Interesting things to say when there is a bicycle under your car

[happyslug]

1. I am NOT familar with Brtish painted lanes

Last edited Tue Dec 29, 2015, 02:25 PM - Edit history (1)

In the US we drive on the Right, in Britain they drive on the left. That I understand and accept. My issue is with the painted lines on the Road.

In the US, yellow lines indicate separation of direction, but I see nothing but white lines in these lanes. The bike appears to be following a car going in the same direction. Traffic appears to be going in BOTH Directions on this road. If that is the case then the bike is correct, going with traffic. On the other hand, in the US, those white lines would mean these are lanes going in the same direction, thus the bike is going AGAINST traffic (i.e a traffic hazard).

Britain does NOT use yellow as we do in the US, all line markings are in white:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-markings

The elongated white lanes at the intersection (where the accident occurred) had

The Cyclists rides by a series of dash white lines with diagonal lines, like theses?

Rule 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.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158#rule130

The intersection where the accident occurred had elongated white lines, which are governed by Rule 127:

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.

I just notice the white lines as I tried to figure out if the cyclist or driver was at fault. In the US that intersection would have NOT had any lines but before the cyclist would have had solid yellow lines, while the driver would have had dashed yellow lines (The dashed white lines in Britain means that drivers could go into the cyclist lane to pass someone in their own lane, if it could be done safely).

Sorry, most of the British shows I watch generally avoid the major highways thus rarely have any painted lines. Just a comment of lines the and how the color of those lines threw me for a curve while I tried to figure out if the cyclist or the driver was at fault. Given what I have learned about British line painting it appears the driver was at fault. The driver should NEVER have made the turn when they did (probably did not see the cyclists, a major problem for cyclists even motorcyclists, to many drivers only "See" cars or trucks not bikes or pedestrians).