Hi all,


I was driving this morning in Pully-Lausnane and came across a road where there was a solid white line in front of me, then a junction to my right for cars pulling on to the same road, then traffic lights (on red) and another solid white line after this junction.


There is a similar one in Neuchatel (near Les Brasseurs for those who know the area) and I always stop at the white line if any cars are turning on to the road, but go ahead to the second line (next to the traffic lights) if there are no cars.


This morning in Pully, I stopped at the first solid line, saw there were no cars incoming, and continued to the second solid line (next to lights) and waited for green...is this the correct thing to do?


The road is here: https://goo.gl/maps/U6nC6SEofFk


Thanks for any tips

I think your interpretation is correct, it's a warning not to block access to the side street - more for vehicles turning in front of you to go onto the street, not sure about for vehicles joining your road.

You also see it apparently randomly painted on other roads where there is known to be standing traffic that blocks side streets.

It's a bit odd because normally it would mean STOP or DO NOT CROSS, which is a bit awkward when it's painted across your lane.

And it doesn't seem to be mentioned in any of the summaries of the regulations (e.g. https://www.tcs.ch/mam/Digital-Media...nsignale_1.pdf).

You are correct.

But I have to say this is a very odd junction as there appear to be no other signs (like a triangle for give-way, or a stop sign)...

Thanks a lot! Gotta love this forum


It was indeed a bit weird without any signs, the lights were just so far away that I couldn't imagine they applied for that first line.

That's exactly what I do so I'm glad I was doing the right thing, admittedly the one in Neuchâtel is the only one that I've actually used.

Here's one just on a street - no signals or anything:

https://www.google.ch/maps/@47.23788.../data=!3m1!1e3

The traffic on that side is frequently tailed back, plus there's the pedestrian crossing - but further down there's one without a crossing:

https://www.google.ch/maps/@47.23711.../data=!3m1!1e3

So, basically I would expect to see a STOP sign next to the white line...

what do you mean?

Since there is no stop sign I don't see what you're trying to say...

Me neither, this line only serves one function and this that if you have to stop/wait one must do so without crossing this line. Since there is no stop sign, stopping is not mandatory and one is allowed to drive on without stopping when traffic allows this. In this situation it serves to me the function of making sure oncoming traffic does not get blocked from them turning left.

The line on the ground says: Stop here in case you have to stop/halt so that you do not block the intersection, tracks etc.

So this line can be seen: Next to a stop sign, a traffic light, railway level crossing, where you cross tram tracks, or you might block an outlet, etc....

There is a lengthy discussion on this topic some where. Mods please find and merge

Edit: Here the other threead https://www.englishforum.ch/transpor...s-streets.html

That there should also be a STOP sign next to the white line

Only if stopping is demanded which in this situation is not the case.

nice to know, so in this case its not always mandatory, only if some car is coming out from the other street...

A copper once explained to me that if it's a solid white line you have to come to a standstill before proceeding.

Dotted line means to "give way" ("yield" in US), and you can keep rolling so long as it's clear.

Obviously most people keep rolling even if there's a solid line but if you get pulled over, that would be the reason why.

It's the same at junctions / intersections in the UK, at least.

That copper does not know the law, or the question was about a situation not equal to the one as given in the OP.

ASwissInTheUs already linked to this topic: https://www.englishforum.ch/transpor...s-streets.html which has solved this exact same discussion earlier, all relevant laws are linked and explained in it.

Eh? I basically wrote what the OP said at the top, which everyone agreed with, and concurs with ASITUS's links. Was just chiming in with what I'd been told by a policeman.

Maybe you read my post wrong?

Or if there are cars in front of the pedestrian crossing a few meters ahead so you cannot proceed directly after crossing the line, it is illegal to stop directly after this line since blocking another lane is not allowed.

Depends. Do they have priority from the right? Then yes. If not, you can pass if you will not block the intersection.

Nope, I did not read it wrong since I gave two options and since according to you the same has been asked as in the OP it is option one: Copper does not know the law.

Brilliant!

Gotta love EF.