Is this breaking the Rules of the Road?

TwoShedsJackson

After a quick straw poll in the office here, four out of five people said it is but there's always one isn't there

On Wednesday night at 9 p.m. I was driving up the Lower Churchtown Road and came to the lights that are about half way up it at the golf course. There is a left turn just before this junction. There were two or three cars at the lights and as I had no room I pulled up before the yellow box which is on the road in front of this junction, the box obviously being there for the purpose of giving people a chance to get out when the lights are red.

A woman driving a large Merc (with her headlights on full beam for whatever reason) drove up behind me and stopped. The lights were still red. She then proceeded to indicate left, pull out to the right of my car and turn left into the side road, directly in front of me.

A car which was coming around the bend in front of us had to slow down to keep a safe distance. Off she went. No-one sounded any horns or displayed any general displeasure.

The lights turned green five seconds later and off we went. So she basically pulled what I thought was a daft manoeuvre to save herself three odd seconds of waiting.

Now the question is of course, was she breaking the Rules of the Road by pulling this manoeuvre around me and over a yellow box or is there some situation whereby this action is ok? I'm convinced she was wrong to do that and should have waited as the time gain vs the danger involved in unexpectedly driving around me on the wrong side of the road (presenting a hazard to oncoming drivers also) is scarcely worth it.

Opinions?

Turner

Did she break a continuous whitle line ? or a broken white line.

If it was broken white line she was entitled to overtake.


If you had beeped your horn would you have been committing an offence ?

TwoShedsJackson

Chief--- wrote:

Did she break a continuous whitle line ? or a broken white line.

If it was broken white line she was entitled to overtake.


If you had beeped your horn would you have been committing an offence ?

Actually I will have to check that next time I go down that road, I honestly can't remember if it's continous or broken there. Is it still 'overtaking' if we are all stationary and she just pulls out and crosses in front at a ninety degree angle to me?

copacetic

if it was a broken line then it isn't against the rules of the roads, it's still crappy driving though! see this a fair bit though..

BostonB

The broken line is one thing, but if she caused oncoming traffic to slow down it was dangerous overtaking, because it wasn't clear to overtake. Besides a guard could always use the auld "dangerous driving" which they seem to use as a catch all if they take a dislike to anyone.

copacetic

BostonB wrote:

The broken line is one thing, but if she caused oncoming traffic to slow down it was dangerous overtaking, because it wasn't clear to overtake. Besides a guard could always use the auld "dangerous driving" which they seem to use as a catch all if they take a dislike to anyone.

oh yeah, deffo dangerous, just not breaking a specific rule, like crossing a solid white line or whatever..

Del2005

Is it not illegal to over take within ~10m of traffic lights?

Same way as it's illegal to park within ~10m of a junction, regardless of there being a line or not. I know people who got parking tickets for parking close to a junction with no markings on the road.

Back to OP's question. Doesn't make any difference to the legality anyway. It was a stupid and dangerous manouver(sp?). What would have happened if the lights went green and you move off, she's on the wrong side of the road with a car heading for her? You crash into her and get done as you hit from behind

@ Chief

What law is the OP breaking by using their horn? It can't be used after 9pm for non emergencies. I'd say a car overtaking you and then cutting straight across the front of your car would be classed as an emergency.

Turner

Del2005 wrote:

@ Chief

What law is the OP breaking by using their horn? It can't be used after 9pm for non emergencies. I'd say a car overtaking you and then cutting straight across the front of your car would be classed as an emergency.

Its not an emergency its just a way of venting anger.

A child about to step off a footpath 20 yards down the road, yeah beep your horn.

But if somebody brakes heavilly in front of you causing you to stop suddenly, sitting on the horn is only a way to vent anger.

As for the times.. It would have been ok.

86. (1) Subject to the following sub-articles of this article, the driver of every vehicle which is required by article 28 of these Regulations to be fitted with an audible warning device shall, whenever necessary in a public place, give audible and sufficient warning of the approach or position of the vehicle by sounding the device.

(2) A person shall not use, or permit to be used, any device provided on a vehicle for the purpose of giving audible warning except when such use is reasonably necessary on grounds of safety.

(3) (a) A person shall not, between the hours of 11.30 p.m. and 7 a.m., sound any audible warning device provided on a vehicle while the vehicle is on a road to which a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or 40 miles per hour under Section 45 or 46 of the Act applies:

ninty9er

happens on a regular basis turning into Catherine St. in Limerick from Roches St.

Left lane is alway more congested so people pull into the right lane to turn left in front of car's going straight ahead, have even seen squad cars doing it a few times and have done it myself....it is a 1 way though

Victor

This junction?

I'm guessing:
Not indicating (correctly) in a manoeuver.
Driving without due care and attention.
Driving with improper lights.
(Presumably) Crossing a solid white line (looks solid).
(Possibly) Driving under the influence.
(Definitely) Being a Merc user.

OfflerCrocGod

Victor wrote:

(Definitely) Being a Merc user.

15 years no parole.

TwoShedsJackson

Victor wrote:

This junction?

I'm guessing:
Not indicating (correctly) in a manoeuver.
Driving without due care and attention.
Driving with improper lights.
(Presumably) Crossing a solid white line (looks solid).
(Possibly) Driving under the influence.
(Definitely) Being a Merc user.

Yes that's the junction alright.

Hotblack Desiato

Chief--- wrote:

If it was broken white line she was entitled to overtake.

That's a necessary condition for a legal and safe overtake, but not a sufficient one! You don't have an 'entitlement' to overtake just because there isn't a continuous white line.

There was oncoming traffic so either she didn't have sufficient visibility ahead to complete the manoeuvre safely (e.g. a bend) OR she failed to observe properly OR she did see the car coming but thought she'd make it / thought her journey was more important than everyone else's.

Either way, sounds like a good candidate for either a careless driving or dangerous driving charge.

I used to go by there fairly often when I lived nearby, used to regularly see eejits in large expensive saloons pulling out of the golf club with no consideration for other traffic. I used to try to avoid using that road late at night because some of the drivers coming out of there were clearly drunk.