Double white lines

[Bennylee]

Good morning guys. 
 

New to the forum for this particular topic. I understand the Highway Code on overtaking cars on double whites. I simply don’t do it as my personal golden rule. 
 

However, the question is…. In 10-15mph slow moving, stop start traffic - if a car infront of me moves over (as the lane is quite wide) for me to pass and I don’t cross the solid white line but overtake. Am I breaking the law? 
 

Many thanks in advance, I see this topic a lot. Apologies for raising it again. 

[Stu]

Hi and welcome to the forum 

 

The law is to not go over the solid white line so providing you are on your side of it you are OK 

[Bennylee]

Hi Stu,

 

Thank you forgetting back to me.
 

Stay safe. 

[Bender]

It's not just the wheels, no part of the bike should be over the lines. 

[Gerontious]

I stick my foot out because I’m a rebel.

[MikeHorton]

There are some exceptions to double white lines :-

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, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

[Gerontious]

I never met an exception I didn’t like.

[fastbob]

6 hours ago, MikeHorton said:

There are some exceptions to double white lines :-

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, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

Clearly this is copied from the Highway Code so either I've been wrong for years or it's been revised . I thought you could cross double white lines to pass an agricultural vehicle if it was going slowly enough . 

[Bender]

5 minutes ago, fastbob said:

Clearly this is copied from the Highway Code so either I've been wrong for years or it's been revised . I thought you could cross double white lines to pass an agricultural vehicle if it was going slowly enough . 

Tractors do 30 now  

 

I think if any one vehicle is going really slowly and its safe to pass its unlikely to be a problem. 

[Six30]

15 minutes ago, fastbob said:

Clearly this is copied from the Highway Code so either I've been wrong for years or it's been revised . I thought you could cross double white lines to pass an agricultural vehicle if it was going slowly enough . 

 i thought this to 

[Mickly]

7 hours ago, MikeHorton said:

There are some exceptions to double white lines :-

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, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

So does a vehicle count as stationary if it’s in a queue of traffic and not moving?

 

[MikeHorton]

1 hour ago, fastbob said:

Clearly this is copied from the Highway Code so either I've been wrong for years or it's been revised . I thought you could cross double white lines to pass an agricultural vehicle if it was going slowly enough . 

It's from the Road Traffic Act, some variations on exemptions on a other Act alongside the Road Traffic Act no farm vehicles I'm afraid but most do over 10 mph.i think it's u likely you will get done if you overtake anything  doing less than 10mph if necessary as long as its clear on the opposing carriageway. Here it is if nothing else it will get you to sleep

The exemptions are contained at Reg 26(6) Traffic Signs and General Directions 2004:

(6) Nothing in paragraph (2)(b) shall be taken to prohibit a vehicle from being driven across, or so as to straddle, the continuous line referred to in that paragraph, if it is safe to do so and if necessary to do so—

(a)to enable the vehicle to enter, from the side of the road on which it is proceeding, land or premises adjacent to the length of road on which the line is placed, or another road joining that road;.
(b)in order to pass a stationary vehicle;.
(c)owing to circumstances outside the control of the driver;.
(d)in order to avoid an accident;.
(e)in order to pass a road maintenance vehicle which is in use, is moving at a speed not exceeding 10 mph, and is displaying to the rear the sign shown in diagram 610 or 7403;.
(f)in order to pass a pedal cycle moving at a speed not exceeding 10 mph;.
(g)in order to pass a horse that is being ridden or led at a speed not exceeding 10 mph; or.
(h)for the purposes of complying with any direction of a constable in uniform or a traffic warden.

 

[Bender]

A line of traffic is not a vehicle its Err a line of traffic 

[MikeHorton]

45 minutes ago, Bender said:

A line of traffic is not a vehicle its Err a line of traffic 

Lines of traffic or lines of cocaine sooner or later they both get you into trouble

[Gerontious]

18 hours ago, Mickly said:

So does a vehicle count as stationary if it’s in a queue of traffic and not moving?

 

 

I always understood that to mean a vehicle that is parked up at the side of the road. not one that's in the lane being driven, though at a standstill.

Normally double solid lines are there for a reason. a good reason. often because some unfortunate has been killed doing exactly what the double lines are there to prevent.

[onesea]

23 hours ago, Mickly said:

So does a vehicle count as stationary if it’s in a queue of traffic and not moving?

I have always figured, if your passing each vehicle safely and not treating it as a line of traffic...

However as others have said white lines are there for a reason, so slow and safe only ...