New road markings / signs

ADIDriving

The National Roads Authority (NRA) have been updating and improving road markings across Ireland following the updating of the national Traffic Signs Manual which was released by the Department of Transport. As part of this work a new broken white line has been introduced and is currently in use on certain national roads across Ireland. This new broken line (Warning Line) is a longer white line with less space/breaks between the white line markings. (At present existing broken white lines are made up of 3 metre lines followed by a 9 metre gap. The new ‘Warning Lines’ have a 4 metre line followed by a 2 metre gap). The new ‘Warning Line’ is designed to alert a driver where forward visibility is restricted, or on the approach to some other hazard (e.g. a roundabout or other junction).

In addition to the ‘Warning Lines’ there are a number of new Traffic Signs being introduced that are highlighted in the advert. These include a new ‘NO ENTRY’, ‘START OF CLIMBING LANE’ AND ‘END OF CLIMBING LANE’ traffic sign.

The Rules of the Road are being amended to include guidance on these new additions.

To preview the new advertisement please see link below

http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Better-Safer-Driver/

Cathalog

ADIDriving wrote: »

The National Roads Authority (NRA) have been updating and improving road markings across Ireland following the updating of the national Traffic Signs Manual which was released by the Department of Transport. As part of this work a new broken white line has been introduced and is currently in use on certain national roads across Ireland. This new broken line (Warning Line) is a longer white line with less space/breaks between the white line markings. (At present existing broken white lines are made up of 3 metre lines followed by a 9 metre gap. The new ‘Warning Lines’ have a 4 metre line followed by a 2 metre gap). The new ‘Warning Line’ is designed to alert a driver where forward visibility is restricted, or on the approach to some other hazard (e.g. a roundabout or other junction).

In addition to the ‘Warning Lines’ there are a number of new Traffic Signs being introduced that are highlighted in the advert. These include a new ‘NO ENTRY’, ‘START OF CLIMBING LANE’ AND ‘END OF CLIMBING LANE’ traffic sign.

The Rules of the Road are being amended to include guidance on these new additions.

To preview the new advertisement please see link below

http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Better-Safer-Driver/

Any details or extra info provided anywhere? Just saw the ad on tele there..

The warning line is an interesting idea. I'm confused though. Legally, you're still allowed to overtake in a warning-line zone? Why don't they just put a continuous line down in these dangerous areas instead?

Thanks for the post.

Edit: don't we already have "no entry" signs?

ardmacha

Legally, you're still allowed to overtake in a warning-line zone? Why don't they just put a continuous line down in these dangerous areas instead?

You are allowed to overtake, if it is safe to do. A continuous line would prohibit overtaking in this case.

Say you were behind a relatively slow moving tractor, and a relatively slow moving tractor was coming in the opposite direction. You could overtake in this case.

Continuous lines are little used in the North, only these hazard lines.
These lines have a use and should be used in various places.

Cathalog

But you're allowed to overtake on a broken white line if and only if it's safe to do so. (common sense here, really)

Seems to me like a warning line is a way of allowing people to overtake in a dangerous area. I have to be missing something here - just sounds like such a pointless idea.

Babooshka

Cathalog wrote: »

But you're allowed to overtake on a broken white line if and only if it's safe to do so. (common sense here, really)

Seems to me like a warning line is a way of allowing people to overtake in a dangerous area. I have to be missing something here - just sounds like such a pointless idea.

I have to agree - don't they already have a double broken line when you're approaching a continuous white line, is this to replace that or as well as? Do you now have to get your measuring tape out to measure the distance in the lines to know which broken white line you're dealing with? Jezus...talk about making things complicated.

ardmacha

Do you now have to get your measuring tape out to measure the distance in the lines to know which broken white line you're dealing with?

There is no difficulty in telling one line from another, if you cannot do this you should not be on the road.

There isn't a sharp cutoff between "safe" places to overtake and "dangerous" places to overtake. This caters for location where overtaking may be possible as distinct from places where it is most likely possible.

Babooshka

ardmacha wrote: »

There is no difficulty in telling one line from another, if you cannot do this you should not be on the road.

There isn't a sharp cutoff between "safe" places to overtake and "dangerous" places to overtake. This caters for location where overtaking may be possible as distinct from places where it is most likely possible.

No need to be so curt in your response. I know all about single continuous white lines, broken white lines, double broken white lines, single yellow lines, double yellow lines, lines signifying a hard shoulder, and pedestrian zig zag lines, I read the rules of the road quite a lot before passing my driving test.

My question and my point was, introducing another broken white line of longer length could confuse things. As I already said in my previous, a double broken white line is already in operation to warn before entering a continuous white line area, which is obviously in a place where overtaking is forbidden due to hazards, so why complicate things again by introducing yet another line?
I am still not sure if this new line is doubling up on the previous double broken white line. I do fine on the road, thanks.

gilbarry

ardmacha wrote: »

You are allowed to overtake, if it is safe to do. A continuous line would prohibit overtaking in this case.

Say you were behind a relatively slow moving tractor, and a relatively slow moving tractor was coming in the opposite direction. You could overtake in this case.

Continuous lines are little used in the North, only these hazard lines.
These lines have a use and should be used in various places.

What a ridiculous, confusing and potentially dangerous new road marking!

Either there is a potential hazard ahead or there's not:
- If there is a particular hazard (like a dangerous bend ahead) then leave the continuous white line to warn drivers not to overtake.
- If there isn't a hazard, then leave the broken white line, indicating to drivers that overtaking is allowed but only if safe to do so.
There's nothing in between.....

So what's this new warning line supposed to indicate, it's ok to overtake but be careful there's a hazard ahead? If there's a hazard ahead then it's simple, a continuous white line.
Having this new warning line is inviting drivers to overtake in a potentially dangerous area. Absolute crazy.

Amd what does a slow moving tractor got to do with a 'warning line'? Also, just coz the North have it doesn't mean it's right for us to follow suit.