Drivers lurching to the right for no reason.

[Johnnytheboy]

I'm becoming obsessed with understanding a phenomenon I'm seeing more and more in the last couple of years: drivers lurching to the right on single carriageway roads. I'll give you some examples:

• Faster car catches two slower cars in convoy. Second car will briefly lurch to the right even though there is no apparent intent to pass the first car, or there is oncoming traffic.

• Car in lane 1 at a merge point will wait until the lanes have merged but the road is still quite wide then briefly lurch to the right, even though any possibility of someone passing them has terminated, and the car behind them is tucked behind them.

• Car leaving a normal roundabout will briefly lurch to the right at the point where the exit lane is quite wide, even though there is no need or anyone close behind.

• Car approaching normal roundabout will approach as if turning right before diving to the left just as they reach the give way line.

• Car at temporary traffic lights but a few cars back from the line will lurch over to the far side of the road as soon as the lights change rather than when they get to the light.

This seems to be largely the preserve of a certain strata of drivers, generally the angry dad/ clouds of vape, reflective jacket on the parcel shelf sorts.

Can anyone tell me what's going on?

My best guess it's some sort of territorial instinct, the same kind of thing that makes people fight over armrests with their elbows on public transport, or cyclists riding down thd middle of the road. Most of it seems to be attempting to send a signal to other drivers, but in most cases I have no clue what it is.

I wonder if on some subconscious level it's a form of behaviour that has supplanted racing people that annoy you now that most people seem to be scared of breaking speed limits?

Clearly as the OP this is my fault, but I have sat and watched this odd behaviour occurring some cars ahead of and behind me.

No doubt someone will say "on their phones, innit", but I should emphasise that this odd road positioning appears quite deliberate.

[Johnnytheboy]

Toltec said:

By lurch do you mean a rapid enough change in position to unsettle the car or at at least result in large suspension movement?

I've noticed a following car move to the right of a lane to, presumably, indicate they are looking to pass. Moving out steadily to the right to line up for passing through temporary lights makes more sense than lurching to the right as you reach the obstruction. There is a particular roundabout I use with a compound bend on the exit and I take a line that turns it into a single curve, I have seen a handful of drivers do the same.

Some drivers do have some weird habits though.

Kind of an abrupt movement.

The thing at the temporary traffic lights is like a lane change several cars back, rather than smoothly moving out over several car lengths.

All these odd habits seem - to me - to be trying to send a signal to the driver behind.

I just don't know what it is!

"You shall not pass! Despite the fact it's currently not possible."

[Johnnytheboy]

LeoSayer said:

My guesses as follows, mostly territorial like you said.

Can't say I've noticed much except 5 which I have done myself on occasion.

1. Get a better view of the road ahead of the car in front
2. Establishing themselves in the lane, to avoid the possibility of following cars overtaking
3. As per 2
4. Taking the racing line?
5. As per 2

As per my answer to Toltec, most of them seem to be as per your point 2, except that they are in situations where there is no chance they will be passed. And why would they care anyway?

On 4. here is a roundabout I see it at:



Drivers going straight will quite often line up as if they are taking the right lane then as the lines dividing the two lanes start they swerve to the left and go round the roundabout on the left. So quite the opposite of the racing line.

I'm used to people doing odd things on the roads, but can usually ascribe it to selfishness or incompetence. This field of seemingly interconnected habits leaves me baffled.

[Johnnytheboy]

DJP said:

I put it down to that.

It's on the bike I notice this most. I move to the contact position, last car in the queue then moves out towards the the crown of the road.

I then overtake the whole procession because I've looked way beyond him anyway.

But it does appear to be becoming a thing.

I'm glad someone else has noticed it!

It's one of those things that once you start seeing it you can't stop.

I pointed out to my beloved and now it's driving her mad too!