Overtaking On Wide Roads - With Oncoming Traffic

[KTMsm]

For many years I have overtaken lines of moving traffic on very wide roads ie the A46 - that used to be three lanes but are now generally marked as two

Generally traffic keeps to the left leaving approx 20' gap in the middle

Is this considered acceptable, careless or dangerous ?

Does it matter if I stay to the left of the dashed white line ?

Some sections have a hatched centre lane with a broken line - is it more acceptable to overtake in those ?

Does it matter if I'm in a car or on a motorcycle ?

I have never had an issue and no one has ever flashed or hooted, obviously I move back to the left before corners

I thought it was acceptable with the only issue being if excessively speeding but my pillion suggested otherwise

If you weren't allowed to do it surely they would have hashed the entire centre lane with a solid line surrounding it

[hunt123]

i usually won't do this when on my bike, i don't trust other road users in my lane or oncoming not to move over into my path for whatever reason.

Edited by hunt123 on Monday 18th September 12:49

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Discussed earlier this year: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[QBee]

From googling:

Hatched markings:

These road markings can be found mainly on dual carriageways and motorways, and are mainly used to help protect traffic from turning right or to separate traffic lanes. If the marking is bordered by a solid white line then you are not permitted to enter it unless it is an emergency.

If, however, it is bordered by a broken white line then you can enter it to overtake if you have to, but it is generally understood that you shouldn’t use it.

Driving Test Tips advise that hatched road markings have caused a considerable amount of young drivers to fail their driving tests due to not understanding how to deal with them.

[Zeeky]

Acceptable, careless or dangerous depending on how it is done. If overaking is discouraged lots of paint will be added to the centre of the road.

[Pica-Pica]

If the hatched area in the middle is bordered by a solid white line, then you can only use the hatched areas in emergency. Around me, in North Wales, those ‘forbidden’ hatched areas most often have red tarmac as an extra warning.

[KTMsm]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Discussed earlier this year: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks my google search didn't bring that up - far less mouth frothing than I expected but the most unexpected post was this :

vonhosen said:

For the record though I don't have a problem with 3 abreast overtakes on a wide enough road with suitable vision, traffic positions/conditions.

So I'll carry on

[Zeeky]

Pica-Pica said:

If the hatched area in the middle is bordered by a solid white line, then you can only use the hatched areas in emergency. Around me, in North Wales, those ‘forbidden’ hatched areas most often have red tarmac as an extra warning.

That applies to chevrons. The hatched area prohibition only applies when part of a DWL system

[Pica-Pica]

Zeeky said:

Pica-Pica said:

If the hatched area in the middle is bordered by a solid white line, then you can only use the hatched areas in emergency. Around me, in North Wales, those ‘forbidden’ hatched areas most often have red tarmac as an extra warning.

That applies to chevrons. The hatched area prohibition only applies when part of a DWL system

I’ll just leave it as saying that I would not enter these hatched areas, except in an emergency.

[IJWS15]

As the hatched areas don't see a lot of traffic they accumulate bits of metal and other debris that can cause a puncture

I avoid them

[MustangGT]

Pica-Pica said:

I’ll just leave it as saying that I would not enter these hatched areas, except in an emergency.

Those are bordered by solid, not hatched, white lines, do not enter.

[johnao]

MustangGT said:

Pica-Pica said:

I’ll just leave it as saying that I would not enter these hatched areas, except in an emergency.

Those are bordered by solid, not hatched, white lines, do not enter.

As the hatched area appears to be less than four feet wide it’s a solid white line system. Do not cross.

If the hatched area is greater than four feet wide then it’s not a solid white line system and you may enter if necessary.

[KTMsm]

johnao said:

If the hatched area is greater than four feet wide then it’s not a solid white line system and you may enter if necessary.

Not exactly I did check in The Highway Code before posting but it isn't exactly clear:

"Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right.
If the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so"

What I think is necessary and safe may not be the same as the Police / Court

[Pica-Pica]

MustangGT said:

Pica-Pica said:

I’ll just leave it as saying that I would not enter these hatched areas, except in an emergency.

Those are bordered by solid, not hatched, white lines, do not enter.

The hatching is inside, that is defined as hatching, not the bordering lines. The bordering lines are ‘solid’
(as opposed to ‘broken’ lines).