The Complete Guide to Understanding Undertaking on the Roads
Is Undertaking Illegal in the UK?
In the UK, undertaking, or passing a vehicle on the left, is illegal in most situations due to safety concerns. It is only permitted in specific circumstances, such as when traffic is moving slowly in lanes, or a vehicle is turning right. Otherwise, it is considered dangerous and may result in fines or penalties.
Undertaking on the Roads
What’s the definition of undertaking?
Undertaking is a term used to describe the act of passing another vehicle on the left (or nearside) of a multi-lane carriageway or motorway. It is also referred to as ‘overtaking on the left’ in the Highway Code. In the UK, undertaking is illegal in most cases and should not be carried out unless there are exceptional circumstances.
However, some drivers still undertake other vehicles for various reasons. One of the main reasons is that some drivers do not follow the correct lane discipline, which can result in a situation where a driver feels that it is necessary to pass on the left. This type of behaviour is particularly common among drivers who hog the middle lane, and in these cases, it is illegal and can also be dangerous.
Drivers often have legitimate reasons for opting to undertake another vehicle on the road. These reasons may include passing a slow vehicle, preventing congestion in the right-hand lane, or accessing an exit that is solely reachable via the left side of the road.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to recognise that undertaking comes with inherent risks and should be avoided whenever possible. Undertaking has the potential of catching other drivers off guard as well as making it challenging for them to notice approaching traffic, ultimately increasing the likelihood of accidents occurring.
Why you shouldn’t undertake on a motorway
The reason why undertaking is considered dangerous is that drivers who are adhering to the law should be planning to move to the left after passing slower vehicles. If a driver starts to undertake, they increase the likelihood of a collision, as they both move into the same gap. This is especially dangerous as the driver who is being overtaken is not expecting to be passed on the left, and they may not spot the other driver when they move across.
However, there are some circumstances where passing on the left is acceptable or even necessary. If a driver is on a slow-moving motorway where all vehicles are crawling along, it may be necessary to keep up with the vehicle in front. Once traffic starts to flow more freely, the driver must revert to the keep-left principle and overtake on the right.
What is Legal Undertaking?
Undertaking is also acceptable on motorways where average speed limits are in operation. Along these stretches of motorways, overhead gantries will often advise vehicles to ‘stay in lane’. If the lane a driver is in is moving faster than other lanes, it may be safer to pass a car travelling below the average speed limit on the right. This is safer than weaving in and out of the traffic.
Also, if a driver is driving on a two-lane carriageway and a vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, it is acceptable to pass on the left if there is space.
It is worth noting that undertaking is legal in America, but this does not mean that it is acceptable in the UK. In America, the different driving rules are well-established, and everyone’s expectations are the same, so it works. However, in the UK, roads are busier, and there are more frequent junctions, so undertaking is more likely to result in an accident.
Undertaking and the Highway Code
The Highway Code states that drivers should only overtake on the right (Rule 267) and should not overtake on the left or move to a lane on the left to overtake (Rule 268). It also states that 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, drivers may keep up with the traffic in their lane, even if this means passing traffic in the lane to their right, but they should not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.
Additionally, Rule 163 states that drivers should only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so.
If a driver is caught undertaking and the police consider it to be a reckless manoeuvre, they may receive a fixed penalty notice for careless driving or driving without due care and attention. This could result in a minimum of three points on their driving license and a £100 fine.
When may you overtake a vehicle on the left?
Unless there are speed limits in place, or on a duel carriage way where a car is turning right, you should not undertake. Regardless of the varying road conditions, undertaking on the left side holds inherent dangers. Although specific scenarios might seemingly minimise these hazards, it remains crucial to avoid any form of left-side overtake if:
There is a solid white line on the left-hand side of the road.
There is a sign prohibiting overtaking on the left.
The road is narrow or winding.
There is a lot of traffic.
The weather conditions are poor.
Can you undertake a middle lane hogger?
Undertaking a middle lane hogger is not the recommended course of action. This behaviour can prove to be extremely hazardous and is deemed illegal. It is preferred to exercise patience and either switch lanes or wait for the middle lane hogger to relocate. It is of utmost importance to drive with caution and courtesy, as adhering to this guidance can contribute greatly to the safety of both yourself and others on the road. Here are several reasons illustrating why undertaking a centre lane hogger should be avoided:
It is dangerous
When you undertake a middle-lane hogger, your vehicle is in the left lane's blind spot. As a result, the driver of the vehicle in the left lane can fail to notice you and merge into your lane, resulting in a crash.
It is illegal to do so
The majority of nations prohibit undertaking another vehicle. This is because it is regarded as reckless and dangerous driving and can put you and other road users at risk.
It is not required
You will ultimately be able to pass the middle lane hogger safely if you are patient and wait for them to change lanes or change lanes yourself.
Undertaking as a cyclist
Cycling guidelines recommend overtaking vehicles on the right, but this is not always possible in practice. As traffic speeds up, a cyclist may need to move to the left to pass, which poses potential risks. This manoeuvre is known as filtering and is acceptable due to the speed difference between bikes and other vehicles. However, extra caution should be taken when filtering on the left side of heavy goods vehicles as they pose a greater threat to cyclists with larger blind spots.