Passed over solid white line in Tunnel to change lanes

[Jambi4]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 29 July 2022 at 01:07

[aterribleusername]

See people doing it every day through the Brynglas tunnels, never heard of anyone being fined for it. You should be fine, unless they have the cameras specifically looking for it, which I very much doubt.

[Dingu]

That’s Cardiff Bay right? Pretty sure I’ve crossed that line before and not heard anything. 99% sure there is no enforcement.

[CoolHands]

I’ve done it before by accident etc don’t worry about it.

[BertBert]

If there's no policeman about, have I still broken the law?

[anonymous-user]

Molecules are mostly empty space, so was it even really a solid line?

[GranpaB]

I heard they were installing cameras in there but not sure if they have yet.

[Solocle]

It's not even a prescribed road marking in the highway code/TSRGD. Should be double white lines, although I'm not sure it's legal to use those as lane dividers anyway.

You could of course still be prosecuted for careless driving.

[TO73074E]

Last year I did the same while avoiding something thrown from a car on the North Wales Expressway just before a tunnel. I knew about the stay in lane signs and cameras but nothing came of it. No ticket issued.

[carl_w]

Solocle said:

It's not even a prescribed road marking in the highway code/TSRGD. Should be double white lines, although I'm not sure it's legal to use those as lane dividers anyway.

Double white lines are used as lane dividers in the Dartford Tunnel (doesn't mean it's legal of course)

[Cat]

carl_w said:

Solocle said:

It's not even a prescribed road marking in the highway code/TSRGD. Should be double white lines, although I'm not sure it's legal to use those as lane dividers anyway.

Double white lines are used as lane dividers in the Dartford Tunnel (doesn't mean it's legal of course)

DWLs should not be used to separate lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction.

The prohibition conveyed by DWLs (subject to the various exemptions) is that vehicles must be driven so as to keep the solid line on the right hand or off side of the vehicle. If they are used to separate lanes of traffic travelling in the same dierection then every vehicle travelling in the right hand lane would be in contravention of them.

Cat

[anonymous-user]

The Clyde Tunnel also has double white lines separating the lanes, although given some of the writing on the road it looks like they would be appropriate for dual-direction running, e.g. if one of the tunnels is closed and there's a contraflow in the other tunnel. People do obey the 'stay in lane', although not so much the 30mph speed limit.

https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8717617,-4.3298345...

[CoolHands]

Cat - what should be used then? (Is there anything?)

[jondude]

The OP highlights just how much joy of driving these days has gone. I really don't like going to new places or on new roads for me these days as we all feel like any error is liable to a fine being sent through the post.

I still have nightmares from driving through Oxford! Ye Gods, if you are thinking of doing it - just don't!

[CoolHands]

Erm have you read the answers? What are you wanting?

[Cat]

CoolHands said:

Cat - what should be used then? (Is there anything?)

I'm not aware of any road marking which would prohibit changing lanes in this sort of situation.There may be byelaws relating to the tunnel which prohibit changing lanes but I've no idea what, if any, signage would be required to implement these. Similarly I've no idea what the penalty would be for breaching such byelaws.

Cat

[Jambi4]

Cat said:

I'm not aware of any road marking which would prohibit changing lanes in this sort of situation.There may be byelaws relating the tunnel which prohibit changing lanes but I've no idea what, if any, signage would be required to implement these. Similarly I've no idea what the penalty would be for breaching such byelaws.

Cat

There is no signage either side of the tunnel about staying in/not changing lane

[Cat]

Jambi4 said:

There is no signage either side of the tunnel about staying in/not changing lane

I wasn't talking about this specific tunnel just responding to Coolhand's question about what could be used to prohibit lane changes

Cat

[jondude]

Jambi4 said:

What do you reckon are the actual chances of being caught out for this?
Guessing there probably are CCTV cameras in these type of tunnels but what is the likelihood of them being used for this rather than reviewing accidents and checking traffic etc???

I would think you will be fine.

You might be able to contact the council or local police to find out if they operate lane change cameras in the tunnel for fines? We have loads of cameras on our local roundabouts where it is quite easy to get caught on these badly made yellow boxes. I asked the council as yes, I got caught on one but they said the cameras were only used for traffic flow and data.

[Pica-Pica]

Cat said:

carl_w said:

Solocle said:

It's not even a prescribed road marking in the highway code/TSRGD. Should be double white lines, although I'm not sure it's legal to use those as lane dividers anyway.

Double white lines are used as lane dividers in the Dartford Tunnel (doesn't mean it's legal of course)

DWLs should not be used to separate lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction.

The prohibition conveyed by DWLs (subject to the various exemptions) is that vehicles must be driven so as to keep the solid line on the right hand or off side of the vehicle. If they are used to separate lanes of traffic travelling in the same dierection then every vehicle travelling in the right hand lane would be in contravention of them.

Cat

Reference?