Harry Monk:
Can someone give me the definitive answer to this question?If a wide load is occupying lanes 1 and 2 of a motorway and travelling at low speed, is it legally permissible for an HGV to use lane 3 to overtake it?
Yes it is Perfectly Legal otherwise there would be Que behind the Abload lasting for ever , treat abload as roadworks when two lanes closed , (you wouldnt park up if you came to roadworks and only lane 3 was open would you )
trophyblue:
Harry Monk:
Can someone give me the definitive answer to this question?If a wide load is occupying lanes 1 and 2 of a motorway and travelling at low speed, is it legally permissible for an HGV to use lane 3 to overtake it?
Yes it is Perfectly Legal otherwise there would be Que behind the Abload lasting for ever , treat abload as roadworks when two lanes closed , (you wouldnt park up if you came to roadworks and only lane 3 was open would you )
Yes you can, and here is the answer form my brother in law who happens to be a traffic cop in South Shields. (And a recent example from me hence ringing him.)
A wide load nor it’s ■■■■■■ can not hold traffic up on a motorway. Any ■■■■■■ that does so, risks being prosecuted for due care and/or inconsideration to other road users. The reason that these wide load companies use their own ■■■■■■, is because they now have to pay to have a police ■■■■■■. If a wide load company was taken to court, and they tried to argue that the load was so wide they were doing it on safety grounds, the police would counteract by saying than if it was that wide, a chrageable police ■■■■■■ should have been used, in order to hold traffic up.
As we know, ■■■■■■ vehicles have absolutely NO POWER to hold traffic up, and what I would say is if it does, ring the police and tell them. They can view motorway footage on cctv to prove a case if need be.
This happened to me a few weeks ago on the M62 near Leeds, and I had come on at J27 heading east, and filed in behind a BMW in the middle lane, and Johnny foreigner was in the outside lane attempting to pass. Every time he tried, the ■■■■■■ vehicle blocked his path, so I gesticulated for him to drop back, and I went for it. The ecscort vehicle tried to block me, and thought better of it when I came steaming through. I got the usual coffee shaking sign from him and one of his wide loads when I went past, but the Q behind them was insane, and they didn’t want anyone passing. When I did, a convoy of vehicles followed me.
Ken.
What about the other way round?
One night coming down M6 near Stafford services, Wide load with an ■■■■■■ overtakes me (Sat nav said 56)
Although he did have S. Irish plates on
Just git on wid it… FFS
andy187:
What about the other way round?
One night coming down M6 near Stafford services, Wide load with an ■■■■■■ overtakes me (Sat nav said 56)Although he did have S. Irish plates on
If a wide load (presumably HGV) goes into the outer lane of a 3 or more lane motorway to overtake something that is not a wide load, then that is technically illegal.
Quinny:
The reason that these wide load companies use their own ■■■■■■, is because they now have to pay to have a police ■■■■■■.
It’s also because police don’t always have the resources available - 9/10 police escorts are traffic cops on overtime.
Quinny:
If a wide load company was taken to court, and they tried to argue that the load was so wide they were doing it on safety grounds, the police would counteract by saying than if it was that wide, a chrageable police ■■■■■■ should have been used, in order to hold traffic up.
True but don’t think it’s ever happened. Obviously a totally different scenario on a non motorway road however…
Quinny:
As we know, ■■■■■■ vehicles have absolutely NO POWER to hold traffic up, and what I would say is if it does, ring the police and tell them. They can view motorway footage on cctv to prove a case if need be.
Although they won’t view the footage (Only really viewed in fatals/serious incidents) I think that ringing the police is a very unprofessional thing to do. You can tell straight away if it is a fitters van or a pro ■■■■■■, but if the escorter believes that from a safety point of view it would be unsafe to pass then blocking traffic is a risk he chooses to take, however if it is something thats not going to topple over or cause any realistic danger other than to their ego then I agree, pass them - But calling the police isn’t really worth anyones time. ■■■■■■ vehicles might not have any power to hold traffic, certainly on a motorway but in my own experience of nearly 6 years in escorting, I’ve never once had any problems holding up traffic on A & B roads - from the police or members of the public.
