Is it illegal to stop on a motorway?

IsaacWunder

I can’t find any law against it. RSA rules on motorway driving say do not stop on motorway, but doesn’t appear to be an offence.

drunkmonkey

Why would it be illegal? It's illegal to drive on the hard shoulder. I don't think it's illegal to stop on a road but remember someone saying you have to move a foot every day, the conversation was in relation to our mobile cousin's parking the house on the road.

antodeco

The legislation states:

A driver (or other person in charge) shall remove from the roadway as soon as possible a vehicle which, because of a breakdown, accident or other mishap, is parked in contravention of these bye-laws or is an obstruction to traffic.

Based on this, it would seem that there must be a valid reason for stopping on a motorway "because of a breakdown, accident or other mishap". Anything other than that would constitute an offence.

punisher5112

You aren't allowed cross a continuous line(orange or white)

Yes to answer your question.

One may only stop on the hard shoulder on a motorway if it's a breakdown.

You can't just stop to pee, talk on the phone, jump out to get something in the boot etc etc.....

Victor

punisher5112 wrote: »

You aren't allowed cross a continuous line(orange or white)

This is a general rule. It is not an absolute rule.

Abba987

Victor wrote: »

This is a general rule. It is not an absolute rule.

So it's not illegal to cross a continuous white line?
I can understand in case of an obstruction like an accident but in general?

TheChizler

Abba987 wrote: »

So it's not illegal to cross a continuous white line?
I can understand in case of an obstruction like an accident but in general?

The type in the middle of the road yes, but not all lines that could be described as continuous white lines.

Victor

Abba987 wrote: »

So it's not illegal to cross a continuous white line?
I can understand in case of an obstruction like an accident but in general?

It's perfectly acceptable for a bus to cross the continuous white line that is a bus lane marking.

It's perfectly acceptable for a bike to cross the continuous white line that is a bike lane marking.

It's perfectly acceptable for a vehicle to cross a continuous white line when accessing an individual property.

punisher5112

Victor wrote: »

This is a general rule. It is not an absolute rule.

Yes I understand this.

Obviously for access, larger vehicles needing to cross over or otherwise take out street furniture or pedestrian etc, obstructions and so on.

Bus lane doesn't have same meaning as a continuous white line as it's much bigger.

source

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/182/made/en/print#article33

TheQuietFella

IsaacWunder wrote: »

I can’t find any law against it. RSA rules on motorway driving say do not stop on motorway, but doesn’t appear to be an offence.

Why would you be stopping on a motorway?

Car99

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Why would it be illegal? It's illegal to drive on the hard shoulder. I don't think it's illegal to stop on a road but remember someone saying you have to move a foot every day, the conversation was in relation to our mobile cousin's parking the house on the road.

Why would it be illegal ? Answer: because it is extremely dangerous to the persons stopping and other motorway users. For the same reason if you breakdown on a motorway you should leave your car and get up the embankment behind the Armco while waiting for assistance/recovery.

punisher5112

Car99 wrote: »

Why would it be illegal ? Answer: because it is extremely dangerous to the persons stopping and other motorway users. For the same reason if you breakdown on a motorway you should leave your car and get up the embankment behind the Armco while waiting for assistance/recovery.

I use to always see people park up and flake out in the car but now seeing exactly this more then ever where the person in the car is out and away from the road, which is great to see(not the breakdown of course).

Tombo2001

Its extremely dangerous and partly because people dont pull in far enough.

The only excuse really is a flat tyre, risk of engine going on fire or severe medical issue.

Stopping to go the toilet, changing a babies nappy, taking a phone call, having a picnic, getting something from the boot.........I would like to see these as penalty point situations.

7znbd9xmoiupye

punisher5112 wrote: »

You aren't allowed cross a continuous line(orange or white)

Yes to answer your question.

One may only stop on the hard shoulder on a motorway if it's a breakdown.

You can't just stop to pee, talk on the phone, jump out to get something in the boot etc etc.....

or if garda stop you. i saw someone stopped by garda on a motorway last week. Do they stop for speeding on the mway. ?

punisher5112

Killian Black Toucan wrote: »

or if garda stop you. i saw someone stopped by garda on a motorway last week

Well obviously.....

If you don't feel it's safe to stop you can acknowledge you see them and show that you are going to pull off the motorway or somewhere where it's wider and safer.

They should really have the signs like in the UK where it pops up and states to follow them.

punisher5112

Killian Black Toucan wrote: »

or if garda stop you. i saw someone stopped by garda on a motorway last week. Do they stop for speeding on the mway. ?

Yes they will pull you in for speeding, no tax, no NCT or insurance or if there is a marker on the car such as drugs for example.

