Straight-lining corners

[SPman]

Straightlining on your own side of the road is ok, though.

[MarkH]

The solid centreline question is a hazy one (not legally, I know)
Over here they have passing lanes with double solids at the centre....but....coming the other way in the single lane, there is often 400m plus visibility. And no cars coming the other way as you trail Mr Womble in his 4WD. I pass - it's a no brainer.

I will cross double solids on short straights or twisties, as long as I know I've got minimum 100m vis throughout the manouvre.(and there's no red & blues around). Any doubt at all.....I don't bother.....there's always the next clear stretch.......

Most of the passing lanes I have seen with good visibility have the 'one solid yellow, one dotted white lines'. So if nothing is coming the other way you can pass using the other directions passing lane. This is completely legal, but I notice many cars will sit behind slow vehicles and not bother passing.

[MarkH]

I regularly straight line a set of corners with the following provisos, no yellow lines, clear visibility, no traffic.

I stay on my side of the centreline 99% of the time (unless passing). The only corners I use the other side to straight line on are the ones where there is clear visibility for over 100m and no traffic. Generally the double yellow lines are there for good reason and it is not save to cross them - so you have the double reason no to do it - legal & safety. Riding through a gorge or any road with solid banks that don't allow visibility well ahead means it is safer to slow down and corner on your own side of the road than try to be a megarider/hero/hood ornament.

Where you can see right through the corner well ahead of where you set up your line and you actually do take the time to look well ahead to see that no cars are ahead, then sure why not cut the corner - in all other situation, stick to your own side of the road for you safety and that of other road users! Don't come up to a corner and just cut it because you don't see any vehicles coming the other way - if you didn't scan the road ahead of the corner before you got there to ensure there are no vehicles anywhere close then just stay on your side.

[MarkH]

Here is a good example of what not to do:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoHOtB1TaUQ[/YOUTUBE]

[pritch]

Straightlining on your own side of the road is ok, though.

Yeah, I used to use the whole road if the visibility allowed. Nick Ienatch's book counselled against that though.

When I thought about it, it did seem a waste to ride for miles, find a nice S bend and then straight line it... Now I basically stick to my own side of the road.

[Blackbird]

Here is a good example of what not to do:

Tee shirts, trainers..... Darwin at work if you ask me

[MarkH]

Tee shirts, trainers..... Darwin at work if you ask me

Sure - lack of safety gear is bad in the case of an accident. But it is better to avoid accidents then dress safely for them. When you look at the corner and the road position (remember this is where they drive on the right, left side is for oncoming traffic) then you can see how stupid the rider was. Blind corner, wrong side of the road - WTF! I feel sorry for the car driver - coming around a corner and right in front of you there is a retard on the wrong side of the road coming towards you - bang! :slap:

The real point is that you shouldn't generally be on the other side of the road. If you are going to cross the centre line, either to overtake or to cut a corner, then you need plenty of visibility ahead and a clear road - without these two thing you should stay on your own side of the centre line!

Having fun on a bike can make you feel alive. Being stupid on a bike can make you be dead! Have fun, but be smart!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Here is a good example of what not to do:

Heck why would you even think about cutting those corners...?

[skidMark]

I have done it but only when i have overcooked a corner and know it is clear. As an easy la dee daa instead of the whole try not to end up in bitch thing...

But when on a weekend ride when i have gone out there for corners, cutting the corners to make them easier, kind of takes the whole point out of it now dunnit, i want tight corners not turn a 35 into a 55....

[MarkH]

Heck why would you even think about cutting those corners...?

Mental retardation?

[gixermike]

it's probably less use straightlining s bends, but on the entry to left handers it's very usefull. Gives you more sight distance, so more stopping distance so a higher 'safe' speed, or more safety for a given speed.

Not for newbies, but it is taught by the uk police even to joe public, spent an enjoyable two days using both side of the road being closely followed by bikeplod. you just hve to keep in mind you must be able to 'stop on your side of the road in the distance you can see to be clear'

dn't use it like a wide racing line, get out early, have a look...and either stay there if clear, or move straight back in and slow down...

what scares me more are the number of guys going round corners without a visible stopping distance....only takes one tractor / one patch of gravel etc...

[Blackbird]

Yep, I ride out wide sometimes for the very reason you've mentioned, especially with the type of roads that I normally ride on round here

[Swoop]

Downhill straight (about 100mts) turns into a right hand sweeper. Double yellows all the way. Passing lane 300 mts up the road, clear view through the sweeper (but double yellows remember?)...

Makes you wonder why the 2x yellows are there in the first place, if it is that clear.

[Maha]

Makes you wonder why the 2x yellows are there in the first place, if it is that clear.

Passing lane.

[McJim]

I think the law is supposed to be the same as the UK but got lost in translation.

You are supposed to keep left at all times in the UK. this means on a dual carriageway or motorway if you are in the right hand lane and not actually overtaking anything then *PING* have a fine and some points boyo. This is the context of "Failure to keep left"

However it is permissable to cross a dotted centreline in the UK on a twisty road with good visibility, we get taught that in advanced driving lessons and tests.

The problem arises when most people in NZ haven't experienced a motorway with 6 lanes in each direction and get this piece of legislation handed to them from the government. Now the police don't make the law they only enforce it and it only takes one country bumpkin judge to get the whole thing arse about face and the next thing you know it's legal precedent.

From the outside looking in this is extremely funny and partially causes the laughing stock effect experienced by many kiwis abroad.

It's quite frustrating when you're caught in the middle of it though