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Lane hogging is an increasing problem. There is a trend now, on four lane motorways, for “lane hoggers” to sit in lane three even when the inner two lanes are clear. I usually try to pass on the right but if I am already in lane one I might take ORB’s line. Especially if lane two is also clear. I wouldn’t however swap lanes to actively undertake.
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Lane hogging is an increasing problem. There is a trend now, on four lane motorways, for “lane hoggers” to sit in lane three even when the inner two lanes are clear. I usually try to pass on the right but if I am already in lane one I might take ORB’s line. Especially if lane two is also clear. I wouldn’t however swap lanes to actively undertake.
What a good many car drivers do - especially on the four-lane motorways, is deliberately (and erroneously) stay out lane 1 because they mistakenly believe it's for HGVs only. The only time that is the case, it will be marked /signed as such, normally a long and/or steep uphill section.
Of course, you also get those who only seem able to drive in the 'fast' outside lane, ironically slowing everyone down because they drive too close and have to keep braking, plus the 'person' at the front who insists they drive there at 70mph (indicated) believing no-one should legally be able to overtake them because they are driving 'at the speed limit'.
I think that the authorities should allow undertaking if its done safely. In my view, lane hogging and the above are at the very least bordering on 'driving without due care and attention', especially when a good deal of them rarely look in their mirror.
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I agree on passing on the inside being an option. Other countries have it. I've heard the I'm doing 70 so no one should overtake me line many times but in practise it's very annoying.
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Well it is very rare for me to be on roads or traveling at the speeds where this might be a regular occurrence. The nearest road to me with more than two lanes is probably about 150miles away, and there are only three days during my working month where I am on dual carriageways.
But I wouldn't worry too much about "undertaking" as long as I am driving at a speed suitable for the conditions. Yes, the Highway Code is clear that you should only pass on the right, but it is also clear that you should be in the left hand lane unless you are passing another vehicle. If I was to get pulled over for it, I think it is highly unlikely that you'd receive anything other than a "chat" from the Police, during which I'd take the opportunity to suggest that maybe they should be pulling over drivers who hog the overtaking or middle lane!
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Doesn't bother me one bit, i maintain normal progress in the left lane most of the time unless needing to overtake another left hand lane user, if others don't know how to use multi lane roads sensibly then i ignore them and carry on in the lane i'm in, if that means going past them on the nearside so be it.
The last thing you want to do is feed a lane hoggers self importance and/or ignorance issues by making multi lane changes in order to go past them, given trucks and buses can't use the outside lane of 3 and 4 lane motorways anyway if they stayed behind a lane hogger in theory you could have 2 or 3 left hand lanes of rolling roadblock traffic all following their temporary leader at the set speed he dictates till he wishes to turn off...the exit these clowns make is typically a chaotic event in its own right.
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Undertaking which is a deliberate change of lane to pass a slower vehicle on the left, no.
Passing on the inside due to poor lane discipline, slower traffic on multi lane roads, local custom and practice, signage or road markings aboslutely no problem, but always being mindful the car on the outside may decide to change lane at any time and you could be in a blind spot.
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Undertaking which is a deliberate change of lane to pass a slower vehicle on the left, no.
Do you have a citation for this?
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The worst one for me is when a slower vehicle decides to speed up as you try to pass.
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The worst one for me is when a slower vehicle decides to speed up as you try to pass.
This happens to me sometimes because I drive a truck. It's funny because people say I must be hogging the middle lane if I'm being a undertaken but it just isn't true. I've tried to overtake a car doing 50 who then speeds up. Then other cars follow and pass on my left.
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Doesn't bother me one bit, i maintain normal progress in the left lane most of the time unless needing to overtake another left hand lane user, if others don't know how to use multi lane roads sensibly then i ignore them and carry on in the lane i'm in, if that means going past them on the nearside so be it.
The last thing you want to do is feed a lane hoggers self importance and/or ignorance issues by making multi lane changes in order to go past them, given trucks and buses can't use the outside lane of 3 and 4 lane motorways anyway if they stayed behind a lane hogger in theory you could have 2 or 3 left hand lanes of rolling roadblock traffic all following their temporary leader at the set speed he dictates till he wishes to turn off...the exit these clowns make is typically a chaotic event in its own right.
Ignoring the fact that passing on left (generally) contradicts the highway code and can leave you with points and a fine, I'd respectfully disagree and say you shouldn't "undertake" a middle lane hogger BECAUSE they're a middle lane hogger. If someone is a MLH then in my view they're likely to be a bit of a prat who drives without due care and attention. Ergo they're also likely to move left without a proper mirror check. If they do this while you're passing it could be apocalyptic for both of you.
