To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?
Suedehead:
To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?
The way I see it is that it became a 2 lane motorway, as long as you dont go overtaking Tomas, Dariuz and Malik after the obstruction is passed 
Wheel Nut:
Suedehead:
To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?The way I see it is that it became a 2 lane motorway, as long as you dont go overtaking Tomas, Dariuz and Malik after the obstruction is passed
What, no Willi?
Suedehead:
To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?
No it is not legal unless a police officer, traffic officer or signs instruct/permit it.
The lane 1 closure is temporary so lane 1 is still part of the carriageway.
I agree with snafu, the fact that lane one of a three lane motorway is temporarily closed doesn’t mean you can legally use lane three.
snafu:
Suedehead:
To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?No it is not legal unless a police officer, traffic officer or signs instruct/permit it.
The lane 1 closure is temporary so lane 1 is still part of the carriageway.
Well following that train of thought to its logical conclusion.
The L1 & L2 closure is temporary, so L1 & L2 are still part of the carriageway…therefore it would be illegal to continue any further in L3.
if lane 1 & 2 are closed there’s normally a contra flow with signs indicating which lanes are prohibited for over 6’6" wide. I’d say you should never use lane 3 unless its an emergency, an accident blocking 1 & 2 would be classed as am emergency.
The M20 entrance slip off the M25 toward Dover was closed one day, traffic was diverted right down to the Godstone 20 to turn and go back to M20 via the M26. As one can imagine it caused bloody chaos!!
I ended up in clackett lane dump, whilst i was in there i got chattin to a traffic plod and said about using lane three, he said yeah use it if lane one is backed up onto motorway, it cuts down on congestion!
Ive used lane 3 at M6/M5 split southbound, used lane 3 at M25/A21 split. And as someone pointed out, used lane 3 when 1 and 2 are closed, didn’t feel like knocking a load of cones and workmen everywhere because 1 and 2 are still part of the carriageway!!! lol Silly thing to say snafu lol
Disclaimer: It was his (plod) advice. thus, it doesn’t mean every copper in the land will agree! So don’t come to me if you get ya collar felt.
Yes it is 100% legal. I’ve seen the same question in the magazines and it was answered in there.
That Beverley Bell would see it different. She would do you for driving in lane one, two, or three.
So, I am following one of these down the M1
According to Snafu, I cannot overtake it if it means me going into the 3rd lane so all the lorries must follow behind until it reaches its destination.
At least the Scania can probably maintain a decent speed and wont annoy anyone too much.
However this one looks a little more precarious and maybe slower.
Bloody hell
What if one of those drivers decided to stop for a pi55? 
i have used lane 3 when inside lane closed for road works as well never been pulled in 15 years and had plod behind and in front on too many times to say never had a problem even overtaken them as well.
limeyphil:
Yes it is 100% legal. I’ve seen the same question in the magazines and it was answered in there.
AGREED
I think you’ll find that it comes down to - What is reasonable to do in the circumastances
Wombles don’t know jack ■■■■. Think they know it all (like me 
) but are just wannabe coppers. Don’t listen to them.
I do have the definitive answer, but I will save it for later Marcus Tandy also knows the answer.
Rob K:
Wombles don’t know jack [zb]. Think they know it all (like me
To be fair, they do know something.
The know how to make use of the things that they find, the things that the everyday folk leave behind.
The Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982
12(1) This Regulation applies to:
(a) a goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,
(aa) a goods vehicle:-
(i) having a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, and
(ii) to which regulation 36B of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986[4] applies or would apply but for paragraph (14)(a) or (b) of that regulation;"; and
(b) a passenger vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes;
(bb ) a passenger vehicle -
(i) which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, and
(ii) to which regulation 36A of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (Speed limiters) applies or would apply but for paragraph (13)(a) or (b) of that regulation
(c) a motor vehicle drawing a trailer and
(d) a vehicle which is a motor trailer, a light locomotive or a heavy.
12(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) below, no vehicle to which this Regulation applies shall be driven or moved or stop or remain at rest on the right hand or offside lane of a length of carriageway which has three or more traffic lanes at any place where all the lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction.
12(3) The prohibition contained in paragraph (2) above shall not apply to a vehicle while it is being driven on any right hand or offside lane such as is mentioned in that paragraph in so far as it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven to enable it to pass another vehicle which is carrying or drawing a load of exceptional width.
