shuttlespanker:
passing the gritter in lane 1 is NOT undertaking as per the highway code, however, if you are in lane 2, move across to lane 1, pass the gritter, then move back into lane 2, then that is undertaking
Which is not illegal to do
Highway code rule 268:
268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. 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.
So in most circumstances you are expected not to undertake (overtake/pass on the left).
LandyLad:
< SNIP > Unless - maybe if I was following the gritter in the same lane and a bit close, the driver might not be aware of me and if I made a lane change to get past, then that might take him by surprise?
Otherwise getting past is just getting past and if passing is safe then so is overtaking.
Or am I missing something?
I hope your reply helps.
If you were in the same lane as the gritter (lane 2 you said) and a bit close (or not - you shouldn’t be, but it is of no relevance here!) then it would be safe to assume that lane 1 was already occupied or you would be there. Therefore it would not be possible to move into lane 1 without side-swiping whatever is there already.
shuttlespanker:
passing the gritter in lane 1 is NOT undertaking as per the highway code, however, if you are in lane 2, move across to lane 1, pass the gritter, then move back into lane 2, then that is undertaking
Which is not illegal to do
Highway code rule 268:
268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. 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.
So in most circumstances you are expected not to undertake (overtake/pass on the left).
The Highway Code isn’t law, it’s only a guide book. Being expected not to do something doesn’t necessarily make it illegal if you then do it.
And you’re not being pedantic, you have given me exactly the clue I was looking for.
Should only have been in Lane 2 already when behind Gritter IF I was overtaking vehicles in Lane 1 and I shouldnt be doing that with a Gritter flashing orange beacons like mad whilst it was already in Lane 2!!
BTW, it’s not my original post, I was only discussing the niceties of overtaking versus passing - semantics.
shuttlespanker:
passing the gritter in lane 1 is NOT undertaking as per the highway code, however, if you are in lane 2, move across to lane 1, pass the gritter, then move back into lane 2, then that is undertaking
Which is not illegal to do
Highway code rule 268:
268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. 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.
So in most circumstances you are expected not to undertake (overtake/pass on the left).
The Highway Code isn’t law, it’s only a guide book. Being expected not to do something doesn’t necessarily make it illegal if you then do it.
Thankyou.
You’re absolutely 100 percent correct coffeeholic. I couldn’t poke any holes in what you wrote because you used the word “necessarily”. The Highway Code is only a guide book and not the law although it can be used as evidence in court.
