Newbie - close to edge

Jeffem · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Newbie to this forum so apologies if my question is an old chestnut.

Scenario:
Whilst ‘out and about’ the other day I came up behind a motorcyclist who seemed to be unsure about corners and continually surprised by the occasional straight bit of road. .I followed him along some twisty bits for a minute or two sizing up the situation whilst waiting for a suitable overtake opportunity. The road seemed to have been blessed with more than its fair share of white Dulux paint and it seemed ages for the right combination of clear view, clear road and no junctions. Suddenly the road straightens out of a bend and gets quite wide. I indicate and sweep past the motorcyclist giving him the maximum distance I can without crossing the Dulux. At no point, repeat, no point was my tyre closer than 6 inches to the white line during the whole manoeuvre. I was also within the speed limit.

Issue:
Whilst the tyre was inside the line, some of the bike (and me) crossed the ‘invisible vertical line’.

Question:
Should I be hung drawn and quartered or is this type of manoeuvre acceptable?

My opinion:

‘Straddle’ is what you do to the bike before you put your arse in the seat. ‘Next to’ is what you are just before you swing your leg over and ‘straddle’ the bike.

ScoobyChris · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 1174 Location: Andover, Hants

Jeffem · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Hi Chris,

It was safe and I felt very comfortable.

The key issue for me is that I've been riding with a 'set of rules in my head' on how to ride within the boundaries of the Highway code for many years and the 'straddle' comment caught me completely by surprise. Shocked

Must we consider the invisible vertical wall scenario. What is the definitive rule? Coppers/IAM/ROSPA comments.

7db · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 1766 Location: London

The definitive rule is that if your head is going to smash into an oncoming vehicle then you should be further back.

The law as written is the that vehicle must be wholly to the nearside of the DWL system. Typically that means the offside tyre is (rugby) not touching the line.

But your head is more important than your tyre.

redrobo · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 40

Porker · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 503 Location: Essex

Advanced Roadcraft · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 134 Location: Tring, Herts

Red Herring · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 562

I think you will find the implication is that the white line is a solid one? Do you commit an offence if part of the bike overhangs the white line, eg: the handlebar, or does the tyre have to cross it?

Advanced Roadcraft · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 134 Location: Tring, Herts

Gareth · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 1212 Location: Berkshire

Aren't we talking about a double white line system with either both or the nearest solid? I'm getting confused ... but the OP didn't really make it clear.
_________________
there is only the road, nothing but the road ...

Advanced Roadcraft · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 134 Location: Tring, Herts

I'm getting the feeling that even the OP has got bored with this.

And (I'm guessing here!) the rest of us know the answers no matter whether the line is single/double/solid/dotted...whatever.

So I'm going to withdraw from the confusion and make myself a nice cup of coffee!

Best, B
_________________
Best, B
Car: Saab 9.3 Coupe
Bikes: Honda Deauville; Suzuki Bugman 400

rodericksdad · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Lincolnshire

Red Herring · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 562

Before I conclude that Advanced Roadcraft is either winding us up or completely missing the point can I just check that I'm not being a bit dim myself. Has anybody else read this thread and not understood the original post to be that a motorcyclist is overtaking another motorcyclist within the confines of a solid white line system, and whilst doing so part of their machine may have overhung the white line, but the tyre did not touch or cross it, and the OP wants to know if this "overhanging" the line constitutes crossing or straddling it?

ScoobyChris · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 1174 Location: Andover, Hants

I agree Mr Herring Very Happy

My interpretation of "straddling" would be where the tyres themselves were on the white line, but I'd be interested to know other's opinions on it....

Chris

Jeffem · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Hi All,

Red Herring has hit the nail on the head. The line in question was indeed a solid white line and my rambling question concerned whether or not my overhanging was considered crossing the line and hence an offence.

I would now like to add that this happened during my annual check ride with a Senior Observer so the implication is that I should know better. I’ve ridden for some considerable years with the opinion that ‘tyre inside the line’ was the rule and to be honest was taken aback by the comment.

My opinion is, as with many things, that the rules were written with four + wheeled vehicles in mind by a car-centric organisation. Why else would they include the phrase straddle.