12(4) Nothing in this regulation shall have effect so as to require a vehicle to change lane during a period when it would not be reasonably practicable for it to do so without involving danger of injury to any person or inconvenience to other traffic.
Advice from a serving Policeman.
When you’re reading legislation you have to take every word literally, because that’s how it works and that’s just how a court will see it.
Taking Section 12(3) literally then it’s fairly clearly stating that the only time an LGV can use lane 3 is to pass a load of exceptional width… one occupying lane 1 and a part or all of lane 2 would seem to be indicated - in other words what would normally be thought of as an abnormal load and possibly requiring a police ■■■■■■. There is no provision for an LGV to pass a slow moving vehicle which does not meet the ‘exceptional width’ requirement as I read it.
Section 12(4) is just telling you that you can use lane 3 in an emergency, e.g. to avoid an accident, or when practicality indicates you should, e.g. passing the scene of an accident with other lanes closed.
If Marcus Tandy remembers this thread I think he may agree that the law is not 100% clear on Dual Carriageways,and that will then wake up Coffeholic who has a view about 3 lane dual carriageways. 
One other thing pointed out was that when a Gritter is working in the middle lane, trucks are actively encouraged to pass it as it will help to grind the salt. So which side should you pass?
snafu:
Suedehead:
To use lane three of a motorway in a Hgv when lane one is closed due to roadworks/accident?
I always have done so but not sure if its legal?No it is not legal unless a police officer, traffic officer or signs instruct/permit it.
The lane 1 closure is temporary so lane 1 is still part of the carriageway.
You seriously need to check out your facts. What you have said is totally wrong. If lane one is closed off a HGV is entitled to use either of the remaining two lanes. Its late and i’m not looking for a link now, but i’ll get it if you need it and someone doesn’t produce it beforehand. Given your occupation you should pay a little more attention to facts than the rest of us drivers if you are going to quote whats legal and what is not.
Well I will stand corrected if I am wrong 
But the original question was if lane 1 is closed for roadworks or an accident not passing abnormal loads.
I also said unless signs instruct otherwise so in the case of a 1 and 2 closure they would.
I understand what ROG is saying about what is reasonable and there may be case law that supports that. However what is reasonable is what the court says it is. How many times have we heard “I’ve been past a copper loads of times doing it” until they came across one that was having a bad day.
As for I should know the law. Maybe I should. But then I don’t enforce it. Maybe just as well, but then maybe I don’t want to
Mind you Wombles don’t know nothin as they are all wannabes.
However I am happy to be corrected 
Mike-C:
You seriously need to check out your facts. What you have said is totally wrong. If lane one is closed off a HGV is entitled to use either of the remaining two lanes. Its late and i’m not looking for a link now, but i’ll get it if you need it and someone doesn’t produce it beforehand. Given your occupation you should pay a little more attention to facts than the rest of us drivers if you are going to quote whats legal and what is not.
Ye right, I’d like to see the link if you don’t mind.
OH it’s OK, someone else has pasted information from it before you posted
Now back to the real debate:
12(3) The prohibition contained in paragraph (2) above shall not apply to a vehicle while it is being driven on any right hand or offside lane such as is mentioned in that paragraph in so far as it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven to enable it to pass another vehicle which is carrying or drawing a load of exceptional width.
12(4) Nothing in this regulation shall have effect so as to require a vehicle to change lane during a period when it would not be reasonably practicable for it to do so without involving danger of injury to any person or inconvenience to other traffic.
Wheel Nut:
Section 12(4) is just telling you that you can use lane 3 in an emergency, e.g. to avoid an accident, or when practicality indicates you should, e.g. passing the scene of an accident with other lanes closed.
As I see it, 12(4) means that the regulation doesn’t require you to change lanes unless it’s practical and safe to do so.
However, this does seem to suggest that it may not be illegal to use the outside lane if all the lanes are not open on a length of carriageway that has three or more lanes.
12(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) below, no vehicle to which this Regulation applies shall be driven or moved or stop or remain at rest on the right hand or offside lane of a length of carriageway which has three or more traffic lanes at any place where all the lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction.
Unfortunately I’ve been unable to find a link to the whole of “The Motorways Traffic regulations 1984” 