White Lane Arrows, Advisory or Compulsory?

[Vanin]

The white painted direction arrows on the approach to certain roundabouts after a dual carriageway. If the right hand lane has an arrow pointing to the right, is it advisory or legally compulsory.
Just thinking of the situation where there are say three HGVs waiting in the left lane and you opt to overtake them all by taking the right hand lane. All come to a standstill but you knowthat you will be on the exit before they have engaged second gear. Nothing unsafe that I can see but is it legal?

[Vanin]

This is becoming complicated.

All I wanted to know was if I pulled up alongside an HGV, so that I am first in the right hand lane which has an arrow indicating right with no other directions, if I pulled out when the road was clear, gentle acceleration but easily pulling ahead of the HGV so that there was absolutely no competition or inconvenience on the roundabout or at the exit road, could I be fined?

The answer appears to be that it is not a offence to be in the right arrowed lane and go straight ahead if you continue to drive with due care and attention and consideration.

[Vanin]

Cliftonite said:

That is just common sense and a perfectly reasonable point of view (which I share), so, no, a frayed knot! Sorry!

According to our esteemed Mr vonhosen, the CPS want the police to do you for it, regardless of lack of any demonstrated upset to other motorists.

See previous thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&a...

Enjoy!

Thanks for that link Cliftonite which I endured rather than enjoyed.
A lot of the posts were concerning white arrows at traffic lights.
A lot of the potential offences revolved around had any other driver been inconvenienced.

My scenario is coming up to a roundabout, not traffic lights, where there may be two or three HGVs ( or even a tractor and trailer) waiting to move into the roundabout and the right lane is clear.
I pull away when safe to do so causing no drama or competition and exiting the roundabout way ahead of the HGVs.

I would not do this if there was a car in the left lane.

I could argue that if I had stayed in the left hand lane and found myself sandwiched between the lorries for the next few miles of single carriageway, I would be not only be inconvenienced but will have put myself into a potentially dangerous situation especially if it was raining and there was spray and low visibility.