Crossing double white lines while filtering

[boyse7en]

Just got a bking from a Traffic Officer for crossing a double white line while filtering past a line of stationary traffic.

Further information (in case it is relevant):

Was on a three-lane A road (two lanes coming up the hill, one down). I was travelling down the hill
Road was blocked by an accident (hence the Policemen) at the bottom of the hill.
No traffic coming in opposite direction to me at all
Traffic on my side was stationary
I passed maybe 40 cars in total.
My speed was about 15mph, as I was conscious that drivers may have tried to turn in the road without looking

As far as I can see the Highway Code says
"You MUST NOT cross or straddle double white lines in normal driving. Exceptions are: if it is safe to do so and you need to enter premises adjoining the carriageway or a side road. In addition, it is permissible to cross the line as necessary and provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle. Or to overtake a horse, pedal cycle or road maintenance vehicle, only if they are not travelling at speeds greater than 16 km/h (10 mph). You can also cross double white lines when ordered to do so by a policeman in uniform." (my bolding)

So is he right? Was I being stupid?

[Biker 1]

I think the copper was right. 'Stationary vehicle' I believe, would be parked. I think you can pass bicycles, agricultural vehicles & horses, but that's about it....

[Birky_41]

Yep dont do it - I've done charity rides before and heading from Essex to Kent they have been hot to catch people out with this

Another one is never park on the edge of a zigzag leading upto a zebra crossing. Might seem like a no brainer but they will act similar if even a wheel is touching that

[2wheelsjimmy]

stationary
adjective
not moving or not intended to be moved.

You were fine IMO. Traffic was stationary.
Maybe he was having a bad morning.


Edit: Reading the full rule on gov website, 'a stationary vehicle'
So I guess you were in the wrong. As you passed multiple vehicles. Stationary ambiguity aside.

I would have passed them too.

'You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle'
http://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/general-rules-techn...

Edited by 2wheelsjimmy on Tuesday 10th January 09:56

[OverSteery]

Yup, not crossing white lines for filtering and as I understand it that doesn't just means with your tyres - no part of you bike may cross straddle double white lines

Edited by OverSteery on Tuesday 10th January 12:19

[tom_e]

Was crossing the line necessary though? Was that the only way to get to where he was going?
I think that would be the point they'd argue if they really wanted to pull you for it, you could have waited just like all the cars there was no need to overtake them.

[black-k1]

I think it's one of those that would need to go to court, almost on a case by case basis, to be tested. I would be surprised if, in the situation where that was the only thing you were doing that was questionable, that it would end up in anything more than a plod chat at the side of the road.

[sjtscott]

I've always thought it was not acceptable to cross double white lines for stationary traffic - though there are clearly some situations where it is perfectly safe to do so on a motorcycle. If the traffic is moving at all its a def no no in my view.
However it seems there are road layouts so poorly done esp in London where provided you're not in anything 4 wheeled the double white line really shouldn't apply to bikes as its perfectly safe to filter/overtake slowly. Obviously the law will see this differently.

I've applied the not crossing the wrong side of the line (road) with the bikes tyres before where the lane width is wide enough to safely do so.

[mgv8]

It is a no-no but as you posted not there clear in there text.

[podman]

Still have 3 points on my licence from this from Warwickshires finest...

[tivver500]

This subject was raised during a Bikesafe I atteneded several years ago....
Out of the 12 Bike Cops there half reckoned it was perfectly ok - as you were passing STATIONARY traffic (i.e. NOT moving)
but the other half reckoned it was worth a talking to or even a ticket.....
Even the Bike Sgt was 'open to interpretation'.
My RoSPA group also couldn't decide which was 'correct'.

Would be an interesting court case as i reckon it depends on the view of 'stationary'.
Maybe one of our 'legal beagles' could give a view...

[Dr Jekyll]

tom_e said:

Was crossing the line necessary though? Was that the only way to get to where he was going?
I think that would be the point they'd argue if they really wanted to pull you for it, you could have waited just like all the cars there was no need to overtake them.

The phrase is 'necessary in order to...'. In other words it has to be necessary for the overtake not for the journey. If it meant necessary to get to your destination it's difficult to see how you could ever use the 'cyclist horse or road maintenance vehicle at < 10MPH' exemption.

And yes, stationary means stopped.

[dc2rr07]

It is down to interpretation, I would say they are stationary vehicles as well and you took the correct course of action in my view.

I would of done the same.

[boyse7en]

mgv8 said:

It is a no-no but as you posted not there clear in there text.

If it is not clear in the Highway Code, what do you think makes it a no-no?

[The Moose]

Amersham?!

[supercommuter]

I raised this in a separate thread and had a lengthy debate with someone when I said my interpretation of a stationary vehicle is a parked one.

I guess the police agree with me...

[boxedin]

Perfectly ok, copper was having a bad hair day.

[OverSteery]

Interesting.
Reading the words, I would say a non-moving (queuing) car IS stationary.

However the IAM is very clear that Queuing traffic is not considered to fall within the meaning of "this term". ISTR that riders have been given IAM fails on this very point.

[CAPP0]

Interesting, I passed a few vehicles on a double white line last week where there had been some sort of incident further up the road, everything was at a standstill, I wasn't 100% sure I was in the right but had the "stationary vehicle" thing in my head.

Years ago the BiB used to sit at the top of the hill from Deptford onto Blackheath and nab bikers who'd crossed the white line on the way up. As 308 said about Waterloo Bridge in another thread, it's questionable use of resource; different if they happen to be there and happen to see you, but to deploy officers just for that?

Always surprises me the number of people who filter (often aggressively) in the Blackwall. The tunnel is full of cameras, it would be very easy for the BiB to pick people off, and I don't think they'd have a leg to stand on. I only pass in there if it all comes to a halt, and even then I give it a few secs first in case it's just a temporary stop. I have a very mild (claustro) phobia of being stuck in a tunnel, which doesn't help when the Blackwall is on your daily commute, but it would be my defence!

[terry tibbs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNiz-OC00vo

from 4.32 to 5.16 to save watching it all

some clever dicky will probably say the solids don't apply because they weren't preceded by throw back arrows