White Line

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

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

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.

Stu is correct.

Originally Posted by 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.

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!

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.

Originally Posted by Stu

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

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

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?