Drivers may face fines of £100 for a common practice on UK motorways. The Highway Code advises against undertaking other motorists for driving slowly on the motorway, yet many drivers do so anyway.
If caught, drivers could receive a significant fine for this action. While not explicitly prohibited by law, reckless undertaking may lead to a £100 fine and three penalty points for careless driving or driving without due care and attention.
In some instances, a driver education course might be offered instead. Rule 268 of The Highway Code states: “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.
“In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to you right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.” Undertaking may also be deemed hazardous in specific situations, rendering it unlawful.
A fixed penalty may be issued to a driver occupying the middle lane when the left lane is clear. Similarly, depending on the context, any driver undertaking that vehicle on the left could face penalties as well.
Undertaking refers to the act of overtaking a slower vehicle on the inside lane, or the lane closest to the kerb. In the UK, this would be the lane to the right of the vehicle you’re passing.
This typically occurs on roads with multiple lanes in the same direction, such as motorways. In congested traffic where all vehicles are moving at similar speeds, undertaking may be necessary to maintain pace with your lane, even if it means passing vehicles in the lane to your right.
However, it’s advised not to weave between lanes to get ahead. The Highway Code strongly discourages overtaking in general, and crossing three lanes can lead to trouble.