Using both sides of the road

[neelyp]

Elnicko said:

Nope no traffic. Just took some of the right side of the road round a couple right hand bends with clear visibility up the other side then all of a sudden flashy flashy

No, I meant I presumed he wasn't a traffic cop, just a normal beat cop.

[Prof Prolapse]

Elnicko said:

Upon asking him about it and the rospa driving he also stated it was alright as long as an instructor was with me! Surely its either legal or not

Not being funny mate but you shouldn't need to ask. Crossing a broken line is permitted (bearing in mind those double lines with a broken and a single sold which allow overtaking in one direction only) as long as it is safe to do so. Specific example of when not to do so is on a bend for example.

It's more likely he believed the line was solid, you broke the speed limit, or it was otherwise unsafe to do so, and you've just confused one another. Same goes for the bloke from Rospa, it's basic stuff, he will know it but just misunderstood.

As I say, if you have further questions you need to brush up on your highway code. You really should know all this.

[Dr Jekyll]

Elnicko said:

Upon asking him about it and the rospa driving he also stated it was alright as long as an instructor was with me! Surely its either legal or not

Instructors are sometimes reluctant to say it's OK to use both sides in case some muppet proceeds to off side when it isn't safe and then says 'but my instructor told me to do it'. Sounds like the instructor was trying to cover himself.

[pozi]

Dr Jekyll said:

Instructors are sometimes reluctant to say it's OK to use both sides in case some muppet proceeds to off side when it isn't safe and then says 'but my instructor told me to do it'. Sounds like the instructor was trying to cover himself.

More than likely, I used to use the same "if you feel comfortable and consider it safe" line for this, overtaking and filtering through slow traffic.

[srob]

When I was learning the instructor said you can, but bends are there to enjoy so why straighten them?

[Elnicko]

I was asking more to clarify what id done wrong rather than debate the highway code

[scorcher]

toxgobbler said:

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

If you start your overtake before the solid white starts, and stay out there , then return to the left hand side when the solid white line has finished, is that legal?

[Prof Prolapse]

Elnicko said:

I was asking more to clarify what id done wrong rather than debate the highway code

Yes, but if you adhered to the highway code you did nothing wrong.

[Baryonyx]

WinstonWolf said:

When I was taught advanced riding by back in the eighties you failed if you didn't use both sides of the road. "You've paid for the whole of the road, use it"

We were also taught NSL meant No Sodding Limit, if you didn't make progress and take every safe overtake you failed. Making progress was definitely the order of the day

Times have changed...

Police advanced training is still roughly the same, NSL is still treat as 'de-restricted' up to a point where the speed becomes unsafe, and making full use of the road is still marked. Failing to make progress, missing safe overtakes and being off pace are still marked down.

[bogie]

scorcher said:

toxgobbler said:

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

If you start your overtake before the solid white starts, and stay out there , then return to the left hand side when the solid white line has finished, is that legal?

not quite, because you have been travelling on the wrong side of the road with a solid white telling you not to

I never cross solid whites these days, unless passing tractors/horses/cyclists etc at slow speed

get nicked crossing a solid white and speeding say during an overtake and you have just turned 3 points into a careless or dangerous driving offence. Not worth losing your licence over something so trivial IMO (been there and got that t-shirt years ago) when you can just wait a hundred yards or so for the next overtaking opportunity

One thing pointed out to me when I did some training a few years back, filtering past slow moving/stationary traffic, with solid white line present is fine . Lost points on that evaluation for not overtaking when a legal opportunity was there....

Edited by bogie on Friday 24th April 15:01

[Mr2Mike]

bogie said:

One thing pointed out to me when I did some training a few years back, filtering past slow moving/stationary traffic, with solid white line present is fine . Lost points on that evaluation for not overtaking when a legal opportunity was there....

Really not convinced this is legal, especially not if the traffic is moving.

[terry tibbs]

Mr2Mike said:

bogie said:

One thing pointed out to me when I did some training a few years back, filtering past slow moving/stationary traffic, with solid white line present is fine . Lost points on that evaluation for not overtaking when a legal opportunity was there....

Really not convinced this is legal, especially not if the traffic is moving.

minute 4.30 - 5.17

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

clearly a grey area

[Dr Jekyll]

terry tibbs said:

Mr2Mike said:

bogie said:

One thing pointed out to me when I did some training a few years back, filtering past slow moving/stationary traffic, with solid white line present is fine . Lost points on that evaluation for not overtaking when a legal opportunity was there....

Really not convinced this is legal, especially not if the traffic is moving.

minute 4.30 - 5.17

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

clearly a grey area

Not a grey area at all. Stationary vehicle - legal, moving vehicle (except bicycle etc) - not legal.

