Safe Speed Forums

It does happen! I've only been done twice, and the first was overtaking on double whites near Sutton Scotney on the A30.

Tells you how long ago (13 years) it was that I was done by a trafpol......

This rule is now 129 but remains unchanged from the previous rule 108.

The fact that they still refer to a 'road maintenance vehicle' as the only type of moving vehicle you may pass, re-enforces by belief that little attention has been paid to existing, but out-dated, rules. Apparently, all the attention has been focused on adding bollocks. (Although there are some very pretty pictures now.)

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It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

My slack wording above about a "ticket" for crossing a white line has obscured another issue.

After being reported by the police, I actually received a conviction in a Magistrates Court for crossing the lines. This was so long ago, Fixed Penalty Notices didn't exist. Under the Visa Waiver rules for entry to the USA, if you have EVER (the time limits do not apply) been convicted of an offence by a court then you must declare it and have to get a Visa from the Embassy. This involves going in person to London and being interviewed. I really can't be bothered just to visit a country which could elect George W.

On the Highway Code, I'm really lazy and haven't checked if the daft stopping distances (seemingly based on a veteran car with cable brakes) are still there.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

I suspect they have not been altered.

As an aside, Autocar mag tests (full road tests) record 70-0 braking distances. Your average family hatch (Focus/Golf/Astra etc) will brake from 70 to zero mph in ca. 46m give or take a metre or so. Even factoring in the "thinking distance", braking distances quoted in the HC would seem to be a little outdated.

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Simon

I don’t believe this is just about bikers, IMO they’re just using bikers as an excuse to make life difficult for all motorist.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

My thoughts, too!

I don't know of the width of that particluar road but I have been able to overtake cars without crossing double white lines when they indicate that they are letting me through.

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Prepare to be Judged

How often does that happen though?

Sure I let bikers past in the manner you describe, but I'm sure there's plenty of gits out there who will sit as close to the centre line as possible when they see you coming. I encounter enough of them in my car when the 2-lane road is wide enough to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic were it not for said person being obstructive.

The A515/A5012 corridor from Buxton to Wirksworth has following resurfacing been subject to over zealous double white lining. I use that route most days in a car and I have to say that while some are reasonable others are quite legit for overtaking given the relative speed/performance of the vehicles involved. In Derbyshire, there are many examples of white lining where it is safer to overtake before the solid line breaks given the extra time that is afforded.
BTW the currently "closed" section of the A515 (Buxton south) has now sprung some 50mph lollipops.

Hypothetically, can I challenge the imposition of a white line when charged with abusing it ?

The A515 50mph lollipops are on the "Long March" to Ashbourne.
Given that HGVs have been excused their limit (40mph) by the police for years I take it that sensibly there will be no enforcement of the granny limit on the A515.
If I get pulled I will be challenging at every level.

The thing I’m struggling to get my head around here, and correct me if I’m wrong, is that Government has now handed down ‘law making’ to civilians. Local Authorities can now change the Road Traffic Law on the highway.

Civilians now decide on speed limits and road markings. Even to the extent that, I suspect, the line-painters have a bit of a free hand, judging from some recent white line changes near me. I have seen double solids changed to hatched areas bordered with broken lines!!?!!

This bizarre state of affairs results in the Police jumping to attention and enforcing the new application of laws, on the whim of civilians – bit like the puppet pulling the strings.

Of course, the bottom line is that inappropriate changes will result in contempt for the law.

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It's tricky doing nothing - you never know when you're finished

That's the crux of it and, I foresee an increase of accidents as a result.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

I see a parallel with speed limits here - aimed at the minority with a negative impact upon everyone else.

Still, I suppose some people will regard these double-white lines with the same regard for speed limits.

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

I think you're right. It's not often that I disregard double white lines, but it seems likely to become a more frequent occurrence.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

IMO, double white lines are one of the few information markings which have been consistently well applied. I will be very disappointed if stupid use now makes the reliabilty of these worse and leads to widespread ignoring of their warning.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

IMO It's already happening

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

From my own observations I would say the double white line system is not sensibly used in many cases.

I quite often see situations where it prevents an overtake that would be safe, and other cases where it offers me the opportunity but I think it would be unsafe to take it.

It's not often I disregard it, but there are cases, and I expect there will be more now.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I've just returned today from visiting my cousins in North Yorkshire last week. Lots of Bikes, cars etc obeying the rules and the solid or broken lines etc. Me, I always make a point (when in a line of traffic) to notice and move over left for bikers to give them room to overtake if they wish without crossing any lines.

I see very few BAD bikers.......MOST are more sensible (after all, they realise just how vunerable they are). And I frequently get a raised hand from many in recognition after making room for them to overtake safely.

I have to agree with what has been said earlier, "the Bikers" (a negative in the Public eye) have been used here to introduce a "NEW" restriction on OVERTAKING! Soon it will be an un PC, Socially unacceptable practice for you to overtake...........and if you DO, the "socially aware" pratt in front will deem it his responsibility to drive you into the oncoming vehicle by accelerating violently just to make his point!.......

Now I overtake, frequently........ I don't do it aggressively, I do it when it's safe, Yes I use the power of the vehicle to do
it descisively, and then slow it down again to a more reasonable figure...

Has "Pink Floyd" once said: "It's just another brick in the wall"!..............

The Wall between Freedom and Ultimate Control...

Yep. Here is an email reply I had from Derbyshire constabulary.

"We did express our concern to Derbyshire County Council when they first proposed a reduction in the speed limit on the A515 from 60mph to 50mph. We felt this limit was unrealistic, bearing in mind that this is an old Roman road - straight with good forward views. The County Council is responding to a government directive which requires speed limits on all 'A' and 'B' class roads to be reviewed by 2011. The A515 is just one of several speed limit reductions that are currently being proposed for a number of roads in the county and are intended to reduce the number of collisions resulting in personal injury. Some we support, others we don't. It is a democratic process - all these proposals have to be publicly advertised prior to implementation and members of the public are entitled to object - the final decision rests with the County Council's Cabinet Committee.

It is the job of the police to enforce speed limits irrespective of whether or not we agree with them and our policy is to give priority to those routes that suffer from a history of speed related injury collisions. You are strongly advised to observe the limit otherwise you run the risk of losing your licence."

Yours sincerely

David Skinner
Traffic Management Officer
Operations Division
Derbyshire Constabulary
Tel: 01773 572215 (ext.) 700 2215 (int.)
e-mail: david.skinner.6875@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk

Interesting that the police are prepared to admit in public that they don't support a speed limit reduction, though.

Anecdotal evidence from other parts of the country such as Oxfordshire suggests they are likely to be less than assiduous in enforcing it.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed