No overtaking sign vs solid lines
Discussion
Yesterday whilst trying to avoid the M40 closure, I found myself on a stretch of road approaching a nasty brow that completely obliterated visibility.
However, there were no solid white lines in the centre of the road, but there was a "No overtaking" sign.
vs. 
This started me wondering... What is the difference between a solid white line in the centre of the road (either double, or just on "your" side of the road) and a no overtaking sign? What are the reasons for having one as opposed to the other?
However, there were no solid white lines in the centre of the road, but there was a "No overtaking" sign.
vs. This started me wondering... What is the difference between a solid white line in the centre of the road (either double, or just on "your" side of the road) and a no overtaking sign? What are the reasons for having one as opposed to the other?
LexSport said:
Yesterday whilst trying to avoid the M40 closure, I found myself on a stretch of road approaching a nasty brow that completely obliterated visibility.
However, there were no solid white lines in the centre of the road, but there was a "No overtaking" sign.
This started me wondering... What is the difference between a solid white line in the centre of the road (either double, or just on "your" side of the road) and a no overtaking sign? What are the reasons for having one as opposed to the other?
I cant tell you the reasons why there is one as opposed to the other. I can tell you they both mean exactly the same and have the same penalty if you fail to comply with them. £60 and 3 points if seen by Police, if disaster happens, a lot more as well!
madcop said:
I cant tell you the reasons why there is one as opposed to the other. I can tell you they both mean exactly the same and have the same penalty if you fail to comply with them. £60 and 3 points if seen by Police, if disaster happens, a lot more as well!
I always thought that a "No Overtaking" sign meant *EXACTLY* that - NO OVERTAKING, period. Whereas a solid white line meant that you could overtake as long as you didn't cross the white line?
Phil
Aren't there also rules regarding visibility and double white lines?
Aren' double white lines only permitted when the visibility is less than x yards? Don't know what x is!
I thought this is why in some accident blackspots they used cross hatching surrounding by broken white lines.
So could the No Overtaking signs have different rules regarding visibility?
Aren' double white lines only permitted when the visibility is less than x yards? Don't know what x is!
I thought this is why in some accident blackspots they used cross hatching surrounding by broken white lines.
So could the No Overtaking signs have different rules regarding visibility?
The Highway Code says;
Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
I think bassfiend has got it.
There is nothing that says you cannot overtake in a double white line section just that you MUST NOT break the line. This effectively means no overtaking for most vehicles but can be done on a bike with a wide lane and friendly traffic
. Common perception of this line is that it means no overtaking.
The no overtaking sign specifically states what you cannot do.
There is nothing that says you cannot overtake in a double white line section just that you MUST NOT break the line. This effectively means no overtaking for most vehicles but can be done on a bike with a wide lane and friendly traffic
. Common perception of this line is that it means no overtaking. The no overtaking sign specifically states what you cannot do.
Oh and for those that want a good read about all this stuff try www.highwaycode.gov.uk/ 
Well, in the absence of anything else, I think this must be it. Interesting to see that it's not all that well known.
If anyone's interested, the Highway code, as far as I can tell, just says that the sign means "No overtaking". The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it illegal to disobey it and the TSRGD has diagram 632 that specifies the sign, and other paragraphs that detail what other signs it can be displayed in conjuction with.
Other than it's definition as meaning "No overtaking", I cannot find anything else that explicitly covers it.
As a silly comment, on the piece of road that prompted me to start this thread, there was a single, broken white line in the centre of the road on the run up to a brow. As far as I can tell, I wouldn't have been allowed to overtake, but because of the absence of a solid white line, I could have driven all the way up to the brow straddling both carriageways.
If anyone's interested, the Highway code, as far as I can tell, just says that the sign means "No overtaking". The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it illegal to disobey it and the TSRGD has diagram 632 that specifies the sign, and other paragraphs that detail what other signs it can be displayed in conjuction with.
Other than it's definition as meaning "No overtaking", I cannot find anything else that explicitly covers it.
As a silly comment, on the piece of road that prompted me to start this thread, there was a single, broken white line in the centre of the road on the run up to a brow. As far as I can tell, I wouldn't have been allowed to overtake, but because of the absence of a solid white line, I could have driven all the way up to the brow straddling both carriageways.
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