Ahead from right turn lane

[supermono]

A route I use sometimes has a right turn and straight on lane at some lights. The phasing of the lights is such that both go green at the same time and the island is far enough away to complete a safe overtake from the right lane given the horsepower/reaction time advantage performing an emergency start.

Now after this junction (and before) is s/c A road usually infested with slowsters or trucks doing 40mph so this affords a safe opportunity to get past a few rather than / in addition to using the odd overtaking straights.

If one should make use of this as I did recently since I was in a hurry, aside from being a bit rude is it an offence?

[505diff]

'given the horsepower/reaction time advantage performing an emergency start' can someone fill me in on this? A green signal means proceed with caution, if the right turn signal has an green arrow that's the direction your expected go in, if it does not have arrow you may be able to go straight on, what does it say in your Audi's handbook?

[Ian Geary]

Bikesafe plod confirmed to our group that white lane direction arrows are advisory only, and going straight ahead in a left or right lane is legal.

Obviously all usual caveats apply: the light is green, the manoeuvre is not careless or dangerous, and most importantly, you don't cock it up and make yourself look like a numpty.


Ian

[Zod]

I look for any advantage I can find within the rules, but I don't disobey the arrows, although some junctions don't have them until very late, making them difficult to spot in traffic.

I do curse people who disregard the arrows.

[R_U_LOCAL]

supermono said:

emergency start

Not illegal OP, but very bad practice and if it led to an accident, your actions could be considered careless.

[Cliftonite]

No.

But one day you will be caught out by someone alongside you booting it from the amber, and the car following that someone will close the gap behind him, leaving you in the cold.

Or a red-light jumper from the cross-traffic will get you.

Or a pedestrian will emerge (from in front of the large van on your left that delayed his departure as someone was late in crossing) at the critical moment.

Do you feel lucky?

(If you stay one car length from the stop line, you can boot it on the amber as by the time you cross the line the light will be green. This is great fun but increases the risks detailed above by more than a tad.

HTH!

[sonarbell]

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

[vonhosen]

R_U_LOCAL said:

supermono said:

emergency start

Not illegal OP, but very bad practice and if it led to an accident, your actions could be considered careless.

It could be considered careless/inconsiderate without an accident.
It would be a serious fault & therefore failure on a driving test too.

[R_U_LOCAL]

vonhosen said:

R_U_LOCAL said:

supermono said:

emergency start

Not illegal OP, but very bad practice and if it led to an accident, your actions could be considered careless.

It could be considered careless/inconsiderate without an accident.
It would be a serious fault on a driving test too.

As would an emergency start!

[LoonR1]

sonarbell said:

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

Painted on the road, yes.

[vonhosen]

sonarbell said:

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

They aren't a specific offence (without for instance TURN RIGHT below the arrow), like say using a handheld mobile phone is whilst driving is.

But like the handheld offence, remove the specific offence & it doesn't mean you can't be found guilty of of careless/inconsiderate driving where applicable.

[Moonhawk]

LoonR1 said:

sonarbell said:

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

Painted on the road, yes.

I wish somebody had told my driving examiner that - I failed a driving test for going straight on from a lane with a right turn arrow in it (despite the fact that there was a coach parked in the left lane meaning I couldn't get into the left lane without crossing the stop line at the traffic lights.)

[vonhosen]

Moonhawk said:

LoonR1 said:

sonarbell said:

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

Painted on the road, yes.

I wish somebody had told my driving examiner that - I failed a driving test for going straight on from a lane with a right turn arrow in it (despite the fact that there was a coach parked in the left lane meaning I couldn't get into the left lane without crossing the stop line at the traffic lights.)

As I said above, failing to adhere to arrows in lanes on your driving test is a serious fault.

Is there more to the case in your driving test?
Such as after you got caught at the lights in the right turn lane, the coach moved off?

Edited by vonhosen on Thursday 15th January 20:11

[Swervin_Mervin]

vonhosen sums it up.

