Safe Speed Forums

I recently watched an episode of Police, Camera Action, which showed footage of a car overtaking on a road that was marked with 2 rows of broken lines seperated by diagonal chevrons. The overtake was highly dangerous and caused oncoming traffic to dive for cover, and the driver was pulled.

However Alaistar Stewart (the narrator) said "It is illegal to overtake on diagonal lines". Now I just think this is utter tosh. A quick inspection of my highway code appears to back me up, although the rule is suitable vague. It is covered under rule 109, which can be found here:
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/10.htm

If I were following a slower motorist who was holding me up, and I could see it was safe to complete my manoeuver, then am satisfying the rule.
1. Necessary - yes, I wish to make progress without harrassing the slower motorist.
2. Safe to do so - yes I can see it is safe!

What is the consensus of opinion on this?

Yep:

Solid lines = don't cross.
Dashed lines = cross if you can see it is safe to do so.

Simple.

_________________
Andrew.

Seconded!

Edited to add:-

Police, Camera, Action - same shit, different week...

_________________
Aquila



Licat volare si super tergum aquila volat...

Agreed. We all must be the judges of 'necessary' and 'safe to do so'.

It's a clever trick. The roadspace is usable to those with the skill and understanding, but the underskilled are scared away from a potential risk. Shame we can't do the same trick with speed limits.

But watch out for gravel ridges and other debris!

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

Or if you're in southern Southampton watch out for the traffic island that momentarily narrows the road to 1.5 lanes from 2!

Lest we forget that Alastair Stewart is a twice convicted drink driver

Perzackerly!

I've always worked on the basis that these "dashed and hashed islands" are nothing more than single dashed-lines put there by contractors who get a "backhander" from the paint supplier!

_________________
"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

[quote="SafeSpeed
Agreed. We all must be the judges of 'necessary' and 'safe to do so'.
quote]

Strictly my own opinion -- ( as i'm quoting paul) ---isn't that the essence of safe driving and "making good progress"

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

I think it was this program I watched this week due to having only the four channels in darkest Whitby.

PC Smarmy pulled someone because of the blue lights in/on/under his car and tried to make out they were somehow illegal (which we know they are not). Obviously Smarmy knew he couldn't do anything about the lights because all the guy got was a ticket for having his foglights on.

Eh? ....darkest Whitby? Why's that? Things a bit gloomy down your way?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

Most of these cop shows are pretty crap really. The best one is cops uncut presented by irritating smug git Quentin Wilson. Normally I can't stand the guy but it just works given the show generally features American police making themselves look stupid.

Anyway, last time this thread came up, wasn't the conclusion that a hatched area with a SINGLE solid line was still ok to enter andit had to be a double solid line before it actually became illegal? If so then these painted islands are probably fair game

Police Camera Action was good to watch, but the some of the 'facts' that were stated were very strange.

I was watching an old episode a few weeks ago which was all about speed and how it causes all accidents. Allaister whatisface stated that speed was the main cause of accidents, and also that "most speeders brake the 30mph speed limit, and thats why most accidents happen in 30mph limit zones", i kid you not, but thats what he said. Perhaps as a news reporter used to dealing with facts, you would expect him to check the drivel he is told to say. The episode went on to show accidents, and not one from what I could tell was down to speeding, but driving like an idiot.

What do you expect from a twice-convicted piss-pot trying to hold on to a job?

_________________
Aquila



Licat volare si super tergum aquila volat...