In the UK, it's illegal for a motorist to cross a solid white center line on their side of the road to overtake a cyclist unless the cyclist is traveling 10mph or slower. I estimate less than 1% of motorists obey this law.
Rule 129:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-t...
Some rules in the Highway Code are guidance only, but those marked with uppercase "MUST" or "MUST NOT" have legal force.
Here in NSW Australia it is almost the exact opposite now. You are permitted to cross the centre lane to overtake a bicycle (if it is safe) and need to keep a 1 to 1.5 metre gap to the bike. https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-s....
That's the law here in the UK, too, as long as the centre line isn't solid (which is what mrob was citing).
Most roads don't have solid centre lines.
The key point in that rule is that it only applies to solid centre lines. Motorists are free to cross broken lines to overtake.
Re:Things people blamed on bicycles
by matheusmoreira on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @08:39PM
(#32587837)
Of course. The line is solid and can't be crossed to overtake slower vehicles. Not just bikes.
I think that's a really interesting law since it actually makes an exception for slow bicycles. Looks like they're such a nuisance that cars are actually allowed to overtake them despite the solid line.
Just in on my drive to work, as I approached an intersection, the light went from yellow to red. I had time to slow down and stop. I was at a complete stop for a full moment when a van in the neighboring lane comes from behind me and just full on runs the light.
There's also a difference in where the risk is, as cyclists are mainly endangering themselves (also pedestrians, but crashing into a pedestrian is likely to hurt the cyclist), whereas motorists are mainly endangering others.
The best way of dealing with close-passing motorists is to run cameras (front and back) and let the police deal with the driver, but it depends on what area you're in as to whether the force will deal with it appropriately. Avon & Somerset is a good one in my experience.