White lines in the middle of the road

[Quiney]

Can anyone give me a good reason why there are white lines in the middle of the road?

I know that double white line show where you shouldn't overtake (but then again common sense should also tell you)

And as for the broken white line, do they have any real purpose? :dunno:

 

[Punchy]

Can anyone give me a good reason why there are white lines in the middle of the road?
I know that double white line show where you shouldn't overtake (but then again common sense should also tell you)
And as for the broken white line, do they have any real purpose? :dunno:

If you have a quick look in the highway code the broken line not only indicates the centre of the road but also where there is increased danger i.e. the lines are longer.
BTW double white lines dont mean no overtaking the actual meaning is that you must not cross them unless of course to pass a stationery vehicle. So if there is enough space between the vehicle you are overtaking and the nearside line you can overtake.

 

[cbr11xx]

Simple rule - More paint, more hazard....

 

[Punchy]

The thing I cant understand is the thick yellow paint lines on the approach to roundabouts. On two RA's near me there are 6 countdown boards, two standard RA signs, a white local RA sign, a feckin huge 'A' road sign(12'x18' ish) not to mention the black and white chevrons on the great green hump in the middle of the road. How much warning do drivers feckin need?

The council twats have also painted the same yellow perils on an off slip from the A55 and thats on a left hand bend down to a RA!!!!!
First time I saw them they damn near bounced me off the road into the shrubbery...

 

[T.C]

As already stated, centre lines are there to help you determine firstly where the centre of the carriageway is, and secondly to provide advanced warning of a potential hazzard.

Extended central hazard warning lines will be found on the approach to a junction, roundabout, bend or hillcrest and help confirm what you should have already anticipated through forward observation.

Solid centre white lines do not mean that you cannot overtake, because you can provided you do not cross over or straddle that solid centre white line, unless of course you are turning right, passing a stationary obstruction (which does not include vehicles stationary in a queue) or when directed to do so by a Police Officer or Traffic Warden in uniform, or when following behind a works vehicle travelling at 10 MPH or less provided it is displaying an amber flashing beacon.

When it comes to common sense, forget it because most drivers don't possess this attribute at all hence the reason for having the lines and regulations for their own safety.

 

[D.S.]

on a bike there are times when employing good forward observation and using all the road, etc, solid white lines can be safely crossed/straddled, but try telling that to the old bill if you're caught!

 

[RHINO]

John, they also serve a purpose at night in unlit areas such as the A6 coming back from Matlock at night, the headlights pick up the white lines guiding / giving a clue as to where the road is going and especially when its really foggy.
Accident investigation also use white lines in their job to proprtion blame after accidents.
Also they are there to make your bike twitch in the wet if you touch them

 

[stan the man]

Also they are there to make your bike twitch in the wet if you touch them

same as azaro's then! R#?

 

[Centaur]

Stan

same as azaro's then! R#?

Never miss a chance,do you m8

 

[Quiney]

OK

I think its fair to say that all the reply would fall into the category of 'they are there for a safety reason' - be it warning of some danger, telling you where on the road you should be, etc etc

If this is correct - then why do they not paint white lines on ALL roads?

I know that there are lots of country roads without lines - but we still manage to stay to our own side of those roads, navigate round bends etc

But where I used to live, on a main thoroughfare road, houses one side, playing fields the other, a school along the road and several joining roads, there were no central white lines :dunno:

I personally think that they can at times promote a feeling of 'safety' in the road user. I'm on my side of the line, so I'm safe!

Roads without a white line require a little bit more concentration.

So, ban the white lines? As Rhino said 'they make your bike twitchy in the wet, so how can that be a 'safety' feature?

 

[RHINO]

I think its a psychological aspect to safety and it helps keep that bit of distance, i for 1 tend to ride / drive a couple of feet from said lines therefor giving that essential gap, rare that somebody straddles the line for long periods. I also feel its easier to judge your speed and distances when there are good markings but the downside is that some folk follow the lines as though they are rails and are affraid to cross them.
Ban lines on roundabouts as they can often lead to last minute lane changing and confusion.

 

[Gerrard]

White lines

The white lines come in different lengths and that should indicate what speed you should be doing 30/40/50 mph. for example. :beer:

 

[Duck n Dive]

"I personally think that they can at times promote a feeling of 'safety' in the road user. I'm on my side of the line, so I'm safe!

Roads without a white line require a little bit more concentration."

Wan't there something in the press recently about road markings/traffic lights etc?
If I remember correctly it was based on an experiment in Sweden (or somewhere Scandanavian) where they removed everything, pavements, lights, markings, give way signs and said it was up to everyone to take care. No right of way.

Apparently the result was lower speeds and fewer accidents. Some talk about trying it over here.

The thing was based on pedestrians and road users thingking they were "safe" and not making eye contact with other road users or paying attention.

I have my doubts about it working here - somehow we seem to lack maturity or something !!!

 

[Quiney]

I think its a psychological aspect to safety and it helps keep that bit of distance, i for 1 tend to ride / drive a couple of feet from said lines therefor giving that essential gap, rare that somebody straddles the line for long periods. I also feel its easier to judge your speed and distances when there are good markings but the downside is that some folk follow the lines as though they are rails and are affraid to cross them.
Ban lines on roundabouts as they can often lead to last minute lane changing and confusion.

Still doesn't answer the question - why aren't they on ALL roads?

 

[do not crash]

They trialled it in the netherlands and there were alot less crashes so now it is on trial somewhere in the UK

 

[RHINO]

Maybe down to
1) Re surfacing
2) Local accident stats
3) Necessity ie volume of traffic
4) Local council funding taking into account 2&3

We have a road safety dept at work and i shall ask some 'Qs' tomorrow.

 

[derek kelly]

They trialled it in the netherlands and there were alot less crashes so now it is on trial somewhere in the UK

I think it's on the Grass tracks that Bert uses :dunno:

 

[duncan]

The thing I cant understand is the thick yellow paint lines on the approach to roundabouts. On two RA's near me there are 6 countdown boards, two standard RA signs, a white local RA sign, a feckin huge 'A' road sign(12'x18' ish) not to mention the black and white chevrons on the great green hump in the middle of the road. How much warning do drivers feckin need?

The council twats have also painted the same yellow perils on an off slip from the A55 and thats on a left hand bend down to a RA!!!!!
First time I saw them they damn near bounced me off the road into the shrubbery...

went to squires today on a cbr600rr braked heavily on some of those yellow lines jezuz my first tankslapper ,the second was a few miles later going over the white lines/cats eyes c7u8

 

[Duck n Dive]

Still doesn't answer the question - why aren't they on ALL roads?
How about the obvious...not needed...... which takes us back again to: why are there any road markings? !!

I can see this one going in circles for some time.......que someone to come in with some smart remark about which colour bird is the faster........

 

[duncan]

is it black ?