically you posted to tell us how you like to undertake at 85mph on the Motorway?

I'm not sure you really thought this one through :p
 
[TW]Fox;27235183 said:
So basically you posted to tell us how you like to undertake at 85mph on the Motorway?

I'm not sure you really thought this one through :p
Click to expand...

Technically I didn't undertake anyone while doing 85 mph.
 
Its perfectly Legal.

As long as traffic conditions support it... and a car hogging the fast lane when middle is clear is a supporting condition
 
Most drivers don't appear to mind it, usually because they're not paying attention to anything going on around them anyway. The problems arise when you blast past on the inside, or come cutting across to get around, then some get irate...
 
Diagro said:
Its perfectly Legal.

As long as traffic conditions support it... and a car hogging the fast lane when middle is clear is a supporting condition
Click to expand...

Indeed!

If all the traffic is moving at toughly the same speed, it doesn't matter which lane you use.
 
When I used to commute on the M25 I'd usually undertake more people than I overtook, just by staying in lanes 1/2 whilst the other lanes constantly brake/accelerate. I used to quite enjoy it, but where I live now lane discipline is so good I think I've only done 2 undertakes in the last 4 months.
 
The M25... urgh! Annoys me at times!. I see thing like that all the time OP. I don't understand why and never want to, I just back off and keep clear.
 
Being on the motorway for 50 mile round trips to work I find myself undertaking every day almost. Early mornings on like a 7am start I dont know if people are still half a sleep but every journey without fail I'll be behind someone in the outside lane just plodding along at 60 and making no attempt to get back in the empty middle lane it's annoying :mad: nothing worse than running late and not being able to make some time up on the motorway .
 
I sympathise OP. I tend to get flashed a lot by the people that are plodding along in the wrong lane and not pulling over. I get frustrated behind them, see a long stretch in the left lane and undertake. This is followed by multiple headlight flashing and/ or swearing.
 
If I get undertook I think "Oh, I clearly shouldn't be in this lane" and move over too the left lane.

EDIT: I remember "undertaking" about 30 cars on the M25 with a police car behind me. Fun times. Don't think anyone bothers on the M25 anymore.
 
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Happens all the time on this roundabout. Most people go in the right hand lane to go straight when the left hand lane goes straight also and seemingly I am the only one who can read the signs and road markings as I regularly undertake 5 or so cars.

Not my fault people can't read the road markings :p
 
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