Is it Illegal for me to go home?

prospect · 22-06-2005 8:21am #1

Hi all,

The road outside our house was re-surfaced last week. Yesterday, they painted the lines on it (It never had lines before).
But, they painted it as a solid white line all the way. There is no breaks in in at all.

So, technically, I am breaking the law if i turn right into my house, (acause I have to cross the solid white line).
Am I right?

kluivert · 22-06-2005 8:23am

Yeah your right, it shoud have broken white lines outside your....lol....That sucks, your going to have to drive down the road to a spot where you can turn around and then drive back...lol...

prospect · 22-06-2005 8:28am

Mighty! :rolleyes:

kluivert · 22-06-2005 8:30am

Hey why dont you get some black paint n paint over them, see how that goes, without killing yourself, depending on how busy the road is

Stephen · 22-06-2005 8:33am

I believe its ok to cross white lines for access and the like. It would be a bit stupid for the local authority to have to change it to broken lines outside every house entrance -- especially where the road is dangerous.

Hedge · 22-06-2005 8:35am

As far as I can remember, Solid white lines on the side of the road are known as edge lines and are purely to show you your position on the road (like cats eyes). Therefore it is not illegal to cross them to get into your house...... Unless you're pissed.

fletch · 22-06-2005 8:35am

Isn't it okay to cross a white line for various reasons, avoid an obstruction, gane access etc....so you should be okay

prospect · 22-06-2005 8:41am

Kluivert - Nice Idea, Its not that busy after commuter hours

Hedge - It is just one solid line, down the centre of the road. An edge line would be a good idea on this road, but good ideas never seem to materialise with Kildare Co. Co.

Stephen - That is exactly what was done afaik, they would leave a break in the line outside each gate! Saves paint

Can anyone find a road rule that states it is okay to cross a white line for access?

Canis Lupus · 22-06-2005 9:07am

Why is it important?

prospect · 22-06-2005 9:23am

Just curious

fletch · 22-06-2005 9:27am

prospect wrote:

Can anyone find a road rule that states it is okay to cross a white line for access?

Why is there nowhere on the net with the Irish Rules of the Road printed!? www.oasis.gov.ie don't seem to have anything and neither does www.irlgov.ie

astec123 · 22-06-2005 9:31am

From the rules of the road (1992 edition) by the DOE.

DOE handbook wrote:

Single or double continuous white lines along the centre of the road; all traffic must keep to the left of the line (except in an emergency or for access).

So to answer the question yes you can cross the line so long as its safe to do so but you wouldnt cross it if it wasnt would you!

prospect · 22-06-2005 9:51am

Thanks astec123, I'll consider that concrete info.

I had checked Oasis etc, to no avail.

astec123 · 23-06-2005 11:45am

Not a bother, its alarming that this book isnt available in an online form.

fjon · 23-06-2005 11:49am

I have to cross a white line to get into my apartment too. On a 4 lane road. My apartment is fairly new, so I can't see the CoCo changing the line for our benefit. Although a yellow box or "Keep Clear" in front of the entrance would be nice, especially as the road is constantly full of traffic...

Krusty_Clown · 23-06-2005 1:18pm

astec123 wrote:

Not a bother, its alarming that this book isnt available in an online form.

If it was online, they couldn't charge punters for it and make more money from a book that has been outdated for a number of years..

ubu · 23-06-2005 5:38pm

What would happen if you were involved in an accident whilst turning into your house? even if it was tecnically not your fault the ins company would look to that as a cop out for them and refuse to pay out.

Hotblack Desiato · 23-06-2005 8:10pm

astec123 wrote:

Not a bother, its alarming that this book isnt available in an online form.

It's far more alarming that it hasn't had any significant updates since 1991.

ubu wrote:

What would happen if you were involved in an accident whilst turning into your house? even if it was tecnically not your fault the ins company would look to that as a cop out for them and refuse to pay out.

Hardly, if what you did is specifically allowed in the Rules of the Road.

sceptre · 24-06-2005 1:53am

ubu wrote:

What would happen if you were involved in an accident whilst turning into your house? even if it was tecnically not your fault the ins company would look to that as a cop out for them and refuse to pay out.

If you're turning into your house with no regard for oncoming traffic (who would have right of way if the centre line was continuous, dotted or lined with nice stars and moons) it might well be your fault.

Is it Illegal for me to go home?

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