Few motorists know this fairly recent rule in the Highway Code to be able to overtake a bicycle on a white line.
Whether in town or in the countryside, overtaking a bicycle by car requires extreme vigilance. A cyclist, even a very well equipped one, is particularly vulnerable on the road. The slightest collision with a vehicle which very often exceeds a tonne on the scale or even two can have serious consequences. However, there are situations where being stuck behind a bike can seem like a long time, especially when you are in a hurry. The worst thing to do is to give in to annoyance and execute a dangerous maneuver that could endanger the cyclist’s life.
On the road, there is a rule to follow when overtaking one or more bikes. It is obligatory to move far enough to the left to leave at least one meter of space between your car and the cyclist when driving in town, and a minimum of 1.50 meters outside a built-up area. But what happens if you drive on a section of road marked by a solid white line, synonymous with a ban on overtaking? Should we wait until this white line becomes dotted again, even if it means reducing our speed to 15 or 20 km/h over several hundred meters?
This was the case until 2015, which could sometimes cause small traffic jams behind the two-wheeler. But it is above all because too many motorists attempted risky maneuvers to overtake without crossing the white line – thus brushing past the cyclist who had asked nothing of anyone – that the Highway Code adapted. For ten years, a rule has allowed overtaking a cyclist even when a solid line is drawn in the middle of the road. But be careful, you must scrupulously respect a condition to avoid outlawing yourself.
Article R. 414-4 stipulates that it is possible to straddle the white line to overtake a bicycle, while taking care to always leave the obligatory distance with the cyclist (1m or 1m50). A motorist can therefore happily encroach on the opposite lane with his car to overtake without committing an offense.
On the other hand, it is still strictly forbidden to put the four wheels of your vehicle on the other side of a continuous line. The Highway Code is ruthless with drivers who do this since they risk a fine of 135 euros and a withdrawal of 3 points on the driving license. Overtaking a bike on a white line is therefore possible. It’s all in the way you do it: ride it yes, cross it no.