Overtaking stationary traffic on a solid white line?

There are some temporary lights on my commute at the moment causing havoc on a NSL road. Can someone who KNOWS (no guessing please ) answer whether it is legal to overtake on a solid white line if the traffic is stationary?

Highway code states:

129

Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.

[Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26]

It implies its OK to overtake a stationary vehicle but would a big queue be taking the mick???

Nope a slow pace past is fine!

[Luckypants]

If the traffic is stationary, it is ok. It is a series of single vehicles you are overtaking. As soon as the traffic starts to move then you will have to pull in. If there is oncoming traffic, you cannot overtake as this would be deemed as not safe (given the solid white) IMHO.

Where are the lights? ( From Salisbury )

[timwilky]

I crossed solid whites to overtake a long queue waiting for temporary lights with bluepete behind me. I asked him afterwards about the legality and he told me it was illegal. Although by sight of the temporary light I had plenty of notice of the possibility of oncoming traffic traffic etc. There was no chance that I was ever in danger.

However, should a copper be having a bad day, it is an offence, and you will get a ticket.

This is a very interesting question.

Although I don't have the answer I thought it worth pointing out that getting this technicality wrong equates to not just a fine but 3 points on your licence as well. As such, personally I'd err on the side of caution and not do it if there are traffic cops around!

Originally Posted by DanDare

Where are the lights? ( From Salisbury )

At Highpost on the A345 to Amesbury. Traffic was queued from high post almost back to the Park & Ride roundabout nr Old Sarum @ 5.30 last night!!! About 3 miles so I dont really want to sit and wait. The road is almost dead straight and it would be perfectly safe to overtake if the law allows it.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by andyb

At Highpost on the A345 to Amesbury. Traffic was queued from high post almost back to the Park & Ride roundabout nr Old Sarum @ 5.30 last night!!! About 3 miles so I dont really want to sit and wait. The road is almost dead straight and it would be perfectly safe to overtake if the law allows it.

Eek nightmare....

I suspect one of the problems is going to be that traffic law tends to be written for cars and not bikes. Although I'd personally consider it safe to filter if there was nothing coming the other way, if a car did the same thing how would you/the Police view it?

Now I know bikes aren't the same as cars, but if you think about other aspects of driving, the law generally doesn't discriminate. For example, there are many cases where solid whites are painted over-cautiously, in a place where a bike can get by but a slower-accelerating car can't. However that doesn't make a difference, you woudl still be liable to get a ticket if you overtook at that point, even on a bike. I can't see how the slow filtering would be any different.

3 miles is a bugger though!!

I had to cut out the squaddie that crashed into the junction electric box on Saturday morning. I heard on the Radio it was pretty mad cos the lights were four way instead of 2way.