Wide single 2 lane carriageways - overtaking

[aturnick54]

Rather curious as to what the general etiquette and rules are around these roads where they're plenty wide enough for 3 cars side by side, such as the below example.



Should you expect traffic to keep left in both directions so that you can overtake in the middle? Just feels a bit strange overtaking and straddling the central line with oncoming cars.

Would be interesting to see what an insurer would think should there be a head-on collision while a vehicle is overtaking.

[aturnick54]

donkmeister said:

The etiquette is that the driver of the car overtaking there is a and can fk right off. It's a SC with two lanes, regardless of the width of the lane or the fact it used to be three lanes.

There's some former three-lane roads near me and this behaviour is very rare. But, in another part of the country I was driving on such a road in the centre of my lane and I had to take evasive action after some muppet swung out into my lane expecting me to just vanish somehow.

If there are three lanes, it's fine to use three lanes. If there are two, you have to wait for a suitable gap.

Someone almost swinging into the side of you, yes silly. Although if it was very clear a car approaching you was about to overtake, would it not make sense to just keep to the left of the lane to give them space to complete their overtake?

[aturnick54]

donkmeister said:

Part of the issue is that you simply don't expect someone to move out for an overtake on a SC when it puts them into conflict with you. Clearly if someone is barreling down your side of the road you don't shout "Camruh! My right of way!" and brace for impact, you move as far left as you safely can. But if you are just driving down the centre of your lane, and a vehicle coming in the other direction moves out into your lane, you end up having to take evasive action. Even if just to decrease the risk of a collision (e.g. they would have just about fitted between you and whatever they are overtaking, but you again moved to the left to open the gap wider in case the person being overtaken gets the hump and moves right). The person trying to create a third lane is creating a problem for everyone around them by doing so, that requires them to take action to mitigate.

I hate that good overtaking opportunities are removed from roads where they formerly existed, but when they are gone you unfortunately can't just decide to bring them back. Trying to recreate the third lane is much like skirting round the wrong side of a raised central reservation to overtake. It's possible, but is it good or safe driving?

If I was driving on a road which had wide lanes that allowed a vehicle to fit comfortably down the middle I would always be cautious and expecting someone to attempt an overtake. Certainly I would be scanning the road ahead for cars that are positioning themselves to pass the car in front of them, would this not be considered defensive driving?