Double whites the law

whitecrook

whitecrook

whitecrook

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Hi all

Talking specifically about nearside being solid, and oncoming carriageway having short dashed whites, on an S2 road.

Wonder if someone can clarify, I've read various things and the highway code says this :

128
Double white lines where the line nearest to you is broken. This means you may cross the lines to overtake if it is safe, provided you can complete the manoeuvre before reaching a solid white line on your side. White direction arrows on the road indicate that you need to get back onto your side of the road.

There is no MUST NOT, as there is for double solid whites.

So I take this to mean the following scenario:

On opposite side of road, (single white is line is long dashed) crossing back to 'own' side but just 'clipping' the now solid line of your side (which was entered from the broken side) is NOT illegal, although perhaps could be frowned upon?

Also, there is no 'get back on your side arrows'




Regarding double solid whites, I also have a question:

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]

So it is NOT ILLEGAL to have your offside tyre 'on' the line, as long as you dont cross it or straddle it, at any time. (unless as exempted, above) ?
 
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This sounds like a collision question?

I'm not an RTA expert, but I understand that you must be back on your side of the road BEFORE the solid line begins, and to clip the line is an offence. My understanding is also that unless one of the listed circumstances apply, you must not be on the solid lines, as well as not over them - that includes the closest only. Remember: the whole point of the lines is to separate the traffic streams, and if both lanes drove with their wheels on their closest line then you're going to smack wing mirrors - or worse.


M
 
The MUST NOT indicates that there is a specific offence for being over or straddling double solid lines. A friend of mine at uni got a fixed penalty for this after overtaking a tractor doing 30mph (so not one of the exemptions listed).

Clipping a double solid line after an overtake is, as you've posted, against the highway code and hence the police can use it to prosecute you for driving without due care and attention. I hope you didn't mention about there not being "arrows" to the Police as this would just highlight even more that you were driving without due care - you should always have a clear line of sight for your overtake so you should know what's coming up, arrows or no arrows. I would be fairly sure that touching the line would be considered straddling for the reasons Meridian says.
 
OK -- I know about double solid whites, and I never straddle or cross them, but I admit I have went a tyre width ON to them on occassion, and you didn't answer my question on that.

Here's a bit of footage in question, which is actually the main thrust of my question - does this bit of footage show an illegal manoeuvre wrt to my First question:


 
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whitecrook said:
OK -- I know about double solid whites, and I never straddle or cross them, but I admit I have went a tyre width ON to them on occassion, and you didn't answer my question on that.

Here's a bit of footage in question, which is actually the main thrust of my question - does this bit of footage show an illegal manoeuvre wrt to my First question:


Click to expand...

Video is private.

The offence is crossing double white lines, so driving on them isn't a specific offence. However, you always have the offence of driving without due care and attention to contend with.
 
damn youtube. I'm sure i've made it public about 3 times, and now it wont work when I click edit. And they are doing mainenance......


edit should be visible now ?
 
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Solid white line on your side = you can't cross it. Broken white line on your side = you can cross it.
 
Yes. First 19 words in Rule 129 dont indicate direction so to cross it either way is an offence. Also was getting confused on the definition of double solid. The lines are classed as double solid if at least the line nearest you is solid. the opposing line is irrelavent.
 
Memphis said:
How on earth do people not know this? :confused:
Click to expand...

I wouldnt swear to this but I am pretty certain this was NOT in my theory test (or the theory book i learnt from) although it has been about 7 years since I took my test.
I am aware of this myself but not everyone will be if my above statement is true :)
 
Basically - if there is a solid white line nearest you, you need to be on the correct side of the road. End of!
 
Joe T said:
Basically - if there is a solid white line nearest you, you need to be on the correct side of the road. End of!
Click to expand...

No! If the solid line is on 'your own' side of the road (i.e. the left of the centre line ) then yes, but this is not the same as 'nearest you'. Which is what the video demonstrates, but has shown to be wrong. This video shows the 'nearest line' to be short dashes.
 
whitecrook said:
No! If the solid line is on 'your own' side of the road (i.e. the left of the centre line ) then yes, but this is not the same as 'nearest you'. Which is what the video demonstrates, but has shown to be wrong. This video shows the 'nearest line' to be short dashes.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't :confused: In the video it shows him/her coming back across from the other side of the road whilst there is a solid white line on his side of the road?
 
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Homer-Simpson said:
No it doesn't :confused: In the video it shows him/her coming back across from the other side of the road whilst there is a solid white line on his side of the road?
Click to expand...

It does.

But the poster said NEAREST. If you are on the other side of the road then the line on 'his side of the road' is NOT the nearest...
 
Homer-Simpson said:
From his comments I took it as nearest line on the side of the road you drive on. It isn't rocket science. Why would you use the road markings on the wrong side of the road?
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There is no right and wrong side of a road, so that doesn't make sense - dont ask me it wasn't me that said it, the poster as we've said before said 'it's quite simple, if the line nearest you is solid then dont cross it, ' But if you are on the right hand side of the line, the the solid line 'on your side' is not the nearest' so what he said does not ring true, according to the law posted above.

But it doesn't matter as it's academic anyway.
 
whitecrook said:
There is no right and wrong side of a road, so that doesn't make sense - dont ask me it wasn't me that said it, the poster as we've said before said 'it's quite simple, if the line nearest you is solid then dont cross it, ' But if you are on the right hand side of the line, the the solid line 'on your side' is not the nearest' so what he said does not ring true, according to the law posted above.

But it doesn't matter as it's academic anyway.
Click to expand...

There is a correct side of the road, you drive on the left (if we are talking about the UK). We might overtake on the right hand side but you pay attention to road markings on the LEFT side of the road. I don't understand why you are finding this so hard to grasp :confused:
 
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