Undertaking on a dual carriageway

noiseboy72

Not sure if this is best practice, but if a member of the Centre Lane Owners Club / Outside Hoggers Anonymous is pottering along in the outside lane, I tend to to close up a little behind them, flash my headlights briefly and indicate right. I then pull back to allow them space to move and give them a few moments. I'll repeat this a couple of times before considering other options...

djbsom

You'll see a version of this commonplace on the continent where It's rare to see the middle lane hogger type in France and Germany etc
A car will close in on a car on the overtaking lane and indicate left (Right in this country). This basically says " please move over so I can pass you".
It works.
Personally I wouldn't recommend flashing your lights at them though as that can be seen as antagonistic.

noiseboy72

Please bear in mind I drive a BMW Z4, so it's not actually possible to activate the indicators without first flashing the lights or sounding the horn...

Bl4ckGryph0n

Doesn’t the Highway Code actually stipulate to provide a visual signal?

I am definitely a flasher And too often met by the middle finger. Too many rude people around.

djbsom

I rest my case mlud

John7

Technically (I think) you are not undertaking unless you change lanes to do so. If you are in the inside lane and have no choice but to pass slower moving vehicles in the outside lane, that is their lookout. The Highway Code tells you to keep to the left unless overtaking, so they are breaking the rules and should be prosecuted. How are you supposed to make progress if you can’t pass slower moving vehicles?

What I am not so sure about, is a situation I encounter almost daily with Bus lanes. When they are not in operation, 99% of the muppets on the road do not use them, causing unnecessary congestion.

I always keep to the left, in the bus lane but inevitably, am forced to pass cars on the inside. Am I leaving myself open to prosecution if I do this? I just cannot bear to leave the bus lane empty when ther is no logical or legal reason not to use them.

SyStemDeMoN

Do whatever you want.  I constantly see people undertaking, speeding, throwing litter from their vehicle, driving whilst having a phone to their ear (even in 68 plate BMW(Which is weird)), not bothering to signal, driving with no lights on, etc, etc.  And the police do nothing, NOTHING !
I have even seen these things happening in full view of a motorised police unit and NOTHING !

So it is now a free for all.  Do what you like.

nvingo

Well m'lord, @SyStemDeMoN said I could.

InvisibleDuncan

Wow - a lot of responses there. I didn't realise about the do not / must not guidance in the Highway Code, so that does put a slightly different complexion on things.

Basically, it looks as though my initial belief was technically correct, but could get me into trouble if I follow through. FWIW I've only done this very rarely, and only when there's no other way past a member of @noiseboy72's Centre Lane Owners Club / Outside Hoggers Anonymous.

Thanks, everyone.

IronGiant

I've had to do this occasionally while towing as you aren't allowed to use the outer lane and it's a risky business, there's always the worry that they'll wake up as you pass them and lurch in behind you without spotting that you're towing something .   Not happened yet fortunately {fingers crossed}