Edited by OceanMan on 11/02/2025 at 08:51
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This is a problem mostly in motorways/dual carriageways with 3 or more lanes.
Often lane 1 is empty with MLHs clogging lane 2 and lane 3 is driven by maniacs.
So I find no problem over(under)taking using lane 1 if it is safe to do.
I often set cruise control and sit on lane 1. It is economical as well as safer as it reduces need to change lane to overtake.
I think undertaking should be made legal and highway code should be updated.
Highway code is outdated in many other cases. For example, I feel motorway speed limit should be updated to 90-100 MPH.
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This is a problem mostly in motorways/dual carriageways with 3 or more lanes.
Often lane 1 is empty with MLHs clogging lane 2 and lane 3 is driven by maniacs.
So I find no problem over(under)taking using lane 1 if it is safe to do.
I often set cruise control and sit on lane 1. It is economical as well as safer as it reduces need to change lane to overtake.
I think undertaking should be made legal and highway code should be updated.
Highway code is outdated in many other cases. For example, I feel motorway speed limit should be updated to 90-100 MPH.
Genuinely curious here. How do you decide if it's safe?
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Genuinely curious here. How do you decide if it's safe?
When some or all of below apply
- There is plenty of gap in front & behind in both mine and other car.
- Car in question is a consistent MLH.
- I can see my car appears in their blind spot warning - the yellow blind spot warning is often visible from a distance.
- It is moving slowly, so I can quickly speed up and undertake.
I am curious why it is called unsafe. It could be only unsafe if the other car pulls in without looking at the mirror.
It is bit risky to undertake lorries. However, if it is an EU lorry then might be safer to undertake than overtake.
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Isn't it considered unsafe because visibility is worse from the left than the right? Also because generally people aren't expecting passing on the left so might not check as thoroughly as on the right. Also as I said. Middle lane hoggers are often bad drivers.
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There is a local junction with 4 lanes, lane 1 for left turn, lane 2 straight ahead, lanes 3 and 4 to turn right into a two lane road.
Often there are 10 cars sitting in lane 4 and lane 3 is empty.
As it is clearly marked right turn and Highway Code says 'drive on the left except when overtaking, I go to the front of lane 3 and set off when the lights go green, not obstructing anyone from lane 4.
Does anyone see anything wrong with this procedure?
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I do undertake occasionally - particularly where drivers in lane 3 on a 4 lane motorway are causing dangerous congestion at 50-60 mph.
Usual technique is to speed up slightly to undertake quickly - aware that the MLH evidently has little road sense and may change lane without signalling or checking.
The drivers as you pass often seem on the edge of panic - wheel gripped tightly, hunched over, grim expression, staring intently. Often seem to be to be folk who almost never tackle a motorway and are plain terrified at anything moving at more than 40mph.
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There is a local junction with 4 lanes, lane 1 for left turn, lane 2 straight ahead, lanes 3 and 4 to turn right into a two lane road.
Often there are 10 cars sitting in lane 4 and lane 3 is empty.
As it is clearly marked right turn and Highway Code says 'drive on the left except when overtaking, I go to the front of lane 3 and set off when the lights go green, not obstructing anyone from lane 4.
Does anyone see anything wrong with this procedure?
Absolutely not, but then there's always the i**** who will do this and then try to cut in on the drivers that have queued in lane 4, for example if there's a further right turn coming up where only the RH lane goes right.
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This is a problem mostly in motorways/dual carriageways with 3 or more lanes.
Indeed so. Although I have no compunction in undertaking blinkered 60mph weekend numpties in lane 3 of the 4 lane stretches of the M1 and M25 when lane 2, and sometimes even lane 1 are clear for a considerable distance. To have to go from lane 1 to lane 4, then sometimes back to lane 1 is utterly absurd. If I ever have to do this, for safety reasons I put headlights on full and hand on horn to issue a clear warning of my 70mph presence.
It can be addressed in two ways - firstly by policing and fining culprits who do not return to the left lanes after overtaking; easy enough with all the cameras there are to provide photographic evidence. Secondly, and I would have thought the preferred option, to alter the law to allow 'undertaking' as per American freeways for decades. Simples.
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Doesn't bother me one bit, i maintain normal progress in the left lane most of the time unless needing to overtake another left hand lane user, if others don't know how to use multi lane roads sensibly then i ignore them and carry on in the lane i'm in, if that means going past them on the nearside so be it.
