Twank Plod/Traffic whaimicallits

[TSM]

You know thoes young plods that dont know much that are put on traffic diverting jobs.

Well comming down Haymarket road its four lanes splitting into to directions 2 lanes 2 ways. Usaly the traffic backs up on the left side to go around trafalger so usaly peeps come up in the middle and filter to the front.

The silly traffic whaticallhim refused me to filter saying it was ilegal as i was going over a hatched area, i stressed to him that it was not acording to the highway code as the hatched area did not have solid lines around it and it was safe to go as the traffic was not moving. He wanted me to queue up behind all the traffic.

Had a little argument with him before he started to ignore me, he failed to realise he left his hand right infront of my mirror so when i pulled of he got a nice slap, not in the correct place though.

Originally Posted by DfT

109: 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 diagonal stripes and bordered by solid white lines, you should not enter it except in an emergency.
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)

As per above highlighted text, shows that it was allowed as it was "safe to do so".

Originally Posted by TSM

As per above highlighted text, shows that it was allowed as it was "safe to do so".

Beg to differ, old boy.

Whilst the text shows that it is allowed you have not demonstrated that it was necessary to do so, perhaps for your own safety. As to code says you should not enter unless it it safe to do so. The words "should not enter" come first, implying that is the over-riding rule.

I doubt that a Court would consider your need to filter as "necessary"; desirable yes, but not necessary.

The chevrons are there for a reason even if not immediately obvious to you. If the chevrons were unecessary for safety/engineering reasons reasons then they would not be there.

There's the other side........ discuss

[Shellywoozle]

Yeah but on the plus side you got to give the copper a clap on the hand and I bet he didn't have the quick thinking to turn his head and get your reg number !!

Shell

If you were right or wrong I think giving the copper a slap may not work in your favour

Originally Posted by falc

If you were right or wrong I think giving the copper a slap may not work in your favour

I agree with falc















but would give me a certain sense of satisfaction

[TSM]

Originally Posted by falc

If you were right or wrong I think giving the copper a slap may not work in your favour

Was not done on purpose, he just kept his hand there when he saw me going. Mabey he moved it, who knows?

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Yeah but on the plus side you got to give the copper a clap on the hand and I bet he didn't have the quick thinking to turn his head and get your reg number !!

Shell

Not as if it can be read easly anyway at the moment, but he saw me leaving and left his hand out. Mabey he moved it?

[TSM]

Originally Posted by Jabba

Beg to differ, old boy.

Whilst the text shows that it is allowed you have not demonstrated that it was necessary to do so, perhaps for your own safety. As to code says you should not enter unless it it safe to do so. The words "should not enter" come first, implying that is the over-riding rule.

I doubt that a Court would consider your need to filter as "necessary"; desirable yes, but not necessary.

The chevrons are there for a reason even if not immediately obvious to you. If the chevrons were unecessary for safety/engineering reasons reasons then they would not be there.

There's the other side........ discuss

It was necessary as i was not waiting in a queue that was realy long when i have the ability to filter plus it was the direction of travel that i need. In the time i was speaking to him a large gap about 3 bus lengths opened up, so it was clearly 'safe' to go.

Let me define again what the DfT has on their site. If the words MUST NOT are in red then its a traffic offence otherwise its just an advisory as SHOULD is not as definitive as MUST. (ive edited the original DfT quote to reflect).

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words MUST / MUST NOT. In addition the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. Abbreviation explanation.

The diagnal stripes are there because the road splits but as they dont have a solid border then crossing them is not an offence.

ps. Chevrons and Diagnal White lines seem to be diffrent in the code. (chevrons is prolly ^ while diagnal lines / or \).

[Red ones]

Calm down, calm down - it's only a road marking!

Somewhere I thought the rules clarfied - even for solid white lines. TSMs interpretation of the dotted line seems fine to me. But the Highway Code is clear on solids too! You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.

[TSM]

Originally Posted by Red ones

Somewhere I thought the rules clarfied - even for solid white lines. TSMs interpretation of the dotted line seems fine to me. But the Highway Code is clear on solids too! You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.

The highway code site is good, this is the rule you are talking about, but its to do with Double white center lines and probably does not apply to chevroned areas.

108: 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 to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

Originally Posted by Jabba

If the chevrons were unecessary for safety/engineering reasons reasons then they would not be there.

Seriously? What roads do you ride on?