How long can you stay in the outside lane after overtaking someone?

Question

assuming that the next lane middle/nearside is empty?

I know you have to pull in but when?, I hate people with the attitude "i'm staying in this lane as i am doing 70mph"

UK ONLY PLEASE

Answer 1

Same as some of the other answers , I wait until they appear in my rearview mirror and then pull over.

Though really hate those who sit in the middle lane for no reason and just do not move over. Even when I come up to them on the inside lane, then have to pull over to the outside lane and then I move straight back into the inside lane. I often wonder if they're asleep!  I refuse to overtake on the inside, why should I do something wrong?

Answer 2

Well depending what traffic is like in the left lan,i usally stay in the right lane,until i see someone behind me wanting to get by,i then safely pull in the left lane,but i know when i used to take my lessons,they used to like you driving in the left lane at all times,apart from when they wanted you to takeover

Answer 3

I didn't think "Captain Slow" ever passed anything.

Answer 4

Once you can see the car you passed in the rear view mirror.

Answer 5

When you can see the car you passed in the rearview mirror, main point, indicate to let them know you are pulling in. There are too many loose canons that weave from lane to lane

Answer 6

Agree with the others. Once you can see their car in the mirror, return to the nearside lane. However, if you are going to be in that lane for than less than 10 seconds before you have to move out again to pass another car, stay in the fast lane.

Answer 7

Pull in when you can see them in your rear view mirror - this will ensure you are not cutting them up!

Safety first - always!

Answer 8

I wait until they appear in my rearview and then pull in front of them into the middle lane. I'm not in the UK, but that is my hard and fast rule... so I thought that I would pass it on. Hating the person in the outside lane who won't budge is universal.

Answer 9

if theres no one around i don't see the problem with staying in the lane, it only becomes an issue if someone is behind u and wants to go faster, which is usually the case on motorways. i always thought of the middle lane as being the one for over taking really an its annoying when ppl stay in there.

if your not holding up traffic in the outside lane then i don't think its a problem

Answer 10

When you've built up enough safe distance to the car that will be behind you when you go into their lane.

Answer 11

Considering the other question you asked regarding motorway lane discipline if you haven't work this one out yourself by now may be you should think about a few motorway driving lessons.

Answer 12

Until I can see the overtaken car in my mirror than I signal and pull in. The hard decision is if you are immediately about to staart to overtake another vehicle a few seconds after you pull in

Answer 13

You are supposed to return to the outside lane from the overtaking lane as soon as it is clear and safe to do so.

I look at my side mirrors then once i see the car in my interior mirror i indicate back in.  This is so i know i am a safe distance away.

Even if you are going faster than the ones on the slow lane if there is a stretch of clear road ahead on the slow lane and ones the overtaking is finished you are supposed to pull back into the slaw lane until you need to overtake again

Answer 14

One should always come back into the inside lane after overtaking, but only when it's safe to do so, consider stones coming from your tyres if you are too close the car you have just overtaken might have a broken screen, OR if you pull in to quickly after overtaking  your car might suffer a blow out on one of your tyres or steering might be faulty lots of things can go wrong, so giving the overtaken car plenty of room is making it safe for them also making it safe for you.

This is one of my sore points while driving, cars overtake and pull in far too quickly, when there is not any traffic in front or behind, they are irresponsible, inconsiderate idiots,and makes me see red,

Answer 15

Look everyone,its James May from top gear asking

us how to drive.Shame on you james.i thought you

knew already.After all you did drive one of the fastest

cars in the world round a test circuit in germany.