Undertaking...

Vibez · 21 Jun 2007 at 11:23

Bobbler said:
Every day near enough. The Keynsham bypass near Bristol is a couple miles long stretch of dual carriageway and for some reason numpties feel its necessary to sit in the right hand lane because they are turning right in 2 miles?!? They sit there at 50 oblivious to any other cars on the road at all. Until I buzz them on the inside.

I suspect that's because there's just one slow bugger at the front of the pack in the outside lane and everyone else is correctly adhearing to the highway code and doesn't want to undertake so just sits in the outside lane

stoofa · 21 Jun 2007 at 12:05

As far as I'm aware there isn't a specific offence about undertaking.
I always believed that a fair few years ago the rules were ammended so that if you were in a lane of traffic and simply "keeping up to speed" in that lane then you could legally undertake.
Of course you do so at your own risk - I certainly watch like a hawk any vehicle I undertake in this manner as far too many people simply don't bother with mirrors these days.

Hawk Tuah · 21 Jun 2007 at 12:49

Vibez said:
Thanks Bug One, that really is quite ridiculous though don't you think? I can undertake as long as I move over to the inside lane well in advance... What's the difference to changing lane to undertake? None.

You've got to remember that 'undertaking' is not illegal.

They did say its all to do with how you do it. If you swing from lane 3 to lane 1 and pass a couple of cars then swing straight back into the fast lane, then they'll probably stop you and have a word about your dangerous driving.

If you just pull inside some muppet sitting in the outside lane at 65 then you'll be fine.

therealnerd2 · 21 Jun 2007 at 12:53

Bug One said:
...If you just pull inside some muppet sitting in the outside lane at 65 then you'll be fine.

That may well be classed as careless driving.

lordrobs · 21 Jun 2007 at 15:35

On a day to day basis there is only one place I ever undertake and thats on the A47 approaching the Acle roundabout. For some strange reason people seem to feel the need to pull into the right hand lane to turn right well over a mile before the roundabout even when the roads are almost empty :mad:

Normally I don't bother and just sit behind the moron and contemplate just what disfunction they have that makes them have to sit in the wrong lane.

That chance that as you get level with them they change lanes right into you just makes it not worth it.

MNuTz · 21 Jun 2007 at 15:56

i will only undertake on 3 occasions:

A car is in the centre of the road indicating right and is slowing down or has stopped.

If im in a traffic jam and my lane is moving faster than the lanes to my right.

I will use the left lane of the motorway to undertake IF someone is ising the far right lane and just sitting there. It has happened a few times.

EDIT: on some occassions when the motorway is empty and someone is in the middle lane i come up on their left until im about 2 car lengths away, indicate, overtake them and then indicate left and move back into the left lane. This usually works with them.

Shadez · 21 Jun 2007 at 16:21

There is no such thing as undertaking unless your talking about the preparation of bodies for burial.

Its NOT illegal to over take on the left, but it MIGHT be considered dangerous driving.

gareth.e · 21 Jun 2007 at 16:24

I've noticed me my dad seems to have the right style of carriage way driving.. he usually sits in the left/middle until he approaches cars ahead, move into the right lane and overtakes appropriately, and when the gap is big enough, indicates over to the left again... I seem to have followed in his footsteps

therealnerd2 · 21 Jun 2007 at 16:25

Shadez said:
There is no such thing as undertaking unless your talking about the preparation of bodies for burial.

Its NOT illegal to over take on the left, but it MIGHT be considered dangerous driving.

This is fun this, i just keep repeating the same thing.

Overtaking on the left, overtaking on the inside, or "undertaking" as it is commonly called in britain, is not directly illegal under british law. However it does come under "Careless Driving" and you will be done for it (unless in exceptions as previously talked about, somewhere)

See page 75 of this:
http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/rd_death_manual_v2_2004_updated_19x04x04.pdf

Vibez · 21 Jun 2007 at 16:27

It's just too much of a grey area so I will continue to avoid it where possible

s0ck · 21 Jun 2007 at 20:23

AmaTeX said:
Why? don’t tell me you and every other motorist blindly pulls into the left hand lane.

If you try and understand why undertaking is sometimes necessary you should also have an idea why it is dangerous

Scarfacé · 21 Jun 2007 at 21:14

If someone is sitting in the overtaking lane but not overtaking anything for more than a few moments, then yes, I will drop a cog and undertake as quickly as possible.

[TW]Fox · 21 Jun 2007 at 21:15

Scarfacé said:
If someone is sitting in the overtaking lane but not overtaking anything for more than a few moments, then yes, I will drop a cog and undertake as quickly as possible.

You are as bad as them.