UK drivers warned: Undertaking on motorways could cost you £100 and add points to your licence
Drivers could be slapped with a hefty GBP100 fine for a particular manoeuvre often seen on motorways. The Highway Code discourages overtaking slower vehicles on the inside, and while undertaking isn't explicitly illegal, drivers caught doing so could face penalties for careless driving. In such cases, motorists might find themselves burdened with a GBP100 fine and three penalty points for irresponsible or dangerous handling of their vehicle.
Certain police forces may propose a driver education course as an alternative. According to Highway Code rule 268: "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." While the Highway Code doesn't specifically prohibit undertaking, it can easily become a perilous action, thereby making it unlawful, reports the Express[1]. If a vehicle is cruising in the middle lane while the lane to its left is clear, the driver could be issued a fixed penalty by the police.
Depending on the situation, any driver undertaking that vehicle on the left could also be penalised. Undertaking refers to the act of overtaking a slower vehicle on the road using the inside lane, which is the lane closest to the kerb. In the UK, this would be the lane to the right of the vehicle being overtaken.
In situations where traffic is heavy and all vehicles are moving at similar speeds, undertaking may become necessary in order to keep up with the flow of your lane, even if it means surpassing vehicles in the right-hand lane.
However, drivers should refrain from darting between lanes to get ahead.
The Highway Code strongly discourages overtaking as a general rule, and crossing three lanes can potentially lead to complications.
References
- ^ the Express (www.express.co.uk)