Crossing Solid White Line to your offside, What's It All About?

[ChrisB]

Isn't it there to stop cars overtaking other cars...

which means that you can 'Do the B'stard' on the way into the corner, on the brakes, without worrying that some knob in a Kia is gonna try and overtake another knob in a Ford...

I have a knob and I also drive a Ford. My wife does not have a knob and drives a Ford. We both like bikes and my knob. God where is this going and who has had a humour bypass. I'm with Mogster but I have not seen or want to see his knob or Ford but do like the looks of his Tuono.

[ChrisB]

Question needs a none of the above option.
Don't do it on right hand bends on A roads.

[Mogster]

I have a knob and I also drive a Ford. My wife does not have a knob and drives a Ford. We both like bikes and my knob. God where is this going and who has had a humour bypass. I'm with Mogster but I have not seen or want to see his knob or Ford but do like the looks of his Tuono.

Apolgise if i offend.. Chirs, I just picked a couple of makes at random... mind you there are certain cars that see to attract Mr Magoo... Kia Ceed, Honda Jazz  and my personal nemisis the Nissan Micra..... cars which can usually be found lotteing on the racing line 

[Rossendale Rider]

ROSPA are losing the plot! On all my driving courses I've only had to buy the cakes if my wheels straddled the solid white line.

[Lonewolf]

I've been in email discussion over the last few weeks with a Senior trainer from RoSPA & when they eventually respond to my emails they give the typical political answer which skirts around the actual questions asked of them and just accuse me of being offensive and yet confirm that I'm not the only person recently who has raised serious concerns regarding the consistency of what the examiner is looking for. They also say that they have neither the time or the inclination to enter into a session of E mail ping pong with me or anyone else, how    rude is that.
So they'll take your money and teach you techniques which are not what the examiner will be looking for. The examiner will then subsequently mark you down and its just tough shit, you have to accept it.
Can you lodge formal complaints against RoSPA?

[O.C.]

The best form of formally complaining is to vote with your feet. 

I contacted RoSPA by e-mail months ago (previous post refers) about training for myself, I had a prompt and polite response suggesting I contact their training centre in Liverpool which was the closest to me at a mere 100 miles away. I contacted the agent at liverpool twice and heard nothing, no acknoledgement and no reply....so for me they can get stuffed.

What's the betting that they will be the next biking related establishment to go the HG way ???  QED.

[patrick]

I've been in email discussion over the last few weeks with a Senior trainer from RoSPA & when they eventually respond to my emails they give the typical political answer which skirts around the actual questions asked of them and just accuse me of being offensive and yet confirm that I'm not the only person recently who has raised serious concerns regarding the consistency of what the examiner is looking for. They also say that they have neither the time or the inclination to enter into a session of E mail ping pong with me or anyone else, how    rude is that.
So they'll take your money and teach you techniques which are not what the examiner will be looking for. The examiner will then subsequently mark you down and its just tough shit, you have to accept it.
Can you lodge formal complaints against RoSPA?

RoSPA do not take your money in exchange for training. You pay to join a local group and the training is given by volunteer tutors. You pay Rospa for the test and then the yearly membership fee paid to Rospa funds the 3 yearly re-test.

My experience as a tutor is that the examiner's do move the goalposts and there is no formal mechanism for Rospa to communicate such goalpost moves to the local groups and it can only be when people are marked down that the changes become known about.

As far as I know is possible to have a test result reviewed by the chief examiner.

P

[100milesaway]

Rospa-IAM  Bah humbug You would be far better off, and learn lots more by using the new for 2012 Follow the pink armbands method. It's dead easy ya just turn up, climb on yer bike, go out and enjoy yourself. You will find that by using this method, that you will enjoy lots of lovely countryside, enjoy your bike to the full, and totally relax whilst having lots of fun. And no need to worry about some bloke who is following you, who may be a worse rider than yourself slagging you off because you were 3 inches nearer the kerb than he thought you should have been. The best way to learn how to ride a motorcycle well, is to keep riding a motorcycle. Practice makes perfect. Being out there and putting the miles in is the only way. Oh by the way the follow the pink armbands method is totally free. Turn up, ride, enjoy, simple eh?

[BigAlan]

I can vouch for the above, I learnt more about my bike in one day following those pink armbands than I had since I purchased it 11 months ago, the roads and progress we made during one day in the dales was perfect training to ride motorcycles.

I shall be up there again for another lesson before I know it.

Alan

[Kwikasfuki]

I can vouch for the above, I learnt more about my bike in one day following those pink armbands than I had since I purchased it 11 months ago, the roads and progress we made during one day in the dales was perfect training to ride motorcycles.

I shall be up there again for another lesson before I know it.

Alan

Told ya riding with Geoff is an experience. I shall never forget that first ride following the pink armbands. That's what I call making good progress

[100milesaway]

Alan, make sure that you bring your pals with you, they made it into an epic day .Great bunch of blokes . And do you know I think that they quite enjoyed the pink armband method .

[viper]

id really like to do an advanced training course but i'm getting more and more put off by the bad press about egotistical dictators using your training needs as an excuse to show off/ abuse / ect your good nature. When i did my direct access course on my first day the guy doing my training within 10 minutes started shouting at me sargeant major style in front of everyone else, I didnt react and he soon started on someone else. I had a quiet word with him after one young lad never came back after lunch and he left me alone , shameful really.

[Winston Smith]

Steve,  you know my opinion about this matter. I have taken up the issue with RoSPA HQ and due to the way the question was worded by 'someone' from the WY group the cheif examiner was pushed into a corner.  IMO he should look at all aspects and reconsider.

I understand the topic was raised due to a WY examiner applying this 'rule'.

FWIW as an examiner myself I agree with your assessment - the law, therefore the 'rule' states a vehicle shouldn't straddle or cross the solid white line.  Straddle, by my reckoning means you need more than one wheel, i.e. a car/van etc. The crossing refers to motorcycles as they can't straddle!

To cross the white line with any other part of vehicle / rider etc may be poor positioning in the face of oncoming traffic, however this would be a different issue and would likely result in a fail or reduced grading.  To be in a position to see the crossing of a pannier / elbow over the white line would mean the examiner would have to be in the same position to gain a view of the crossing - therefore 'committing' the 'offence' too!

I have taken it up with the Regional Senior Examiner well as South Yorks and Humberside police bike instructors who also agree.

Good luck taking on the HQ - If you are tested in our area by me it would be a more pragmatic approach with ALL factors considered.

[Debs]

Just a thought....

If you are going round a left hand bend and your tyres are near the white centre line then you would be leaning to the left. So thinking about the laws of physics, no part would be over the line. 

Forgive me if I am having a blonde moment but it seems a little obvious 

On a straight road I dont see any reason to sit near the line.  Better to be 2 minutes late than 2 minutes early in the next life. 

Have I lost the plot and gone right off what the subject is about? 

[Winston Smith]

Debs, that is precisely the argument I have used.  Positioned to the centre line on approach to left hand bend would be where I would expect a rider to be to get the best and earliest view into the bend.  As you turn in everything comes away from the line due to the physics!