Long Tail backs and Solid centre white line.

[dommiek]

An interesting thread but I'm still believing if I crossed a solid white line to pass a queue of stationary vehicles I would be breaking the law.

Let's imagine we come across this queue, only this time we are on a Rospa test with a serving traffic officer/examiner following closely behind. We've had a great ride and are potentially going to pass with a Gold.
How many of us would sit in the queue and who would choose to pass and explain our decision at the end of the test?

 

[EPG_19]

The Highway code provides the acceptable rules for crossing solid lines. Basically you can pass a stationary vehicle. Cars waiting in a queue are not stationary (mute point), so technically you can not pass. You can pass if you no part of your bike crosses the white line, panniers hanging over, means you have crossed the line. I did a couple of years ago, get a talking too, for passing queuing traffic by nipping over a solid white, no ticket but definitely could have got one.

Cars waiting in a queue are stationary, if they aren't then they are parked. Other areas of the RTA use the term stationary for cars queuing.

It's the same coppers who think holding a mobile phone when driving is an offence.

 

[EPG_19]

An interesting thread but I'm still believing if I crossed a solid white line to pass a queue of stationary vehicles I would be breaking the law.

Let's imagine we come across this queue, only this time we are on a Rospa test with a serving traffic officer/examiner following closely behind. We've had a great ride and are potentially going to pass with a Gold.
How many of us would sit in the queue and who would choose to pass and explain our decision at the end of the test?

You can think what you like.

But the law is clear.

 

[SBD]

7 pages so far suggests that the law is not clear.

Or, at least, is not clearly understood.

 

[casbar]

Cars waiting in a queue are stationary, if they aren't then they are parked. Other areas of the RTA use the term stationary for cars queuing.

It's the same coppers who think holding a mobile phone when driving is an offence.

Not in case history, but anyone can take their chances, good luck in court

 

[Oldrat]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned as I’ve not read the whole thread….

My ha’pence worth.


The law requires the solid white line to be .. both solid and continuous throughout.

I’ve often noticed solid white lines interrupted at regular spaces by cats eyes.

I’ve also seen solid white lines which have been so worn, that they are neither solid nor continuous.

If you are pulled, I reckon it’s worth a challenge

 

[SBD]

Last chance cafe, but yeah, I’d take it if I needed to.
(And double whites have the cats’ eyes between the lines afaik)

It seems kind-of easier to simply not cross the line…

 

[TIJ650]

Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. This has always been my motorcycling mantra.
Failed a couple of times though

 

[EPG_19]

Not in case history, but anyone can take their chances, good luck in court

Don't need to even get as far as court. Got ticket challenged and they did not progress it.

Doesn't need to be case law as there wouldn't be a court high enough dealing with it.

Even that clown the blackbelt barrister agrees

 

[EPG_19]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned as I’ve not read the whole thread….

My ha’pence worth.


The law requires the solid white line to be .. both solid and continuous throughout.

I’ve often noticed solid white lines interrupted at regular spaces by cats eyes.

I’ve also seen solid white lines which have been so worn, that they are neither solid nor continuous.

If you are pulled, I reckon it’s worth a challenge

It has been challenged if not repaired correctly then not considered continuous. Same as double yellows that go across grates without being finish with a 'T'

 

[King Rat]

Going in to Stafford for Horse Pit Hall appointment the other day. Traffic is queuing for miles, literally. Large, wide, recently mown grass verge on the nearside.... I managed to pass about 3/4 mile of standing traffic without crossing the white line. MEFO Explorer tyres are great.
Is there anything in the highway code to prevent me doing this? I was not riding on the road because I was off the tarmac, and it isn't a pedestrian area either, the tarmac pedestrian bit is on the other side of the road. This is simply wide, grass verge. When I got to the end I simply filtered back in as the traffic opened up.

 

[autogs]

Don't do that on your test eh,is the grass verge a road? Er no I think your lucky plod didn't spot you or even a car dash cam!

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

 

[G&T]

Going in to Stafford for Horse Pit Hall appointment the other day. Traffic is queuing for miles, literally. Large, wide, recently mown grass verge on the nearside.... I managed to pass about 3/4 mile of standing traffic without crossing the white line. MEFO Explorer tyres are great.
Is there anything in the highway code to prevent me doing this? I was not riding on the road because I was off the tarmac, and it isn't a pedestrian area either, the tarmac pedestrian bit is on the other side of the road. This is simply wide, grass verge. When I got to the end I simply filtered back in as the traffic opened up.

I wouldn’t do it as I’d fall off

 

[dommiek]

Going in to Stafford for Horse Pit Hall appointment the other day. Traffic is queuing for miles, literally. Large, wide, recently mown grass verge on the nearside.... I managed to pass about 3/4 mile of standing traffic without crossing the white line. MEFO Explorer tyres are great.
Is there anything in the highway code to prevent me doing this? I was not riding on the road because I was off the tarmac, and it isn't a pedestrian area either, the tarmac pedestrian bit is on the other side of the road. This is simply wide, grass verge. When I got to the end I simply filtered back in as the traffic opened up.

Depending on the circumstances you could be accused of riding without due care and attention.

 

[Oldrat]

I’ve been out far too long to recall definitively but from a quick nose around..

It isn’t a nationwide offence to specifically drive on the verge, it depends upon local byelaws.

It is an offence to park on them or put something on the verge. S148 Highways Act

 

[Wapping]

I can tell you with absolute certainty, that when the A13 out of central London is shut for the Marathon, it is completely legal to push (a somewhat heavy) K1600 across the pedestrian only crossing.

I was stopped by PC Plod initially, as the dual lane road was shut to motor traffic. I pointed out that I was simply pushing something across the road; no different to pushing a pram.

This met PC Plod’s acceptance levels and the world continued to spin on its axis.

 

[Oldrat]

Control of steering plus control of braking has been held to be ‘driving’

Just saying

 

[King Rat]

Depending on the circumstances you could be accused of riding without due care and attention.

I beg to differ. I was being extremely careful and diligent with utmost attention, so as to stay rubber side down.

 

[Morety]

An interesting thread but I'm still believing if I crossed a solid white line to pass a queue of stationary vehicles I would be breaking the law.

Let's imagine we come across this queue, only this time we are on a Rospa test with a serving traffic officer/examiner following closely behind. We've had a great ride and are potentially going to pass with a Gold.
How many of us would sit in the queue and who would choose to pass and explain our decision at the end of the test?

It can be a difficult one as it's open to interpretation, so reference to the Act is needed:

Rule 129: Double white lines where the line nearer to 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.

The key wording here is "you may cross...provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle...". It does not say "pass a parked vehicle" as intimated earlier on the thread, (although that is permitted) it clearly states "stationary vehicle" so I would take this to mean that providing the traffic is stationary, then yes, you can pass with care, but of the queue starts moving again, it may be prudent to slot into a gap, without annoying other road users, and pull out again when the queue becomes stationary, purely on the wording of the Act. In the unlikely event that your actions contribute towards an accident, that's where the "without due care and attention" bit would come in, so the principles of "Safe, Legal, Appropriate and with the Perception of other road users" come to mind.

 

[littleade]

I saw this today on our local IAM group's WhatsApp group