Single Carriageway - Four Abreast Overtaking
Discussion
There was a thread on here not so long ago about wide roads where overtaking down the middle is possible. Also people reminisce about the "suicide lanes" along the centres of roads that have almost completely disappeared from the road network.
I recently encountered this section of the A6 in Cumbria that has two lanes in each direction on a single carriageway road. However, the centre line indicates traffic heading in the Streetview car's direction can cross the centre line, allowing for overtaking up to four abreast. Presumably this is intended to allow overtaking of two snail racing HGVs.
Is this a one off relic on a once major road that's now lightly used, or are there other sections of road marked like this?
I recently encountered this section of the A6 in Cumbria that has two lanes in each direction on a single carriageway road. However, the centre line indicates traffic heading in the Streetview car's direction can cross the centre line, allowing for overtaking up to four abreast. Presumably this is intended to allow overtaking of two snail racing HGVs.
Is this a one off relic on a once major road that's now lightly used, or are there other sections of road marked like this?
They're not in the traditional style though as they have a solid line to one side.
I'm thinking of this set up with just dashed centre lines to each side, this example having been filled in with cross hatchings a few years ago.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.6790528,-2.8172455...
Generally when you have an overtaking lane, the solid line is to that side to prohibit the overtaking driver moving out to the opposite side of the road.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.968554,-2.035929,3...
In the Cumbria example, the driver in the overtaking lane is permitted to move out to the opposite side and overtake three to four abreast. That's unusual.
I'm thinking of this set up with just dashed centre lines to each side, this example having been filled in with cross hatchings a few years ago.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.6790528,-2.8172455...
Generally when you have an overtaking lane, the solid line is to that side to prohibit the overtaking driver moving out to the opposite side of the road.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.968554,-2.035929,3...
In the Cumbria example, the driver in the overtaking lane is permitted to move out to the opposite side and overtake three to four abreast. That's unusual.
Edited by Blakewater on Wednesday 10th July 00:48
Yes your example is rare, but for me the ones I referred to are normal suicide lanes in that both sides can use the central lane and I don't think those are very rare, looking at the A59 at Skipton you could infer from the road marking that one side could use both lanes on the other side so 3 a breast, but I've never seen anyone do that
Wills2 said:
There is area couple of suicide lanes near me, one on the A59 Skipton and another on the Addingham bypass not far away from the A59, North Yorkshire Police love taxing people on the A59 one, I don't think they are that rare
There's a regular scamera van on that stretch near Skipton top of the hill.Wills2 said:
There is area couple of suicide lanes near me, one on the A59 Skipton and another on the Addingham bypass not far away from the A59, North Yorkshire Police love taxing people on the A59 one, I don't think they are that rare
The Addingham bypass has killed more people than Harold Shipman though - it was safer back in the 80's when the "devil's elbow" used to slow people down. Interesting talking about the Yorkshire roads. The A65 (links the A59) Skipton bypass which I drive regularly heading up to the Dales brings a new meaning to the phrase 'suicide lane.'
Quite bizarre especially on a very heavily used 'tourist' route to allow overtaking into the second lane of rapidly approaching oncoming traffic on what is effectively a blind brow.
Quite bizarre especially on a very heavily used 'tourist' route to allow overtaking into the second lane of rapidly approaching oncoming traffic on what is effectively a blind brow.
A lot of places on the A59 and A65 are like this, but the markings effectively give the uphill traffic priority for the centre lane. The difference in the Cumbria example is that the broken line against the solid line is to the side of the traffic that already has an overtaking lane.
Welcome to the Sixties ...When I took an interest in cars in the late Sixties , dual carriageways were rare and motorways even rarer ,so long trips were invariably on single carriageway roads. Traffic was lighter , but overtaking was something you needed to do a lot as commercial vehicles were often comically slow , with lines of smoke belching lorries(we didn't do 'truck' then ) a common sight on hills , struggling at 20mph . So there were lots of A roads with 3 lanes , sometimes 4 and while fine in theory , it didn't take too many mistakes to have carnage .
Dual carriageways were better , but were still very dangerous as central reservations were just grass as often as not .
Add in no compulsory seat belts , non existent crash protection, non collapsible steering wheel columns , awful brakes and serial drunk driving and you had nearly 8000 road deaths in 1966 -compared to about 1700 in 2022. Still 1700 too many , but it's progress .
Dual carriageways were better , but were still very dangerous as central reservations were just grass as often as not .
Add in no compulsory seat belts , non existent crash protection, non collapsible steering wheel columns , awful brakes and serial drunk driving and you had nearly 8000 road deaths in 1966 -compared to about 1700 in 2022. Still 1700 too many , but it's progress .
The A507 from the A1M to the A421 is like this to an extent in that the road is just wide enough to get 3 cars side by side along it between the A1M and Arlesey, then from Henlow to Ireland.
It's not really designed for overtaking as such but at any time of the day or night, you will inevitably find traffic three wide along these sections but also, more bizarrely, between the Arlesey roundabout and the Henlow roundabout which includes a large curve, railway bridge and several industrial exits.
some people get very angry if you impede their progress
It's not really designed for overtaking as such but at any time of the day or night, you will inevitably find traffic three wide along these sections but also, more bizarrely, between the Arlesey roundabout and the Henlow roundabout which includes a large curve, railway bridge and several industrial exits.
some people get very angry if you impede their progress
Wills2 said:
Castrol for a knave said:
The Addingham bypass has killed more people than Harold Shipman though - it was safer back in the 80's when the "devil's elbow" used to slow people down.
There have been a few but it is well sighted, but I'll only use the lane if it's very light traffic. Used to live on Skipton Moor and had a few near misses. People not pulling in as they near the roundabout.
Blakewater said:
There was a thread on here not so long ago about wide roads where overtaking down the middle is possible. Also people reminisce about the "suicide lanes" along the centres of roads that have almost completely disappeared from the road network.
I recently encountered this section of the A6 in Cumbria that has two lanes in each direction on a single carriageway road. However, the centre line indicates traffic heading in the Streetview car's direction can cross the centre line, allowing for overtaking up to four abreast. Presumably this is intended to allow overtaking of two snail racing HGVs.
Is this a one off relic on a once major road that's now lightly used, or are there other sections of road marked like this?
Encouraging four abreast might be reading more into it than is there. Years ago I remember telling someone about overtaking a car overtaking a car overtaking a tractor in a similar situation and they pointed me to an HC rule that discourages it, but can’t find it now. In the real world it’s probably not an issue if it is safely and quickly executed.I recently encountered this section of the A6 in Cumbria that has two lanes in each direction on a single carriageway road. However, the centre line indicates traffic heading in the Streetview car's direction can cross the centre line, allowing for overtaking up to four abreast. Presumably this is intended to allow overtaking of two snail racing HGVs.
Is this a one off relic on a once major road that's now lightly used, or are there other sections of road marked like this?
Chris
I can't recall seeing another example like the A6. The A556 between Lostock Graham and the M6 in Cheshire has four lanes but with a central DWL throughout.
That Streetview is 13 years old. The trees on the left are long gone. The solid/dashed lines swap over at the junction just behind where the camera car is in that pic.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v25dkUYm4XDj25RF9
That Streetview is 13 years old. The trees on the left are long gone. The solid/dashed lines swap over at the junction just behind where the camera car is in that pic.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v25dkUYm4XDj25RF9
Wills2 said:
Lotobear said:
There's a regular scamera van on that stretch near Skipton top of the hill.
I did mention that, ask me how I know https://www.safetycameraswestyorkshire.co.uk/camer...
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