Ambiguous lane markings/behaviour
Discussion
Driving back into town along this stretch of the A23 yesterday reminded me how little the lane markings seem to relate to people's actual behaviour.
https://goo.gl/maps/ZY1iQSvNKMH57hUbA
Travelling northbound, the road goes from 4 clearly marked lanes into two wide lanes (the same happens further up too). With the lanes being (just) wide enough for two cars to sit abreast, you end up in the weird situation where you're being passed by other cars in 'your' lane. In the Google Streetview link above, the white van has almost certainly just passed the Scania lorry.
It's doesn't bother me particularly, as I tend to sit to the left and drive pretty sedately on this section, but being a major arterial route means that the road is seldom quiet. I've often wondered what the legality would be of passing someone within a lane; and what the outcome would be if two cars doing the same thing in opposite directions collided.
https://goo.gl/maps/ZY1iQSvNKMH57hUbA
Travelling northbound, the road goes from 4 clearly marked lanes into two wide lanes (the same happens further up too). With the lanes being (just) wide enough for two cars to sit abreast, you end up in the weird situation where you're being passed by other cars in 'your' lane. In the Google Streetview link above, the white van has almost certainly just passed the Scania lorry.
It's doesn't bother me particularly, as I tend to sit to the left and drive pretty sedately on this section, but being a major arterial route means that the road is seldom quiet. I've often wondered what the legality would be of passing someone within a lane; and what the outcome would be if two cars doing the same thing in opposite directions collided.
C70R said:
I've often wondered what the legality would be of passing someone within a lane; and what the outcome would be if two cars doing the same thing in opposite directions collided.
Overtaking is overtaking. There's no law that says to overtake you must cross in to another lane.There's an arrow painted on the road just as the four lane section ends indicating that traffic should merge, so it becomes just a normal single carriageway road. As long as you position your car to the left of the central line I don't see that there is a problem. Cars overtaking should only do so if there is room or a sufficient gap in the oncoming traffic.
I often overtake "in lane" on my motorbike if the driver in front gives sufficient room, don't why you can't do it in a car as long as both parties are aware.
I often overtake "in lane" on my motorbike if the driver in front gives sufficient room, don't why you can't do it in a car as long as both parties are aware.
The only unusual behaviour on that road is that people continue to hug the kerb so that others can pass easily.
IF the road was 30% narrower like any other suburban road, they probably WOULD sit more centrally.
The Merger at Hooldy, is a bigger issue on that road. Road captains heaven.
IF the road was 30% narrower like any other suburban road, they probably WOULD sit more centrally.
The Merger at Hooldy, is a bigger issue on that road. Road captains heaven.
Tommo87 said:
The only unusual behaviour on that road is that people continue to hug the kerb so that others can pass easily.
IF the road was 30% narrower like any other suburban road, they probably WOULD sit more centrally.
The Merger at Hooldy, is a bigger issue on that road. Road captains heaven.
This was exactly my point.IF the road was 30% narrower like any other suburban road, they probably WOULD sit more centrally.
The Merger at Hooldy, is a bigger issue on that road. Road captains heaven.
It creates lots of weird behaviours.
Closely related to this is the marking confusion on the M23 between the M25 and Gatwick following the “smart”(not) motorway conversion.
Where they frigged about with the lane markings during the roadworks, they only covered their temporary white lines with smooth dark asphalt - which is all well and good until it rains and then the sun comes out…. the covered lines appear white in the sun and all the lines become a random mess misleading you into thinking you may have drifted lanes, especially if you are in a van and viewing from higher up - they need to texture the surface so they don’t mimic lines
Where they frigged about with the lane markings during the roadworks, they only covered their temporary white lines with smooth dark asphalt - which is all well and good until it rains and then the sun comes out…. the covered lines appear white in the sun and all the lines become a random mess misleading you into thinking you may have drifted lanes, especially if you are in a van and viewing from higher up - they need to texture the surface so they don’t mimic lines
Edited by EK3vtec on Thursday 24th March 07:40
SteveStrange said:
Why do so many people lay heed to white lines? It's just decoration. They've even used red on the road in the OP to make it look super pretty!
Strange question? In what context are you asking it.My obvious answer is that….
White lines mark the boundary between lanes, so people don’t crash into each other.
Hence people (the intelligent ones anyway) look and indicate when crossing over one of them on the motorway.
Tommo87 said:
SteveStrange said:
Why do so many people lay heed to white lines? It's just decoration. They've even used red on the road in the OP to make it look super pretty!
Strange question? In what context are you asking it.My obvious answer is that….
White lines mark the boundary between lanes, so people don’t crash into each other.
Hence people (the intelligent ones anyway) look and indicate when crossing over one of them on the motorway.
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