A little off topic, is it legal to use the third lane if there are roadworks in lane one.
johnny142:
A little off topic, is it legal to use the third lane if there are roadworks in lane one.
Perfectly legal
ROG:
johnny142:
A little off topic, is it legal to use the third lane if there are roadworks in lane one.Perfectly legal
Thought that but was not sure. Passed a lorry in roadworks the other night he was a little annoyed at me to say the least, but was 99% sure I was legal to do so. Thanks
johnny142:
A little off topic, is it legal to use the third lane if there are roadworks in lane one.
Yes, it was discussed in this thread some time ago.
I usually pass on the inside but would do whatever I thought safest at the time.
However, last night I counted gritters and snow ploughs (easier than counting snowflakes!). Between M42 J6 and M4 J47 I saw 21 going in the opposite direction and only 3 going my way. I also noticed that going up to Brum although the signs all the way up the M5 & M42 said “Salt Spreading” there wasn’t a gritter in sight anywhere. Is this a new policy to save salt? Put it on the matrix signs and everyone believes it has been done?
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
Except in “prescribed circumstances”. There is no single definition of this.
So, in the mind of anyone with common sense, Passing a gritter in lane 3 would be fine.
If the police were within view, i’d still do it, and i have no doubt whatsoever that i wouldn’t get pulled for it.
limeyphil:
The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are drivingany 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 limiterExcept in “prescribed circumstances”. There is no single definition of this.
So, in the mind of anyone with common sense, Passing a gritter in lane 3 would be fine.
If the police were within view, i’d still do it, and i have no doubt whatsoever that i wouldn’t get pulled for it.
Why would you use lane 3 if lane 1 was clear? 
Saaamon:
limeyphil:
If the police were within view, i’d still do it, and i have no doubt whatsoever that i wouldn’t get pulled for it.Why would you use lane 3 if lane 1 was clear?
Is exactly the sensible question that plod will consider ?
ROG:
Saaamon:
limeyphil:
If the police were within view, i’d still do it, and i have no doubt whatsoever that i wouldn’t get pulled for it.Why would you use lane 3 if lane 1 was clear?
Is exactly the sensible question that plod will consider ?
Maybe there is a junction coming up, maybe there is a slower vehicle in front of the gritter, maybe the gritter is going to take that exit.
The gritter driver is using the centre carriageway to give a good spread of salt without making two passes. Although the gritter driver will be well versed in this, the other vehicles around may not be. How often have you seen a car driver reluctant to overtake a police car or even a HATO?
Meanwhile, impatient motorists have been pelting ice gritting trucks with rocks in Northamptonshire because they are too slow.
Drivers have been causing even more problems in the wintry conditions by overtaking the trucks.
Northamptonshire Council revealed that disgruntled drivers have been pulling over to throw stones and bricks at its vehicles.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire Highways said there had been numerous incidents of drivers coming under attack while spreading grit across the county.
He said: 'Unfortunately, some of our drivers have had stones and bricks thrown at them.
'Our drivers are out two to three times day, trying to keep the county’s roads safe.
'People have been getting impatient and started to throw things at the vehicles. We have also had people overtaking the vehicles, even though our gritters have been going at a decent speed - making it dangerous for everyone.
'We have 27 drivers on the county’s roads, working around the clock and we just want people to respect that and be patient.
‘When we have damage to a vehicle, like a broken window, it has to come off-road, meaning delays to the work we are trying to do.’
Saaamon:
limeyphil:
The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are drivingany 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 limiterExcept in “prescribed circumstances”. There is no single definition of this.
So, in the mind of anyone with common sense, Passing a gritter in lane 3 would be fine.
If the police were within view, i’d still do it, and i have no doubt whatsoever that i wouldn’t get pulled for it.Why would you use lane 3 if lane 1 was clear?
I don’t believe me or anyone else said they would.
I would have assumed that most on this forum would have assumed that lane one may not be clear for the purpose of the origional question put forward on this thread.
Maybe a car that you were overtaking, then speeding up to your speed in lane one like they do, or a gritter in lane one as well as the one in lane two. You may have pulled into lane two to let a lorry join the motorway, then be left hanging. There could be any number of reasons for taking what you believe to be the safest option.
I bet a kid has thrown a snow ball at a gritter and the media like usual has more than likely blown it well out of proportion to get a story.
Neither, you don’t pass it, thats what asda @ Rochdale say 
stevegm3:
Neither, you don’t pass it, thats what asda @ Rochdale say
If you got caught pulling a stunt like that where i work theres a good chance you’d get sacked.
stevegm3:
Neither, you don’t pass it, thats what asda @ Rochdale say
wasn’t mr lomax or mr hughes by any chance was it
Years back I was overtaking one on the A1M and a chip or small lump came up of the gritter and broke the screen.Eddie.
stevegm3:
Neither, you don’t pass it, thats what asda @ Rochdale say
Pathetic.
Does the same apply to a hearse or a horse and cart■■? you do get some right geniuses in the office dont you
In todays law there is no such thing as undertaking, passing someone if your in lane 1 is perfectly legal
FarnboroughBoy11:
stevegm3:
Neither, you don’t pass it, thats what asda @ Rochdale sayyou do get some right geniuses in the office dont you
True - but I’ve got letters after my name too. And probably as relevant s theirs are LOL!!
msgyorkie:
Contraflow:
msgyorkie:
Undertake as you are not allowed in lane 3.You’ve obviously never done a nightshift.
Ummm 8 years solid on a nightshift. I have never met 2 gritters going side by side usually just 1 in the middle so no justification to use lane 3!
FarnboroughBoy11:
ROG:
In a vehicle over 7.5 tonnes it is illegal to use lane 3 in that situation but in reality if no other road user is inconvenienced then nobody is really interestedNo it’s not is it?? I thought it comes under the same rules as a wide load, therefor we could use lane 3 to pass.
Armchair lawyer
Gritters can be seen working on the same stretch together, usually staggered with lane 3 in in front and lane 2 slightly behind and lane 1 a bit more behind that. This formation is used for ploughing the snow off the roads. I have seen it myself on the A1 in 2010, obviously only 2 gritters being used.
This was the case on several occasions on the M4 Eastbound near Reading yesterday. FACT!