End of the road for white lines on highways

by Guest Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:17 pm

White lines are being removed from busy roads across the country in anattempt to slow motorists down.
Highway chiefs say blank roads introduce a sense of uncertainty that prompts motorists to drive more cautiously, especially when faced with oncoming traffic. Research shows removing the central white line, a feature of British roads for almost 100 years, can reduce the average speed of a vehicle by 13 per cent.
Recent resurfacing in London saw the central markings on three A roads erased.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12137382/End-of-the-road-for-white-lines-on-highways.html

by Guest Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:48 pm

i agree with the Motoring groups,who have warned removing white lines could be “fatally flawed”.

i wouldn't say "could be" i would say definitely

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:56 pm

I'm not sure about this. I think it probably would make motorists slow down, although they shouldn't be speeding in the first place obviously, but it could also cause some confusion with people going too far into the centre of the road or missing curves in the road because there's no white line. White lines at the side of the road are really important IMO because in the dark it's not that easy to see the edge of the road.

Will it make any difference to tailgating, which is also a cause of accidents IMO? I've had to literally wave my hand out of the window to tell the driver behind me to back off at times. I like those chevrons they have on some roads to indicate how far apart vehicles should be.

by Syl Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:43 pm

It doesn't make sense to me.
On busy motorways when chevrons are drawn in the road and notices flash up that cars should leave two between them and the car in front driving seems safer.
As soon as the warnings stop drivers get noticeably closer to the car in front...which proves that most people do adhere to road markings.

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:48 pm

Syl wrote:It doesn't make sense to me.
On busy motorways when chevrons are drawn in the road and notices flash up that cars should leave two between them and the car in front driving seems safer.
As soon as the warnings stop drivers get noticeably closer to the car in front...which proves that most people do adhere to road markings.

I always wonder - do they mean that you should be able to see two chevrons between you and the car in front at all times? It's not really an issue for me because I keep my distance anyway, but the chevrons do concentrate your mind and remind you not to get too close. I see people racing along with about two yards between them, and it would only need one of them to slow down a little for them to go into each other.

I think a lot of pile ups are caused by tailgating rather than speed. If you do hit an unexpected problem like fog, if you're a decent distance away from the car in front there's much more chance of being able to stop in time.

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:49 pm

I've also noticed that some idiot will come along and fill in the gap I've left between me and the car in front, so I have to drop back yet again.

by eddie Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:55 pm

I can't see the removal white lines being of any use at all and as has been said, could cause a lot of confusion to some drivers.
Those that drive like they own the road, usually a pumped up man, will always drive like that and removing white lines won't make them slow down.

by Syl Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:58 pm

Raggamuffin wrote:
Syl wrote:It doesn't make sense to me.
On busy motorways when chevrons are drawn in the road and notices flash up that cars should leave two between them and the car in front driving seems safer.
As soon as the warnings stop drivers get noticeably closer to the car in front...which proves that most people do adhere to road markings.

I always wonder - do they mean that you should be able to see two chevrons between you and the car in front at all times? It's not really an issue for me because I keep my distance anyway, but the chevrons do concentrate your mind and remind you not to get too close. I see people racing along with about two yards between them, and it would only need one of them to slow down a little for them to go into each other.

I think a lot of pile ups are caused by tailgating rather than speed. If you do hit an unexpected problem like fog, if you're a decent distance away from the car in front there's much more chance of being able to stop in time.

Yes two chevrons should be visible. When cars are speeding over 70mph (which they usually are on motorways) it makes sense, and you realise just how close people do tailgate as soon as the signs stop.
It's my pet hate.......my OH does most of the motorway driving and I am always asking him to drop back a bit. Like you say though, some idiot often swoops in front so you are back to square one.

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 2:02 pm

Syl wrote:
Raggamuffin wrote:

I always wonder - do they mean that you should be able to see two chevrons between you and the car in front at all times? It's not really an issue for me because I keep my distance anyway, but the chevrons do concentrate your mind and remind you not to get too close. I see people racing along with about two yards between them, and it would only need one of them to slow down a little for them to go into each other.

