Page 4 | Stopped on a double yellow

PuncturedBicyclette · 2023-10-20T10:07:42+00:00

DS usually walks to school. Today it was chucking it down, so I drove him. Stopped briefly on double yellows outside the school. NOT on the zigzags. No kerb markings or other signs. As far as I know it's fine to stop (not park) on a double yellow, to let passengers out. Was there 30 seconds. Stopped, DS got out, I left. As I was pulling back out, man on bike shouts through my window "Do you know it's f***ing double yellows?". I reply "Yes thank you, I was letting a passenger out". He swears at me again and cycles off. I'm not doing any thing wrong, am I?

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:42

ShagratandGorbag4ever · 20/10/2023 11:41

Are children so fragile nowadays that they can't walk 50 feet in rain, or use an umbrella?

Are cyclists so fragile now that they have to shout at people doing perfectly legal things? Oh dear, was his journey delayed by a few seconds?

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:42

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:40

Can we get past the meaning of yellow lines and think about if a parent should show a bit of responsibility outside a school? Oh dear their child might get wet, sod the poor kids trying to cross the road.

Can we think if all drivers and riders should show a bit of responsibility around schools and not shout and swear at people doing perfectly legal and reasonable things?

Stopping right outside a school (yellow lines or no yellow lines) at the time children are arriving at school particularly when it is raining is not reasonable, never has been reasonable and never will be.

Original poster

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:42

ShagratandGorbag4ever · 20/10/2023 11:41

Are children so fragile nowadays that they can't walk 50 feet in rain, or use an umbrella?

1.5 miles actually, but thank you.

OP posts:

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:42

BungleandGeorge · 20/10/2023 11:38

@Flickersy so what do you do when there’s double yellow lines on a road with traffic lights? Or with a pedestrian crossing?
I hope you don’t have a driving license!

It is obvious to anyone that being in congestion or otherwise queuing at traffic lights is not the same in traffic law as waiting or stopping. I'm not sure why that question needs answering.

stopitstopitnooow · 20/10/2023 11:43

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:14

Well thanks everyone for your insults. Have you actually read the highway code?

Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge. You may stop to load or unload (unless there are also loading restrictions as described below) or while passengers board or alight

Yeah it's red routes that don't allow stopping of any kind

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:44

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:41

The cyclist shouldn't have shouted. Doesn't mean the OP didn't drive like a selfish idiot though.

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Exactly and not even ashamed at putting children at risk.

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:44

@PuncturedBicyclette it's not a choice of walking 1.5 miles to school or parking on the double yellows outside though was it? I bet there's parking much closer where you can pull in safely?

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:44

maddening · 20/10/2023 11:39

I haven't asked you to do anything let alone type. It was west midland police and you are incorrectly interpreting law, which is something that the police are definitely more qualified than you to do.

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I know you didn't, I just thought it might be helpful.

Yes, the police are certainly more qualified than me to incorrectly interpret the law...

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:45

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:42

1.5 miles actually, but thank you.

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I know it is hard to imagine but you could drive him to school and not stop right outside the school? Stop where it is safe to stop.

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:45

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:42

Stopping right outside a school (yellow lines or no yellow lines) at the time children are arriving at school particularly when it is raining is not reasonable, never has been reasonable and never will be.

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Of course it's reasonable if it's legal and safe to stop, and done with proper observation and indication.

And the added bonus is that it holds up impatient bike and car wankers who want to speed through and be far more of a risk to pedestrians.

maddening · 20/10/2023 11:46

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:44

I know you didn't, I just thought it might be helpful.

Yes, the police are certainly more qualified than me to incorrectly interpret the law...

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Ah they correctly interpret whilst you get all authoritarian spouting false interpretation as you have done here.

CasperGutman · 20/10/2023 11:46

Leaving aside the arguments about the difference between "waiting" and "stopping", Highway Code Rule 243 is potentially relevant here:

" DO NOT stop or park:

near a school entrance"

NB, it says "stop". This includes pausing momentarily to let a passenger out, although this wouldn't be included if it just said "do not park" or "do not wait".

Now, there isn't a lot of detail here as to what "near" means. Possibly the OP is in the clear if she was far enough away to avoid the zig zag school entrance markings, as this may well be what the rule is about.

TheShellBeach · 20/10/2023 11:47

TryAgainWithFeeling · 20/10/2023 11:16

You can stop on double yellows to let a passenger out. You can also load/unload a commercial vehicle. You just can’t park or “wait”. But most people don’t know this and will get stroppy with you for not following their erroneous interpretation of the rules.

