What does a solid double white centre line mean?

[TonyHetherington]

Ahhh, I remember that. It was ITV, as I seem to recall, and yes as you say the TV regulator didn't back him.

Was a couple of years ago now, wasn't it?

[paulsm]

TonyHetherington said:

paulsm said:

A and B

You are able to overtake a slow moving or stationary vehicle. So it does not mean "no overtaking" (which is A).

Good point. isnt it a vehicle going less than 10mph or something?? (ie bike, horse etc)

[Strangely Brown]

TonyHetherington said:

Ahhh, I remember that. It was ITV, as I seem to recall, and yes as you say the TV regulator didn't back him.

Was a couple of years ago now, wasn't it?

Yes, that's why I thought it would be interesting to see how many people don't actually know their Highway Code.

To clarify:

As some people have correctly answered, double white lines DO NOT mean "No Overtaking"; They mean DO NOT CROSS (except in certain circumstances). They DO, however, mean "No Parking". The "No Reversing" option is just a filler.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Wednesday 17th December 14:04

[gmk666]

Strangely Brown said:

As some people have correctly answered, double white lines DO NOT mean "No Overtaking"

Do we win a car?

[Skyrat]

Strangely Brown said:

As of this writing 96% of respondents have the wrong answer.

Good I can't imagine that, in most cases, it is safe for a car to overtake without crossing the white lines, so if the majority of people believe it means No overtaking, then the roads will be a little safer for it.

[TonyHetherington]

paulsm said:

TonyHetherington said:

paulsm said:

A and B

You are able to overtake a slow moving or stationary vehicle. So it does not mean "no overtaking" (which is A).

Good point. isnt it a vehicle going less than 10mph or something?? (ie bike, horse etc)

Yeah it's something like that. Slower than 10mph, stationary vehicles, and (I forget the exact wording) but it caters for dustbin trucks, milk floats and road cleaners within the text "road equipment". I think it's posted in this thread somewhere, but you get the point

[LHDisbest]

mackie1 said:

Highway code 129 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, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less."

240 says:

"You MUST NOT stop or park on a road marked with double white lines, except to pick up or set down passengers"

The latter is the most applicable to the question.

Edited by mackie1 on Wednesday 17th December 13:21

I've just been through this on the Rospa defensive driving course i was on a few weeks ago.

It's a course well worth doing BTW.

[Tom55]

I thought the bit between the two white lines was the cycle lane?

[Mr POD]

I said A but even that is wrong. It's MUST not cross, as opposed to must not overtake,

[scruffy]

Tom55 said:

I thought the bit between the two white lines was the cycle lane?

Ha ha, nearly spilled my sherry there!

[Mr POD]

Skyrat said:

Good I can't imagine that, in most cases, it is safe for a car to overtake without crossing the white lines,

Motorbike, wide road, plenty of space. It can overtake.
Moped, doing 30 mph in the gutter, wide road, plenty of space, I'd overtake.

[Piersman2]

Tom55 said:

I thought the bit between the two white lines was the cycle lane?

No , it's the motorcycle lane !!

[shoestring7]

TankRizzo said:

matchmaker][pedant said:

I thought it meant you couldn't cross it? Not the same as no overtaking [/pedant]

And you can still cross it by turning right if you have to.

And to pass an obstruction or if directed to by a policeman.

SS7
PS Pah! This reminds me of a huge argument I got into over the question "What was the biggest island in the Pacific before Australia was discovered?"

Edited by shoestring7 on Wednesday 17th December 14:54

[Skyrat]

Mr POD said:

Skyrat said:

Good I can't imagine that, in most cases, it is safe for a car to overtake without crossing the white lines,

Motorbike, wide road, plenty of space. It can overtake.
Moped, doing 30 mph in the gutter, wide road, plenty of space, I'd overtake.

RTFP

ETA: (...to overtake another car)

Edited by Skyrat on Wednesday 17th December 15:00

[Otto]

shoestring7 said:

SS7
PS Pah! This reminds me of a huge argument I got into over the question "What was the biggest island in the Pacific before Australia was discovered?"

And?

[Steve748]

There are some roads (3 lane) where it is wide enough for a car to overtake a car or slow moving lorry and there is a double white line and a single carriage way on the other side.

[Strangely Brown]

shoestring7 said:

This reminds me of a huge argument I got into over the question "What was the biggest island in the Pacific before Australia was discovered?"

... to which the answer is "Australia".

[Strangely Brown]

Steve748 said:

There are some roads (3 lane) where it is wide enough for a car to overtake a car or slow moving lorry and there is a double white line and a single carriage way on the other side.

Exactly. Apart from the case of motorcyles (or narrow cars ) overtaking on wide(ish) roads with only one lane in each direction, there are many places where you have a solid line on your side of the road but it's two lanes wide. Do people seriously suggest that the line means "No Overtaking"?

[youngsyr]

Strangely Brown said:

shoestring7 said:

This reminds me of a huge argument I got into over the question "What was the biggest island in the Pacific before Australia was discovered?"

... to which the answer is "Australia".

Technically that should be whatever Australia was called, before it was "discovered" and called Australia.

Also, does Australia even count as an island?

[youngsyr]

Strangely Brown said:

TonyHetherington said:

Ahhh, I remember that. It was ITV, as I seem to recall, and yes as you say the TV regulator didn't back him.

Was a couple of years ago now, wasn't it?

Yes, that's why I thought it would be interesting to see how many people don't actually know their Highway Code.

To clarify:

As some people have correctly answered, double white lines DO NOT mean "No Overtaking"; They mean DO NOT CROSS (except in certain circumstances). They DO, however, mean "No Parking". The "No Reversing" option is just a filler.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Wednesday 17th December 14:04

Well that's rubbish as well then, isn't it?

It doesn't mean "No parking", it means "No parking except to...".

So the correct answer isn't an option.