7znbd9xmoiupye

punisher5112 wrote: »

Yes they will pull you in for speeding, no tax, no NCT or insurance or if there is a marker on the car such as drugs for example.

anpr re the tax etc? what is a marker such as drugs/

They should really have the signs like in the UK where it pops up and states to follow them.

what isthis?

endacl

Killian Black Toucan wrote: »

what isthis?

Illuminated sign in the rear of a police vehicle. Helps people follow a simple instruction instead of making a stupid mistake.

punisher5112

Killian Black Toucan wrote: »

anpr re the tax etc? what is a marker such as drugs/

what isthis?

Anpr would be used to tell if vehicles are taxed, NCT and markers would flag if inputted into the data base.

The signs would help to get people to follow the Garda instructions to say follow to next turn off or services.

drunkmonkey

Car99 wrote: »

Why would it be illegal ? Answer: because it is extremely dangerous to the persons stopping and other motorway users.

Someone stopped on the road infront of me to answer their phone. I give them a little hello. My fault she was allowed stop in the road.

That was a national road.

seagull

I once had some doddery old bod stop in front of me in the overtaking lane of the M50, forcing me to stop. This was in evening rush hour traffic, so I couldn't change lanes easily. He then got out of his car, and walked back to ask me for directions.

7znbd9xmoiupye

seagull wrote: »

I once had some doddery old bod stop in front of me in the overtaking lane of the M50, forcing me to stop. This was in evening rush hour traffic, so I couldn't change lanes easily. He then got out of his car, and walked back to ask me for directions.

ha ha thats good one

Carawaystick

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Why would you be stopping on a motorway?

Red Traffic Light
toll barrier
traffic jam
Motorway service area
breakdown
medical emergency
conditions unsafe to continue driving
garda instruction to stop

Del2005

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Its extremely dangerous and partly because people dont pull in far enough.

The only excuse really is a flat tyre, risk of engine going on fire or severe medical issue.

Stopping to go the toilet, changing a babies nappy, taking a phone call, having a picnic, getting something from the boot.........I would like to see these as penalty point situations.

I wouldn't be stopping on a motorway for a flat tyre, I'd drive the thing onto it's rim to get to an off ramp.

Carawaystick wrote: »

Red Traffic Light
toll barrier
traffic jam
Motorway service area
breakdown
medical emergency
conditions unsafe to continue driving
garda instruction to stop

There's no traffic lights on motorways

Tacklebox

The worse thing if someone is pulled in on a motorway and the numpty decides to sit there and indicate right and automatically pull out...

That's what really pisses me off, why can't they up their speed on the effing shoulder and then pull into the lane.

The amount of knobs you'll see doing this on the Limerick to Galway road is frightening, there's been a few collisions over spa's just pulling back out, and someone doing 120kph behind them.

The next thing both car's are reduced to a crumpled up Mish mash of rubber glass and metal.

I can't get my head around this kind of stupidity....

Gain momentum and be safe.....

Victor

Del2005 wrote: »

There's no traffic lights on motorways

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.4278994,-6.2190792,3a,75y,110.29h,86.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZwaenGk-IYbiVDELjFCAZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

GM228

Del2005 wrote: »

There's no traffic lights on motorways

Both the M1 and M50 have traffic lights.

soups05

coming out of the m1 toll heading south this evening in lashing rain. some , ahem, silly person decided that the point where 5/6 lanes merge to two would be an ideal place to come to a stop while trying to figure which lane to get into.
car and bus behind me nearly ended me. when she finally got going i was stuck behind her due to the amount of traffic in right hand lane. next thing you know she spots traffic cones on the hard shoulder, slows to 30 and tries to join the overtaking lane where cars were doing 130.

thankfully she eventually moved on in the left lane and I was able to overtake. crazy woman, must try to up the dash cam later.


(sorry, thought i was in motors, delete if inappropriate)

ted1

Abba987 wrote: »

So it's not illegal to cross a continuous white line?
I can understand in case of an obstruction like an accident but in general?

It depends on the type of white line. There are different ones

Odyssey 2005

Del2005 wrote: »

I wouldn't be stopping on a motorway for a flat tyre, I'd drive the thing onto it's rim to get to an off ramp.




There's no traffic lights on motorways

Or toll barriers.

Odyssey 2005

Victor wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.4278994,-6.2190792,3a,75y,110.29h,86.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZwaenGk-IYbiVDELjFCAZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Not motorway speeds. !

Heckler

Every morning without fail I see the same motorcyclist using the hard shoulder as his own personal road heading into the Jack Lynch Tunnel from the Mahon exit. As cars are sitting there at a near standstill he roars along the hard shoulder at speed till he gets to the tunnel where he moves into the yellow grid and cuts into traffic. Prick. I got his reg and am going to film the **** for a week. Like **** all will be done anyways.