With absolutely no offence intended, (and assuming it’s a pro escorter) they know whats best for the load and joe bloggs thats trying to get past doesn’t. For reasons XYZ it may be safest to stay behind the load - again, rare but imagine a load thats in lane 1 & 2 and is wide enough that a little tail swing could knock out something big enough (a truck) in lane 3 - This is when it would be acceptable for an ■■■■■■ to block lane 3. Again, rare.
Although the lane three becoming lane two thing is something that can be argued over and over, assuming mr ■■■■■■ in his fitters van allows you to pass, I don’t think any cop or court in the land will bother their backside.
Worth pointing out im an ex cop.
stagedriver:
I think that ringing the police is a very unprofessional thing to do.
So holding up traffic is not unprofessional then is it, and in your opinion as an “ex cop” is not causing inconsideration to other road users?
Ken.
Try reading my post again.
Do cranes fall under the ‘wide load’ category.
I only ask because I once overtook one in the ‘no HGV overtaking zone’ on the M42. I know lane 2 has a 7.5T restriction on it, but I didn’t think twice. They can’t seriously expect us to sit behind one of them things for mile after mile?
rob22888:
Do cranes fall under the ‘wide load’ category.I only ask because I once overtook one in the ‘no HGV overtaking zone’ on the M42. I know lane 2 has a 7.5T restriction on it, but I didn’t think twice. They can’t seriously expect us to sit behind one of them things for mile after mile?
No, they are in the slow, and yet no load category. They cannae help it though. If you zip past them on that stretch then no problem really. Or you could wait until 7pm and them pass them then. Oh… 
Harry Monk:
‘…Can someone give me the definitive answer to this question?
If a wide load is occupying lanes 1 and 2 of a motorway and travelling at low speed, is it legally permissible for an HGV to use lane 3 to overtake it…?’
richmond:
‘…here is a similar question … I have a … deadline … I have to overtake [with] … a wide load, in lanes two and three. Comments on … this…’
Being ‘reasonable’ is possibly a keyword in deciding whether the opposing scenarios are acceptable in the eyes of the law - or not. ‘Being reasonable’ would take into account highway conditions, eg., load length, traffic density, gradient, weather, light conditions, potential and actual inertia of the vehicles, LHD/RHD, etc, etc, and a decision made accordingly.
Therefore, a ‘…definitive answer…’ is arguably unrealistic: We perhaps ought appreciate the societal benefits to be achieved through compromise, which I understand to be a regularly practised tenet of British law as done by PC Plod. Sadly, it seems that Plod’s Government sponsored, money saving brethren in the replacement & wannabbee traffic agencies, etc, are not empowered to do this. That arguably illustrates how the Labour Government fouled up conditions in our UK workplace in its blind endeavour to service the UK’s debt to Brussels - and at the expense of forgoing quality leadership.
Given that and assuming safe to do so, perhaps the Harry’s situation is reasonable - and which I’ve done as a dolly, whilst Richmond’s - also acknowledging the balance of give & take, etc, is arguably unreasonable 
Happy Keith:
Harry Monk:
‘…Can someone give me the definitive answer to this question?
If a wide load is occupying lanes 1 and 2 of a motorway and travelling at low speed, is it legally permissible for an HGV to use lane 3 to overtake it…?’richmond:
‘…here is a similar question … I have a … deadline … I have to overtake [with] … a wide load, in lanes two and three. Comments on … this…’Being ‘reasonable’ is possibly a keyword in deciding whether the opposing scenarios are acceptable in the eyes of the law - or not. ‘Being reasonable’ would take into account highway conditions, eg., load length, traffic density, gradient, weather, light conditions, potential and actual inertia of the vehicles, LHD/RHD, etc, etc, and a decision made accordingly.
Therefore, a ‘…definitive answer…’ is arguably unrealistic: We perhaps ought appreciate the societal benefits to be achieved through compromise, which I understand to be a regularly practised tenet of British law as done by PC Plod. Sadly, it seems that Plod’s Government sponsored, money saving brethren in the replacement & wannabbee traffic agencies, etc, are not empowered to do this. That arguably illustrates how the Labour Government fouled up conditions in our UK workplace in its blind endeavour to service the UK’s debt to Brussels - and at the expense of forgoing quality leadership.
Given that and assuming safe to do so, perhaps the Harry’s situation is reasonable - and which I’ve done as a dolly, whilst Richmond’s - also acknowledging the balance of give & take, etc, is arguably unreasonable
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Harry Monk:
‘…Can someone give me the definitive answer to this question?
