Crossing a solid white line

[rospa]

Is there an exemption for vehicles (when being used for police/ambulance/fire purposes) that allows them to cross a solid white line?

Not related to any incident, I'm just curious. I did read somewhere that it was a very definite NO NO but that may have only been a particular force.

Cheers

[icamm]

Isn't the wording "Must not cross except in an emergency". I would suggest that a vehicle on an emercall meets that. Although I would also suggest that if an accident were to occur because of doing it then the driver would have to face an investigation and be in potentialy deep do-do

[andrew54]

rospa said:

Is there an exemption for vehicles (when being used for police/ambulance/fire purposes) that allows them to cross a solid white line?

Not wanting to be pedantic (honest!) but let's get this clear. I presume you mean a solid white line that is part of a pair of double white lines? It seems that in various other situations we can all cross a solid white line without breaking the law.

[xxplod]

It is not laid down in law that you cannot. Most Police Driving Schools will not permit overtaking on a double white on any driving course. It is relatively easy to justify use of high speeds and the need to go through a red traffic light, but it is much more difficult to defend a decision to cross a solid white, when it is clear that that the reason for the white line in the first place is that to overtake on it would be dangerous.

The bottom line, is that it is the driver who is responsible for his/her actions. There are exemptions, but a driver is still subject to the same standards of car that appply to all drivers, from Learners through to the Police.

[rospa]

andrew54 said:

rospa said: Is there an exemption for vehicles (when being used for police/ambulance/fire purposes) that allows them to cross a solid white line? Not wanting to be pedantic (honest!) but let's get this clear. I presume you mean a solid white line that is part of a pair of double white lines? It seems that in various other situations we can all cross a solid white line without breaking the law.

Yes.

[rospa]

xxplod said:

It is not laid down in law that you cannot. Most Police Driving Schools will not permit overtaking on a double white on any driving course. It is relatively easy to justify use of high speeds and the need to go through a red traffic light, but it is much more difficult to defend a decision to cross a solid white, when it is clear that that the reason for the white line in the first place is that to overtake on it would be dangerous. The bottom line, is that it is the driver who is responsible for his/her actions. There are exemptions, but a driver is still subject to the same standards of car that appply to all drivers, from Learners through to the Police.

Cheers.