Saw another beaut. A car stopped in traffic before the mahon exit. Went into the hard shoulder and joined the mahon slip exiting to the tunnel till it merged. The balls on some of these guys.

This kinda thing is happening every day. If they put one unmarked car in each direction at 7 in the morning pulling motorists they would clean up.

Odyssey 2005

Heckler wrote: »

Every morning without fail I see the same motorcyclist using the hard shoulder as his own personal road heading into the Jack Lynch Tunnel from the Mahon exit. As cars are sitting there at a near standstill he roars along the hard shoulder at speed till he gets to the tunnel where he moves into the yellow grid and cuts into traffic. Prick. I got his reg and am going to film the **** for a week. Like **** all will be done anyways.

Saw another beaut. A car stopped in traffic before the mahon exit. Went into the hard shoulder and joined the mahon slip exiting to the tunnel till it merged. The balls on some of these guys.

This kinda thing is happening every day. If they put one unmarked car in each direction at 7 in the morning pulling motorists they would clean up.

Or...you could buy a motorcycle !
Think of the extra 45 minutes in bed

Heckler

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Or...you could buy a motorcycle !
Think of the extra 45 minutes in bed

Hmmm. Now that you mention it.....

GM228

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Not motorway speeds. !

Speed has nothing to do with what the poster was pointing out.

GM228

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Or toll barriers.

No toll barriers on motorways?

M1, M3, M4, M6, M7/M8, M50 (Port Tunnel) all have them, every motorway which has a toll bar the M50 has a barrier.

The J Stands for Jay

Victor wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.4278994,-6.2190792,3a,75y,110.29h,86.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZwaenGk-IYbiVDELjFCAZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

That's not on a motorway

The J Stands for Jay

GM228 wrote: »

Both the M1 and M50 have traffic lights.

None on the M50. Where's the lights on the M1?

GM228

McGaggs wrote: »

None on the M50. Where's the lights on the M1?

Few people reaslise the Port Tunnel is part of the M50, it has lights before and within the tunnel, the M1 has them on the M1-R132 link road and where the M1/M50 meet at Turnapin which is the location Victor linked to.

Phileas Frog

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Or toll barriers.

That's a very Dublin-centric post.

GM228

McGaggs wrote: »

That's not on a motorway

Yes it is, it is officially part of the M1/M50 motorways at Turnapin, the motorway only ends after you exit the roundabout onto the R139.

sbsquarepants

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Stopping to go the toilet, changing a babies nappy, taking a phone call, having a picnic, getting something from the boot.........I would like to see these as penalty point situations.

I seen someone stopped a few weeks back on the hatched "island" area between the motorway and the off ramp, no hazard lights or anything like that, driver sitting at the wheel and appeared to be reading a newspaper.
This was on the M50 south bound at the red cow - quite possibly the busiest junction in the whole country. Talk about a death wish!

(Could have been a map I suppose, not that it's any better!)

Odyssey 2005

Phileas Frog wrote: »

That's a very Dublin-centric post.

Wrong spy.

blackwhite

McGaggs wrote: »

None on the M50. Where's the lights on the M1?

That's the M50 - before entering the Port Tunnel

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3974813,-6.2383887,3a,75y,226.49h,94.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIQDlLrm0bAYCWTYgPQlZvQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Victor

McGaggs wrote: »

That's not on a motorway

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/53/made/en/print



And before you mention N1, all motorways (to date) are national roads.

Carawaystick

There are also traffic lights on the M1/M1 junction near Dublin Airport

rock22

Victor wrote: »

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/53/made/en/print



And before you mention N1, all motorways (to date) are national roads.

But not all national roads are motorways

GM228

rock22 wrote: »

But not all national roads are motorways

Whatever is in CAPITALS is a motorway and as you can see Cloghran (including the link road) to Faughart Lower is a motorway.

capital letters in description column identifies a motorway

deandean

Big picture, it is illegal to stop on a motorway unless there is an emergency.
Now if I am absolutely bursting for a pee and there is a real chance I will crash my car if I don't have one, I regard this as an emergency, so I will over and relieve myself.
I will explain my situation to a judge if it ends up in court ðŸ˜

RayCun

deandean wrote: »

Big picture, it is illegal to stop on a motorway unless there is an emergency.
Now if I am absolutely bursting for a pee and there is a real chance I will crash my car if I don't have one, I regard this as an emergency, so I will over and relieve myself.
I will explain my situation to a judge if it ends up in court ðŸ˜

Motorway exits are not that far apart.
Hold it until you can get off the motorway.