I think a lot of pile ups are caused by tailgating rather than speed. If you do hit an unexpected problem like fog, if you're a decent distance away from the car in front there's much more chance of being able to stop in time.

Yes two chevrons should be visible. When cars are speeding over 70mph (which they usually are on motorways) it makes sense, and you realise just how close people do tailgate as soon as the signs stop.
It's my pet hate.......my OH does most of the motorway driving and I am always asking him to drop back a bit. Like you say though, some idiot often swoops in front so you are back to square one.

It's my pet hate too. I remember stopping distances being a big deal in the highway code, but obviously a lot of people ignore them.

As I said, I've had to wave my hand out of the window to tell someone to back off. They were literally right up my bumper for ages. I tried slowing down so they would overtake, I even tried speeding up a little to get away from them, but they just stuck there like a limpet.

I've seen massive queues caused by someone slamming their brakes on because they encountered a speed camera and then the person behind rammed into the back of them.

by Syl Wed Feb 03, 2016 7:35 pm

I agree that tailgating probably causes more crashes and bumps than speeding does.
Whenever I see red lights ahead on the motorway because people are slowing down I always brace myself a bit when I see the car behind us getting closer and closer.

I doubt many drivers would pass their test again if they had to retake it....too many bad habits.

by nicko Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:51 pm

If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:02 pm

nicko wrote:If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

I'll try that Nicko, although I quite like waving at them out of the window. Laughing

by veya_victaous Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:01 pm

nicko wrote:If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

lol

in australia we just tap the brakes..

if someone runs up your arse they are automatically at fault as they weren't keeping safe distance.
End of the road for white lines on highways 3356277174

End of the road for white lines on highways 3356277174

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:03 pm

veya_victaous wrote:
nicko wrote:If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

lol

in australia we just tap the brakes..

if someone runs up your arse they are automatically at fault as they weren't keeping safe distance.

I don't want someone to go into the back of my car though.

by Ben Reilly Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:32 pm

nicko wrote:If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

And hope they don't run you off the road, drag you out of your car and murder you:

A man was sentenced to 75 years in prison for stabbing a man to death after a road-rage incident that was recorded on a 911 audiotape.

Jeromy Jolley, 22, was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of killing Juan Gallegos, a 32-year-old construction worker found dead in a parking lot in August 2003. Gallegos' pickup truck, with a damaged rear section, was found burning in a ravine in nearby Haltom City three days later.

Gallegos called 911 after the wreck, but the only sound recorded was the voice of a man accusing Gallegos of "brake-checking." Witnesses later identified the voice as that of Jolley.

A few hours after Jolley was convicted of murder Thursday, he testified during the punishment phase of the trial. He told jurors that after the wreck, he made sure Gallegos was not hurt and then asked whether he wanted to exchange insurance cards or call police.

He said an argument erupted after Gallegos blamed Jolley for causing the accident. Jolley acknowledged that he accused Gallegos of tapping on his brakes to get Jolley, who had been driving behind him, to back off.

http://www.myplainview.com/article_ce08782b-2880-56b4-9f7c-229537e82f07.html

by veya_victaous Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:49 pm

Raggamuffin wrote:
veya_victaous wrote:
nicko wrote:If you get someone right up your tail pipe, flick your lights on and off. The dipstick behind you thinks, for a second, it's your brake lights and will pull back, [hopefully]

lol

in australia we just tap the brakes..

if someone runs up your arse they are automatically at fault as they weren't keeping safe distance.

I don't want someone to go into the back of my car though.

that’s what insurance is for
particularly THEIR insurance Twisted Evil

by Raggamuffin Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:54 pm

veya_victaous wrote:
Raggamuffin wrote:

I don't want someone to go into the back of my car though.
that’s what insurance is for
particularly THEIR insurance

I still don't want them to.

by eddie Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:55 pm

It's the hassle of having to take your car to a garage and the inconvenience of it all. I get it rags

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