Overtaking on broken crossing back on solid

Got pulled over earlier for careless driving by unmarked hyundai. What I had done was overtake just before the end of the broken line and crossed back to complete manoeuvre over double solid. When he asked if I knew why I was pulled over I explained I had started the overtake on broken line, he asked if I was sure about that & of course I was as sure as all hell. He took lots of notes & then gave a caution which I'm happy enough with as it was borderline. Just wondering on the legalities. Will the caution stand against me? if so is it longstanding? is it ok to overtake on broken & cross back on full solid?

Stone Deaf 4evr

Deleted User wrote: »

Got pulled over earlier for careless driving by unmarked hyundai. What I had done was overtake just before the end of the broken line and crossed back to complete manoeuvre over double solid. When he asked if I knew why I was pulled over I explained I had started the overtake on broken line, he asked if I was sure about that & of course I was as sure as all hell. He took lots of notes & then gave a caution which I'm happy enough with as it was borderline. Just wondering on the legalities. Will the caution stand against me? if so is it longstanding? is it ok to overtake on broken & cross back on full solid?

No, you should be able to complete the overtake in the marked area.

grogi

Deleted User wrote: »

Got pulled over earlier for careless driving by unmarked hyundai.

I hate when Gardaí are doing that.

Don't we have proper offences, like "overtaking in a place where overtaking is not allowed"?

tom85

[Deleted User] wrote: »

He took lots of notes & then gave a caution which I'm happy enough with as it was borderline.

What borderline about it.

tom85

tom85 wrote: »

What borderline about it.

unless you have anything constructive to add, no need to comment, thanks

tom85

[Deleted User] wrote: »

unless you have anything constructive to add, no need to comment, thanks

*snip* if you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation, then don't add it.

Nervous Wreck

Well that escalated quickly.

AMKC

grogi wrote: »

I hate when Gardaí are doing that.

Don't we have proper offences, like "overtaking in a place where overtaking is not allowed"?

But he was overtaking in a place were it was not allowed. If he knew he could not complete the manoeuvre before the broken line ended well then he should not have made the manoeuvre. As it is he started the manoeuvre on a broken line and finished on an unbroken line which is there for a reason. It is there to say its not safe to pass on this part of the road maybe there is side junctions or entrances to houses that could make passing there dangerous.
So I think he was very lucky to get off with just a caution.

grogi

AMKC wrote: »

But he was overtaking in a place were it was not allowed. If he knew he could not complete the manoeuvre before the broken line ended well then he should not have made the manoeuvre. As it is he started the manoeuvre on a broken line and finished on an unbroken line which is there for a reason. It is there to say its not safe to pass on this part of the road maybe there is side junctions or entrances to houses that could make passing there dangerous.
So I think he was very lucky to get off with just a caution.

But that's the clue of the problem - it is all subjective. What seems careless for one Garda might not for another.

Overtaking is a clean cut: did you or did you not overtake on a solid line? Were you careless - maybe yes, maybe just made a mistake: I expected to finish it earlier and just overlooked the fact that on a slope the car accelerates slower? Maybe the car I was overtaking sped up and I could not finish the manoeuvre as soon as I wanted before I started to do so?

Secondly, every unintentional offence on the road can be classified as careless driving. If you were paying more attention, you wouldn't do it. If 99% of offences can be classified as careless or dangerous driving (the rest involves parking ), why do we even need the other ones? Every speeding ticket should get 'dangerous driving' - it is dangerous to drive to fast, isn't it? Let's just let Gardaí decide what they think...

Mistake does not equal carelessness. To be careless you need to exhibit carelessness, an attitude towards driving and rules. The careless driving happens when a driver drives in a careless fashion for a period of time. If one commits one offence, like overtaking somewhere where it is not allowed - it is just that offence, not careless driving. Same applies to dangerous driving. Throwing every road offence into the 'careless driving' or 'dangerous driving' bucket seems wrong to me.

tom85

AMKC wrote: »

So I think he was very lucky to get off with just a caution.

Garda often make you think you got way with it only sent on a summons/fine in post

tom85

tom85 wrote: »

Garda often make you think you got way with it only sent on a summons/fine in post

If that were to happen I'd fight it in court, the car I overtook was going very slowly so I crossed before the double solid and was barely over them on way back also it was hard enough to see where solid line began from where I started the overtake

edit: you're determined to waste my time today tom85, try find someone else to bother

bladespin

Deleted User wrote: »

also it was hard enough to see where solid line began from where I started the overtake

Ooooh, wouldn't recommend using that defense.

bladespin

bladespin wrote: »

Ooooh, wouldn't recommend using that defense.

yeah luckily there's nothing to defend was clearly issued a caution at the time

bladespin

Deleted User wrote: »

yeah luckily there's nothing to defend was clearly issued a caution at the time

Yep, not having a go, common sense must play a part but I definitely wouldn't recommend stating you started a maneuver without a clear view ahead.

DaveyDave

Isn't there usually a sign to not overtake just before the broken white line ends? The road leading up to the industrial estate where I work, and the industrial estate itself, has some long straight roads with signs indicating no overtaking in advance of solid whites. It's usually at the roundabouts and junctions which makes sense, so the cars turning onto these roads aren't met with an oncoming missile

DaveyDave

DaveyDave wrote: »

Isn't there usually a sign to not overtake just before the broken white line ends?

Never noticed one on that stretch but good point there should be one alright, will be looking out for it tomorrow

grogi

DaveyDave wrote: »

Isn't there usually a sign to not overtake just before the broken white line ends?

It is not required. Horizontal signage is equally binding as vertical.