I vaguely recall that it used to be the custom for drivers (in the capital) turning right 'across each other' to pass offside to offside. This was supposed to allow a less-obstructed view of oncoming traffic. Outside London, this practice was almost unheard of.
It is many years since I last drove in London (no bad thing in itself!), so can anyone tell me if this practice has gone the way of the dodo? Certainly, most road markings at junctions would seem to preclude it....
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Not peculiar to London, and Highway code rule 157 still recommends the "offside" method.
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/16.htm
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perform the "turn right across each other" unless road markings preclude it.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Road markings apart, depends really on the configuration of the junction, traffic density and so on. The idiotic building out of pavements into junctions makes all progress more difficult.
I agree though that people can be hesitant as to which side of each other to go, and this can sometimes cause momentary snarl-ups.
We were taught originally to go round each other offside to offside, but there was less traffic then. Turning across has become more or less the norm.
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I always employ the offside-to-offside method unless the layout of the junction makes it impractical. I learned to drive in Hertfordshire where it was commonly held that turning right nearside-to-nearside was dangerous. Down here in Somerset it's about 50-50 - I've upset one or two yokels over the years by making them turn behind me!!!
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I've never understood the point of it. Two streams of right-turning traffic can pass continuously if they each cut the corner and pass on the nearside. Dancing round each other slows things up, and encourages light-jumpers to cut across anyway.
Or is there some subtlety I have missed?
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I've never understood the point of it.
>>
how about taking the opportunity to suggest changes to this rule in the highwaycode consultation exercise? see:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=39109&...f
and
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=40...2
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>>>>>>>I've never understood the point of it. Two streams of right-turning traffic can pass continuously if they each cut the corner and pass on the nearside. Dancing round each other slows things up, and encourages light-jumpers to cut across anyway.
Or is there some subtlety I have missed?<<<<<<
If you cut across in front of a right-turning oncoming car, that driver might be intending to go round behind you and if there was a collision it would most likely be your fault because you'd not followed the recommendation of the Highway Code and that could be a case of careless driving. Also there might be another car or motorcycle intending to go straight on that's following the other car and you could find yourself in collision with that.
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If you cut across in front of a right-turning oncoming car, that driver might be intending to go round behind you and if there was a collision it would most likely be your fault because you'd not followed the recommendation of the Highway Code and that could be a case of careless driving. Also there might be another car or motorcycle intending to go straight on that's following the other car and you could find yourself in collision with that.>>
To avoid this I always make eye contact with the other driver and make my intentions known by the positioning of my car.
Attmpting to turn offside to offside on the junc i'm thinking off (traffic light controlled x-roads) will result in the numpties behind me and the other guy pulling up to our rear bumpers and create gridlock until one or both of us cancel the right turn and go straight on.
I do agree in busy times offside to offside offers a lot more view, but in the example above, even if the "numptie" did leave a gap, i would have to turn nearside to nearside with him...
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I've never understood the point of it. Two streams of right-turning traffic can pass continuously if they each cut the corner and pass on the nearside. Dancing round each other slows things up, and encourages light-jumpers to cut across anyway. Or is there some subtlety I have missed?
For the nasty minded, off-side to off-side gave unrivalled opportunities to lock up the intersection for a few light changes. Near-side to near-side seemed to me far more sensible when I first went to South Africa. It also gives you an escape route in case you are a victim of the local custom of hi-jacking.
eProf.
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Left side to left side is the rule in Australia. Many large junctions have traffic lights with right turn filter lights which let two streams of right turning traffic go in opposite directions. When I last visited the Uk I very cautiously did a left side to left side right turn and the motorist coming in the opposite direction gave me a very surprised look. I was going very slowly to be safe so there was no danger of a collision but his look made it quite obvious that I had done the wrong thing.
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