Is it illegal....

BrianJD

to overtake on a solid white line but not breaking it, i.e if a lorry pulls over on the hard shoulder and you overtake not leaving the lane.

Just wondering, cause sometimes you feel pressured into doing so cause they've really left you so much space

crosstownk

Take the truck - as long as it is safe to do so.

Stephen

The offence is for crossing the line, not overtaking so its fine.

technoman

If there is an obstruction or very slow moving vehicle in your lane and there is a continuous white line you may overtake if it is safe to do so. You are encouraged to this for the driving test as not to obstruct following traffic.

Tones69

I got done before for taking over on a solid white line, the guy in front of me pulled in and let me by and id say my wheel barely touched the line, seemed a bit harsh at the time i must say, but no if you dont touch the white line you're grand

boomer_ie

technoman wrote: »

If there is an obstruction or very slow moving vehicle in your lane and there is a continuous white line you may overtake if it is safe to do so. You are encouraged to this for the driving test as not to obstruct following traffic.

Do a search here, i posted the relevant legislation which showed it is indeed illegal to cross a continuous white line. Overtaking where you do not cross the white line is legal (as your not crossing the white line). When have you ever seen anyone doing the driving test overtaking someone on a continuous white line*


*assuming the vehicle causing an obstruction is not of course stationary, in which case the stationary vehicle would then be parked illegally and be guilty of an offense.

Senna

Years ago while out on lessons for my test, i was stuck behind a tractor doing maybe 10mph, the person giving the lessons said i could pass out if it was safe to do so, and that was on a hatched area in the middle of the road, which i think the garda take as more serious than a continuous white line.

Run_to_da_hills

On a motorcycle it seems to be a different story, I was told by a Garda that it tis illegal to overtake traffic even if you keep within the continuous white line.

boomer_ie

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

On a motorcycle it seems to be a different story, I was told by a Garda that it tis illegal to overtake traffic even if you keep within the continuous white line.

You must have caught him on a bad day, I have never heard of there being separate legislation covering motorbikes regarding overtaking.

Having said that what a lot of motorbikers dont realise is that by driving up the middle of two lanes of cars is undertaking (and possibly dangerous driving if you catch a guard at the wrong time.)

Run_to_da_hills

boomer_ie wrote: »

Having said that what a lot of motorbikers dont realize is that by driving up the middle of two lanes of cars is undertaking (and possibly dangerous driving if you catch a guard at the wrong time.)

Commonly known as "filtering" through traffic among the Gardai and bikers, it is a dangerous practice as pedestrians and street vendors often step out in between the gaps in slow moving traffic and also car doors opening to let passengers out . Motorcyclists often have no choice but to filter because they are restricted from using bus lanes.

boomer_ie

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Commonly known as "filtering" through traffic among the Gardai and bikers, it is a dangerous practice as pedestrians and street vendors often step out in between the gaps in slow moving traffic and also car doors opening to let passengers out . Motorcyclists often have no choice but to filter because they are restricted from using bus lanes.

Sorry I was thinking more on motorways and dual carriageways rather than through town, in a town environment its not undertaking because your only overtaking one lane of traffic not going between two.

For the most part motorcyclists in towns and built up areas are very good its just on motorways and dual carriageways that I have seen some stupid driving. Having said that I had one coming straight for me on my side of the road yesterday evening (Blind bend, TWO single white lines on the road), luckily for him I saw him in time and stopped dead he JUST missed hitting me. It was on the Hills of Bray road leading to the bridge over the N11 for those that know it.

ScouseMouse

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

On a motorcycle it seems to be a different story, I was told by a Garda that it tis illegal to overtake traffic even if you keep within the continuous white line.

He was talking crap!

Cookie_Monster

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Motorcyclists often have no choice but to filter because they are restricted from using bus lanes.

They could just stay behind the car infront of them:rolleyes:

Eoin

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

On a motorcycle it seems to be a different story, I was told by a Garda that it tis illegal to overtake traffic even if you keep within the continuous white line.

