If I haven't quite explained this well to this point, consider this example: As you know from your time in Canada and the USA, it's perfectly acceptable to pass on the right (kerbside) of other traffic on a multi-lane roadway - everyone does it all the time. I mean, if someone is loafing in the farside lane, but the nearside lane is clear, you just change lanes and pass them on the kerbside. Now, if I were to do that in the UK, would I be stopped by the police? You bet I would. And if I explained my perfect logic to the policeman as follows: "The other guy was loafing in the farside lane, and the nearside lane was empty, so I just passed on the nearside - makes perfect sense", do you think the policeman would agree with me? Not bloody likely.

Michael
We call it 'undertaking' here and it's not illegal. I do it a lot on motorways when someone is hogging the central lane. It only becomes an offence if it's done in a dangerous manner.
As for your earlier example all I can say is that if logic suggests that it's daft to come to a complete stop when it's not necessary, such as in the middle of nowhere with clear views in all directions, we don't. I can think of one exception and that is crossing over solid white lines in the middle of the road, one of my former favourite ticketing offences. These are put there to keep opposing traffic apart and to me are 'set in stone'.
We've not heard much from you lately in 'the other place'.
Regards
Paul