overtaking farm machinery

Mrsweasley

I have done a search on the rsa website but can't seem to find an answer to this.

If a tractor pulls unto the hard shoulder to let you by, but there are double white lines ,is this manoeuvre illegal if the car overtakes ?

Many thanks in advance.

emanresu

Mrsweasley wrote: »

I have done a search on the rsa website but can't seem to find an answer to this.

If a tractor pulls unto the hard shoulder to let you by, but there are double white lines ,is this manoeuvre illegal if the car overtakes ?

Many thanks in advance.

No, because if the tractor has pulled into the hard shoulder, the car would be able to pass without crossing the continuous white line.

This is assuming you mean a wide hard shoulder,
or do you mean the margin of a road where the tractor only has enough room to keep in to the left but is still partly out on the road?

Mrsweasley

or do you mean the margin of a road where the tractor only has enough room to keep in to the left but is still partly out on the road

Yes, I mean in this situation where you do have to move out over the lines to pass safely ??

Thanks for the reply

robbie_998

Dude, very simply.

NEVER CROSS THE CONTINUOUS WHITE LINE !

Mrsweasley

thank you

**Timbuk2**

Well, I wouldn't do it on the test, but if the tractor has pulled in to let you pass and if it is safe to do so (if you are sure it is safe - on a very long stretch of road and there are no junctions up ahead) then you probably would be alright. I wouldn't like to be holding up cars behind me when it is safe to overtake. It may cause cars behind to try and dangerously overtake both of you.

Don't set too much store by road markings. They are often wrong, I certainly wouldn't trust them. Too often have I seen dashed road markings where it is almost definitely not safe to overtake (e.g coming up to a bend). Make sure it is perfectly safe before attempting any overtake manoeuvre

sesna

robbie_998 wrote: »

Dude, very simply.

NEVER CROSS THE CONTINUOUS WHITE LINE !

Its acceptable to cross continuous white line when overtaking slow moving vehicles (such as farm machinery), or for access purposes.

brian076

robbie_998 wrote: »

Dude, very simply.

NEVER CROSS THE CONTINUOUS WHITE LINE !

Incorrect, you may cross a continuous white line to get by an obstruction or to gain access to a driveway or entrance on the other side of the road.
What would happen if the tractor was broken down, you'd have no alternative but to cross the line.
A slow moving vehicle such as the OP mentioned or even a cyclist would be classed as an obstruction so it's aceptable to cross the continuous white line briefly, once it's safe to do so.

robbie_998

brian076 wrote: »

Incorrect, you may cross a continuous white line to get by an obstruction or to gain access to a driveway or entrance on the other side of the road.
What would happen if the tractor was broken down, you'd have no alternative but to cross the line.
A slow moving vehicle such as the OP mentioned or even a cyclist would be classed as an obstruction so it's aceptable to cross the continuous white line briefly, once it's safe to do so.

im talking test wise....

sesna

robbie_998 wrote: »

im talking test wise....

Acceptable during the test also. Would you continue driving at 6mph behind a cyclist for hundreds of meters, just because it was in a driving test situation?

You would fail/lose marks on failing to make progress.

robbie_998

sesna wrote: »

Acceptable during the test also. Would you continue driving at 6mph behind a cyclist for hundreds of meters, just because it was in a driving test situation?

You would fail/lose marks on failing to make progress.

That damn progress box is a gray area... dunno how its actually worked to be honest

but no i wouldn't stay behind on a long stretch of road at that speed.

i know to access a driveway or access area or something but wasn't too sure about overtaking.

brian076

sesna wrote: »

Acceptable during the test also. Would you continue driving at 6mph behind a cyclist for hundreds of meters, just because it was in a driving test situation?

You would fail/lose marks on failing to make progress.

Actually robbie is sort of right, it is a gray area. The ROR states that you can only cross a continuous white line in an emergency, even though everyone accepts that you can also cross to get by an obstruction.

In the case of the cyclist doing 6 mph, the tester cannot mark you for staying behind him, as you're obeying the letter of the law, but he's likely to advise you to overtake him if safe to do so, and you won't be marked.

**Timbuk2**

If you stayed behind a cyclist during the test for a long period of time when it is safe to overtake, you would probably be marked for progress.

Before the test they ask you to "drive your normal drive", and it is probable that if the tester wasn't there, you would overtake. Doddling along without overtaking is dangerous and probably would lead to Grade 2 Progress marks as it encourages other cars behind you to dangerously overtake you and the bike.

brian076

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If you stayed behind a cyclist during the test for a long period of time when it is safe to overtake, you would probably be marked for progress.

Before the test they ask you to "drive your normal drive", and it is probable that if the tester wasn't there, you would overtake. Doddling along without overtaking is dangerous and probably would lead to Grade 2 Progress marks as it encourages other cars behind you to dangerously overtake you and the bike.

No they can't mark you for obeying the ROR, even if it goes aginst common sense.

sesna

brian076 wrote: »

No they can't mark you for obeying the ROR, even if it goes aginst common sense.

But of course in reality the driving tester is not just marking you on purely individual points. There is an overall element of subjective opinion as to your ability to drive, as evident by numerous people who are just one mark outside the allowed total. An unlikely co-incidence.

Crawling along at 6mph unnecessarily would not, in my opinion, be viewed upon favourably by any tester.

brian076

sesna wrote: »

But of course in reality the driving tester is not just marking you on purely individual points. There is an overall element of subjective opinion as to your ability to drive, as evident by numerous people who are just one mark outside the allowed total. An unlikely co-incidence.

Crawling along at 6mph unnecessarily would not, in my opinion, be viewed upon favourably by any tester.

It makes no difference they cannot mark you for obeying the ROR to the letter. In a situation such as this the tester will have been instructed during training to advise the candidate to overtake if safe to do so.

It would be the same if a traffic light is stuck on red. If everyone else is ignoring it and you stop and remain at it during your test, you cannot be marked, bt again the tester will advise you to proceed if safe to do so.

Mrsweasley

thank you for all the help.