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Difficulty: MediumOvertaking Rules

You are driving in the middle lane (lane 2) of a three-lane motorway at 65 mph. The vehicle ahead in your lane is travelling at 50 mph, while the left-hand lane (lane 1) has occasional slower traffic. What is the correct way to overtake this vehicle?

  1. A
    Flash your headlights to signal the driver ahead that they must immediately move to the left-hand lane
  2. Check your mirrors, check your right blind spot, move into lane 3 to overtake on the right, and return to an appropriate lane once safeAnswer
  3. C
    Undertake the vehicle by accelerating through an available gap in the left-hand lane (lane 1)
  4. D
    Steer directly into lane 3 using only your interior rear-view mirror to check for following traffic

Answer

Check mirrors and blind spots, move into the right-hand lane (lane 3) to overtake on the right, and return to an appropriate lane once safely past.
Under Highway Code Rule 267, motorway overtaking should always be executed on the right. Before changing lanes to overtake, drivers must carry out full observation using the Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre routine and checking blind spots, complete the pass in the right-hand lane, and return to an inside lane when safely clear.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the traffic situation and determine the legal lane for overtaking.
Identified that under UK Highway Code Rule 267, overtaking on a motorway must be conducted on the right unless traffic is queueing slowly in lanes.
Passing on the left (undertaking) in free-flowing traffic is dangerous and contrary to motorway regulations.
2
Apply the Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre (MSM) routine, including a check of the offside blind spot.
Confirmed lane 3 is clear of faster-approaching vehicles before commencing the lane change.
Door and interior mirrors have blind spots that can conceal approaching vehicles or motorcycles.
3
Complete the overtake in lane 3 and safely return towards the left when adequately clear of the overtaken vehicle.
Safe completion of the manoeuvre while maintaining proper motorway lane discipline.
Highway Code rules require drivers to return to the left-hand lanes when not actively overtaking.

Key Concept

Motorway Overtaking and Offside Lane Discipline
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Overtaking Rules

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