why is undertaking illegal?

[joko]

genuine question and just curious... it seems it is really just the manouvre of an overtake, but on the other side... so why is it so bad?

i know it is illegal so i dont need the legalities, just the actual reason why it was made illegal - why is it dangerous or bad etc?


been on the motorway a lot last few days and witnessed a few people do them, and couldnt really see a problem... they got round the person they wanted to easily enough, and perhaps its better than a bit of intimidating road rage tailgating?

or am i missing something?

thanks

[joko]

jth... so you think drivers should only be aware of whats happening on their rights?

seriously?

[Zeuhl]

joko

i think those are just examples of bad driving joko

ticketable for all sorts of reasons regardless of which side they're on

[Nibble]

Easy, IMHO, all motorways are now covered by cameras, 1. Incorrect use of lanes - not using Lane 1 = piccy from DVLA = £30 fixed penalty, hogging middle lane = piccy from DVLA = £60 + 3 points, end of hogging... Undertaking = piccy from DVLA = £200 + 4-6 points, end of undertaking??? ;-))

[joko]

so from the comments made - it appears the ONLY dangerous thing about undertaking is that drivers dont expect it - not that the actual manouvre itself is dangerous...

[joko]

true cath - but it does happen and it seems that the main reason it is done is by speeders - people for whom the top speed limit is still not fast enough - if done within speed limits it would be a perfectly safe manouvre...

if it was made 'acceptable' and and expected manouvre it would cause no more accidents that pvertaking does...

[joko]

true zeuhl they were just speeders really trying to intimidate and clear their way...

[heathfield]

"Doing 70?" I once watched as an elderly gentleman driving a vintage Rolls Royce was pulled over by traffic police opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge. Other traffic was trying to move more quickly than he was, and they accused him of holding up traffic. "But constable, I was travelling at 30 miles an hour!" I heard him say. "I don't care what your speedometer said, you will keep up with other traffic." retorted the constable.

[ummmm]

That's the rules. If everyone sticks by them we'd be safer.

Like some else says...we have to get off the motorway on the left. You don't want a buffoon like catchthewind deciding to take over at the same time!!

Stick to writing down illegal number plates Doc, you bitter person!

[Zeuhl]

I often undertake middle lane hoggers on the motorway

but i always do so cautiously as i accept they might drift into the nearside at any point

i think a useful rule of thumb is 'always assume the other driver might do something dozy'

[joko]

i do sometimes drive in the middle lane - but only when i know i have to turn off soon and dont know if its going to be a right or left turn, or if i know there is a roundabout coming that i need to go right - safer than keep changing lanes fast.

cant see the point of weaving in and out of the left lane overtaking lorry after lorry

[Zeuhl]

Fair enough joko

it's the drivers who stick in the middle with a nearside lane empty for as far as the eye can see that are the trouble

[joko]

exactly zeuhl you have to expect other drivers to do anything, not necessarily always the right or best thing.

agreed umm...but people dont so you have drive accordingly - and presumably if you are turning of you would be in the left lane already so they couldnt undertake you - you dont exit by suddelnly weaving across 2 lanes...

[ummmm]

I don't understand the issue with driving in the middle lane. Most of the time I spend on motorways the slow (1st) lane is full of lorries.

[joko]

very true ummm... personally i think it should be a slow lane, normal lane and overtaking lane...whats the point of everyone being expected to stay in one lane and seemingly having two to overtake?

driving in the middle lane, assuming you are going at the speed limit does no harm at all - i must say i dont get the anger that people have towards them

[Nibble]

1st lane = normal driving...... 2nd lane = overtaking.....2nd lane + = overtaking, after overtaking you should pull back into lane 1 when safe to do so..

See Highway Code Rule 264, as below

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.


There is NO normal driving lane except Lane 1 - end of!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joko]

but zeuhl if undertaking was 'acceptable' you wouldnt care would you? you would just go round them on either side...and what harm would it do?

also if the left is empty, why do you care what the middle lane are doing?
you can pass them freely so whats the problem?

[joko]

nibble - we all know the rules - not sure why you are posting those links

the rules are not the question here