Advanced Stop Line Question...

[gaz]

Most people, seeing a driver in an ASL, would also assume they had entered illegally.

You can assume but someone else shouldn't?

haha

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

No I wouldn't ... you often see cars queuing near the lights in heavy traffic. What I see more often that annoys me, is a car waiting outside the box UNTIL it sees me on a bike, then it rolls into the box. Then I roll in front of it, and often in those situations I seem distracted and don't make a quick get away!

I always have problems clipping back in the pedals when this happens for some reason

 

[martint235]

I wouldn't say anything. I'd just wait behind them.

But then I tend to ignore the ASL rather than any cars in them. A pointless waste of paint in my opinion which should anyone want it is this:

1. If you're turning left, I find to the left of the gap between first and second car in the queue is a good place to be if you can get to it safely. If not the first similar gap you can get to safely.
2. If you're going straight on same as 1 unless there's a left filter in which case the first full gap (full gap = gap as long as your bike) in the straight on queue that you see (this may be behind the last car in the queue).
3. If you're going right, the first gap in the turning right queue or if there isn't one, the first gap in the straight on queue (again gap in this instance as opposed to in 1, means the first full gap ie big enough to fit your bike)

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

As above. It is not illegal to stop in the ASL area. It is just not the preferred option. So unless you physically saw them stop and deliberately pull into it, I would do nothing.

Highway Code, Rule 178 https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183

Advanced stop lines. Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cycles to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked. If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 36(1) & 43(2)

 

[Mallory]

Rule No 1

WHY start an argument with a copper for no real reason, only going to end in aggro.

 

[Matthew_T]

I used to filter just to get to the ASL even if there was one car waiting for it. From experiences that drivers dont like me going infront of them, I have now changed my attitude to not be so impatient.

If the lights change when I get to the stop line, I will use the ASL.
If there is a very long line of traffic, I will filter but most likely will slot back in the traffic before the ASL.
If there are one or two cars there, I wont filter.

With regard to a police car being in the ASL, I would probably look at them and then look at the ASL box. And try to get the point over that they are in it. If they are just crossed over the first line, then they probably didnt brake hard enough. However, if they are almost at the second line, it is probably safe to assume that they did not have time to stop at the first line.

 

[captain nemo1701]

It's not against the law to be in a bicycle box.

Technically Yes and also No. Rule 178 states that you MUST stop at the first line on red. My interpretation of these capital letters is that they are legally obligatory. So I think it is an offence to deliberately enter on red. However, as has happened to me in the firms vans, sometimes folk stall in front of you and by the time they get going again, you're stuck in the box. Also, if you are almost at the white line when the lights change and it's, say, icy or wet, then you have to stop safely and it might mean encroaching into the box. I haven't got a problem with this as it happens occasionally to drivers through no fault of their own and the law recognises this. I do, however, give black looks to those drivers who inch forwards verrry slooowly, as if it'll make the lights change faster!.

However, you get people who deliberately enter the box on red with miles to stop safely. The other day I was sat in an ASL in Bristol, 6.30am and only me on the road. I was turning right. Red car pulls into ASL beside me on the left on red so IMHO he committed an offence. He had light years to stop but chose not to. Then, the XXXX cut me up by turning right from the left hand side!!.

I find that some members of the motorcycling fraternity seem to perpetually enter on red, occasionally getting a bit aggressive about it. I've been deliberately cut up twice by motorcyclists doing this. Like the red car driver, they both did a right hand turn from my left side. The two mistakes they often make while filtering are:

1. Assuming they are legally allowed to use them. When filtering, they have miles to stop safely, but MGIF rules .
2. Assuming that it will be empty - cyclists can be hidden by other vehicles. Happened to me once when a biker tried to cut in beside me and I was hidden by WVM behind.

Getting back to the fuzz - should set an example and not enter. Of course, they might have been caught behind a stalled vehicle?.

 

[summerdays]

Then, the XXXX cut me up by turning right from the left hand side!!.

I've had that happen more than once - the outcome often depends on the junction size and layout - sometimes they get away with .... sometimes they suddenly realise that they are going to have to slow down and wait till I'm out of their way.

 

[mustang1]

A car has not broken the law by stopping in an ASL if for example they were moving and suddenly had to stop. Really, just ignore it especially if its a cop.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I'd go in front and ignore anything they said or did.

I'm certainly no expert on UK road laws, but wouldn't intentionally stopping your bike in front of the ASL be illegal? If that's the case, then the next likely scenario is the police booking you for it, which would be difficult to ignore.

 

[Ozzrahog]

or just stop being so anal and get on with your life, its hardly important

 

[fossyant]

It's a bit of paint on the road. Most folk don't know what they are for, so don't get too worried about it.

 

[Melonfish]

I'd have pulled along side and pulled a tongue.