This caught me out in the biker theory test; it is legal, which I presume is why there is often both a no overtaking sign and a solid white line together. I'll see if I can find the question in my DTT book.

beggars_bush

cars and trucks technically shouldn't pull in over the yellow line (and keep going).

If there is an incident and they are over the line then technically they are not driving on the road.

MaxFlower

BrianJD wrote: »

Just wondering, cause sometimes you feel pressured into doing so cause they've really left you so much space

No offense but you are an accident waiting to happen if you feel pressured into doing something by another road user.

I got cautioned before for overtaking a slow moving vehicle on a cont. white line. It was coming up to a bend also though which may have influenced the Garda.

hobochris

boomer_ie wrote: »

You must have caught him on a bad day, I have never heard of there being separate legislation covering motorbikes regarding overtaking.

Having said that what a lot of motorbikers dont realise is that by driving up the middle of two lanes of cars is undertaking (and possibly dangerous driving if you catch a guard at the wrong time.)

I think you'll find filtering (which is the practice your referring to is legal), the RSA even have a recent publication in which it outlines how to filter safely.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

They could just stay behind the car infront of them:rolleyes:

They could but being between cars can be dangerous, it is often safer for a motorcyclist to be at the front of the pack, as if/when some idiot comes up behind them not paying attention they can make a quick escape from the dangerous situation, instead of getting trapped in the pile up where the rider is the crumple zone of their vehicle(not fun).

boomer_ie

beggars_bush wrote: »

cars and trucks technically shouldn't pull in over the yellow line (and keep going).

If there is an incident and they are over the line then technically they are not driving on the road.

I can remember seeing something somewhere that they would be breaking the law fo this and could be partially liable for the costs of any accident however the onus remains on the driver to ensure they are driving safely!

boomer_ie

hobochris wrote: »

I think you'll find filtering (which is the practice your referring to is legal), the RSA even have a recent publication in which it outlines how to filter safely.

I cant see it on the RSA website, did you see my clarification that I ment to say I was referring to on motorways and dual carriageways and not to single carriage way roads in towns etc.

Do you have a link to the document you mentioned?

hobochris

boomer_ie wrote: »

I cant see it on the RSA website, did you see my clarification that I ment to say I was referring to on motorways and dual carriageways and not to single carriage way roads in towns etc.

Do you have a link to the document you mentioned?

two seconds..

<edit>

Here you go(jump to page 8):

http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/This%20is%20your%20bike%20Jun%2009.pdf

Even on motorways + dual carriageways if done correctly It is not illegal, Its all about road position, if you stay to the left lane and cross the line when safe to do so, and go back into the left lane, although technical it might be seen as filtering, your actually overtaking.

2 Espressi

It's not illegal to cross an unbroken white line to overtake a stationary or slow moving (I think <10mph) obstacle, as long as it's safe to do so. Other wise, what happens when you're stuck behind a broken down car on a continuous white line?

boomer_ie

boomer_ie wrote: »

I cant see it on the RSA website, did you see my clarification that I ment to say I was referring to on motorways and dual carriageways and not to single carriage way roads in towns etc.

Do you have a link to the document you mentioned?

Actually I found the document:

http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/This%20is%20your%20bike%20Jun%2009.pdf

It does clearly state

The golden rule of filtering is that it should
be safe, legal and should be performed at a
speed that the rider can stop the machine
within the distance he/she can trust to
remain clear.

This would be taken to mean that it does not condone undertaking on dual carriageways, motorways and similar roads.

hobochris

boomer_ie wrote: »

Actually I found the document:

http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/This%20is%20your%20bike%20Jun%2009.pdf

It does clearly state


This would be taken to mean that it does not condone undertaking on dual carriageways, motorways and similar roads.

your correct, Undertaking is illegal, but if the motorcycle rider is careful about it, he/she will be overtaking, observing the keep left rule and overtaking as needed, the trick is using the gaps between cars in the overtaking lane, not being along side the car in the overtaking lane at speed.