HGV driver fined for crossing solid white lines to overtake cars

An HGV driver showed “complete disregard for the rules of the road” when he breached solid white lines on the A36 and overtook two vehicles.

Matthew Lobley, 46, has now been fined and received points on his licence after dash cam footage showed he was driving on the wrong side of the road in Wiltshire.

The driver pleaded guilty to failing to comply with solid white line road markings at Salisbury Magistrates and fined £155 and given three penalty points.

In the footage, supplied by a member of the public to the police, Lobley can be seen driving down a hill on the A-road near Warminster, contravening the road markings to overtake two vehicles, with vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

Sgt Will Ayres of the roads policing unit said the stretch of road was the site of a double fatal collision in 2018 following a breach of the white line system and drivers should be taking extra care.

“It is only through good fortune that this complete disregard for the rules of the road to be a couple of cars ahead in the traffic didn’t result in a collision or worse,” he said.

“You must not cross or straddle a white line. The only time this is acceptable it to pass a stationary vehicle, push bike, horse or road maintenance vehicle that is traveling at less than 10mph.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the member of public who submitted the dash cam footage that enabled this prosecution and would encourage people to do the same if they have captured a crime or an offence being committed.”