Using both sides of the road

[Elnicko]

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

[Mastodon2]

Yes.

[bogie]

so long as the centre line is not solid ......

[toxgobbler]

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

Yup. When I did bikesafe they congratulated me on using both sides - on roads with lots of left handers (and good visibility) it sometimes feels like you can spend as much time in the right lane as the left. Obviously when there are no junctions/oncoming cars/solid white lines...

[theshrew]

It's there why not use it.

Personally I don't go over double whites even if it's plenty safe to do so ( in a lot of cases it would be on a bike ).

[MotorsportTom]

You pay to use the roads so when safe to do so use all of it.

There used to be a broken white line that is now solid on my commute. I still overtake on it as it's 3 lanes wide with great vision and if it used to be safe I have no clue why it isn't now!

[Elnicko]

Odd as i just had a conversation with a lovely man who had flashing lights on his car telling me it is an endorsable offence and you cannot use the other side of the road........

[Biker's Nemesis]

I use the grass verge on the other side at times to.

[Elnicko]

On purpose?

[Biker's Nemesis]

No, it just happens.

[castex]

I went over double whites last weekend on the A701 from Scarborough to Middlesborough. The Saxo was doing 30. I could see a long way ahead and it was all clear; no turnings. I loathed having to do it, but I did. Sometimes one just has to trust one's own judgement and instincts.

[fergus]

Elnicko said:

Odd as i just had a conversation with a lovely man who had flashing lights on his car telling me it is an endorsable offence and you cannot use the other side of the road........

Did the lovely man mention anything about what type of white lines you'd crossed?

[Baryonyx]

castex said:

I went over double whites last weekend on the A701 from Scarborough to Middlesborough. The Saxo was doing 30. I could see a long way ahead and it was all clear; no turnings. I loathed having to do it, but I did. Sometimes one just has to trust one's own judgement and instincts.

You'd be better off using subtle pressure to start with (bob left and right in the mirrors, use high beam). Just don't get spotted crossing the solid whites or it'll be the easiest points you ever had.

Luckily those restrictions are fairly rare, so use all the road when it's safe to do so.

[Elnicko]

Standard broken white lines, there were no solid whites anywhere along that route.

[neelyp]

Elnicko said:

Odd as i just had a conversation with a lovely man who had flashing lights on his car telling me it is an endorsable offence and you cannot use the other side of the road........

I presume he wasn't traffic?

[Prof Prolapse]

How the hell would you overtake if it wasn't?

[WinstonWolf]

When I was taught advanced riding by back in the eighties you failed if you didn't use both sides of the road. "You've paid for the whole of the road, use it"

We were also taught NSL meant No Sodding Limit, if you didn't make progress and take every safe overtake you failed. Making progress was definitely the order of the day

Times have changed...

[Elnicko]

Nope no traffic. Just took some of the right side of the road round a couple right hand bends with clear visibility up the other side then all of a sudden flashy flashy

[Elnicko]

Upon asking him about it and the rospa driving he also stated it was alright as long as an instructor was with me! Surely its either legal or not