White Line

[Tris]

T'was out the other day and came onto the end off a long line of cars. Road was dead straight with nothing coming. Problem was that between the two lanes instead of a white line there were 2 broken white lines with white cross hatching in between. So after a bit I got Pi££ed off and overtook the cars, crossing the hatching.

I seam to remember somebody telling me that if the lines around the hatching were broken it was OK but you couldn't cross the hatched areas if the lines either side were solid

So the question is did I break the law/highway code or not?

Cheers

[Stu]

If it was safe to do so (proved by the fact that you did not crash) and it was necessary (do you feel up to putting forward your case that it was necessary for you to make progress and overtake those cars? I certainly would) Then yes it was legal & allowed by the HC
Correct you can only enter a hatched area bounded by solid line in an emergency

Now go & read your HC and at least know which laws you are breaking & which you aren't :D

[Caddy2000]

I don't think you did, because it was a broken white line, not a solid. A solid line indicates no overtaking, a broken line indicates the division of the two lanes where an overtake allowed. The marking you described below just seem to be a way to separate the two lanes of traffic, not stop overtakes.

[G]

Was there any police about......Did you deem it safe to go......

Then do it :D

[AndyW]

You can cross a solid white line to overtake stationary vehicles, so a broken one to overtake is fine, watch out for crud though as the middle of the chevrons is where it all ends up making a tricky riding surface.

[Ceri JC]

Stu is correct.

[muffles]

You can cross a solid white line to overtake stationary vehicles, so a broken one to overtake is fine, watch out for crud though as the middle of the chevrons is where it all ends up making a tricky riding surface.

The solid white line's a little vague in the instances of stationary vehicles, btw. Some people might use the above (which is correct wording, it's just the interpretation of 'stationary') to overtake a queue of cars that isn't moving, by crossing the solid white line. It's vague because some might say (some - possibly being a magistrate or police officer) that queuing traffic is not 'stationary' - it's not moving, but it could be considered 'on the move' (the cars would move forward if there was no obstruction).

A bit OT but wouldn't want anyone to get caught out by that, I suspect it'll come down to what side of bed the policeman got out, that sorta thing, which is never a good thing to rely on!

[thedonal]

That's the main consideration for me, as I often overtake in hatched areas- the amount of debris that gets pushed off the road by traffic. Can be potentially skittery in those areas or there may be risks to punctures.

[Tris]

Now go & read your HC and at least know which laws you are breaking & which you aren't :D

A good point well made ;)

I should have made clear that the traffic was moving. I wouldn't have asked the question if it had been stationary

[Tris]

Ref Stu's comment I took a look and found this on the HC web site

Rule 130

Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right.

if the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so
if the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency[Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9, 10 & 16, MT(S)R regs 4, 8, 9 & 14, RTA sect 36 & TSRGD 10(1)]


And the key word is necessary - I guess that depends on your (or plods) definition of necessary at the time.

Would the fact that the traffic was travelling slower than the posted speed limimt constitue - necessary?

[AndyW]

And the key word is necessary - I guess that depends on your (or plods) definition of necessary at the time.

Would the fact that the traffic was travelling slower than the posted speed limimt constitue - necessary?

I should remember this, the question cropped up and was answered at length during "meet the examiner" two weeks ago for the IAM course (but I'm at work and officially brain dead).
Its something along the lines of if they are doing 10( 20?) less than the speed limit and you need the space to overtake with a margin of safety (still within the speed limit) then it can be construed as necessary to making progress.

[Lucas]

T'was out the other day and came onto the end off a long line of cars. Road was dead straight with nothing coming. Problem was that between the two lanes instead of a white line there were 2 broken white lines with white cross hatching in between. So after a bit I got Pi££ed off and overtook the cars, crossing the hatching.

I seam to remember somebody telling me that if the lines around the hatching were broken it was OK but you couldn't cross the hatched areas if the lines either side were solid

So the question is did I break the law/highway code or not?

