Are caravans allowed in the outside lane? I thought not…
Today I saw one in the outside lane of the M25, just at the junction with the M1, heading eastbound.
I say heading eastbound, it wasn’t actually going anywhere as it was stationery, unaccompanied by it’s parent vehicle. What I assume to be the towing vehicle which appears to have dropped it on it’s one little knee, in the fast lane, had somehow then manoeuvred to its rear to do I don’t know quite what.
Later on today I say two motorway maintenance vehicles in the outside lane, in convoy, the first one towing a trailer, and both doing a fair lick.
It depends on how many lanes there are on the section of motorway you saw them on, if the inside lane was a slip to an adjoining road and their road became a 2 lane section then they have every right to be there (albeit for probably only a short stretch) assuming they know how to read road markings.
I had a transit towing a caravan pull out into the 3rd lane the other day to let me into lane 2. I wasn’t complaining as he’s the one doing it and if he gets caught that’s his tough luck, should know the rules of the road better.
Any towing vehicle is not allowed in the 3rd lane of a motorway, 7.t ton truck are also no longer allowed in 3rd lane iirc. I also think coaches are also banned from using the 3rd lane as well but try telling them that lol
The law in the UK is plain and simple. If the motorway has 3 or more lanes each direction, vehicles over 7.5 tones and trailers of any type are prohibited from the 3rd lane or higher.
simcor:
Any towing vehicle is not allowed in the 3rd lane of a motorway, 7.t ton truck are also no longer allowed in 3rd lane iirc. I also think coaches are also banned from using the 3rd lane as well but try telling them that lol
You’re assuming that all motorways are 3 lanes. If it’s 4 lanes then a towing vehicle can use the 3rd.
The rule is towing vehicles, coaches, and anything over 7.5t cannot use the outside lane of a motorway with 3 or more lanes
Pat Hasler:
The law in the UK is plain and simple. If the motorway has 3 or more lanes each direction, vehicles over 7.5 tones and trailers of any type are prohibited from the 3rd lane or higher.
I had an artic overtake me in lane 3 coming up Lancaster yesterday morning. I was on limiter overtaking another truck and he must have got impatient…tbf I did not take that long to overtake, but he was obviously in some kind of rush, and could not spare another 15 seconds …probably a bend over type when his boss told him to get there by x o clock at all costs.
Was not too bothered tbh,it was his licence not mine, but just to cap it off he cut in on me which made me want to kneecap the ■■■■■.
Pat Hasler:
The law in the UK is plain and simple. If the motorway has 3 or more lanes each direction, vehicles over 7.5 tones and trailers of any type are prohibited from the 3rd lane or higher.
Plain and simply incorrect.
M621 as you drop into Leeds. HGV allowed in all 3 lanes
robroy:
I had an artic overtake me in lane 3 coming up Lancaster yesterday morning. I was on limiter overtaking another truck and he must have got impatient…tbf I did not take that long to overtake, but he was obviously in some kind of rush, and could not spare another 15 seconds …probably a bend over type when his boss told him to get there by x o clock at all costs.
Was not too bothered tbh,it was his licence not mine, but just to cap it off he cut in on me which made me want to kneecap the ■■■■■.
Had a Dutchman elephant racing me in lane 4 on the M25 Friday
Pat Hasler:
The law in the UK is plain and simple. If the motorway has 3 or more lanes each direction, vehicles over 7.5 tones and trailers of any type are prohibited from the 3rd lane or higher.
Plain and simply incorrect.
M621 as you drop into Leeds. HGV allowed in all 3 lanes
Yeh ok, but it’s like everything else aint it…‘‘Unless otherwise stated’’ same on a couple of junctions off the M8, where you leave the M way from the outside lane.
Think that Pat was speaking generally, and I reckon he is right.
Where do speed limiters come into this? I remember driving a limited Vivaro, and I remember someone saying about speed limited vehicles and the outside lane. I’m not really sure where the logic is in that, it was limited to 68mph, so a restriction would only serve to accommodate people speeding.
Pat Hasler:
The law in the UK is plain and simple. If the motorway has 3 or more lanes each direction, vehicles over 7.5 tones and trailers of any type are prohibited from the 3rd lane or higher.
Plain and simply incorrect.
M621 as you drop into Leeds. HGV allowed in all 3 lanes
M6 north, just past gate 11! Allowed up the slip to enter onto M6 toll! thank you.
Here’s what the highway code says: Rule 265
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 exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter
a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 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
a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter.
The above is the highway code version of the laws set out in the various Motorway acts and amendments
Point 2 above refers to 7.5t vehicles made after October 2001 which have had to have a speed limiter fitted (sometimes retrospectively).
simcor:
Any towing vehicle is not allowed in the 3rd lane of a motorway, 7.t ton truck are also no longer allowed in 3rd lane iirc. I also think coaches are also banned from using the 3rd lane as well but try telling them that lol
You’re assuming that all motorways are 3 lanes. If it’s 4 lanes then a towing vehicle can use the 3rd.
The rule is towing vehicles, coaches, and anything over 7.5t cannot use the outside lane of a motorway with 3 or more lanes
That is quite obvious and I assume anyone with half a brain to know that motorways only had 3 lanes in the UK until recent years where more have been extended to 4 lanes.
Widened to 4 lanes to increase traffic capacity yet people just take up more capacity because they won’t keep left or keep far too large distances between vehicles in front, so it generally doesn’t help half as much as it should have with the extra capacity.
Maybe we should say the “outside lane” rather than lane 3 to avoid any confusion then.
There are a few exceptions: When overtaking a wide load for example; or when what looks like a four lane motorway is really two two lane (or more) motorways running parallel and about to divide.
Santa:
There are a few exceptions: When overtaking a wide load for example; or when what looks like a four lane motorway is really two two lane (or more) motorways running parallel and about to divide.
Oh thanks for that , I didn’t know you could go into lane 3 to overtake a wide load , been sat there thinking how do all these lot get away with it , when I could of been doing it as well , oh well at least I know now
…probably a bend over type when his boss told him to get there by x o clock at all costs.
just past gate 11! Allowed up the slip to enter onto M6 toll! 
thank you.