There is no correct answer at all. It depends on all sorts of things which only you can assess at the time. You can be criticised for making an overtake even though it is legal as there's more than enough room to get past the car whilst remaining inside the white line. You can also be criticised for not making an overtake when there's the opportunity to do so. The same arguments can be made if there weren't a white line, you just have more room. All I can say is don't try following me through rush-hour traffic!
I would overtake there at reasonable speed and keeping my wheels within the white lines, then give the driver a thumbs up most likely. Why? Well I did bikesafe last year with South Yorkshire Police and was told that as long as my tyres did not cross the far white line then it was perfectly acceptable. In that picture the car driver has made plenty of room and there is enough visibility to see that it is safe with no oncoming traffic to cause any issues.
I'm not sure whether I'd overtake or not-I suspect I'd want to see a bit more than the snapshot. As you approach a moving hazard such as this you're weighing it up continuously. On the snap shot the answer is no but in real life I wouldn't rule it out. The problem with double white lines is that they are sometimes there for a comprehensible purpose-a junction or some other hazard ahead. If I knew the road the decision would be clearer. As to brakes any idiot in a modern car can just slam on the brakes with considerable effect while very hard braking on a bike requires a higher degree of skill. On a bad surface the car driver is cocooned from the effects and his ABS will keep him straight on a bike...... With skilled rider/driver on good even tarmac the extra rubber on the road favours 4 wheels every time.
The legal position is that you are only allowed to overtake and cross a solid white under certain circumstances. The Highway Code paragraph 129: “You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.” It doesnt matter if its a single solid line, on your side, or a double white line its the same rule. If you overtake and do not cross the line no offence has been committed, that applies on all UK roads. You could however, get a copper who judges the overtake within the line as dangerous. I would overtake, having carefully checked the vehicles in front and behind very carefully for unmarked bacon ;-) and wave thanks to the driver. That would put me in a position to take the next opportunity to overtake the vehicles in front and "make progress" as they say.
Speed triples topping the charts in this (old-ish) mcn test: http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/201001perfindex.pdf That's pretty good compared to a car under £30k. Assuming a linear rate of slowing though, I doubt 10/20/30 feet on a 60-0 would make much difference in a real scenario where you're just scrubbing of a bit of speed to slot back into traffic. Acceleration + size is the game-changer. I normally hold back for social reasons, rather than safety. I had a quick look at their 2011 675r review, and the stopping distance was much worse. They said it's because of the endo-prone geometry. I'd just treat that scenario just like filtering down the dual carriageway. He's doing 40, I'm doing 45-50 making sure he sees me, thumbs up on the other side and then blast off as quick as possible to get as much distance as possible so I don't look silly when he catches me up at the really tight bend that's bound to be coming up soon.
Ah, ok. I was expecting you saying that it was a cop car or the rider got stopped for passing/overtaking the car.
The answer, from a legal point of view, there is nothing to stop you overtaking, provided you do not cross the white line.
Personally, it bugs me sometimes when people do move over like that. I appreciate it don't get me wrong but bikes have no trouble over taking so it's more of a gesture. There have been times when I am happy to plod along and I have been forced to over take when I had no intention or want to do so. I used to travel 60+ miles on the motorway and generally I would be having a blast but on some occasions I was happy to sit behind cars when I wanted a mental rest say. They would move over and I would find myself accelerating again. I found near on impossible to just chill out and do the speed limit (sorry, just below). Thinking about it, actions like this are probably caused by riding too close to the car in front. To answer the question........if the speed and view ahead was safe I would squeeze quickly between the car and white line making sure I was ready to cross it given an emergency.
Totally agree with Ozzer....I appreciate the gesture from drivers as it lets me know they're aware of my presence, but for the most part I'd rather they didn't do it....and WTH do they always do it in a turn??? All things said and done though I'd make that pass in a heartbeat...quick check of the mirrors and then go!!!...wouldn't care about crossing the line one bit.
some interesting points here....got to be all about the safety aspects. Personally, if I was having to think it over in my mind, then the hesitation means i shouldn't make the pass as i clearly hadn't decided if it was safe and also, by not making the pass quickly, i wouldn't want to create any indecision in the car driver either......... However i'm sure there would be other occassions where i'd be grateful for the gesture and shoot past (legally keeping inside the lines and speed limit) and thank them once past.
Have to say i'de past that in a shot. Agreed with the gentsure of drivers moving over unless the road side is covered and you get sprayed with grit!
i fully concur with both wyrm and the gank i'd be past him before he could say jack robinson, white lines or no white lines, but then i ride like a menace apparently
the way i see it is if i have to question an overtake then it's not worth it! I really don't understand why people move over though, i'm on a bike, when i'm happy with passing then trust me, i'll be gone but the moment someone starts pulling over any overtake i might've been considering goes out the window since yes, they could be giving room to pass but who's to say they aren't drunk, texting or messing with the stereo? Sure, they're trying to be helpful but it just makes me nervous... now if they're in traffic and moved over then i'd be thankful!
