Lorrys on the motorway?

[slimjim]

What are the laws regarding lorries and coaches being in the outside lane of a three lane motorway? I thought they weren't allowed there but I see a lot on the M4 these days. Or is it that non-artics and medium-sized coaches are allowed? I don't have a great problem with it but I often see them struggling to come back to lane 2 because they can't see what is inside them (not so much of an issue coming from 2 to 1 because they are usually overtaking something slow which flashes them back in)

[kags]

The rules in the Highway Code state that Goods vehicles with a max. laden weight over 7.5 tonnes, passenger vehicles with the same max. laden weight or adapted to carry 8 or more passengers, plus any vehicle towing a trailer, must not use the right hand lane. I agree that you do see these vehicles in the outside lane pretty often though, not sure how strictly the rule is enforced.

[andy hughes]

It seems none of the motorway rules - lorries in the third lane / tailgating / speeding / overtaking on the left / not cutting up etc. etc. are enforced, or even known by a lot of modern motorweay drivers, making driving on a motorway a Rsussian Roulette-esque experience these days!

[darth vader]

the "overtaking on the left" is a bit of a grey area. The highway code says you are allowed to overtake on the left where a lane to the right of you is queueing. You can argue that by having middle-lane drivers driving along in a line when the inside lane is free, forms a queue and therefore are legally able to "undertake" them on the left. This is what i plan to say to the police man if they ever catch me doing it as i am sick to the back teeth with british driving mentality of not using the inside lane or queuing up in the outside lane when you're clearly not going to get anywhere faster. In France they sound their horn and flash lights and use the "hand sign of common communication" if they catch you middle-laning. Personally i think they should implement the Jeremy Clarkson policy of having police marksmen take out middle-lane drivers, from bridges etc...

[BenDToy]

Well said that heavy breather! And while we're on about it, what about people driving around in the dark with only parking lights on? Are they trying to save electricity or what? And don't get me started on fog lights.....!