Can a driver cross a solid white line to overtake a cyclist in Northern Ireland?

Crossing a solid white line is tightly restricted; do not assume a cyclist automatically gives you permission to cross it to overtake.

The legality depends on the specific solid-line rule and any stated exception, including the speed of the vehicle being passed in some circumstances.

This is a vulnerable-road-user question, so the Northern Ireland Highway Code expects drivers to plan for people who may be harder to see, slower to react or more easily injured. The Code repeatedly stresses lower speed, wider clearance, observation and patience around pedestrians, cyclists, children and horse riders rather than treating priority as a licence to press on.

For this exact question — “Can a driver cross a solid white line to overtake a cyclist in Northern Ireland?” — the practical point is: If you cannot overtake without breaching the marking or passing too closely, stay behind until the restriction ends and there is a safe gap. The answer should be applied to the actual signs, conditions, licence wording or parking rules in force at the time, because temporary restrictions and individual DVA decisions can change the ordinary position.