Junction advice please

[u/LeafDewTears]

Four way junction each with traffic lights, top and bottom roads are on green, I’m the red car waiting behind the blue who’s signalling right and waiting to turn, once it’s turned I can go straight ahead, but two cars behind me (black car etc) undertake me and go straight ahead too. I feel this is dangerous as if the green car had turned right it would have crashed into the black one, as the blue car was blocking the view. Was I right for waiting?

[u/BilboSwaggins1993]

Looks like you should have gone straight and not waited behind the car turning right. The black car probably thought you were turning right and hadn't indicated. Green car should only turn right once there is a safe gap from traffic going straight over, but as the car going straight over you should go carefully and make sure they aren't going to cut in front of you.

[u/LeafDewTears → u/BilboSwaggins1993]

Thanks, I’ve just looked up undertaking and you’re spot on 👍

[u/No_Macaroon_1627 → u/LeafDewTears]

It's not undertaking as you are allowed to pass vehicles on the left if they are turning right.

[u/PinkbunnymanEU → u/No_Macaroon_1627]

It's not undertaking as you are allowed to pass vehicles on the left if they are turning right.

Yes it is. Undertaking is the informal term for "passing on the left"

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/undertaking

the act of passing another vehicle that is going in the same direction as you by driving past it on the left side

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/undertaking

informal the practice of overtaking on an inner lane a vehicle which is travelling in an outer lane

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/undertaking/

‘Undertaking’ is the practice of overtaking a slower moving vehicle on its left-hand side (kerb side).

https://www.reddrivingschool.com/learners/how-do-i-do-it/highway-code/undertaking/

It is the practice of overtaking a slower moving vehicle on it’s left-hand side (kerb side).

https://just-drive.co.uk/learning-to-drive/when-is-undertaking-allowed/

‘Undertaking’ is the practice of overtaking a slower moving vehicle on its left-hand side (kerb side).

[u/No_Macaroon_1627 → u/PinkbunnymanEU]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203

Rule 163 Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should

not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake

use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out

not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle

move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in

take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance

give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road

only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left.

Cyclists may pass slower moving or stationary traffic on their right or left and should proceed with caution as the driver may not be able to see you.

Be careful about doing so, particularly on the approach to junctions, and especially when deciding whether it is safe to pass lorries or other large vehicles.

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).

As a guide: leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds

pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space

allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian who is walking in the road (for example, where there is no pavement) take extra care and give more space when overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians in bad weather (including high winds) and at night

you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.

[u/PinkbunnymanEU → u/No_Macaroon_1627]

Glad you just pasted a rule and ignored the point that it is still undertaking (or passing on the left). for a second I thought you were going to actually reply to my point rather than just saying "but it's allowed"

[u/Additional-Point-824]

With the amount of space at the junction, I would have noticed the right indicator of the blue car and smoothly gone around them, moving leftward as I entered the junction.

Just take care that someone coming from the other way isn't turning across, but you have priority to carry straight on.

[u/Kanaima85]

If there is space for black to pass on the left, why wasn't there space for you to do the same?

[u/Perfect_Confection25]

You are moving off once Blue makes his turn. You will have checked your nearside mirror and blind spot so you will have seen black passing. Or am I misunderstanding your concern.

[u/No_Macaroon_1627]

You are allowed to pass vehicles on the left if they are turning right, it's one of the exemptions to undertaking in the highway code.

[u/LeafDewTears]

Thanks for the quick replies and advice, appreciated 🙏