"Shocking dash cam footage showed David Skerry overtake on a blind bend, forcing oncoming traffic to veer out of the way..."
12 month ban. Because he's the sort of person we want back on the roads a year from now.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
A whole year!
(17 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Absolutely no mention of the silver/white van ahead which does exactly the same thing but 'gets away with it'. Huh?
Posted 8 years ago # -
I reckon the other van got off because he overtook where it was legal to do so. The blue van started his overtake where road markings are indicating to pull back in and was then on the right hand side over a solid white line.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Ah, ok. I couldn't make out the road markings at the size I was watching at, but it seemed like the blind corner had already started - perhaps it is not as 'blind' initially.
Posted 8 years ago # -
IT is very often not the actual first vehicle that starts all the bad driving that causes the most bother but the sheep behind who follow the first driver without thinking and then either them or the one behind them causes the most damage.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Indeed, as exemplified on the towpath on occasion, but usually without any actual carnage. I'm still a little bit surprised that overtaking is allowed going into the corner on the video and it's then allowed again at the point that the driver of the blue van does actually manage to overtake.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Two years ban, 200 hours community service.
http://stv.tv/news/tayside/1366063-nurse-who-killed-cyclist-in-head-on-crash-banned-from-driving/
Posted 8 years ago # -
Interesting words from the sheriff, which I quote without any judgement on them.
"There can't be any link between the number of hours of unpaid work or length of disqualification I give you and the value of Mr Christie's life.
"To suggest there might be is an insult to him and his memory."
Posted 8 years ago # -
I always wonder how solid lines are decided on, because it's obvious that not all the places where overtaking is explicitly allowed are places where overtaking is actually viable.
I suppose they don't want to "overpaint" for fear of devaluing lines - I think most drivers appreciate that when there's a solid line it's almost certainly not safe to overtake. This allows them to be used effectively for non-obvious hazards, like bends/summits/dips that are blinder than they appear to be, and narrowings in the road.
I guess it's worth considering the rules around solid lines - overtaking anything going over just 10mph is banned. Overtaking a tractor crawling along at 15mph is very different to passing someone doing a healthy 50 on a country road, and I suppose the placement of solid lines reflects that.
Posted 8 years ago # -
In US of A, solid yellow "no overtaking" lines are much more common - almost default on single-carriageways.
You only get a dotted line when the road is straight for a good length.
Posted 8 years ago # -
In the 'UK' the distance between the dashed central lines indicates the degree of 'hazardousness' of overtaking. They become closer together as a stretch of solid central line approoaches.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Really? I knew lines were meant to get thicker when approaching a hazard but I've never noticed it like that before.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Rule 127
A broken white line. This marks the centre of the road. When this line lengthens and the gaps shorten, it means that there is a hazard ahead. Do not cross it unless you can see the road is clear and wish to overtake or turn off.Posted 8 years ago # -
@jonty
I don't know if it's universal, but it's part of the information framework taught in advanced motorcycling.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@jonty 'how solid lines are decided on' is largely explained in the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5, section 5. The main criteria are visibility distance and speed of traffic, but even where these apply "it does not automatically follow that double lines should always be installed; judgement should be exercised in
deciding whether, having regard to the topographical
and traffic characteristics of the route, it is reasonable to impose the restrictions or whether the warning type of marking should be used instead".
In addition, solid lines can't be used where the road is too narrow for wide vehicles to use without having to cross lines.@jdanielp streetview seems to show that there could be (or could have been, before bushes grew so high) visibility across the bend later, but restricted by the crest over the first part.
The absence of solid lines doesn't mean it is safe to overtake, but their presence does mean it is illegal (with few exceptions).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Interesting - thanks for that.
I'll also be on the lookout for changing line thickness next time I'm on a country road!
Posted 8 years ago # -
@jdanielp streetview seems to show that there could be (or could have been, before bushes grew so high) visibility across the bend
Don't forget Google streetview cars have their cameras mounted quite high up above their roofs. So the visibility could be much better 'from up there' than from a normal seated driving position.
Posted 8 years ago #
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