Cornering lines

[derekthetree]

So on my way home today following a disco down a b road at 60mph. He lines up for a 135° left by half crossing the white line. Pretty poor road positioning I think as the corner is unsighted so not much chance to see anything oncoming.

He then moves back to take the corner, but what happens next is what gets me. After the corner he moves fully out into the oncoming lane over a distance of perhaps 50m, then moves back in.

Overall it seemed like an effort to flatten the corner (I see it often on this corner in the other direction, I.e cutting in on a right turn) but the position after the corner just seemed like pure laziness. The corner can easily be taken fully in lane at the speed we were going.

They pulled off soon after down a village road so obviously take the corner often. Hope I don't meet them coming the other way...

 

[moonloops]

That's quite funny as I "undertook"someone who moved to the opposing lane to take a corner. I just stayed on the left and drove round the not sharp bend normally..

 

[Rory]

So on my way home today following a disco down a b road at 60mph. He lines up for a 135° left by half crossing the white line. Pretty poor road positioning I think as the corner is unsighted so not much chance to see anything oncoming.

He then moves back to take the corner, but what happens next is what gets me. After the corner he moves fully out into the oncoming lane over a distance of perhaps 50m, then moves back in.

Overall it seemed like an effort to flatten the corner (I see it often on this corner in the other direction, I.e cutting in on a right turn) but the position after the corner just seemed like pure laziness. The corner can easily be taken fully in lane at the speed we were going.

They pulled off soon after down a village road so obviously take the corner often. Hope I don't meet them coming the other way...

It is valid practice to move right to increase visibility around a left bend.

Likely he used the full width of the road on exit to save his tyres!

However we use back lanes between villages in rural Cheshire and SUVs / 4x4's being all over the road terrify me. Some sections aren't wide enough for two vehicles at speed but the 4x4 mob drive as if the road is one way.

 

[Rory]

That's quite funny as I "undertook"someone who moved to the opposing lane to take a corner. I just stayed on the left and drove round the not sharp bend normally..

Is that as bonkers as it sounds?

 

[moonloops]

Is that as bonkers as it sounds?

Yep and I remember exactly where on the A169

 

[Rory]

Yep and I remember exactly where on the A169

Ah, so not a B road then.

In any event I wouldn't trust someone who did that not to dive back without realising I was there. If anything happened, or you were seen and reported, what you did is the very definition of Dangerous Driving.

 

[moonloops]

Ah, so not a B road then.

In any event I wouldn't trust someone who did that not to dive back without realising I was there. If anything happened, or you were seen and reported, what you did is the very definition of Dangerous Driving.

You maybe correct but I wasn't the one deviating from the driving lane - it was good fun though.

 

[derekthetree]

It is valid practice to move right to increase visibility around a left bend.

Likely he used the full width of the road on exit to save his tyres!

However we use back lanes between villages in rural Cheshire and SUVs / 4x4's being all over the road terrify me. Some sections aren't wide enough for two vehicles at speed but the 4x4 mob drive as if the road is one way.

I understand moving right before a left to get better visibility, however I'd think it shouldn't involve crossing into the other lane? If you have perfect visibility perhaps, but if not you can't see what's going on, and quickly having to dive back in mid corner with 2.5t of SUV isn't going to go well!

As for the exit, I've never seen someone do it by that much before, it almost looked like a block!

 

[leef44]

As I understood on a driving awareness course supervised by an ex-traffic police officer, this is a good technique to use. And not to be constrained by central dividing line. However it is to be used in appropriate situations. So having a car following you closely would not be a good time to use it.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

This is a technique I was taught during a week long ambulance driving course. It's particularly valuable on narrower B roads in order to get the best view around the bend. It has nothing to do with flattening out a bend for faster and more stable progress. It's just for earlier visibility. That upcoming bend to the left that's easily negotiable at 60mph without having to cross the centre line at any point, may have an obstruction part way round the bend that's hidden when you keep to the left. Your view of it will be much later and possibly too late without taking that early view that looks ridiculous to anyone following who doesn't understand the technique. Similar advantages can be gained (although to a lesser extent) for bends to the right by keeping as far to the left as possible when approaching. This also helps to avoid the all too often and dangerous practice of cutting blind right bends. Positioning for the best view of the road ahead is, whilst selecting a speed that allows safe return to the normal road position, is taught by IAM and Roadcraft for advanced drivers. So don't be alarmed when you see it happening, instead think about it and try to develop the technique for yourself. It makes for safer driving and actually improves progress speed. Yes, there are times when it's not appropriate, but mostly it works very well.

