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its Legal to Undertake but only if the traffic in the nearside lane is travelling at a faster speed than the offside lane

No. it isnt.

By definition, the traffic in the nearside lane should not be travelling faster than the other lanes. The exception might be at an off ramp where the motorway traffic is stationary.

its Legal to Undertake but only if the traffic in the nearside lane is travelling at a faster speed than the offside lane

No. it isnt.

By definition, the traffic in the nearside lane should not be travelling faster than the other lanes. The exception might be at an off ramp where the motorway traffic is stationary.

So where do we stand legally when There are traffic hold up's on the motorway when the 2nd & 3rd lanes are reduced to crawling, (because no one wants to be stuck behind a lorry, on the inside lane) & the inside lane is running a lot more freely ? it's imposible to slow down to the speed of the other 2 lanes, I thought you were supposed to in that case drive with the flow of traffic.

its Legal to Undertake but only if the traffic in the nearside lane is travelling at a faster speed than the offside lane

No. it isnt.

By definition, the traffic in the nearside lane should not be travelling faster than the other lanes. The exception might be at an off ramp where the motorway traffic is stationary.

Yes it is, both in the circumstances described above, and, as you concede, when approaching an exit, if the other 2 lanes are slower (perhaps because of traffic leaving at the exit).

It is of course correct to say that you should not "undertake",but equally any driver not pulling back into a left hand lane after overtaking, is wrong, even when there is more traffic "in the distance" ahead.

Two wrongs, as you rightly say, do not make a right, but I would like to see more enforcement of the cause of undertaking, ie people not pulling back to the left.

One of the best things about driving in France (and many other European countries) is that they have much better lane discipline that we do in this regard.

The proof of this pudding, is that we can regularly drive from our house in Austria (690 miles) to Calais in 8 hours, yes before you ask, solo.  Yet when we get off the ferry at Dover, it can take 6 hours for the 300 miles home.  Congestion does play a part in this, but so does (lack of) lane discipline.

Michael

sadly, it would not be legal on the basis that two wrongs do not make a right.  (that does not mean that I would never do it). But why is the offending (outside lane diver) never prosecuted for causing an obstruction ?

Some level of enforcement of the highway code in this regard, could free up our roads from congestion - to some degree.  Every bit helps.

Michael