Straddling white lines

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

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Last night when driving back from a restaurant along a narrow B-Road I took up a position dead centre in the road i.e. straddling the white lines. That's how I tend to drive at night and first started doing it after doing the IAM course. Fewer potholes, smoother around bends and at night there is always plenty of time to move over if anything is oncoming. Obviously I moved to the left around blind corners and any summits but my father still wasn't happy and felt I should have been in my 'lane' at all times.

What do you do, but more importantly what are the arguments FOR driving the way I do, my argument of 'well I just feel safer' didn't really cut it....
 
i always drive on my side of the road. just because thats the way i was taught to drive lol. as crazy as that sounds.

sorry i cant come up with any arguments FOR driving the way you do lol
 
laissez-faire said:
Last night when driving back from a restaurant along a narrow B-Road I took up a position dead centre in the road i.e. straddling the white lines. That's how I tend to drive at night and first started doing it after doing the IAM course. Fewer potholes, smoother around bends and at night there is always plenty of time to move over if anything is oncoming. Obviously I moved to the left around blind corners and any summits but my father still wasn't happy and felt I should have been in my 'lane' at all times.

What do you do, but more importantly what are the arguments FOR driving the way I do, my argument of 'well I just feel safer' didn't really cut it....
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I do that too. Especially when having a spirited drive. Use all the road aslong as its safe to do so. I wasnt told to do that i just decided to. I think its far safer than having to stay on your side.
 
yeah I drive down the middle on rough lanes if I can see there are no oncoming cars, bouncing all over the bumps at the edge isn't my idea of fun.

edit - thinking about it though, the lanes I do it on don't have any centre lines, must be quite wide lanes to have markings :confused:
 
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Its got to be safer to keep on your own side of the road, you say that at night there is always plenty of time to move over if anything is oncoming but what if your distracted and dont see the car coming the other way ?
How would you drive if there was a big Police Volvo behind you ?, would you still sit in the middle of the road ?
The Highway code says ....keep to the left, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.
 
Ed said:
I know why, but the effect of that is increased speed, not safety.
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Yes it dosen't make it any safer, dosen't make it any more unsafe either, aslong as you move back for summit's and blind bends. There is always the comfort factor too ;)
 
Ed said:
I know why, but the effect of that is increased speed, not safety.
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It makes things much smoother for passengers, and by positioning yourself on the outside of a bend you can see much further round it.

I do it at exactly the same speed I would if there was traffic and I couldn't. The improved smoothness just makes things better for everyone in the car and you can avoid the rubbish that collects on the side of the road. Then the extra visibility gives you more time to react to potential hazards.

It's how I was taught in my IAM lessons.:) It's not "taking the racing line and going balls out at the limit of grip". And anywhere where the visibility is too low, or there's any doubt, just stay on your own side.
 
I live in the country, theres a narrow road that leads to my village and everyone who doesnt know the road drives in the middle of it. It annoys all the residents of the village, especially me as more often than not they're also going too fast. I encountered a gas lorry the other day coming over a blind crest, in the middle, doing about 50.
 
Ed said:
I know why, but the effect of that is increased speed, not safety.
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Saves your suspension, tyres and wheels from potential damage due to large potholes. This does mean you CAN drive faster, but doen't automatically mean you then drive too fast ;) If you have to cut in you slow down. Some of the potholes in the gutters in the lanes near me are of himalyan proportions and you can't always see them.

I use as much road as i need to provided it's safe to do so. This doesn't only apply to country lanes, but passing parked cars too. Whats the piont in crawling past six inches from the door mirror when you drive past at a relatively normal speed more than a doors width away?

There are far more hazards than summits and blind corners; blind junctions for one.
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Junctions are nearly always signposted. In the dark you can see the headlights.
 
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Ed said:
So does a slower speed.
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Stick to the air then :p

He aint asking if its safer to drive in the center or to drive at a slower speed :)

I dont really do it too often myself. But then i dont drive many B-roads
 
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