 

[E55BOF]

And don't b****y undertake if you are following somebody who is doing it! It may be 'good fun', but it's both stupid, and dangerous...

 

[derekthetree]

This is a technique I was taught during a week long ambulance driving course. It's particularly valuable on narrower B roads in order to get the best view around the bend. It has nothing to do with flattening out a bend for faster and more stable progress. It's just for earlier visibility. That upcoming bend to the left that's easily negotiable at 60mph without having to cross the centre line at any point, may have an obstruction part way round the bend that's hidden when you keep to the left. Your view of it will be much later and possibly too late without taking that early view that looks ridiculous to anyone following who doesn't understand the technique. Similar advantages can be gained (although to a lesser extent) for bends to the right by keeping as far to the left as possible when approaching. This also helps to avoid the all too often and dangerous practice of cutting blind right bends. Positioning for the best view of the road ahead is, whilst selecting a speed that allows safe return to the normal road position, is taught by IAM and Roadcraft for advanced drivers. So don't be alarmed when you see it happening, instead think about it and try to develop the technique for yourself. It makes for safer driving and actually improves progress speed. Yes, there are times when it's not appropriate, but mostly it works very well.

Fair points. I've been on a couple of defensive driving courses through work which teach this technique, plus moving towards the centre near parallel parked cars etc.

However never did it advocate crossing the centre line to do it (even if not into a blind bend), or doing it after the bend to gain view of the straight!

 

[Meldrew2]

We are assuming that the driver is (a) sober, (b) not on the phone, (c) holder of a driving licence, (d) capable of sentient thought and indeed that the Disco is itself roadworthy...

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Fair points. I've been on a couple of defensive driving courses through work which teach this technique, plus moving towards the centre near parallel parked cars etc. However never did it advocate crossing the centre line to do it (even if not into a blind bend), or doing it after the bend to gain view of the straight!

It depends on many factors, but of course never cross a solid centre line.

 

[kwk]

I am retired traffic police, grade 1 holder, VIP, cat A escort etc. I am also an examiner for rospa advanced drivers. As has been said, you should never cross a solid white line, but, crossing a broken white line for better observations is good practice. It is however, important to be travelling at such a speed that you can regain the correct side of the road safely to avoid danger and confusiuon to other road users. Rospa does not advocate offsiding for this reason but would teach keeping as far to the right as possible on left handers and as far to the left on right handers, to maintain maximum view.
Again, as has been said, to pass on the nearside is complete lunacy. If the other driver had lost control or concentration, then the driver on the nearside is risking a collision. It would be no good arguing that the other driver is at fault when you examine the extensive damage on your pride and joy probably after you have been discharged from hospital. Far better, if you have a problem with somebodys driving, to drop back and let them continue on their way, not try to teach them a lesson by demonstrating similarly bad driving.

 

[Kenhom]

So on my way home today following a disco down a b road at 60mph. He lines up for a 135° left by half crossing the white line. Pretty poor road positioning I think as the corner is unsighted so not much chance to see anything oncoming.

He then moves back to take the corner, but what happens next is what gets me. After the corner he moves fully out into the oncoming lane over a distance of perhaps 50m, then moves back in.

Overall it seemed like an effort to flatten the corner (I see it often on this corner in the other direction, I.e cutting in on a right turn) but the position after the corner just seemed like pure laziness. The corner can easily be taken fully in lane at the speed we were going.

They pulled off soon after down a village road so obviously take the corner often. Hope I don't meet them coming the other way...

Some people know not what they do