UK Q- overtaking on solid white lines in the centre of the road is a 3point offence plus fine, what if....?

[brenn15]

your following a cycle that's doing 15mph, the law says you may only cross Solid white line to overtake stationary or moving traffic of 10mph or less, i followed a cycle for over half a mile on this certain road, the cycle was doing well over 10mph, id say it was travelling @ 15-20mph,this caused quite a tail back... i later stopped at a road side cafe a couple of mile further on and was approached from a passer with his window down saying" learn your highway code DH" i was well annoyed as i was only sticking to the law as i drive for a living.

Was i being to cautious to be yelled at???

[philibert63]

If you were not able to overtake with safety then you were acting absolutely correctly. At 10mph the half a mile would take 3 minutes to cover - I know it seems like an eternity when driving slowly but is risking someones life worth saving a maximum of 3 minutes of yours!

I get annoyed when people overtake cyclists when it is not safe to do so taking into account leaving a reasonable gap between the car and the cyclist in case they have to move out to avoid a pot hole or drain. I think it is going to be almost instinctive if you find something unexpectedly coming towards you when passing a cyclist to pull in and hit him rather than risking a head on crash with an approaching car or lorry. The poor cyclist has the most to lose - give him space please!

You were in the right - as the driver you must make a decision on what you think is safe and shouldn't be bullied by other impatient drivers.

Steve

[charlot22]

Everything you did was correct. Crossing over the solid line would be breaking the law in those circumstances. It would only have been correct to cross over the line if that was the only way to avoid a dangerous/threatening situation, which clearly a bike isn't. You were in the right, the other guy was just an idiot - probably one of those people who physically can't drive at less than 40mph and think the rules are what they dictate they are. Ignore him.

[ryscford]

I'm surprised the law specifies a specific speed. Depending on visibility, passing at 10 mph could be dangerous, or passing at 15 could be perfectly safe. That said, it the law says 10 and the actual speed was 15, you did what you were supposed to do.

Disclaimer: I am in the US, and only know the relevant law for ONE state. It appears to differ from UK law.

[jamilah38]

The world is full of idiots who believe that the law and safe practice is what they say it is. If he had been at the front of the queue, he'd probably have crossed the double white line and hit something coming the other way, arriving at the gates of Hell still muttering that it was the other person's fault.

[jarel]

You were quite correct. If he'd known the Highway Code he'd know this too. Ignore the a**ehole. .