Motorway driving

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 8

Motorway driving

Sir,—l have recently been charged with the offence of failing to keep to the left on the Northern Motorway, between Belfast and the Waimakariri Bridge. With many others I have been under the apparent misconception that this section of the motorway was a two-lane highway, and either lane was acceptable for travel. Would the Ministry of Transport care to clarify this point?—Yours, etc., P.R. June 15, 1971.

[Mr A. I. Garriock, traffic superintendent, Ministry of Transport, replies: “The object of multi-laned motorways is to increase the capacity of the road and so reduce delays and congestion. Where lanes are marked it is permissible to overtake on either the left or right. Slower traffic should use the left lane depending on the intended direction of travel, in which case a driver would obey the directions indicated by arrows or signs marked in the Janes. Where the traffic volume is such, full use must

be made of all lanes depending on intended direction of travel. The Traffic Regulations state that all drivers should keep as close as practicable to the left and the comment shown on page 4 of the latest Road Code states: *lt means returning to the left lane of multi-lane roads when you have completed an overtaking manoeuvre.* Should the left lane be full of slower-moving traffic, then it is permissible for drivers wishing to travel at the maximum speed allowed by the signs to use the right-hand lane. Drivers must give clear and adequate signals before changing lanes either left or right, and should not move out unless it is safe to do so. Overtaking on the left is generally caused by a driver incorrectly travelling in the right-hand lane at a lower speed than that allowed, and so being inconsiderate to following traffic who wish to travel at the speed indicated by the signs.”]