[Cliftonite]

Moonhawk said:

LoonR1 said:

sonarbell said:

So White Lane Arrows are advisory only ??

Painted on the road, yes.

I wish somebody had told my driving examiner that - I failed a driving test for going straight on from a lane with a right turn arrow in it (despite the fact that there was a coach parked in the left lane meaning I couldn't get into the left lane without crossing the stop line at the traffic lights.)

Did you not ask your examiner what you were supposed to have done differently?

[supermono]

Thanks, most useful. Not something I'd normally do but after following a slowster for miles and miles will consider it again. Naturally I was super aware of pedestrians or people jumping the other lights and of course if there was someone else as keen as me I may have to abort and turn right looking like a tit. I suppose being a biker makes it seem more doable.

However, now I know it's something I can legally use in my arsenel to drive in a manner likely to get me home earlier.

[supermono]

505diff said:

'given the horsepower/reaction time advantage performing an emergency start' can someone fill me in on this? A green signal means proceed with caution, if the right turn signal has an green arrow that's the direction your expected go in, if it does not have arrow you may be able to go straight on, what does it say in your Audi's handbook?

Haha I can't comment on your question but can educate you about the contraction of you are: It's you're not your; "you're expected" is correct, "your expected" is wrong.

[supermono]

vonhosen said:

It could be considered careless/inconsiderate without an accident.
It would be a serious fault & therefore failure on a driving test too.

Excellent, not illegal then. Thanks!

[Derek Smith]

supermono said:

vonhosen said:

It could be considered careless/inconsiderate without an accident.
It would be a serious fault & therefore failure on a driving test too.

Excellent, not illegal then. Thanks!

If there is a vehicle in the nearside lane, I'd suggest careless every time. So in other words, not an offence to fail to comply with the arrow but given that the person on the nearside expected you to turn right, then careless. If hey had to moderate their direction or speed in any way, then great corroboration, but not necessary.

Further, on the OPs' own statement, he attempts to beat another car to a pinch lane by using rapid acceleration from traffic lights. I'd be happy to nod that through as careless. If there is an impact or an accident, then possibly dangerous depending on circs.

However, if you inadvertently went into the wrong lane and there was no vehicle on the nearside lane, or one approaching, then by all means, pull to the left, after indicating of course if there was a vehicle behind you waiting to turn right.

If you stayed stationary in the outside lane to let all the vehicles on the nearside lane go before pulling into it, then there might well be a case for inconsiderate driving if you held up a number of vehicles for no reason. Depends on circs though.

However, the arrow on the road does not conform to a section in any act which demands compliance, but as with so much in traffic law, you should use a bit of sense or else.

[silverfoxcc]

Have a look at the A329 going southbound at the Winnersh crossroads, ( sorry no link completely hopeless at it)
As you approach the lights there are white signs advising the RH lane is superstore only, and at the junction to Sainsburys the road markings are
LH lane straight on
RH lane right turn arrow
Also the traffic lights at the junction are LH one normal green light
RH the green is a right turn arrow

And yes the idiots always steam past it in the RH lane going straight ahead. because the road markings are advisory

However the local plod normal do a stake out and pull the RH lane mob over, for what offence i know not, but DWDCA could be the answer

And just as an afterthought, at the Twin Bridges roandabout at Bracknell coming north along the A3095 the three lanes are marked both on the road and a white 'get in lane' sign

LH lane Left
Middle lane Left and straight on (left onto a DC A329)
RH lane Straight and Right turn

The guy in the Far Eastern Builders type utility st heap, just pulled away and went from LH to middle lane right in front of me.
I am just happy i wasnt going to turn left..BUT the fking signs dont matter do they, likewis, lanes at said roundabout where straight lining is a regular hazard, esp when the fkwits think you are the problem when you stay in lane.

Prats like this make me want to get a webcam....just in case