I know what white road hatchings mean and this is confirmed in this extract from teh highway code -

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
  
• if the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency
  

But at one or 2 T junctions round here there are similar markings appearing on a red tarmac background. These appear to be "protection" areas for turning lanes at the junctions. Are the rules the same as for white markings or are these mandatory "do nor enter" areas? I have seen quite a few car over taking in these areas.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070332

Think you're talking about rule 177....?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070332

Think you're talking about rule 177....?

Nope, the markings I am talking about are in the centre of the road at T junctions. Where the road widens to form a turning lane you get a red section of Tarmac with white hatching, then a blank are for vehicle to wait when turning right across the traffic, then another red and white area.

These are obviously protection zones for the traffic turning right but I just wonder about the legalities of car using them as overtaking lanes? (hopefully when there is nothing waiting to turn right!)

My understanding is that the use of coloured asphalt is there to draw drivers attention to and to supplement the road markings, particularly in "high hazard" areas.

However it is optional in use, and the white markings, as you described above etc., are the relevant statutory markings.

The red Tarmac sections have a slightly different textured surface... It's a high friction anti skid surface which repels standing water basically, you see them quite often on 'fast' bits of road

http://www.highwaysmaintenance.com/Colsurf/RedAppSurf1-450.jpg

like this in the link above

To answer the original question yes rule 130 is the same with the red Tarmac, as said above it is just to draw your attention to it a bit more but if it's bordered by a broken white line you may still enter it to overtake etc etc.

To answer the original question yes rule 130 is the same with the red Tarmac, as said above it is just to draw your attention to it a bit more but if it's bordered by a broken white line you may still enter it to overtake etc etc.

Agreed, except for the last bit, even if it's bordered by a broken white line you should not overtake on it unless something has parked or broken down and means you have to. I was always taught to treat these areas as a raised island would be, that's why they are there, to keep traffic off them.

Agreed, except for the last bit, even if it's bordered by a broken white line you should not overtake on it unless something has parked or broken down and means you have to. I was always taught to treat these areas as a raised island would be, that's why they are there, to keep traffic off them.

If the intention was to keep traffic off them, they would be bordered with a solid white line (as some are).

Chris

They've run out of White Paint

If the intention was to keep traffic off them, they would be bordered with a solid white line (as some are).

Chris

Read the first line of the Highway code definition again, in Sliders post.

Read the first line of the Highway code definition again, in Sliders post.

Thanks

"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"

1. should not (ie there is no law to say you can't do it)

2. unless it is necessary - it'll be pretty hard to overtake the target car without entering it

3. it is safe - goes without saying

Chris

Agreed, except for the last bit, even if it's bordered by a broken white line you should not overtake on it unless something has parked or broken down and means you have to. I was always taught to treat these areas as a raised island would be, that's why they are there, to keep traffic off them.

There is no offence for entering chevrons outlined with a broken line.

Thanks

"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"

1. should not (ie there is no law to say you can't do it)

2. unless it is necessary - it'll be pretty hard to overtake the target car without entering it

3. it is safe - goes without saying

Chris

They are there for a reason, ( or they wouldn't be ) so would it not be more sensible to wait until clearing the area before overtaking? unless the conditions are as in my previous post.

There is no offence for entering chevrons outlined with a broken line.

No one is denying that. But surely "unless it is necessary " means just that, wait until you have cleared them before overtaking.

Box areas are all painted yellow, so it's nothing to do with that. Anything white painted are just guide lines unless the the white shaded area is between 2 carriageways, in which case Broken border you can cross them and solid you cannot. Strange to put what you described on a junction though.

They are there for a reason, ( or they wouldn't be ) so would it not be more sensible to wait until clearing the area before overtaking? unless the conditions are as in my previous post.

They are there to give traffic turning right an area to sit whilst waiting to turn. If there is no-one turning, and it is safe to overtake (including checking the hatched area is free from debris) why not utilise the space? Safety isn't being compromised, it's legal and good progress is being made.

Chris

No one is denying that. But surely "unless it is necessary " means just that, wait until you have cleared them before overtaking.

If I deem it necessary to overtake the vehicle in front and it's clear I will enter the chevrons to do this. There's nothing wrong with it as long as its safe

Do you drive an emergency vehicle or what? what is so important to gain a couple of seconds?

Do you drive an emergency vehicle or what? what is so important to gain a couple of seconds?

+1, a little patience goes a long way. Time and again on my 40 daily commute I see the same cars trying to use every opportunity to overtake - only to end up 3 or 4 cars in front when I get to teh first set of lights in town - is it worth the rush to gain 40 feet!

Do you drive an emergency vehicle or what? what is so important to gain a couple of seconds?

Well, yes actually I do. But that's not the point, if anyone knows the roads around here there are several places where the only straight for a while are on chevrons.

Well, yes actually I do. But that's not the point, if anyone knows the roads around here there are several places where the only straight for a while are on chevrons.

As previous, unless you are driving your emergency vehicle, patience and safety come first everytime. ( and I don't mean not being safe when driving emergency vehicles. )

As previous, unless you are driving your emergency vehicle, patience and safety come first everytime. ( and I don't mean not being safe when driving emergency vehicles. )

Safety comes first, irrespective of whether I'm driving an emergency or non-emergency vehicle. I agree showing restraint should be a consideration before making any decision, but crossing hatched markings and showing restraint are not mutually exclusive. By all means treat them as no-go zones if it makes you happy

Chris

...but crossing hatched markings and showing restraint are not mutually exclusive.

+1