Can I undertake on the motorway?

I have just bought the latest (2007 edition) Highway Code for guidance on overtaking on the left and find Rules 267 and 268 confusing and conflicting. 267 says overtake only on the right, 268 says don't overtake on the left, then says that in congested conditions if the left lane is going faster than those on the right, one can overtake on the left. As the middle and right hand lanes are often blocked solid, can one stay in the left hand lane and 'undertake' for long stretches, and move into the middle lane if the lane is blocked by a slow moving vehicle? Rule 268 forbids weaving in and out, but how does one define this?

Asked on 29 June 2013 by CB, Fring, Norfolk

Answered by Honest John

Just use your common sense. You can get booked for moving to a lane to the left to undertake. But if you are already in an empty lane on the left, doing 70mph, lanes two, three (and four) are busy, and vehicles in lane two are doing 60mph, it's both dangerous and plain daft to move to lane three to overtake. It's also confused to brake to make sure you don't pass brain-dead members of CLOG in lane two who are doing 60. What you must do at all times, however, is pay constant attention to all three mirrors and use your sixth sense to be aware of cars creeping up on you on both sides.

Tags: highway code undertaking motorways

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