Cheers

I normally just do a quick check for police / CCTV when I'm confused by road signs & markings. ;)

[650SFTT]

If you filtered past traffic where there was a solid white line but stayed within the line would this be ok? :confused:

[AndyW]

If you filtered past traffic where there was a solid white line but stayed within the line would this be ok? :confused:
Yes, BUT people have been taken to court and found guilty for having part of the bike/you over the white line (wing mirror/ head if knee down on a bend).
Examiner (ex-bike cop) thought it was a stupid pull in the first place but was upheld in court apparently.

[muffles]

Yes, BUT people have been taken to court and found guilty for having part of the bike/you over the white line (wing mirror/ head if knee down on a bend).
Examiner (ex-bike cop) thought it was a stupid pull in the first place but was upheld in court apparently.

I think you could also be pulled for careless driving or that ilk if you do this, even if you are fully within the white line (there may not be much space - what would you do if the vehicle swerved - and even with plenty of space it's a bit iffy as the other driver may not expect it, and panic - hence below the normal standard of driving as viewed by others).

[Elky]

On my way home in the evenings getting in to town, 2 lanes go in to one meaning there is a big queue of traffic. I always ride along the chevron area but never sure if I would get away with this or not if police were around.

What do you reckon?

Eastern Road (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=po4+8sn&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=50.806857,-1.045635&spn=0.001149,0.0025&z=19&iwloc=addr)

[sv-robo]

Let's be honest,how many bikers on this forum or anywhere else for that matter follow the highway code to the letter?none i bet.

If you want to overtake and feel it is reasonably safe to do so DO IT!!!!

(god i love being controversial;):))

[Baph]

Let's be honest,how many bikers on this forum or anywhere else for that matter follow the highway code to the letter?none i bet.

If you want to overtake and feel it is reasonably safe to do so DO IT!!!!

(god i love being controversial;):))
+1.

Hashed white lines, either bordering or stand-alone, are game for 'off-siding.' Solid white lines are not to be crossed under any circumstances. What's the point when you can wait a minute or so & you've got hashed white lines?

[Stu]

[quote=Baph;1509209Solid white lines are not to be crossed under any circumstances. What's the point when you can wait a minute or so & you've got hashed white lines?[/quote]
Er ... do you not suffer solid white lines for literally miles at a time? :???:
There's plenty of examples where a bike could safely overtake, but a car couldn't so they just continue them as solid.


At your own risk of course ;)

[Baph]

Er ... do you not suffer solid white lines for literally miles at a time? :???:

You obviously forget where I live. The answer to your question is a resounding 'no.' :D

[G]

+1.

Hashed white lines, either bordering or stand-alone, are game for 'off-siding.' Solid white lines are not to be crossed under any circumstances. What's the point when you can wait a minute or so & you've got hashed white lines?


Try visiting carsington water.....there is literally mile upon mile of blooming solid whites, infact a whole lot of derbyshire is like that :(

[Stu]

So N. Wales under Brunstrom is not solid White line City? :???:

OK, good then :D lucky you for one saving grace.

[muffles]

Let's be honest,how many bikers on this forum or anywhere else for that matter follow the highway code to the letter?none i bet.

If you want to overtake and feel it is reasonably safe to do so DO IT!!!!

(god i love being controversial;):))

Yes, I agree, but that wasn't the question! The question was around the legalities of it ;)

[Stu]

Just for the purposes of research y'understand!
Last night I overtook a marked Police van stopped at a red traffic light (outside Parliament) There were hatched markings bounded by broken lines in the middle of the road that I used to pass him.
The van gave a Whooop on his siren & left it at that! so he obviously agreed with me that it was 'necessary' for me to be at the front of the queue :D
I think he probably thought I was going to go through the red light or at least sit in the cycle box, but as he was a good little Police van, there was plenty of room in front of him before the lead car.