Crossing solid white line

Highcontrast1

Hey all, I have a question -
When is it ok to drive in the bus lane before turning left? I always thought that you could not cross the solid line. In most cases the solid line only breaks right before the turn and trying to switch then would cause danger to other motorists.

There are a few of these in Dublin -

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3425317,-6.3575673,3a,75y,98.12h,70.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXDIYp0iUGIWwlxloAbSI-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3532815,-6.3624029,3a,75y,86.07h,74.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siyR7BTCmtgpMK7tNXMUUIg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Dravokivich

If the bus lane is not a bus lane. Otherwise you need to wait for the broken white line.

Alanstrainor

Highcontrast1 wrote: »

Hey all, I have a question -
When is it ok to drive in the bus lane before turning left? I always thought that you could not cross the solid line. In most cases the solid line only breaks right before the turn and trying to switch then would cause danger to other motorists.

There are a few of these in Dublin -

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3425317,-6.3575673,3a,75y,98.12h,70.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXDIYp0iUGIWwlxloAbSI-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3532815,-6.3624029,3a,75y,86.07h,74.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siyR7BTCmtgpMK7tNXMUUIg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Just to note something here. There is a difference between the solid white line of a bus lane, and the solid line used to mark the divide in the centre of the road or between opposing traffic. A solid white line in the centre of the road that divides cars coming the opposite way, marks a section where you cannot cross the line (unless for access, ie to a side road, house etc). Whereas the bus lane 'solid white' is different, it is even painted thicker than other markings to show this more clearly.

As for the question, when is it okay to enter a bus lane when turning left. Unfortunately this is a more complicated question to answer than you would think.

Let's take the first example you gave. First we have to assume that we are driving when the bus lane is active, which in this case is between 0700 and 1900 hours Monday through Saturday. To follow the rules of the road exactly, you would then be faced with a problem as there are 8 cars queued in the bus lane waiting to turn left. If following the rules you would proceed in the right hand lane until the end of the bus lane, stick on your indicator and wait until someone was nice enough to let you into the left lane. All the while impeding traffic moving straight.

You should ask your instructor about this, as I would be curious on how this would be looked on during a test. In one sense you are following the RoTR verbatim. On the other, you are impeding traffic and not observing how others are approaching the junction. I'd argue that lots of these junctions are poorly designed and it is not logical to follow the rules of the road when faced with them.

And of course when the bus lane is not in use (out of hours, or on Sunday), you could use the bus lane as you wish.

Dravokivich

Poor design no doubt. The one by chapelizod used to be broken from much further back and it only has enough length now for turning off itself. But if you don't adhere to road markings, it tends to be docked against you. For example, driving into hatching was a grade 3 when I did the test.

Highcontrast1

I once asked my instructor and they said the most important thing is to not be a danger to other road users. basically, cross the solid line and join the queue in time.
bad design indeed - another one just across the road from the by-pass
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3532289,-6.3633862,3a,75y,215.69h,73.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAKC7pJCXZ3WAEc9CXjL95w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


Aside - during my test an older person driving out of their house asked (hand signalled) if I could let them in ahead of me (snail paced traffic). I didn't (totally blanked them )! had I been alone I definitely would have let them in - etiquette! I passed the test but it left wondering if i'd done the right thing ...

Tell me how

Highcontrast1 wrote: »

I once asked my instructor and they said the most important thing is to not be a danger to other road users. basically, cross the solid line and join the queue in time.
bad design indeed - another one just across the road from the by-pass
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3532289,-6.3633862,3a,75y,215.69h,73.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAKC7pJCXZ3WAEc9CXjL95w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


Aside - during my test an older person driving out of their house asked (hand signalled) if I could let them in ahead of me (snail paced traffic). I didn't (totally blanked them )! had I been alone I definitely would have let them in - etiquette! I passed the test but it left wondering if i'd done the right thing ...

There are other rules of the road fall under this interpretive category. Was doing lessons before my test way back when and was told to drive at 60 in 50 zone as I was causing traffic to build up behind me.

Maybe an instructor wouldn't actually say that now as penalty points are such a relevant issue and there is less ambiguity about the validity of being penalised.