Former suicide lanes

[donkmeister]

Where I live there are a few stretched of road that formerly had a common, central overtaking lane (a "suicide" lane). Round my way, the custom is to treat it as a very wide two-lane single-carriageway, that is to say not overtaking where you would be driving down the centreline in the same lane as opposing traffic is in it.
Today I drove on the A46... This is a similar road, ie formerly three lanes, now two wide lanes. The rule there seems to be "treat it as if it still has three lanes". Essentially, filtering. Obviously I didn't die, and kept out of the way when someone was going to be in conflict but I saw a few dodgy moments where the overtaker was overly-commited to their blat down the centre.
So... What is the legal stance on filtering in a car/van?

[mac96]

donkmeister said:

Where I live there are a few stretched of road that formerly had a common, central overtaking lane (a "suicide" lane). Round my way, the custom is to treat it as a very wide two-lane single-carriageway, that is to say not overtaking where you would be driving down the centreline in the same lane as opposing traffic is in it.
Today I drove on the A46... This is a similar road, ie formerly three lanes, now two wide lanes. The rule there seems to be "treat it as if it still has three lanes". Essentially, filtering. Obviously I didn't die, and kept out of the way when someone was going to be in conflict but I saw a few dodgy moments where the overtaker was overly-commited to their blat down the centre.
So... What is the legal stance on filtering in a car/van?

Same creation of an imaginary third lane seems common on the single carriageway part of the A5 west from Shrewsbury. I would have thought that while not a specific offence, if an oncoming vehicle has to take evasive action, and (far more unlikely) there happens to be a real live copper to see it, it could lead to a charge of dangerous driving?
Interesting question though. A couple of weeks ago, I was overtaken by someone doing 50% above the speed limit (30+ in a 20mph limit) who caused an oncoming car to visibly brake- that oncoming car was a fully marked police car who took no action at all, so perhaps my supposition is entirely wrong!

[Haltamer]

http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/hatch.html said:

130. Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right.

if the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so
if the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency
The Institute of Advanced Motorists Advanced Driving Manual is rather clearer:

The sanction implied (in the Highway Code) allows you to consider overtaking - but remember that this white line system is generally used on roads with a bad accident record. Overtake at a moderate pace and in such a way that the drivers you pass are not taken by surprise.

I'd say this is about right - Legally, crack on! Given the loose definition in the highway code, I wouldn't expect any time would be given to defining priorities for overtakes in such areas.
Personally speaking, I would try to avoid using them with oncoming traffic - Not only due to the risk of coming into contention, but I think most others, be they the overtaken or oncoming traffic, wouldn't be expecting it for the most part - Though as you say, it would seem this is somewhat down to locale.

[osdecar]

I drive daily the a46, through some sections with very wide lanes.

My rules are the following:

-Try to overtake only when there's no on-coming traffic.

-If there's only one vehicle coming towards you, put the blinkers and show your intentions way before moving to the center of the road. Only move after the driver has clearly viewed your intentions.

If there is only one vehicle on the opposite lane, it should be fine. The real trouble comes when there's a queue in both lanes. Then, suddenly, two different drivers in opposite directions have the same idea at the same time, and in the blink of an eye, there are 2 cars in the center of the road heading towards a nasty crash.


Because of the very same reason, in these roads when I'm not overtaking I tend to drive as close as possible to the hard shoulder, leaving the center of the road empty.

Edited by osdecar on Tuesday 23 October 10:49

[caelite]

osdecar said:

Because of the very same reason, in these roads when I'm not overtaking I tend to drive as close as possible to the hard shoulder, leaving the center of the road empty.

Edited by osdecar on Tuesday 23 October 10:49

I've done this for years, particularly on the A82 in summer as you get dozens of bikers filtering through at high speed. Have been notified by a good friend of mine who is a motorcycle instructor to be careful doing that nowadays.

Never used to be the case but supposedly if you 'invite' another motorist to overtake you and they bin it, you can be considered partially responsible. Can't remember the names but there have been a couple of cases in late 00s and 10s which have reinforced this.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Fine if the oncomers are expecting it and playing ball, risk of jail for Death by Careless if not:

Fatal incident on A46 news article, dashcam video.

[osdecar]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Fine if the oncomers are expecting it and playing ball, risk of jail for Death by Careless if not:

Fatal incident on A46 news article, dashcam video.

That's the reason why I tend to drive as far as possible from the center of the road: I've been more than once surprised by someone on the opposite direction suddenly moving towards the center of the road.

My intention is not facilitating the maneuver to the car behind me, but to avoid a collision with the guys overtaking in the other lane.

Said that, the roads where I see this kind of maneuvers are way wider than the one in the dash-cam video much more margin to do that maneuver without risk.

[donkmeister]

osdecar said:

Because of the very same reason, in these roads when I'm not overtaking I tend to drive as close as possible to the hard shoulder, leaving the center of the road empty.

I noticed this seemed to be local practice quite early on - obviously whenever I spied something coming up behind to pass me or coming head-on I did the same... Better to facilitate a dodgy overtake than to have a car (or more often yesterday... a van) implanted in one end of one's car.

Watching some of the overtakers and overtakees though... sheesh. I think it might be safer to reinstate the central lane but maybe have solid lines so it's only "legally" available to one direction on each stretch. I hate to remove overtaking opportunities (many of the country lanes my way have islands, solid lines etc to try and stop us from overtaking where it is safe) but people on the A46 were doing what can only be described as Eastern European-style overtakes... the overtakes were lazy, there was oncoming traffic, there was no real hurry to get past. I was half-expecting a Lada to randomly self-destruct so a man in a shell-suit could miraculously climb out of the wreckage.

So... legal then! With 150mph closing speed crashes a possibility I might not be starting this practice myself but if I absolutely must for some reason I'll use the "never more than one car approaching" technique

[reglard]

I miss suicide lanes and low power cars of my youth, exciting times!

[Far Cough]

First come first served ! If there is someone out in the 3rd lane already then its all theirs. If its clear then help yourself. Notwithstanding the F&*kwit who will pull out without looking 6 inches beyond their bonnet !