Is Undertaking Illegal and Can it Land You in Court?

In Great Britain undertaking is when you overtake on the left side of a vehicle whilst driving on a dual carriageway. In this video I explain whether it is illegal, how it can land you in court and why it can be dangerous.

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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in Great Britain, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

00:00 What is undertaking?
00:16 Is it legal?
00:36 What is a Dual Carriageway
02:20 Why can undertaking be unsafe
04:48 Why you can get fined?
05:39 Less safe place to undertake
07:22 When passing on the left is required
08:48 Highway code is missing something?
10:54 Lane hoggers

[PointNemo]

The police need to get a lot more serious about lane-hogging. It effectively turns a 3-lane motorway into just a 2-lane motorway.

[SimonBlandford]

The more lanes there are, the more lane discipline breaks down and even flips into reverse where the left lanes are freer and faster then the right lanes. I see this on the M25 a lot.

[Chrisallengallery]

There are far too many middle-lane hoggers these days. To be fair, there is little chance that these lane hoggers will suddenly move back into lane 1. When there is a bit of congestion, I just carry on in lane 1 regardless because almost everyone is in lane 2 and 3+.

[Valyoyoable]

This video is so underrated. The description and examples used are so well put together and so easy to understand.
Watched it a few days ago and right before a long journey on the M1 and due to it I started seeing clearer my past mistakes, helped avoid them ever again and of course see the mistakes of so many drivers hugging the 2nd or 3rd lane when the left one was clear for a long period/space.

[WildernessTamed]

I like how your animations show the vehicles keeping a safe distance from one another. If only it happened in reality.

[ptaylor]

Many years ago i was driving along a dual carriageway, i was in the left hand lane and in the right hand lane was a marked police car who was doing approx. 45-46 mph, the speed limit was 60 mph and it was daylight with dry road and no wind, as i drove along this road it became apparent the officer was not going to move over to the left, or speed up a little, another few miles gone i had enough of this so slowly and cautiously undertook him just a few mps faster than what he was doing, all seemed fine for a minute or two, then i see blue flashing lights in my rear mirrors, he pulled me over and asked "what that was for"? i politely but firmly told him of his behaviour while driving which was causing unnecessary tailbacks, and asked him what his reason for doing so was, he then became aggressive so i told him i was recording it for evidence of any wrongdoing, he then just said "well don't do that again" and got back into his car and drove off, this time in the correct "left lane"

[cktheflyingscot]

Passed my test first time on Tuesday last week but here I am, still watching.

Keep up the good work Richard !

[mariabrii]

Just passed my driving test today first time with no minors, your videos have been so helpful!!! Thank you ❤

[marshmellow]

The way I see it, as per Rule 268. "In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right."

If people are hogging lanes 2/3/4 and are moving below the designated speed limit(usually a Prius driver on the M25), I can safely pass them on the left (whilst maintaining the speed limit) as it is congested and the traffic is moving slower than lane 1.

[baddrivers]

In Australia, the law is written as "Keep left unless overtaking".

The left is considered left half of the lanes (rounded up) and applies to all roads where the speed limit is iver 80 km/h OR signed as such.

This is a much better way to represent the concept and those who cruise in the right lane commit the offense if they get passed on the left (e.g. they travel in the right lanes below the speed limit).

As there is greater opportunity to be committing the offense, mist people do the right things.

[EveLyn-xbye]

I passed my driving test last week. Your videos are so helpful, therapeutic too after being put down by my instructors. These videos kept me going, I have learnt a lot and gained confidence to actually start driving.
Camping on your channel from Uganda, thanks Richard!

[dimuthruwantha]

Last week I passed my test in UK. Thanks to you and all other youtubers who do a great job with driving instructions. I only took a couple o lessons from a driving instructor because I have some driving experience in my country.

[vanlifewithlyla]

I prioritise my lane choice based on space. If I have a clear lane with good vision and traffic conditions, a lane hogger and busier lanes to my right, I'll continue in the left lane.

Lane hoggers are generally lacking awareness, usually on cruise control with lane assist and quite often distracted by phones or deep in conversation. They have no idea where other road users are.

[goinblinddoggone]

All common sense after years of driving, but so many people drive badly and lose their calm. Excellent video.

[Dalamain]

Once you get used to "undertaking" in places like the US where it's legal the mind boggles why we have such a restriction in the UK especially with the emergence of lane hoggers.

[theorytestexplained]

Nice video - but in your criticism of the Highway Code you seem to ignore rule 163 “If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left. “ This covers Dual Carriageways.

[vanlifewithlyla]

The reality is that on UK roads these days you have to be proficient, competent and safe passing on the left.

If a lane hogger has no intention of moving left and you would have to cross two lanes to pass on the right, and there is nothing that would make you move right after passing the hog (a HGV or junction / exit / merge point for example), a friendly toot-toot on the horn before being in the blind spot and passing at a sensible speed difference is acceptable in my opinion.

[NaCxDaVe]

If you’re having to dart off to exit last minute. That just screams of piss poor forward planning. If you’re going to miss it, carry on to the next junction and turn around.

[shawnrahoon]

Conquer Driving
1:54 Because you are on a single carraigeway you said passing the mini is not undertaking. To undertake is to pass another vehicle on it's left hand side. It doesn't state this only applies to a road with a central reservation.

[twitterer]

Amazed by your skill as a teacher! Very clear language, bunching relevant concepts! Great examples! Well done