"Cheeky" van driver undertakes using bike lane + video link

A van driver has been caught on dash cam using a bike lane to undertake in a desperate bid to move forward in a line of queuing traffic.

Dubbed “the cheekiest bit of driving I’ve ever seen” by dash cam driver Pete Escobar, who publishes bad driving on a YouTube account, the van driver's efforts nonetheless only managed to move the van one car forward in the queue of slow-moving vehicles.

The incident happened near Manchester United’s training grounds near Manchester on Thursday at 3.30pm, on the A6144 Carrington Lane at the junction with Isherwood Road.

Rider left-hooked on CS2 thanks helmet cam cyclist who captured the incident

Escobar told the Manchester Evening News (which has the footage of the incident): “I thought he was turning left. I was a bit miffed when I thought he was using the cycle lane to turn left and then when he pulled in front of me I was even more miffed.

“He didn’t get that far though, I was behind him all of the way.”

The van driver is seen pulling into the cycle lane when it appears near a set of traffic lights. He then uses the cycle lane to pass Escobar on the inside, before pulling back in front of him at the traffic lights. 

Rule 268 of the Highway Code states drivers shouldn’t overtake on the left or move to a lane on the left to overtake, and drivers doing so can be issued with a £100 on the spot fixed penalty notice and have three points added to their licenses for careless driving. Rule 268 also states drivers should not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.