Stopping at the line

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Discussion

leyorkie

Original Poster:

1,740 posts

191 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
Opinions please on this situation.
Stop line at junction, so you must come to a stop.
If you stop behind a car and you can see that the road is clear, can you just drive straight out following the car in front?
You have stopped but not at the line.
Is there a limit to how far back you can be but still be classed as stopped.

CoolHands

20,743 posts

210 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
I can’t see why you would even bother thinking about this, unless you’ve been done for it and want a way out.

fido

17,747 posts

270 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
If you stop behind a car and you can see that the road is clear
If you can see that the road is clear at the point you have stopped at, whether it be 50cm or 100cm or 150cm etc, then I would have thought this would be sufficient. I suspect that if you were behind a car, this would be 4m or thereabouts at least - so did you have full visibility of the the road at this point?

matchmaker

8,787 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
The law is clear - you MUST stop AT the stop line.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

185 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
I thought assumed 'stop' lines were at junctions where you had to stop because of not being able to see clearly to proceed.

Bigends

5,871 posts

143 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
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You must stop at a stop sign - but not necessarily at give way lines if its safe to proceed

Riley Blue

22,293 posts

241 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
Opinions please on this situation.
Stop line at junction, so you must come to a stop.
If you stop behind a car and you can see that the road is clear, can you just drive straight out following the car in front?
You have stopped but not at the line.
Is there a limit to how far back you can be but still be classed as stopped.
The place at which you must stop is in the first two words of your second sentence. What you do elsewhere is up to you.

Cat

3,123 posts

284 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
matchmaker said:
The law is clear - you MUST stop AT the stop line.
That isn't what the law states, it requires you to stop before crossing the line not at the line:-

TSRGD. 2016 said:
1. Subject to paragraph 2, the requirements conveyed to vehicular traffic on roads by a stop sign are that—

(a)every vehicle must stop before crossing the transverse line

It would ultimately be for a court to decide if the place where you stopped satisfied the above requirement.

Cat

Wings

5,887 posts

230 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
I was pulled over by the police for not stopping at a junction line, but I believe the same was really an excuse to catch a drink driver et.c

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

141 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
Cat said:
matchmaker said:
The law is clear - you MUST stop AT the stop line.
That isn't what the law states, it requires you to stop before crossing the line not at the line:-

TSRGD. 2016 said:
1. Subject to paragraph 2, the requirements conveyed to vehicular traffic on roads by a stop sign are that—

(a)every vehicle must stop before crossing the transverse line

It would ultimately be for a court to decide if the place where you stopped satisfied the above requirement.
"I did stop, Officer - five miles back, at the petrol station."

It isn't rocket science to realise that what's meant is stopping as the first vehicle before the line, at a reasonably short distance from the line, and immediately before crossing the line.

Otherwise, it's no different to any Give Way.

Dixy

3,231 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
It isn't rocket science to realise that what's meant is stopping as the first vehicle before the line, at a reasonably short distance from the line, and immediately before crossing the line.
Since when has British law had anything to do with rocket science and "what's meant" comes a long way down the interpretation route.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

141 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
Dixy said:
TooMany2cvs said:
It isn't rocket science to realise that what's meant is stopping as the first vehicle before the line, at a reasonably short distance from the line, and immediately before crossing the line.
Since when has British law had anything to do with rocket science and "what's meant" comes a long way down the interpretation route.
Good luck with that in court, assuming you'd not just accept the FPN...

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

182 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
Opinions please on this situation.
Stop line at junction, so you must come to a stop.
If you stop behind a car and you can see that the road is clear, can you just drive straight out following the car in front?
You have stopped but not at the line.
Is there a limit to how far back you can be but still be classed as stopped.
You certainly can't in France biggrinrolleyespaperbaggetmecoat

Dixy

3,231 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
Good luck with that in court, assuming you'd not just accept the FPN...
Fortunately the cant prosecute service are a tad more erudite than you and would rely on real law.

anonymous-user

69 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
matchmaker said:
The law is clear - you MUST stop AT the stop line.
That isn't true, when you do your motorbike test they encourage you to not stop if you can see that the way is clear

SS2.

14,608 posts

253 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
hucumber said:
That isn't true, when you do your motorbike test they encourage you to not stop if you can see that the way is clear
Are you confusing a Stop sign / line with a Give Way sign / line ?

anonymous-user

69 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
Very possibly... smile

Sheepshanks

37,118 posts

134 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
If you stop behind a car and you can see that the road is clear, can you just drive straight out following the car in front?
It's seems there isn't a definition of distance, but I would say that the road between you and the stop line needs to be clear, so going when the car in front does may well get you into trouble.

Sheepshanks

37,118 posts

134 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
hucumber said:
Very possibly... smile
God help us.

Bigends

5,871 posts

143 months

Saturday 14th October 2017
quotequote all
There are give way lines on roundabouts - I dont suppose we all stop at them