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To master driving on the motorway, developing certain skills is vital. This includes correctly entering from slip roads, remaining acutely aware of your surroundings, and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles.
It’s equally important to stick to proper lane discipline and to avoid undertaking whenever possible. Undertaking refers to the act of passing another vehicle on their left while on the motorway, which is generally advised against in the Highway Code due to increased accident risks.
A recent informative video on George’s Car Media TikTok channel, with Sergeant Owen Messenger from Devon and Cornwall Police, Roads Policing Unit, shed light on when undertaking might be acceptable.
Sergeant Messenger said: “You can’t undertake on the motorway. The only time that you can undertake is when your lane is genuinely moving slower than the other lanes. That’s generally when you’re going through roadworks, or it’s heavy traffic, or something like that.”
He elaborates on why it’s discouraged, noting that “people aren’t expecting you” to do so. Motorists often move back to the left-hand lane – their ‘default position’ on the motorway, potentially causing crashes, reports Bristol Live.
His message to motorists is unequivocal: “Please don’t undertake on the motorway, it’s really really dangerous.” George, the creator of the featured channel who collaborates with local police to improve road safety knowledge, poses queries regarding the consequences for drivers found undertaking.
Owen commented on the matter: “Well, it’s just unnecessary isn’t it. The default position […] is to be in lane one, and if everyone stuck to the rules you wouldn’t have everyone darting around all over the place.”
He underscored the importance of “following motorway etiquette” for road safety and traffic flow. While not explicitly illegal, the Highway Code advises against undertaking, stating: “Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake.”
Nevertheless, there are scenarios such as congested traffic where undertaking in a faster moving left-hand lane is tolerated.
As per Rule 268 of The Highway Code: “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.”
Moreover, during average speed checks when ‘stay in lane’ is advised, overtaking a slower vehicle on the right in your lane could be considered acceptable if your lane is flowing faster.
