Hatched road areas

[gresley]

Can anyone give a simple explanation of how these work?

Where there is an area in the middle of the road with diagonal lines but not having single or double solid lines around its edge is it permissible to enter and use for overtaking.

The Highway code seems to indicate that you can use it"when safe to do so".

Any thoughts?

Andrew

 

[supersport]

If not bordered by solid white then you are allowed to if necessary. Clearly it is necessary to do so for an overtake.

As long as it isn't a junction, then go for it. They seem to be used all over the place these days to simply mark bits of the road. A good example on that long straight but on the way home Brid.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

Words from RoadDriver web site:

Hatched Markings

Junction Diagonal white lines (hatched markings) bounded by broken lines may be used in the centre of the road to separate opposing flows of traffic.
They are often provided at junctions to protect traffic turning right. They may also be used on the approach to a central traffic island or the start of a dual carriageway.
Hatched markings with a single, broken boundary line may be used at the edge of the road or next to the central reservation of a dual carriageway.

You should not enter any hatched area bounded by a broken line unless it is safe to do so.

 

[gresley]

Thanks both of you - that phrase "unless it is safe to do so" is a bit of a catch all. I would NEVER use a bit of road if I felt it was unsafe to do so. If the markings are saying "be aware there is a potential hazard - junction etc" then I can see their relevance and as such they are a good thing - just alerts you to be aware that there may be something you haven't seen.

I have been wondering about this for a while and it was brought to a head by my being flashed by someone I overtook on some hatching on a dead straight road with no dips/junctions etc. Made me wonder if I was in the wrong but I suspect he was just a numpty from the feedback you are giving.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[Chrishazle]

When these were first introduced, it tended to be on roads that previously had a centre lane that could be used by traffic in either direction for overtaking. These lanes were death lanes, there were many serious crashes, so IIRC the centre lane was converted to hatched markings and you were not allowed to go into them unless passing a stationary vehicle/obstruction etc.

This is back in the mists of the last century, so I may be talking krape as my memory is not what it used to be!

 

[supersport]

ORIGINAL: gresley

Thanks both of you - that phrase "unless it is safe to do so" is a bit of a catch all. I would NEVER use a bit of road if I felt it was unsafe to do so. If the markings are saying "be aware there is a potential hazard - junction etc" then I can see their relevance and as such they are a good thing - just alerts you to be aware that there may be something you haven't seen.

I have been wondering about this for a while and it was brought to a head by my being flashed by someone I overtook on some hatching on a dead straight road with no dips/junctions etc. Made me wonder if I was in the wrong but I suspect he was just a numpty from the feedback you are giving.

Thanks

Andrew

Andrew the flashing things is just modern nimbism and appears to be quite common these days, you mad fool overtaking you're not thinking about the children. I would say just wave at these plebs, but having seen the reaction last time I did that, you don't want irate lunatics at the wheel of a car.

 

[vitesse]

As someone who travels regularly from Formby to our Daughter's in Northumberland,using the A69,& have been doing also since she started medical school in 1993,I have experienced the change in road markings over the years on this specific road when all of a sudden virtually the whole stretch had broken external & hatched central markings applied over red tarmac,including many junctions.
I was driving a succession of Rover Honda V6 Vitesse's,then a Vitesse Turbo Sport,& now a BMW 530D all tweaked & well capable of leapfrog overtaking very quickly & safely the many & varied slow moving trucks ,Toyota Auris's ,towed caravans & making a long journey tolerable.
Getting the same reaction from oncoming vehicles usually not only flashing but prolonged fullbeam at night,& movement towards the road centre,or the sudden acceleration to close the gap when being overtaken with the fist shaking etc,I checked the Dept of Transport Road markings handbook very thoroughly & this confirmed that the official meaning is that provided it is safe to do so,the full road can be used without exception so this obviously also covers these markings at junctions also.

It seems most of these ex flat capped Morris Minor drivers are not aware of the ruling so I am still very careful .

The main problem is being able to see clearly where solid line are sometimes substituted from a distance when making the decision to overtake,particularly at night.

However,have now switched to using the Military road from east of Brampton since she moved further North to near Morpeth-virtually no other traffic,engage cruise control & remember to slow down at the steep dips!

 

[gresley]

Thanks for the comments - I can understand people coming the other way flashing but then most of them have no idea just how quickly we can be out, past and in again. It's when people you overtake flash that I just do not understand as long as you don't cut sharply which I never do!

Numpties !

Andrew

 

[supersport]

Been flashed after overtaking on many occasions too Andrew, oddly on completely empty perfectly straight roads.

You should try cycling if you really want to see how inept some people can be, got honked at this morning for daring to overtaking another cyclist and coming out of the cycle lane, which is normally full of cars.

Also noticed that the slow brigade have started using the outside lane of slip lanes, round abouts and other places where you would normally blast passed, oh and cutting roundabouts off, regardless of whats on the inside.

 

[supersport]

Got my very flasher today. I think he was fast asleep and my going past woke him up with such a shock that he felt the need to flash his lights with all the excitement.

 

[tjb]

As discussed on here as long as the area is bordered with a broken white line then you are allowed to cross it, however there are some of these areas I have seen where the border white line has cats eyes in the actual line and at first glance can look as though the line is broken due to the inclusion of the cats eyes but on closer inspection the line is not broken.