The white line is like a wall
The white line is like a wall
"I was driving along a cantonal road when I had to slow down because a group of cyclists were riding quietly in front of me in single file. I didn't dare overtake them because I couldn't do so without crossing the white line, which created a traffic jam and caused the vehicle behind me to honk its horn in annoyance. Would I have been allowed to cross the white line if there had been no oncoming traffic?
Nathalie, Vaud
As you are no doubt aware, road traffic in Switzerland is governed by a detailed catalogue of rules laid down by federal law and its various implementing ordinances.
The principle laid down in Article 73 of the Ordinance on Road Signs and Signals (OSR) is very clear: the so-called "direction lines", i.e. those that appear discontinuously to delimit traffic lanes, may be crossed with caution; on the other hand, it is forbidden to cross or even encroach on the continuous lines, known as "safety lines". Learner drivers are taught that these should be considered as walls!
Generally speaking, article 35 of the law on road traffic (LCR) stipulates that overtakers must have particular regard for other road users, especially those they wish to overtake.
Article 11 of the Road Traffic Regulations (RTR) specifies that it is permissible to overtake a slower vehicle while keeping to the right of the safety line, provided that this manoeuvre can be carried out without hindering those using the same half of the carriageway.
Article 11 of the Road Traffic Regulations (RTR) specifies that it is permissible to overtake a slower vehicle while keeping to the right of the safety line, provided that this manoeuvre can be carried out without hindering those using the same half of the carriageway.
It follows from this that, contrary to what the motorist following you seemed to think - and he is not the only one to hold this erroneous opinion - it is illegal to cross a solid white line, even to overtake a bicycle or tractor, even if the latter is slowing traffic down considerably, just as it is illegal to endanger such a road user by following too closely in order to overtake him without encroaching on the said line.
So it was you who was right in this case, as crossing the safety line is an offence punishable by a fine, or even administrative complications for your licence, depending on the circumstances...
That said, cyclists - particularly those travelling in groups - should remember that under article 34 of the LCR, all vehicles must keep to the right and travel on the right-hand half of the road, following the right-hand edge of the carriageway as closely as possible, particularly if they are travelling slowly.
