Centre line removal

[Another Bill]

As part of Oxfordshire’s incredibly well thought-out overhaul of road safety, I notice more and more centre lines are being erased, mostly in areas of the new 20mph limits.

Personally I’m struggling to see any sense in it. When I see an oncoming large vehicle such as a bus or bin lorry, accurately assessing its width now needs more than just a glance, diverting my attention from other possible hazards.

I’ve also noticed that traffic passing parked vehicles seems to be emboldened by the absence of a white line, so they will overtake in the face of on-comers or, in a queue, they will simply queue around parked vehicles, needlessly blocking on-comers.

I’m probably being a bit negative, so would be interested in other views.

[Horse]

When I see an oncoming large vehicle such as a bus or bin lorry, accurately assessing its width now needs more than just a glance

Wouldn't that only work if all carriageways were the same width?

[Another Bill]

If I know my vehicle fits on my side of the line, and other vehicle fits on its side, I can assume with high probability (not certainty) there won’t be conflict. It’ll also be clear whether there’s a comfortable gap to pass, or down to the last few inches. It’ll need to be reassessed just before we pass, but allows me meanwhile to make useful assumptions.

Without the white line, these deductions requires more focus from me. Maybe it’s an age thing, does spacial awareness degrade as we get older?

[Horse]

If I know my vehicle fits on my side of the line

Stick with it, this is a bit of a rambling post

I used to do rider training with the US Air Force (in the UK). Another instructor candidate on the qualification course used to write 'life in England' articles for his bike club back in the US.

One he showed me had a photo of a 'typical British road'.

He wasn't a big guy, 5' 8" ish. He was stood on the white line markings. Arms outstretched touching foliage either side.

So if you can 'know', could you treat the offside of the oncoming vehicle as a centre marking?

[Another Bill]

There are, for sure, ways to compensate for loss of white line, and Horse’s suggestion sounds workable.

My point was however that any solution that is more demanding on the driver, compared to a glance at a centre line, is inevitably distracting the driver’s attention from other more worthy things such as road signs and hazards.

Taken to extreme… suppose the intellectual supremacy of Oxfordshire’s road safety planners were to be recognised at a national level, with individuals being snapped up to work for National Highways. They would obviously proceed to remove all the lane markings from motorways, on the grounds that it is proven to ‘slow down the traffic’. But would that be a good thing?

[Horse]

My point was however that any solution that is more demanding on the driver, compared to a glance at a centre line, is inevitably distracting the driver’s attention from other more worthy things such as road signs and hazards.

But radical, but email them (or your local councillor), express those concerns, and ask to see their risk assessment / safety case for the changes.