Passing Places ? What are the rules ?
Discussion
Years ago I took a trip or 2 to the North of Scotland where the A Roads are pretty minor and have passing places.
What I found was that if you caught up with a slower car they would usually let you past at the 1st passing place, and if not a short sound of the horn, was enough to ensure it happened at the next one.
Now, back in the North West of England, there is 2 country roads which are flat, but with massive 20 foot deep drainage ditches next to them. One is about 2 miles and the other about 4. Over the last 15 years of using these roads I have come to the conclusion that the Law in Scotland must be different.
Not once has anyone ever moved over. They seem to apply a logic that as they were first, everyone else can wait.
I'm not impatient, but I know that I can travel faster (in safety) than the 25 mph you deem safe.
Is the law different? And if so, can we change it ?
What I found was that if you caught up with a slower car they would usually let you past at the 1st passing place, and if not a short sound of the horn, was enough to ensure it happened at the next one.
Now, back in the North West of England, there is 2 country roads which are flat, but with massive 20 foot deep drainage ditches next to them. One is about 2 miles and the other about 4. Over the last 15 years of using these roads I have come to the conclusion that the Law in Scotland must be different.
Not once has anyone ever moved over. They seem to apply a logic that as they were first, everyone else can wait.
I'm not impatient, but I know that I can travel faster (in safety) than the 25 mph you deem safe.
Is the law different? And if so, can we change it ?
"Highway code rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass."
I would guess this would also apply to anyone stuck behind you going slowly.
However lorrys, tractors and people towing don't take any notice of this, so I don't think your going to get any more luck with single track roads.
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass."
I would guess this would also apply to anyone stuck behind you going slowly.
However lorrys, tractors and people towing don't take any notice of this, so I don't think your going to get any more luck with single track roads.
New POD said:
It's not like there's a queue of traffic behind them, just me.
Yes, but I guess that is just a function of the number of cars on a single track road. I still think the rule should apply if you are holding people up. At what point dose it become a queue? Two people? Ten? It may not be in the wording of the rule but I do think it is in the spirit of it.PaulMoor said:
Yes, but I guess that is just a function of the number of cars on a single track road. I still think the rule should apply if you are holding people up. At what point dose it become a queue? Two people? Ten? It may not be in the wording of the rule but I do think it is in the spirit of it.
IIRC in some states in the USA they stipulate a number. 10 comes to mind for California. New POD said:
Years ago I took a trip or 2 to the North of Scotland where the A Roads are pretty minor and have passing places.
What I found was that if you caught up with a slower car they would usually let you past at the 1st passing place, and if not a short sound of the horn, was enough to ensure it happened at the next one.
That's because there are so many miles of such roads up there (I returned 3 weeks ago from an excellent 900 mile thrash around the Highlands). The A838 from Laxford Bridge to Lairg is single track for all but the last 2. The locals (who live and work there) need to get around and understand the etiquette. For the benefit of the ignorant (mostly big city dwellers and English tourists What I found was that if you caught up with a slower car they would usually let you past at the 1st passing place, and if not a short sound of the horn, was enough to ensure it happened at the next one.
) most of these roads have signs like this. New POD said:
Now, back in the North West of England, there is 2 country roads which are flat, but with massive 20 foot deep drainage ditches next to them. One is about 2 miles and the other about 4. Over the last 15 years of using these roads I have come to the conclusion that the Law in Scotland must be different.
Not once has anyone ever moved over. They seem to apply a logic that as they were first, everyone else can wait.
I'm not impatient, but I know that I can travel faster (in safety) than the 25 mph you deem safe.
Is the law different? And if so, can we change it ?
In Scotland? Not AFAIK, but should the BiB catch you using one as a handy place to park you would either get the mother of all bNot once has anyone ever moved over. They seem to apply a logic that as they were first, everyone else can wait.
I'm not impatient, but I know that I can travel faster (in safety) than the 25 mph you deem safe.
Is the law different? And if so, can we change it ?
gs or possibly face a charge of obstruction. The sign shown above is there to encourage people to use common sense. Being stuck for 35 miles behind some tt who resolutely refused to move over would be unbearable. The Sassenachs have no day-to-day experience of single track major roads to draw on so remain in blissful ignorance. Few, if any, roads south of the border are engineered with designated and signed passing places as is the norm in the Highlands and Islands.
If only that was true.I followed the same pick up for ten miles along lanes in Dorset yesterday.
What's particularly frustrating is when they pull over to let someone by (which this guy didn't do a lot) then dash out again, rather than taking the opportunity to let you by.
Good old British passive aggression.
What's particularly frustrating is when they pull over to let someone by (which this guy didn't do a lot) then dash out again, rather than taking the opportunity to let you by.
Good old British passive aggression.
When I lived in Cumbria I took the Corney Fell Road whenever I chose to drive to work instead of using the train. That's a mental road at the best of times but the regular users of that road don't appreciate people getting in the way. What tended to happen was the person behind would stick on an indicator (continental style) and expect you to pull over at the next passing place. If not then you'd get lots of full beam and angry hand signals.
I knew the road quite well but others either knew it better or had a screw loose!
Corney Fell Road
I knew the road quite well but others either knew it better or had a screw loose!
Corney Fell Road
Red Devil said:
The locals (who live and work there) need to get around and understand the etiquette.
Tourists need to realise that if there is someone behind them going faster, they may be going faster for a very good reason.e.g. First Responder, Fire Brigade (retained fire service in most rural areas), Life Boat Crew, Mountain Rescue Team etc etc.
Dithering along with one or two cars behind, never-mind a queue of a dozen or more could be delaying vital medical attention to someone just along the road.
Have had a few hols up bonnie Scotland's west coast in recent years and have concluded that the most ignorant of the passing place etiquette are, no, not the English or the Welsh but those from Holland. Countless times they drive past a passing place without a clue so you end up reversing for them. Then as they pass you who has given way, no wave of thanks/apology, just a glare from driver (furthest away) and and passenger (nearest).
Next time I'm hiring one of those (Top Gear) Marauders from South Africa.
Next time I'm hiring one of those (Top Gear) Marauders from South Africa.
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