[scorcher]

bogie said:

scorcher said:

toxgobbler said:

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

If you start your overtake before the solid white starts, and stay out there , then return to the left hand side when the solid white line has finished, is that legal?

not quite, because you have been travelling on the wrong side of the road with a solid white telling you not to

Edited by bogie on Friday 24th April 15:01

The offence is crossing or straddling a white line though isn't it? You travel on the wrong side of the road if you're turning right across a solid white line?

[Dr Jekyll]

scorcher said:

The offence is crossing or straddling a white line though isn't it? You travel on the wrong side of the road if you're turning right across a solid white line?

Turning right is one of the exceptions to the 'don't cross or straddle' rule.

[bogie]

scorcher said:

bogie said:

scorcher said:

toxgobbler said:

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

If you start your overtake before the solid white starts, and stay out there , then return to the left hand side when the solid white line has finished, is that legal?

not quite, because you have been travelling on the wrong side of the road with a solid white telling you not to

Edited by bogie on Friday 24th April 15:01

The offence is crossing or straddling a white line though isn't it? You travel on the wrong side of the road if you're turning right across a solid white line?

I guess thats up to you to try to argue that one in court I guess and see how it goes

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-rider...

[bogie]

Dr Jekyll said:

terry tibbs said:

Mr2Mike said:

bogie said:

One thing pointed out to me when I did some training a few years back, filtering past slow moving/stationary traffic, with solid white line present is fine . Lost points on that evaluation for not overtaking when a legal opportunity was there....

Really not convinced this is legal, especially not if the traffic is moving.

minute 4.30 - 5.17

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

clearly a grey area

Not a grey area at all. Stationary vehicle - legal, moving vehicle (except bicycle etc) - not legal.

On my last RoSPA ride a few years ago, with Police instructor, we did similar, but did not actually cross the double whites. Stationary (ish) traffic and many cars moved across a bit when they saw us coming, so enough room to filter between cars and double whites without crossing them

[scorcher]

bogie said:

scorcher said:

bogie said:

scorcher said:

toxgobbler said:

Elnicko said:

A quick question for the advanced riding lot/ anyone in the know. Is using both sides of the road legal when driving/ riding providing you can see the road ahead is clear?

So long as you don't cross an unbroken white line it's legal.

If you start your overtake before the solid white starts, and stay out there , then return to the left hand side when the solid white line has finished, is that legal?

not quite, because you have been travelling on the wrong side of the road with a solid white telling you not to

Edited by bogie on Friday 24th April 15:01

The offence is crossing or straddling a white line though isn't it? You travel on the wrong side of the road if you're turning right across a solid white line?

I guess thats up to you to try to argue that one in court I guess and see how it goes

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-rider...

I don't think I'd want to argue it! Those rules only quote the same thing though. Crossing or straddling a solid white. If you're already to the right of a solid white line before you get to it and stay out there until the solid white finishes and then return to the left hand side of the road you have neither crossed or straddled it. Probably dangerous driving instead though!
Likewise , if your helmet/pannier/mirror etc crosses over the solid white line whilst cornering or passing traffic etc is that worthy of 3 points and £100 fine

[HiFiHunter]

Whilst on an IAM observed ride, the advice I got was: use the other side, so long as you can see it is clear for the full and continuous length of time you'll be over.

I got scolded as I was riding along some left, right, left bends in sequence. Tried to use other side to straight line them, but my view of the verge on the right hander was slightly obscured by a high hedge row which also hid a drive way to a house. If something had pulled out of there, I would have been screwed, as I had crossed the line without a clear view it was free for the duration of the time I was over it. Tut-tut.

So, (as with any advanced riding), IT DEPENDS!


As for solid double whites. Why do so many of the tunnels that get clogged up with traffic around London have them. It's a right pain, as you're filtering like a boss, but have to (should) fall back into line for 5 mins for the duration of a tunnel full of cars doing 5 mph. Grrrr! A12, Canning Town, Rotherhide Tunnel all have this. If one lane is stationary, can I cross the solid whites? If the traffic stops for moment, can I quickly nip by a few cars? It quickly turns into a farce, especially as every other biker, just continues to bomb down the middle regardless!

[Mr2Mike]

bogie said:

On my last RoSPA ride a few years ago, with Police instructor, we did similar, but did not actually cross the double whites. Stationary (ish) traffic and many cars moved across a bit when they saw us coming, so enough room to filter between cars and double whites without crossing them

That's fine, and I almost always filter if there is enough room between cars the the white lines. However crossing double whites just seems like a very easy 3 points if you get spotted by the law, though it's very tempting at times.