23/09/2026
Is Undertaking Illegal in the UK? Here’s What Rule 268 Actually Means
Undertaking: passing a vehicle on the left is widely misunderstood. Many drivers assume it’s acceptable when someone is hogging the middle lane, but Rule 268 of the Highway Code makes it clear that you should not undertake or move to the left to overtake. The only exception is when traffic is moving slowly in clearly defined lanes at different speeds, such as motorway congestion. Outside of that, undertaking can lead to allegations of careless driving or, at higher speeds, dangerous driving, and undertaking a middle‑lane hogger is still illegal.
Key points drivers often miss:
- Rule 268 prohibits undertaking except in slow‑moving, clearly defined lanes
- Middle‑lane hogging does not make undertaking legal even if it feels justified
- High‑speed undertaking can be treated as dangerous driving depending on the circumstances
Police can prosecute even without a collision if the manoeuvre is considered unsafe
The safest and most legally sound approach is simple. If someone is blocking the middle lane, wait until it is safe to pass on the right rather than undertaking.
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