Why do road designers do silly things like this?

Why do road designers do silly things like this?

Author
Discussion

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,230 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Road near me. Lanes 1 and 2 swerve right to become L2 and L3 and create a new L1 on the left. To avoid the silly kerb sticking into L3 you have to encroach into a little into L2, certainly if you're driving anything larger than a medium sized saloon car. Why isn't that silly bit of kerb smoothed off to be parallel with the white lines that separate the two lanes.


Zarco

18,491 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
If they put the white lines back how they were it would be OK.

kambites

68,437 posts

228 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
yes It looks like they changed the road markings but not the kerb profile.

FMOB

1,994 posts

19 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Because a) they are idiots and b) they can.

ScoobyChris

1,812 posts

209 months

Thursday 15th February
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My experience of a council road planning department (in Hants) was that the majority of people working there do not drive and have no interest in making the roads better for cars!

Chris

TrophyMax

341 posts

200 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Near me too smile I'm always nervous going into the middle lane (which is straight on) in case someone hits me from the right due to the sudden curve in road markings.

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,230 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
kambites said:
yes It looks like they changed the road markings but not the kerb profile.
You're right. Older street view...


MitchT

Original Poster:

16,230 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
TrophyMax said:
Near me too smile I'm always nervous going into the middle lane (which is straight on) in case someone hits me from the right due to the sudden curve in road markings.
Yes, we were out with my OH's dad and a police car of all things nearly hit him as he moved right to follow L1 as it became L2 and they failed to follow the markings!

Robertb

2,092 posts

245 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
You’re talking about the same people who deliberately build obstructions in the road to force road users into conflict to ‘calm traffic’’.


donkmeister

9,239 posts

107 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Whilst it's a bit shoddy, it looks like plenty of room judging by the van.

What's the speed limit on that section? Just wondering if the issue is more that you can't do the limit AND keep to your lane AND keep it smooth all at the same time, so one of these factors needs to be changed - you're cutting the line but perhaps instead you need to slow down a bit earlier for that roundabout (is that a roundabout?) or accept it's going to be less comfortable when you make the dog leg.

Pica-Pica

14,468 posts

91 months

Thursday 15th February
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It looks like the white dashed lane marker deflects too soon and too sharply, I don’t think the kerb is the issue here.

donkmeister

9,239 posts

107 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Robertb said:
You’re talking about the same people who deliberately build obstructions in the road to force road users into conflict to ‘calm traffic’’.
Like so many things in life that can be either a good idea or a bad idea.

Guybrush

4,364 posts

213 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
Robertb said:
You’re talking about the same people who deliberately build obstructions in the road to force road users into conflict to ‘calm traffic’’.
Yes. They're idiots, not because they don't know what they're doing with any road design which causes congestion, it's because they're doing it on purpose.

Caddyshack

11,831 posts

213 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
I see things like that and wonder if I could get my car on to two wheels…surely it’s just asking for a kid in a hot hatch to launch on to their roof from it?

MitchT

Original Poster:

16,230 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th February
quotequote all
donkmeister said:
Whilst it's a bit shoddy, it looks like plenty of room judging by the van.
The street view is a bit deceptive. If I'm on the right it feels tight in my 3 Series or the OH's 1 Series. If I'm on the left I just keep left long enough for anyone on the right to have the extra space they might need, though others often aren't as thoughtful.

donkmeister said:
What's the speed limit on that section?
40, though 40 is probably optimistic in that lane.

Zarco

18,491 posts

216 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
MitchT said:
kambites said:
yes It looks like they changed the road markings but not the kerb profile.
You're right. Older street view...

You can see the old line on your original photo laugh

Zarco

18,491 posts

216 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
Caddyshack said:
I see things like that and wonder if I could get my car on to two wheels…surely it’s just asking for a kid in a hot hatch to launch on to their roof from it?
I know what you mean. Alternative is a dead stop on a 90 degree transition to the higher curb though.

PlywoodPascal

5,372 posts

28 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
Caddyshack said:
I see things like that and wonder if I could get my car on to two wheels…surely it’s just asking for a kid in a hot hatch to launch on to their roof from it?
Go for it!

mikebradford

2,712 posts

152 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
I travel that road nearly everyday. That kink causes poor lane keeping.
The opposite side of the roundabout is also heavily kinked such that people drive straight and effectively change to the middle lane.

Martin_Hx

3,982 posts

205 months

Friday 16th February
quotequote all
If you report it to the LA they might surprise you and sort it out, then again they might also do sweet FA but its probably worth a few minutes to try!
Just say its dangerous and may cause an accident

Our local council are usually pretty good with things ive reported in the past, pot holes and blocked drains etc.