GJD wrote:MGF wrote:On the specific point of centre markings these are applied to reflect the increased risk of conflict where there is sufficient room to use them. The purpose of the road markings is to segregate traffic.
When a road is wide enough for opposing flows of traffic to pass, what factors relating to risk of conflict do you think are taken into account in assessing whether to omit a centre line?
The only factor mentioned in TSM paragraph 4.6 is the width of the road. How do you think "this road is less than 5.5m wide" supports a conclusion of "the risk of conflict on this road is sufficiently low that a centre line is not needed"?
I think you are both arguing about this from the wrong point of view. When the carriageway is wide enough for vehicles in each direction to pass without conflict and without slowing down, abnormally wide loads excepted, a centre-line is painted.
GJD wrote:MGF wrote:Traffic is not segregated. Drivers know that traffic is not segregated and can expect to find oncoming traffic in the shared space.
when there is room for me and the oncoming traffic to pass, when we meet each other I expect to find the oncoming traffic on its side of the road not mine, so that we can pass rather than collide. I do not change that expectation when the centre line is omitted. Do you think I should?
When the centre-line is omitted I think it is far more likely that drivers of opposing vehicles will need to accommodate one another, either by both slowing so they may pass in safety, or by one almost stopping so the other can pass at close to their current speed, or by one making use of a passing place, or by both moving partially off the carriageway.
MGF wrote:What might be helpful at this juncture is suggestions of specific criteria that people look to satisfy when off-siding rather than the bland and unhelpful "if it's safe"
This might be repeating earlier comments in the thread but ... I look to avoid off-siding when there are blind or otherwise openings on the off-side from which it is reasonably possible to expect a road user to emerge, I require forward vision to indicate there will be no conflicting opposing vehicles for the duration of the off-siding and that the off-siding is unlikely to distress an opposing driver, and that my actions won't come into conflict with a following driver.