Overtaking on the left - illegal or not?

[mattcambs]

The driving test is largely skills focused IMO: can you slip the clutch, do a hill start, reverse round a corner etc.

These are bare minimums before taking a vehicle near anyone else. I am suprised by the number of people in multi-storey or supermarket car parks I see who don't seem to have any ability to make the car go where they want!

But anyway, my point is that the driving test does not cover attitudes. The whole approach to driving: courtesy, responsibility for your own actions, respect for other road users.

This is what is lacking, and making every adult driver shuffle the wheel and check the rear view mirror for 35 minutes every 5 years probably won't do much.

Looking back at the comments here, attitudes to driving have obviously changed in recent years as much as driving has itself.

But the undertaking problem first posted is about drivers not returning to the leftmost lane when they can, and the subsequent re-action of other drivers this causes (bunching in lane 3, and then bowling up lane 1 or 2 and cutting in at the last minute).

I'm not sure what the solution is - unless I ever take over the Country, in which case such driver should be afraid.

On a personal note though, I'm glad to find out I'm not the only driver on IMOC who cuts in front of a middle lane hog after overtaking them correctly.

Ian

Nicely summarised, Ian

Next thread please What about: "people who use the right hand lane to go straight ahead at roundabouts, even though there is only one lane on exit"

[Lauren]

Next thread please What about: "people who use the right hand lane to go straight ahead at roundabouts, even though there is only one lane on exit"

Hmmm interesting i often use the right hand lane to go straight over at roundabouts. The bigger the roundabout, the more likely i'll do it.

I probably wouldn't win any awards for overly courteous driving though.

[Andy Champ]

Next thread please What about: "people who use the right hand lane to go straight ahead at roundabouts, even though there is only one lane on exit"

Hmmm interesting i often use the right hand lane to go straight over at roundabouts. The bigger the roundabout, the more likely i'll do it.

I probably wouldn't win any awards for overly courteous driving though.

For me, this one depends on the traffic levels.

If no-one is about, kiss the apex on the entry, (well, within a foot anyway) ditto the island, and ditto on the exit.

If it's full of cars, stick to the lanes.

Every morning I go around one that has 3 lanes on entry, obviously designed for the left one to go left, the middle one to take the left on the roundabout proper and then go straight, and the right to go right. (4-exit roundabout). Every so often the one in the middle lane goes straight, running up against the island. Fortunately the '2 is nimble enough to dodge!

Andy

[mattcambs]

Yeah, I was only really talking about when there is heavy traffic and/or designated lanes on the approach. When done safely, I have no problem with using a roundabout as a way of overtaking someone who is also going straight ahead. It's when you are approaching a roundbout (left lane to go straight ahead) and someone comes bombing up in the right lane who you just sense is going to go straight ahead too that annoys me. Who has right of way if we're pretty much neck and neck at the single lane exit?

If it is safe to do so, there is nothing I like better than 'kissing the apex'! . In fact I pretty much take a racing-ish line around most corners (staying in lane of course)

[Jode]

as far as im aware under taking is legal, for example on the motorway with it being a 70 you can go past any other lane that cant maintain 70 due to traffic conditions.
sorry if this has been said earlyer, i couldnt be ar$ed to read all 5 pages

[tonigmr2]

Well I was merrily doing a steady 70mph in the middle lane today (overtaking trucks and a copper in a landrover in the inside) when a knob in a Corsa came screaming up in the outside lane easily 80+, saw the cop car in the inside lane and braked (after overtaking me) then proceeded to cruise at 65mph.

Now that was a dilemma, should I undertake right next to a cop car this obvious prat or should I now slow down so I don't...

....


I thought for a second, then feck it I undertook him. Cop car wasn't bothered in the slightest. Indeed, despite the middle lane being empty he then carried on at 60-65 so in the end I was coming up on someone and overtook them in front of him.

T

[LimeyMk1]

This afternoon I will be mostly undertaking and driving like a prize pillock, as I'm borrowing the works Transit (it's white). So I'm allowed, nay, expected to do so!

[JohnnyC]

Well I was merrily doing a steady 70mph in the middle lane today (overtaking trucks and a copper in a landrover in the inside) when a knob in a Corsa came screaming up in the outside lane easily 80+, saw the cop car in the inside lane and braked (after overtaking me) then proceeded to cruise at 65mph.

Now that was a dilemma, should I undertake right next to a cop car this obvious prat or should I now slow down so I don't...

That's not undertaking, that's passing on the inside, there is a difference
And you shouldn't have to brake just because another lane is.

I've 'passed on the inside' of a van in lane 2, with a police car behind me.
Flashed the van a couple of times (within the space of a minute, so not aggressive ) Decided due to the long tightly bunched queue of cars in lane 3 trying to get past him that it was safer to just continue in lane 1 - which I did. Police did nothing, and quite rightly so. They should've done something about the van though

The thing to watch for though in this situation is for cars overtaking in lane 3 that then (correctly) move over into lane 1.

[Lauren]

Yeah, I was only really talking about when there is heavy traffic and/or designated lanes on the approach. When done safely, I have no problem with using a roundabout as a way of overtaking someone who is also going straight ahead. It's when you are approaching a roundbout (left lane to go straight ahead) and someone comes bombing up in the right lane who you just sense is going to go straight ahead too that annoys me. Who has right of way if we're pretty much neck and neck at the single lane exit?

If it is safe to do so, there is nothing I like better than 'kissing the apex'! . In fact I pretty much take a racing-ish line around most corners (staying in lane of course)

Yep, but surely you do the same when you use the right hand lane.
The right hand lane though is for going straight ahead too, not just turning right unless its designated as such.

Must admit i take a line through any roundabout corner. If its clear enough i will always cross the lanes or use the other side of the road. If its a big roundabout i might cross three lanes when i'm straightening it out. I do much the same on corners on dual carriageways, ie if its clear i will take a line to smooth it out.

Mark always moans at me if i'm on the other side of the road when cars are (in the distance) coming the other way as he reckons it scares them. As long as i'm not impeding their progress i don't worry about it.

[Ian Geary]

Next thread please What about: "people who use the right hand lane to go straight ahead at roundabouts, even though there is only one lane on exit"

To me it would depend on:

how many cars in the left lane are turning left? (assumming they are indicating)

is the lane specifically marked right only?

how wide the island was?

how long the queue was in the left lane?


Luckily the 2 has the ability to nip round poeple easily, but there's always thr risk of some Sunday driver being in the left lane, and wanting to go right, cutting across you.

No doubt it would be your fault too, of course.

Ian

[SB]

There is a roundabout near me with two exits. On a certain approach one is at about 30-40 degrees, and one at about 270 degrees. Each exit is a single lane, and there are two lanes on this approach to the roundabout.

It always amazes me how many people will use the left lane for the 2nd exit, and even more so how many people will cut across or swear at you for using the other lane...