Traversing single cariageway lane separators. OK or not?

[SS2.]

m4rk said:

Can overtaking be counted as necessary then or not?

The relevant legislation (TSRGD 2002) does not refer to it being 'necessary' (or otherwise) to enter a hatched area bordered by a broken white line; the wording is that '...vehicular traffic should not enter unless it is seen by the driver to be safe to do so'.

[7db]

vonhosen said:

m4rk said:

Vaux said:

7db said:

m4rk said:

I know it is illegal to cross the lane separators when they are bounded by a solid white lines...

You'd be amazed at the real answer...

HC 165 says it's a MUST NOT to overtake if you would have to enter an area designed to divide traffic, if it is surrounded by a solid white line.

The old HC 109 talked about not entering except in an emergency.

Is your point that if you're not overtaking, you can cross the line?

I thought it was OK to cross the broken white lines to overtake but as so many drivers beleive it is not I came here to see what the consensus of the knowledgeable people here think. If its not so clear, even to ypu guys, then its no wonder there's some misunderstanding in the general public. I am quite willing to accept I was wrong but in that case I would be saddened that on so many good overtaking roads I would be prevented from making a safe overatke because of lane separators.

They are talking about a solid line, not a broken line that you are talking about.
You can overtake where there is a diagonal area bordered by a broken white line, provided you can see that it is safe to do so.

The highway code only gives brief generic advice. If you want to know what the law says you've got to dig out the legislation.

Edited by vonhosen on Wednesday 9th July 10:03

The solid bordered diagonal areas are legal to enter, as far as the lines rules are concerned, but I can't help thinking someone would try a S3 on for size if you did.

And I probably wouldn't do it on the motorway ones, as I think you might be caught by some special roads rules, or driving other than on the carriageway. Oh, and nothing less than 1m40 apart...where it is an extended DWL system.

I tend not to go out there as it's full of crap and no-one expects or likes to find you there.

[vonhosen]

7db said:

vonhosen said:

m4rk said:

Vaux said:

7db said:

m4rk said:

I know it is illegal to cross the lane separators when they are bounded by a solid white lines...

You'd be amazed at the real answer...

HC 165 says it's a MUST NOT to overtake if you would have to enter an area designed to divide traffic, if it is surrounded by a solid white line.

The old HC 109 talked about not entering except in an emergency.

Is your point that if you're not overtaking, you can cross the line?

I thought it was OK to cross the broken white lines to overtake but as so many drivers beleive it is not I came here to see what the consensus of the knowledgeable people here think. If its not so clear, even to ypu guys, then its no wonder there's some misunderstanding in the general public. I am quite willing to accept I was wrong but in that case I would be saddened that on so many good overtaking roads I would be prevented from making a safe overatke because of lane separators.

They are talking about a solid line, not a broken line that you are talking about.
You can overtake where there is a diagonal area bordered by a broken white line, provided you can see that it is safe to do so.

The highway code only gives brief generic advice. If you want to know what the law says you've got to dig out the legislation.

The solid bordered diagonal areas are legal to enter, as far as the lines rules are concerned, but I can't help thinking someone would try a S3 on for size if you did.

Depends on the width of them as to whether you commit the solid line offence, best avoid altogether.

7db said:

And I probably wouldn't do it on the motorway ones, as I think you might be caught by some special roads rules, or driving other than on the carriageway. Oh, and nothing less than 1m40 apart...where it is an extended DWL system.

The motorway ones are chevrons not diagonals. They are a must not enter except in an emergency.

[7db]

vonhosen said:

The motorway ones are chevrons not diagonals. They are a must not enter except in an emergency.

I refer you to the M4, Westbound, under the Picadilly line train bridge, immediately after the road turns NSL. Diagonals, not chevrons, there.

http://tinyurl.com/67gk3e

[vonhosen]

7db said:

vonhosen said:

The motorway ones are chevrons not diagonals. They are a must not enter except in an emergency.

I refer you to the M4, Westbound, under the Picadilly line train bridge, immediately after the road turns NSL. Diagonals, not chevrons, there.

http://tinyurl.com/67gk3e

They are edge of carriageway, not lane separators (which is what I was talking about).
Apologies if edge of carriageway is what you were referring to & not lane separators.

Edited by vonhosen on Wednesday 9th July 17:56

[flemke]

Hatched areas bordered by broken lines often offer good opportunities to make progress.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the less used they are, the more likely they are to contain small, sharp debris that can cause a puncture. For that reason, before using one of these areas I try to judge whether it is frequently used or is dead ground.

[7db]

So the offence would be driving other than on the carriageway, rather than a S36?