Overtaking on the right on the motorway: when is it allowed?

Can you overtake on the right on the motorway?

No, except in two situations. There are five situations in which overtaking on the right is allowed. On the motorway you meet two of them. All five are on the overtaking rules.

• To the right of block markings. Are you on the slip road or exit lane, to the right of the block markings, and the other driver to the left of them? Then you may overtake on the right.
• In a traffic jam. Is your lane moving faster in the jam than the lane to your left? Then you simply pass on the right.

Is a slow car driving in the left lane without a traffic jam? Then you do not overtake it on the right. Overtake on the left or wait.

An open rush-hour lane

An open rush-hour lane is a normal lane. You may drive and overtake on it, but on the left as usual. Overtaking on the right via the rush-hour lane is not allowed, except in a jam.

Overtaking on the right in a traffic jam

In a jam you may pass the traffic on your left if your lane moves faster. Stay in your own lane as much as you can. Every time you change lanes, someone else has to brake for you.

Motorcyclists between the lanes

Motorcyclists may ride between the cars in a traffic jam. So a motorcycle can pass you from behind while you are standing still or driving slowly. If you change lanes without looking, things go wrong.

On a road with more than two lanes, the filtering code says they ride between the two left-most lanes. There are no lorries there. The speed difference with the jam should stay small. The code does not let them use the hard shoulder or other lanes.

What you do:

• Standing in the left lane? Move a little to the left within your lane.
• Standing in the lane to the right of it? Move a little to the right within your lane.
• Check your mirrors often. A motorcyclist can always come up behind you.

Staying in the left lane without need: move back to the right

On the motorway you keep right as much as possible. Staying in the left lane without need is an offence, just like overtaking on the right outside the exceptions. How high the fine is, you can read under overtaking on the right: rules and fines.

Finished overtaking? Move back to the right safely. Is someone driving slowly on the left? Flashing your lights to push them aside or tailgating is not allowed. Overtake on the left or wait.

Overtaking a lorry on the motorway

You overtake a lorry on the left, just like a car. Overtaking a lorry on the right is also only allowed at block markings or in a jam. Overtake calmly and only move back to the right when you are well past the lorry.

Can a lorry overtake on the motorway?

Yes, but with rules. On a carriageway with three or more lanes, lorries and vehicle combinations longer than 7 metres normally only use the two right-hand lanes. There are exceptions when getting in lane for an exit or junction. Sometimes there is an overtaking ban for lorries. You see that from sign F3.

Driving with a trailer or caravan yourself? What you need to know about overtaking is explained on overtaking in tricky situations.