Bloody Lane Hog\'s

[OLSKOOLROTAR]

Well how do I start this,   I was just gonna rant on.

Since its now the new year and everybody has decided to use the outside lane as part of their new year resolution (they kept last years), I\'ve decided on 1 of my own, I\'m now going drive along the hard shoulder on the M62 down to stoke on the M6 and back the same route after work.   Its like a bloody convoy these days there must have been about 20 cars in the outside lane this evening, the middle lane was empty, So I used that, I know your not supposed to under take, but when people dont move over even after you have reminded them (Hi Beam) all you get is the bird symbol. So much for the police clamping down on this "lane hoggers".

Boils my p***, oh well just thought I have my little say

[chrisBoid]

I though that undertaking isn\'t actually illegal, but the police can say it was dangerous driving if that was the case - most times it isn\'t dangerous at all because it happens exactly as it did to you, a load of lane hoggers that you safely bypass.

[oRi]

Possibly totally wrong here but i always thought that you could undertake aslong as you arent exceeding the speed limit to do it.

Stu

[scooby_si]

i always understood it was illegal unless they were slowed by traffic etc sure it\'s in the ole highway code or sumin sumwhere.....http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm46052GB\' target=\'_blank\'>http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_13_3.gif\' border=0>
Si

[chrisBoid]

I don\'t think the highway code is law, but it is a set of standards which we should adhere to. The police use it as a reference to charge people with dangerous driving if they don\'t adhere to it.

[kevint]

It\'s in the highway code but not in itself a criminal offence, but could be used in evidence against you in a court case to establish liability.

Kevin

[jinx]

Some senior officers apparently want it made legal on motorways as it can help ease congestion. Their forces take a suitably lenient view of it as it works perfectly well in the states, although you can get a ticket for weaving from lane to lane.  As it is, in just one circuit of the M25 probably risks the less lenient view being expressed in blue lights several different times.

[93type-x]

If people do that I like to go in the next lane in if its clear and drive past them and shrug my sholders as if to say "what are you all doing there?" then pull in front and do one :spank

[iaint]

It\'s the pulling back into the lane you undertook that a) winds people up (even if they should be in the 1st or 2nd lane! and b) will get you attention from the Bibs.

I sometimes \'pass\' people in the middle lane if I happen to be there and the 3rd lane is moving at less than 70/75.  If it\'s travelling faster than that then, again, some BiB will take exception to you making progress.

Plus many of the \'fast lane\' hoggers are such nimpties there\'s a half decent chance they\'ll randomly change lane on yuo to impede your progress.  their small-minded idea of policing the roads...

[93type-x]

Yeah that is a gamble, but its not so bad in Germany I don\'t think, as all the big cars own the fast lane cos they go fast. You do get the odd pleb in some diesel thing with a queue of mercs and bimmers up his chuff flashing their head lamps.

Si
Bignose

[zevans]

Originally posted by 93type-x
Yeah that is a gamble, but its not so bad in Germany I don\'t think, as all the big cars own the fast lane cos they go fast. You do get the odd pleb in some diesel thing with a queue of mercs and bimmers up his chuff flashing their head lamps.

Si
Bignose

It\'s legal to "undertake" if the traffic in your lane is naturally flowing faster than the traffic in the lane to your right. (So Jinx, it\'s already clearly legal in congested situations.) Has to be really, otherwise what happens at cloverleafs when the demerging motorway is less busy than the main one? EG M602 complex...

 I "undertake" all the time as long I have an escape route - never undertake -and- overtake at the same time (ie nip through in the middle lane) - cos what happens if the iriot in the outside is not only in the wrong lane but not using their mirrors? Plus, people will pull over right in front of you at the last second just to stop you coming through, as iant sez.

I don\'t see how it can be undertake when I haven\'t made any lane changes - that would be my argument if I were stopped.

Germany is better but not perfect - biggest thing that helps there is it\'s illegal for limited lorries to OVERtake each other during the day. France (esp round Paris) and the Milan orbital are highly entertaining. BTW they don\'t flash when up yer ass - they indicate left, as if to say, "well, I WOULD overtake, but I seem to have run out of carriageways." It happens less though because drivers of small cars are much more aware that the big cars want to get past.

Didn\'t have many cars up my arse at 130mph though, I must say.

It\'s not just court cases where the HC matters - it\'s also used to establish fault in insurance claims. Basically, if the insurance co can prove you were not following the HC, they\'ll declare it\'s your fault - even if the other driver was at fault but within HC driving practice.

This does lead to some interesting debates, like passing parked cars when you\'re going uphill... uphill equals right of way but car on your side equals give way...