The last thing you want to do is feed a lane hoggers self importance and/or ignorance issues by making multi lane changes in order to go past them, given trucks and buses can't use the outside lane of 3 and 4 lane motorways anyway if they stayed behind a lane hogger in theory you could have 2 or 3 left hand lanes of rolling roadblock traffic all following their temporary leader at the set speed he dictates till he wishes to turn off...the exit these clowns make is typically a chaotic event in its own right.
Ignoring the fact that passing on left (generally) contradicts the highway code and can leave you with points and a fine, I'd respectfully disagree and say you shouldn't "undertake" a middle lane hogger BECAUSE they're a middle lane hogger. If someone is a MLH then in my view they're likely to be a bit of a prat who drives without due care and attention. Ergo they're also likely to move left without a proper mirror check. If they do this while you're passing it could be apocalyptic for both of you.
The problem with middle lane hoggers is that they are, by their actions, upsetting the flow of traffic, and disrupting the concentration of other drivers, which can lead to indecision. Undertaking on the left is not ideal for the reasons you state, but this action in heavy traffic is going to keep the flow as stable as possible.
Crossing several lanes then overtaking on the right in heavy traffic leads to more disruption of flow and risk of accident.
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Some driver join the motorway from the left and then straight into the lane 2…..I’m speechless….
The latest trends I see is, to cut the corner when turning right/left. Some just can’t be bothered to swing out but cut in….
I almost hit the incoming car….it appears right in front of me suddenly in my lane….
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Undertaking in itself is not illegal but it's not particularly safe and likely to considered careless driving unless you've got a good excuse. I have done it when I think it's appropriate, but my opinion has never been tested in court...
With middle lane hoggers, I find it more fun (when there's time and space) to overtake them, then move to lane 1 and slow down so they overtake me, then overtake them etc. After a few circles, most seem to get the message.
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On the Motorway you almost always have a 'Plan B'.
The hard shoulder.
Making progress in the first lane, passing MLHs
You can use it, in an emergency.
Our Motorway system is littered with camera's, why can't these be used to penalise MLHs
Humans monitor a lot of these camera's! They don't need to be calibrated for this job.
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On the Motorway you almost always have a 'Plan B'.
The hard shoulder.
Not so obvious with the introduction of "smart" motorways. On these death traps I make no apologies for hogging lane 2 unless very quiet with good visibility.
Making progress in the first lane, passing MLHs
You can use it, in an emergency.
Our Motorway system is littered with camera's, why can't these be used to penalise MLHs
Humans monitor a lot of these camera's! They don't need to be calibrated for this job.
Motorway accidents (common in slow moving traffic) are fairly rare at speed but my guess is that changing lanes without looking is a major contributor to those that happen. Perhaps it is safer to hog a lane at an appropriate speed rather than keep changing.
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You do realise that when caught, it's £100 fine and 3 points nowadays don't you?
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You do realise that when caught, it's £100 fine and 3 points nowadays don't you?
As much for the MLH there is virtually no plod presence to catch them or the undertakers.
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Undertaking is not necessarily illegal per se. If this can be proven as careless/dangerous driving only then fines would apply.
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Our Motorway system is littered with cameras, why can't these be used to penalise MLHs.
Presumably as undertaking is not 'illegal', neither is driving steadily in lane-2 ?
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Our Motorway system is littered with cameras, why can't these be used to penalise MLHs.
Presumably as undertaking is not 'illegal', neither is driving steadily in lane-2 ?
Undertaking can be considered careless driving, middle lane hogging is considered careless driving.
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<< The problem with middle lane hoggers is that they are, by their actions, upsetting the flow of traffic, and disrupting the concentration of other drivers, which can lead to indecision. Undertaking on the left is not ideal for the reasons you state, but this action in heavy traffic is going to keep the flow as stable as possible. >>
Might some of those MLH's be victims of their car's Lane-Keep devices preventing them using the steering wheel ? :-)
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<< The problem with middle lane hoggers is that they are, by their actions, upsetting the flow of traffic, and disrupting the concentration of other drivers, which can lead to indecision. Undertaking on the left is not ideal for the reasons you state, but this action in heavy traffic is going to keep the flow as stable as possible. >>
Might some of those MLH's be victims of their car's Lane-Keep devices preventing them using the steering wheel ? :-)
Did you know that if you use your indicators to inform other drivers that you are changing lanes the lane departure alerts switches off temporarily, Might not apply to BMW drivers who of course don't have indicator switches....
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