You can park if you have a Blue Badge on double yellow lines. Not if it's a Loading Bay though.

Hmindr68 · 20/10/2023 11:47

Road/car stuff gets people frothing, OP.

Whatever you do, don’t mention it to IRL friends incase they say things you wish you’d never heard them say!

Original poster

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:47

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:44

@PuncturedBicyclette it's not a choice of walking 1.5 miles to school or parking on the double yellows outside though was it? I bet there's parking much closer where you can pull in safely?

Not really. Driving into the city, the parking changes from a free-for-all, to residents only, to double yellows.

Yes, I suppose I could/should have let him out on a double yellow slightly further away. But then it's just a judgement call as to how close to the school is too close, and really that's what the zig-zags are for.

OP posts:

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:48

Now, there isn't a lot of detail here as to what "near" means. Possibly the OP is in the clear if she was far enough away to avoid the zig zag school entrance markings, as this may well be what the rule is about.

Exactly. In the clear, so there is no need for the shouting, swearing, or all the fuss on this thread.

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:49

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:45

Of course it's reasonable if it's legal and safe to stop, and done with proper observation and indication.

And the added bonus is that it holds up impatient bike and car wankers who want to speed through and be far more of a risk to pedestrians.

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No it isn't reasonable to put other children at risk so your little soldier doesn't get wet. Just because something can be done according to the highway code does not mean it is safe and it does not mean your judgement won't be questioned if the worse happens. If you are driving on the motorway and visibility is low and it is icy do you think it is OK to cause a pile up and say Well I was only doing 70 and that is perfectly legal?

Apart from anything else if a child is hit and killed or seriously hurt trying to cross the road with your car as an obstruction would you be comfortable with that? Your answer will tell us a lot.

greengreengrass25 · 20/10/2023 11:49

I see idiots parked on the double yellows on the way to work with no one in the car. Wish they'd get towed away as it blocks the traffic

30 secs I can understand

Jaxx · 20/10/2023 11:49

You can unload for up to 40 minutes in the double yellow lines outside my flat!

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:50

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 11:49

No it isn't reasonable to put other children at risk so your little soldier doesn't get wet. Just because something can be done according to the highway code does not mean it is safe and it does not mean your judgement won't be questioned if the worse happens. If you are driving on the motorway and visibility is low and it is icy do you think it is OK to cause a pile up and say Well I was only doing 70 and that is perfectly legal?

Apart from anything else if a child is hit and killed or seriously hurt trying to cross the road with your car as an obstruction would you be comfortable with that? Your answer will tell us a lot.

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Of course it's not ok to put other children at risk.

The OP didn't put anyone at risk, she momentarily delayed a cyclist.

Oh what a shame.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 20/10/2023 11:51

This thread is hilarious.

The point for me, is that yellow lines or not, was it safe for the OP to stop? It appears not, given there was a cyclist there, who then presumably had to go round the OP and was unsurprisingly annoyed.

I live near a school. It wasn't even raining yesterday morning and the chaos outside my window was something to behold. The level of driving competence (or lack thereof) was embarrassing.

Kids will not dissolve and they can walk a short distance in the rain. I occasionally used to drive my son in the pouring rain (about once a year) and I used to go early and drop him somewhere safe rather than insisting on getting in everyone's way.

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:51

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:48

Now, there isn't a lot of detail here as to what "near" means. Possibly the OP is in the clear if she was far enough away to avoid the zig zag school entrance markings, as this may well be what the rule is about.

Exactly. In the clear, so there is no need for the shouting, swearing, or all the fuss on this thread.

We don't know how near as the OP hasn't said. We also don't know how close to people crossing, corners and other hazards so you can't say 'in the clear'.

We do know that she was outside the school and at least one person felt it was unsafe (although as a cyclist many will 100% feel their in the wrong, even if the OP shat on their bike they'd blame the cyclist)

PaxOmnibus · 20/10/2023 11:51

Dh stopped to load me ( heavily pregnant with twins last day at work with all my stuff ). Cameras picked him up and we were sent a fine.
We appealed on the basis that he was picking me up and loading stuff.
They accepted the appeal and noted an unwritten rule that 5mins to load on double yellows is allowed unless there are signs not allowing this.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 20/10/2023 11:51

The OP didn't put anyone at risk, she momentarily delayed a cyclist we don't know if the cyclist was put at risk

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 11:52

The point for me, is that yellow lines or not, was it safe for the OP to stop? It appears not, given there was a cyclist there, who then presumably had to go round the OP and was unsurprisingly annoyed.

Oh was he annoyed because he was delayed for a few seconds?

Oh dear, how sad.