Your opinion required to settle an argument.
A hill with three lanes. One lane down hill with solid double white lines indicating no overtaking etc. One lane up hill with a broken white line indicating that traffic can cross to the next lane though this next (centre) lane contains diagonal white lines.
Do these diagonal lines mean no-go or can this lane be used to overtake by traffic heading up the hill as indicated by the broken white line between the left hand up hill lane and this one?
Regards.
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I would think that the diagonal white lines imply that's it no-go, i'm sure DVD will set us straight.
Where is that BTW? Think i've seen something like this on the A38 by the airport.
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If the white line between you and the diagonals is broken you may enter the central lane if safe to do so. If the line is solid you must not.
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If the white line between you and the diagonals is broken you may enter the central lane if safe to do so. If the line is solid you must not.
That is my thinking.
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Got it in one, heading up from Barrow lights on the A38 out of Bristol towards the airport, just after the Winford turn off, you often get tractors and slow wagons, I think you are allowed to use the middle lane to overtake a slow moving vehicle as indicated by the broken white line however I am happy to be proven wrong even if a colleague will go 'ner ner na ner ner'.
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Got it in one, heading up from Barrow lights on the A38 out of Bristol towards the airport, just after the Winford turn off, you often get tractors and slow wagons, I think you are allowed to use the middle lane to overtake a slow moving vehicle as indicated by the broken white line however I am happy to be proven wrong even if a colleague will go 'ner ner na ner ner'.
Knowing the road in question, my take on it is that it's for passing stuff if you really need to - slow stuff like tractors like you said.
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So long as dashed lines on your side you can use the lane.
What is "necessary" may be debateable, but when I was following a bike cop on a road safety run, he used them to max advantage to pass slower traffic.
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/10.htm#106
109: 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.
* If the area is marked with diagonal stripes and bordered by solid white lines, you should not enter it except in an emergency.
* If the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency.
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Many thanks Martin I agree re "necessary" also "an emergency" is open to interpretation. And what is the difference between "should not" and "MUST NOT", I thought crossing a solid white line was an offence so if it into chevrons is it a more serious offence?
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I got told off on a driving lesson (must have been 11 years ago) for overtaking a JCB on one of these. I considered it necessary. My instructor didn't.
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I believe that as thallium81 has said it is the surrounding line, whether broken or not that determine the prohibition.
The diagonal lines are there to discourage overtaking and to add a slippery surface to kill motorcyclists in the wet!
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Should not means you may if you can do so with safety. Must not means just that; it is plain simlple English. If you read the Highway Code you 'should' get the message.
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Should not means you may if you can do so with safety. Must not means just that; it is plain simlple English.
In pure language terms I would agree however the passage from the HC quoted by Martin123 states "If the area is marked with diagonal stripes and bordered by solid white lines, you should not enter it except in an emergency." and I have always thought that crossing solid white lines is an offence.
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always thought that crossing solid white lines is an offence.
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perhaps martin123 should have also quoted the preceding part of
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/10.htm
106: A broken white line. This marks the centre of the road. When this line lengthens and the gaps shorten, it means that there is a hazard ahead. Do not cross it unless you can see the road is clear well ahead and wish to overtake or turn off.
107: Double white lines where the line nearest to you is broken. This means you may cross the lines to overtake if it is safe, provided you can complete the manoeuvre before reaching a solid white line on your side. White arrows on the road indicate when you need to get back onto your side of the road.
108: 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 to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
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I would imagine the difference between "should not" and "must not" is a question of legality.
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"must not" is a question of legality
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yes, see highway code
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/index.htm
"Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words MUST / MUST NOT. In addition the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.
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Diagonal lines before, for instance, a right turn lane on the outside of the main lane should not be crossed until you reach the section provided for turning right.
It's not a hanging offence, intended more for safety reasons and to indicate a potential hazard to traffic coming from behind you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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What really grinds my gears.
Is people who think these diagonal lines mean "drive on them and you're dead!"
WHY?
People wanting to turn right (not just in Rovers and Volvo 340s either) will brake down from 50 to 20mph in the left hand lane as they daren't drive on these diagonal lines that are there specifically for them on a protected right turn, when they are level with their turning they suddenly veer towards oncoming traggic and stop. Unfortunatly these non-Highway Code people are in the majority, probably the same people who daren't drive in a lane at any time of the day just because it is a bus lane for two hours in the morning!
Grrrrr!
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IL, a man after my own heart! I regularly drive on the chevrons before the protected right turn area (when safe to do so) but the looks I get from 'flat hatters' in Rovers really burn my cheeks.
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Granted you're probably right for the majority of turns, but the scenario cheddar referred to in the OP was on the A38, south of Bristol, which in the pre M5 days was the main south west road and is three, almost four lanes wide. The road is a shadow of its former self and in that particular location there are a few junctions, farms and hotels so presumably the LA has decided to calm the road and reduce it to 1 lane rather than 2, but leave the option to escape into the centre should a tractor jump out at you.
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Hello Mare, travelling home last night along the section heading up from Barrow lights on the A38 out of Bristol towards the airport I noticed that there is an arrow within the middle diagonal line lane directing traffic into the left hand lane just before the middle lane ends, reckon this further supports the view that it is there to be used. I also realised that there is a longer section coming the other way from Red Hill towards the airport.
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Ah, i think that it was the Redhill bit i was thinking of. They do seem to be downgrading the road progressively though.
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