If a wide load is occupying lanes 1 and 2 of a motorway and travelling at low speed, is it legally permissible for an HGV to use lane 3 to overtake t…?’
richmond:
‘…here is a similar question … I have a … deadline … I have to overtake [with] … a wide load, in lanes two and three. Comments on … this…’
Wheel Nut:
‘…This is an English language board and therefore any post made in any other language without obvious reason within the context of a thread, will be treated as Spam…’
Sorry to spoil your day, Wheelers: For pandering & remedial purposes see:
Happy Keith:
‘…Harry’s situation is reasonable, … Richmond’s … is … unreasonable …’
Just to reignite the thread, yesterday whilst trundleing up to selby, from gloucester, happily going along at my self imposed speed of 50mph, to allow other so pass safely, i came behind a car driving up the m1, at 40 mph, honestly, he hadnt just come on, i was, and i have measured this one, 4.6m wide, 4.95 high, and overall length of33m long, after slowing down, and with my ■■■■■■ van man asking me if i had a problem ,over our walkie talkies, i flashed the car in front slowing me down, just in case he had failed to notice the 4 beacons on the roof, or the four leds on the front grille, or the 6 white lights on the markers, after following for about five miles, i asked the ■■■■■■ van to close down lane 2 and 3, and overtook him.Should i have followed him to whereevr he got off at 40, and become a slow moving road block? I would say yesterday i over took 3 cars like this, and shall do so somemore i should think.Comments pls !¬
richmond:
Just to reignite the thread, yesterday whilst trundleing up to selby, from gloucester, happily going along at my self imposed speed of 50mph, to allow other so pass safely, i came behind a car driving up the m1, at 40 mph, honestly, he hadnt just come on, i was, and i have measured this one, 4.6m wide, 4.95 high, and overall length of33m long, after slowing down, and with my ■■■■■■ van man asking me if i had a problem ,over our walkie talkies, i flashed the car in front slowing me down, just in case he had failed to notice the 4 beacons on the roof, or the four leds on the front grille, or the 6 white lights on the markers, after following for about five miles, i asked the ■■■■■■ van to close down lane 2 and 3, and overtook him.Should i have followed him to whereevr he got off at 40, and become a slow moving road block? I would say yesterday i over took 3 cars like this, and shall do so somemore i should think.Comments pls !¬
As long as you were thinking about the children, I’m comfortable with it 
richmond:
‘…I flashed the car in front slowing me down…’
That would earn you a disciplinary infringement for ‘upsetting a customer’ at my place.
I know 
Happy Keith:
richmond:
‘…I flashed the car in front slowing me down…’That would earn you a disciplinary infringement for ‘upsetting a customer’ at my place.
I know
Like using the horn, it’s just making them aware of your presence, if done properly and without malice. As for a wide load overtaking a slow-moving car, I think it’s a little inconsiderate of the slower driver, especially if they started speeding up whilst you were overtaking, otherwise I would try to judge a slight gap in the traffic and go for it. Should all be over in seconds…
Whats a disaplinary, we just have a good chat if somethings wrong, they call me an idiot, i call them an idiot, then we move on, my wife often mentions that its all over in seconds. have you been talking to her? Happy christmas, and move over, im comeing through…
Coffeeholic:
richmond:
Well then lads, here is a similar question, but from the other end, i regularly drive wide loads, and whilst tesco etc are ■■■■■■■ about at 48 mph on the motorway, i have a crane and deadline to meet, so, sometimes, i have a long wide load, i have to overtake these head up there arse slackers, so then you have a wide load, in lanes two and three, cos i have a slow moving obstruction in lane one.Comments on the legality of this pls…!Not legal.
Unless the Tesco is of exceptional width.
Oh I dunno, his wagon will only be half on lane three, even if his load is taking up the rest of it. Thats just a bit of lane drift isn’t it 
richmond:
‘…Whats a disciplinary? … we just have a good chat if somethings wrong, they call me an idiot, i call them an idiot, then we move on…’
It’s their term, not mine, but amounts to them wanting to subordinate the driver into a cowering wreck.
Except it doesn’t work on me like that on me, which on my one experience before I put to them in writing since I was legally cushty when I gave a ‘flash’ to an obstructing Muppet - they said ‘customer’ - on a ‘motorway’ (number omitted to protect the innocent)- which niggled them a bit
