Using all of the road.

[Kentish]

I cannot understand people who do this.

Why cut the corners and use the oncoming lane to straighten out your route?

Petrol prices really that high?

Keeping the mileage down, every foot counts?

I'm sick of having to mount the pavements because so many wkers think they are Michael Schumaker around the bends.

[EDLT]

I'd say because they are thick and can't drive, but when the roundabouts are empty....

[trickywoo]

I don't think they are being as clever as that.

In most cases they almost certainly have no idea how wide their car is or where it is on the road.

[Doofus]

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

[sebhaque]

Probably the same kind of driver who watches a bus comfortably go between two parked cars at 30mph, then slows to 0.000004mph to crawl through in their small hatchback. No ideas at all.

[JonnyFive]

EDLT said:

I'd say because they are thick and can't drive, but when the roundabouts are empty....

Are they the bds who stop at an empty round-a-bout? Incompetant idiots.

I do admit if I can see through the bends I will use the road, but only when I can see clearly.

[hornetrider]

Doofus said:

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

Moi aussi. Preserve momentum, smoother ride for passengers without slowing down etc.

[Mazdarese]

Mongs with no spatial awareness.

I also hate idiots that go to turn left when I'm behind them, and swing out to the right first when they really don't need to.

[danyeates]

hornetrider said:

Doofus said:

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

Moi aussi. Preserve momentum, smoother ride for passengers without slowing down etc.

Yes, I think the OP is probably referring to when someone's coming in the opposite direction though! I get it a lot round here as being out int he country the roads are quite narrow. Still wide enough to have dashed white lines in the middle, but you do need to concentrate on some of the bends as they're only just wide enough to get two cars on. I've quite often had to do an emergency stop when someone's accidentally cut the corner and almost hit me

[Jobbo]

hornetrider said:

Doofus said:

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

Moi aussi. Preserve momentum, smoother ride for passengers without slowing down etc.

And to increase vision out of the corner.

[Drew b]

This really, really fng annoys me. They are just morons. And they look at you like you are in the wrong. The only time I ever cut a corner is if I'm going fast enough to require it, like on a hoon, and I can see there is nothing coming the other way.

[Doofus]

Drew b said:

This really, really fng annoys me. They are just morons. And they look at you like you are in the wrong. The only time I ever cut a corner is if I'm going fast enough to require it, like on a hoon, and I can see there is nothing coming the other way.

If you're going fast enough to require you to cut the corner, you're going too fast for the road/your car.

[hornetrider]

Doofus said:

Drew b said:

This really, really fng annoys me. They are just morons. And they look at you like you are in the wrong. The only time I ever cut a corner is if I'm going fast enough to require it, like on a hoon, and I can see there is nothing coming the other way.

If you're going fast enough to require you to cut the corner, you're going too fast for the road/your car.

Couldn't disagree more, old boy. Providing the view is clear, of course.

[Silver940]

Jobbo said:

hornetrider said:

Doofus said:

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

Moi aussi. Preserve momentum, smoother ride for passengers without slowing down etc.

And to increase vision out of the corner.

Me too.

[The Lukas]

Doofus said:

If there's nothing coming the other way, nothing close behind, and if the centre line isn't solid, I do it all the time

If it's legal and safe, why not?

[Jayho]

Meh I do it all the time when I'm on NSL B roads with plenty of visability. I was taught by my instructor to use all of the road if the visability is clear and you wont be obstructing any other traffic, hence why I do it. Why neglect a piece of tarmac which no1 is on or going to be on when you're passing it and can make good use of it?

Its not that I want to keep my pace or I'm stingy on fuel, its more the fact that there is no reason why I cant use it if I can see through the other side of the corner, and it makes driving a lot smoother. Plus the sides of the B roads around here are full of potholes anyway, so to avoid damage of my car I sometimes have no choice but to cut to the other "lane".

I dont do it at junctions though, thats a big no no, and often have either women in 4x4's or vans which come too close for comfort when I'm waiting at a junction.

[RobM77]

eh? This is taught by the IAM, who are the nation's most well known exponent of ultra safe and boring driving And RoSPA, and whoever else you receive advanced road tuition from.

Cutting corners where safe and legal (i.e. not crossing a solid white line) can increase visibility, it involves pushing your car less hard and keeping further from the limit (compared to cornering at that same speed, whatever that speed is), and also makes any emergency stop that may be required much safer and shorter because it'll be in a straight line, not on a corner. It's also cheaper and kinder to the environment because it uses less fuel and wears tyres out less - marginal, but it all adds up.

[Kentish]

Yes, I mean the type who suddenly appear from around the bend (usually at excess speed) cutting off the bend and are over the white line driving at me.

[Jayho]

Kentish said:

Yes, I mean the type who suddenly appear from around the bend (usually at excess speed) cutting off the bend and are over the white line driving at me.

So are you actually just having a problem with those who abuse it and not use the road efficiently (AKA not making sure that the visability is good enough to do so) therefore being front on with you, or just anyone in general who doesnt stick to the left ALL the time?

[RobM77]

Kentish said:

Yes, I mean the type who suddenly appear from around the bend (usually at excess speed) cutting off the bend and are over the white line driving at me.

Obviously that's unsafe, but to be honest I've never had it happen to me.

To the contrary, what really winds me up is when you're driving along a dual carriageway and there's a roundabout which can be straight lined safely (obviously not at 70mph, but maybe 40mph?), and the guy in front slows right down to about 20mph and follows his lane exactly. This never used to worry me when I drove a fast car everyday, but now I've got a slow car it really pisses me off, as it takes me ages to build up speed again!