O.K. all of you out there, answer me this one?
I THINK that I know the answer but I’m not sure.
Coming along the M25 clockwise towards to where the M11 joins the M25, on the approach, three lanes become two before opening out to three lanes again after the junction.
QUESTION: Can I overtake something in the two lane section or am I prohibited because it is the “fast lane”?
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yes you can as long as you move back b4 it becomes 3 lanes
taken from the Highway code
The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances)
if you are driving any vehicle drawing a trailer
a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight over 7.5 tonnes
a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver.
Laws MT(E&W)R reg 12 & MT(S)R reg 11A
as you can see it makes no mention of “fast lanes” and only applies to the right hand lane of motorways with more than two lanes
I use this stretch of the M25/Car park five days a week.
If the traffic is light I will go into the 2nd lane when I enter the tunnel before the M11 turn.
Heavy traffic and I will stay in the nearside lane until I reach the signs for the junction.
If I was following a slower vehicle in the 2nd lane then as soon as I reach the dotted line that devides the lanes for the M11 and the M25 I would move into the outside lane to overtake. This is because the M25 has effectively at that moment become a two lane motorway. The nearside lane is now a slip road onto the M11.
As already stated when you reach the on slip from the M11 you must move back into the 2nd lane as soon as possible.
Hope this helps.
This is kind of what I thought, but I always feel a bit uncomfortable stuck out in the outside lane if you know what I mean?
Thanks for the replies…
do you stay in the left lane when on the M11 then?? 
paul
Pretty much, i’ve got an Iveco!!
Steve When you have the Ivecvo its maybe bets to stay as close to the hard shoulder as possible .
flatbedman:
do you stay in the left lane when on the M11 then??paul
To be fair mate the question wasn’t “how many lanes do I use on the M11” but more "what happens if i’m left in the outside (no.3) lane of the M25 if i’m overtaking a truck who stays out (in lane 2) to allow someone from the sliproad. What about that one?
steve0999, twas but a joke about the M11!
i often find myself in the situation you describe, and i just carry on and pull in from 3 to 2, then 2 to 1 when the way is clear.
it would be a very jobsworth traffic cop who considered it an offence!
regards
paul
I agree, if I was in lane 3 and there was a lorry in lane 2 letting a vehicle onto the motorway from the slip road I would either slow down and get in behind him or continue until I was in front of him.
The only other thing I would say is to be aware of what is behind you in lane 3. If you have a queue forming then slow down and get into lane 2. I have on occasions taken some time to get past another lorry!
As for the police I also think that you could have a case for being in lane 3 in the situation you have mentioned.
No offence taken Flatbedman…
jimti:
taken from the Highway code
The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used
if you are driving any vehicle drawing a trailer
a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight over 7.5 tonnes
The above of course does not apply on the M6 southbound passing Keele at 10 oclock at night 
neil46:
yes you can as long as you move back b4 it becomes 3 lanes
Blimey, this is an old thread 
Only move back when it becomes 3 lanes IF SAFE TO DO SO - staying in lane 3 (usually because trapped out there due to circumstances) is NOT ilegal.
steveo999:
or am I prohibited because it is the “fast lane”?
Actually there’s no such thing as the “Fast Lane” 
If there are only 2 lanes it’s a dual carriageway so yes you can use lane 2, it’s lane 3 trucks cannot use, unless directed to by a police officer, such as when a wide load is taking up lane 1 and 2.
All you have to remember with Multi lane highways… We are allowed to use lane two of a dual carriageway but we are not allowed to use lane three of three lanes or lane four of four lanes and so on…
Smee:
All you have to remember with Multi lane highways… We are allowed to use lane two of a dual carriageway but we are not allowed to use lane three of three lanes or lane four of four lanes and so on…
Just to clear this up…
If it is a 3 or more laned MOTORWAY then LGVs CANNOT use the outside lane
If it is a 3 or more laned DUAL CARRIAGEWAY then LGVs CAN use the outside lane
Join the M60 anticlockwise at Bredbury.The ■■■■ lane joins the motorway in the outside lane you try to pull across and the cars speed up amd wont let you all good fun.
johnpirate:
Join the M60 anticlockwise at Bredbury.The ■■■■ lane joins the motorway in the outside lane you try to pull across and the cars speed up amd wont let you all good fun.
That’s the senario I was thinking about when I wrote about it being legal to stay in that lane UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO MOVE IN.
ROG:
See:
All you have to remember with Multi lane highways… We are allowed to use lane two of a dual carriageway but we are not allowed to use lane three of three lanes or lane four of four lanes and so on…Just to clear this up…
If it is a 3 or more lanes MOTORWAY then LG Vs CANNOT use the outside lane
If it is a 3 or more lane DUAL CARRIAGEWAY then LG Vs CAN use the outside lane
Are you being deliberately obtuse