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Difficulty: MediumLane Discipline

You are driving at 60 mph in the left-hand lane (Lane 1) of a three-lane motorway and approach a slower-moving vehicle travelling at 50 mph. In what order should you carry out the actions to overtake safely and comply with motorway lane discipline rules?

  1. 1Check your interior and right-hand door mirrors to evaluate traffic approaching from behind and in the middle lane.
  2. 2Signal right in good time to communicate your intention to move out into Lane 2.
  3. 3Move smoothly into Lane 2, accelerate past the slower vehicle, and maintain safe clearance.
  4. 4Check your interior and left-hand mirrors, then move smoothly back into Lane 1 once safely ahead.

Answer

The correct sequence begins with checking the interior and right-hand door mirrors, followed by signalling right, moving into Lane 2 to pass the vehicle, and finally checking mirrors and returning to Lane 1.
The proper sequence adheres to the standard Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre (MSM) routine followed by the fundamental motorway rule of keeping left (Rule 264). A driver must first observe rear and side traffic through mirrors, indicate right to warn others, change into Lane 2 to complete the overtake, and immediately return to Lane 1 when safely clear.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Check rear and right-hand mirrors before changing speed or direction.
Driver establishes whether Lane 2 has a safe gap and no faster vehicles are approaching.
The Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre (MSM) routine requires situational awareness before indicating.
2
Apply the right turn signal in good time.
Other motorway drivers are alerted to the impending lane change.
Signalling before changing lanes prevents surprises for following and adjacent traffic.
3
Change lanes into Lane 2 and overtake the slower vehicle safely.
The overtaking manoeuvre is carried out smoothly in Lane 2.
Lanes 2 and 3 on a motorway are designated strictly for overtaking slower-moving traffic.
4
Check mirrors to confirm the overtaken vehicle is sufficiently behind, then return to Lane 1.
The vehicle safely returns to the primary driving lane.
Highway Code Rule 264 requires drivers to keep in the left lane unless overtaking.

Key Concept

Motorway lane discipline and the Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre routine during overtaking
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Lane Discipline

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