Muppets 2........

[PAH]

I believe that undertaking is allowed if traffic is queuing? Can anyone confirm this?

I think it's allowed as long as the manouver wasn't conducted to gain an advantage, such as pulling in to undertake. So if you're already in the lane you can undertake.

With the advent of technology hopefully these rules will be relaxed so you can do what you want and the cars will decide when something is unsafe or you're about to collide with a numpty by being a numpty.

[BrilloPad]

Apart from the endless amount of trucks in the inside lane, I really hate the tramlines they create.

So my solution is to travel so fast I'm busy overtaking the middle lane and forget all about the inside one.

It seems this tramlining of the inside lane is a fairly recent thing as I don't recall noticing them about 10 years ago. Are they using poorer grade surfacing, or is it just the increase in heavy goods traffic that's causing it?

I believe there was a plan to make the hard shoulder narrower thus moving the tram lines to a new spot thus saving need for such frequent resurfacing!

[Spacecadet]

You should. I am busy BMW driver.

in the middle lane??
Check your BMW drivers manual, it clearly states than lane 3 (or 4) is reserved exclusively for your driving pleasure. Other lanes should only be crossed when entering or exiting (preferably at the very last second) the motorway

[G8_Summit]

Highway code:

Lane discipline
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. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.


Overtaking
268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.



HTH

[ASB]

I think it's allowed as long as the manouver wasn't conducted to gain an advantage, such as pulling in to undertake. So if you're already in the lane you can undertake.

With the advent of technology hopefully these rules will be relaxed so you can do what you want and the cars will decide when something is unsafe or you're about to collide with a numpty by being a numpty.

It is not *illegal* to overtake on the nearside. The highway code does rule against it but that doesn't have the force of law.

There was a movement about 10 years ago to clarify the situation, this was to state that overtaking on the left was OK in similarly speeded lanes of traffic, however I don't think this was actually adopted.

I imagine there will be a gazillion hits on somewhere like middlelanemorons.

Edit: as pointed out above it did actually make it into the highway code. Must be time to buy one :-)

[Troll]

It seems this tramlining of the inside lane is a fairly recent thing as I don't recall noticing them about 10 years ago. Are they using poorer grade surfacing, or is it just the increase in heavy goods traffic that's causing it?

I first noticed it after the hot hot summer of 2003 & figured the heat had caused the surface to sink

[PAH]

It's probably down to the increase from 32 tons to 40 tonnes to 44 tonnes...

Yeah trucker do seem to be getting bigger. My brother certainly is!

[PAH]

I first noticed it after the hot hot summer of 2003 & figured the heat had caused the surface to sink

Maybe, but it's sank a hell of a lot! You can feel it pulling the wheels around when you drive over them. Can't be safe for some vehicles of a nervous disposition, such as high sided trucks in a high wind.

[PAH]

It is not *illegal* to overtake on the nearside. The highway code does rule against it but that doesn't have the force of law.

There was a movement about 10 years ago to clarify the situation, this was to state that overtaking on the left was OK in similarly speeded lanes of traffic, however I don't think this was actually adopted.

I imagine there will be a gazillion hits on somewhere like middlelanemorons.

Edit: as pointed out above it did actually make it into the highway code. Must be time to buy one :-)

So plod can't actually stop us for undertaking, unless they decide it constitutes dangerous driving?

[Sockpuppet]

It's probably down to the increase from 32 tons to 40 tonnes to 44 tonnes...

Wait till they start trailing the LHVs (Longer Heavier Vehicles). 60 tonnes gross.

In reality it doesnt matter as a 44t lorry pays less RFL (Road Fund Licence) than a 40t lorry based on the fact that a 44t has 6 axles and a 40t only 5.

The weight is being spread over a greater area so it does less damage to the road. Also the axle limits on a 44t lorry are lower than that on a 40t lorry, which afaik can have a driving axle weight of 11500kg where as 44t are (again afaik) 9500kg and 7500kg (as it has a double drive bogey).

What'll really make you smart is the wagon I used to drive for walkers paid £160/year RFL as it was downrated to only 28t gross (as it only carried crisps) so was judged to do no damange to the road ...