Overtaking

R

RobertRO

Member
There's an odd situation in the traffic law of Romania about overtaking, and I am trying to find out if it's similar in other countries, or not.

The situation: on a road having just one single lane per direction, a driver starts an overtaking maneuver in safe conditions (no traffic from opposite direction, full visibility, no road signs forbidding overtaking). He does so when the center road marking is dashed (broken) white line. However, before the overtaking maneuver ends, the road marking changes to continuous line - which of course forbids any overtaking. It is obvious that the overtaking driver couldn't have seen so far ahead that the road marking changes.
Based on a glitch in the Romanian regulation, the Police considers the above situation as an offense and happily suspends driving licenses.

I wonder, how is the above situation treated in UK?
 
Rules in UK are similar:

127

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 and wish to overtake or turn off.

128

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 direction arrows on the road indicate that you need to get back onto your side of the road.

129

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 if the police wanted to stop you for it, they could. In fact, a friend (no, not me, I was the passenger) was overtaking a lorry in his alfa on a single carriage way, and pulled in just as the road changed to a hatched area. 2 minutes later, we were pulled in and police stated it was "driving without due care", although was only a chat.
 
You are meant to be able to complete the overtaking manoeuvre before you get to te solid line so the police can pull you for it. Not sure what the penalty is though.
 
Same in the USA as well, though there are possibly 50 different laws as vehicle laws are governed by each state individually. It's highly likely the various laws all agree on this point. A solid line on your side is a no-overtaking zone, and it is simply illegal to travel on the opposite side in a no-overtaking zone.

There are no friendly reminders such as arrows warning you the overtaking zone is ending. It just ends. You're expected to anticipate this. It's usually not surprising to find overtaking zones ending a certain distance before curves, crests, and significant intersections.
 
I think if you can't see far enough ahead to check whether there are double white lines, you should not overtake
 
Adamski said:
I think if you can't see far enough ahead to check whether there are double white lines, you should not overtake
Click to expand...
I agree, especially considering if you don't already know where they start and end you are in unfamiliar territory.
 
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