Move up in third lane
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• The rules banning trucks from the outside lanes of motorways are about to change.
From 1 July goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of up to 7.5 tonnes will be al lowed to use the outside lanes, regardless of their unladen weight. At present these lanes may only be used by trucks which are not over 7.5 tonnes plated gross and not over 3,050kg unladen.
Maximum laden weight is defined as the vehicle's permitted gross weight as specified in the Construction and Use regs or, if unspecified, as the vehicle's design laden weight.
Where a two-lane motorway widens or where a motorway merges from the left, the ban on driving a truck over 7.5 tonnes in the outer lane will not apply during the time it reasonably takes for the driver to change lanes without inconveniencing other traffic.
The rules governing which vehicles are allowed to use the second overtaking lane are a traditional source of controversy.
Many light truck drivers complain that they are banned from using the outside lane while much heavier coaches are not.