 | Home > Off Topic > Roads safer without central white lines? |
 
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582  
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Roads safer without central white lines? Discuss
Full article HERE Brendan |
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4th Feb 2016 9:03am |
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| gabe3105 Member Since: 25 May 2015 Location: Grimsby Posts: 237
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You do have to wonder if there is much research and hard evidence gathering done with decisions like these, or if it is just some educated idiot somewhere thinking “this will be a good idea!”
How many millions of pounds will it cost to go round the country and remove these lines, at a time when austerity is still very much at the forefront?! If they do it, I can foresee in about 7-10 years time someone else deciding that our roads are safer with white lines on, and millions more being spent to put the roads back to where they were in the first place. Personally, my speed is a factor of speed limit, road/weather conditions, and volume of traffic/pedestrians nearby. At no time do I consider the presence or otherwise of white lines! If anything I think people have a tendency to drift into the middle of the road to make sure they are well away from the verges, so it would be more dangerous as there is no white line to keep them in check  |
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4th Feb 2016 9:52am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20444
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A good way of cutting costs, the only motive in my opinion..
Next thing you'd have is people driving down the opposite side of the road. |
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4th Feb 2016 9:59am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17443 
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If you want to improve road safety by a spectacular degree, don't get rid of white lines, get rid of inept drivers!
It would be quite easy to do - all it requires is the introduction of an effective and trelevant driving test, effective and deterrent punishment for motoring offences, and effective roads policing. I image that there are places where the white lines could be abolished, but in many places the result would I suspect be catastrophic. |
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4th Feb 2016 10:36am |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111  
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There will come a time when Councillors will ban cars from roads altogether, that way roads will become the safest they have ever been.
 For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..
http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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4th Feb 2016 11:16am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5829  
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You live in hope Gilarion. The roads will just be repopulated by new-to-cycling idiots who've never taken to two wheels before, littering city centres with bodies after multi-spoked pile ups. The only place that will be safe for hoards of cycle users will be Chinatown in London, because at least the Chinese have it in their DNA to cycle in a civilianised 'peleton'. Bedlam awaits....
Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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4th Feb 2016 11:23am |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443  
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I was allways under the impression that white lines are more important than most road users realise. My father was a driving instructor, one of his many career choices through life, and the driving instuctor that helped me to pass my test and they both explained to me about the messages that white lines can give to a driver.
Apart from the obvious Double White lines for No Overtaking in either direction it's the hidden messages in the length of line and spacings of the broken white lines. Short lines with long gaps indicate a road with a higher safe overtaking possibility, you will notice as you approach a bend the lines will change into long lines and short gaps, by doing this you will be aware as you travel that there is more white line visible in your peripheral vision, the faster you are going will render the impression as a solid line meaning caution. Longer lines will be present where hazards are present, i.e. side junctions, speed limits etc. I have allways taken note of the road markings when driving as they were put there for a purpose and if used correctly can help to keep your driving style flowing and economical |
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4th Feb 2016 12:30pm |
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| Riccarton Member Since: 10 Aug 2015 Location: Gods' Own Country Posts: 280  
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@JWL - I fear you are harking back to a time where a driving instructors job was to teach you to drive and not just pass a test!!
I, like you, "read" the white lines and this is something I do more and more as a motorcyclist. Picture this - long straight with high hedges eitherside and short white lines. As you're giving the bike some welly you can see half way along the lines change to long with short gaps then back to short with long gaps. Despite it being your first time down the road you know there is a junction (or other hazard) at that point and can adjust you speed / riding style to suit any eventuality. I think the strap line is "More Paint - More Danger!". |
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4th Feb 2016 12:40pm |
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| jimbob7 Member Since: 06 Jul 2013 Location: uk Posts: 2055 |
They have a point,I've said for 20+years, traffic moves faster and safer when traffic lights fail and (ultra thick dumb) car drivers have to "fend" for themselves.
The worst thing they have done is put traffic lights on roundabouts (in some ultra,stupid,dumb cases swapping roundabouts for traffic lights). BEST thing they could do is put police snipers every 100 yards and at every junction,or swap the airbag for a sharp,steel spike.Suddenly watch car drivers pay attention Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5. |
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4th Feb 2016 1:26pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17443
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Agree, JWL. How many modern drivers actually knwo the difference between a broken lane marking and a hazard line? Few, I'd wager.
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4th Feb 2016 1:33pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443
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@ jimbob7, traffic lights! Why oh why do they go and put a Pelican crossing yards away from the main roundabout lights? Here in Hereford yesterday there was a Pelican crossing, granted it was ½mile away from any roundabouts but on one of the major routes from the South, which rendered Hereford into a gridlock status. Hereford isn't exactly a large place, yes it is classed as a City only because of the cathedral but in reality it is just a large town. The drawback is that it has the only river crossing for miles and five major routes centered on that bridge.
Local people have been up in arms with travel times of 40 minutes to travel less than a mile! http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14251325...g_traffic/ |
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4th Feb 2016 1:49pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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So we are copying an idea from the Dutch, without applying it in it's correct context...
It just means the bigger risk takers win - whether that's a lorry over a car or an oik in a 15 year old car vs a new model. |
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4th Feb 2016 3:43pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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I actually quite like driving in the middle of the road when there's no other traffic, means you get a much smoother ride!
As for older drivers/younger drivers, I did have to explain to my boss recently that hatched areas in the middle of the road were no overtaking like double white lines rather than an extra wide bit of road for easy overtaking 
The problem is that they're quite mis-leading. Dashed lines and chevrons are effectively the same as double white lines, solid white lines and chevrons are like super-dooper double white lines. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code #130 |
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4th Feb 2016 6:26pm |
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1749 |
I think some are a bit narrow minded thinking that all roads will lose their white lines !
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4th Feb 2016 6:33pm |
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