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Difficulty: EasyOvertaking Rules

On a motorway, you are permitted to overtake a slower vehicle on its left if that vehicle remains in the middle lane on a free-flowing road.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False — On a free-flowing motorway, you must only overtake on the right and must never undertake a slower vehicle on the left.
Evaluating the statement as False is correct because Highway Code Rule 268 explicitly prohibits overtaking on the left on motorways unless traffic is moving in slow, congested queues where the lane on the right is moving slower.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the road condition and the proposed manoeuvre
The scenario involves free-flowing motorway traffic and undertaking on the left side of a vehicle in an outer lane.
Highway Code rules differentiate strictly between free-flowing motorway traffic and slow-moving congested queues.
2
Apply Highway Code Rule 267 and Rule 268 regarding motorway overtaking
Overtaking on the left (undertaking) is strictly prohibited during normal free-flowing conditions, even if a driver ahead is hogging the middle lane.
Passing on the left when traffic is flowing freely is extremely hazardous because drivers do not expect vehicles to pass on their nearside, which lies in their primary blind spot.

Key Concept

Motorway Overtaking and Undertaking Prohibitions
Estimated Time:30s
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Topics

Overtaking Rules

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