Читать книгу Proficient Motorcycling - David L. Hough - Страница 28

As traffic grows more congested and aggressive, more motorists are bending the laws. You may find yourself in the dilemma of having to decide whether to increase the risks of a crash or increase the risks of a traffic ticket. For instance, consider those no passing zones marked by double yellow lines. Years ago, road crews were more realistic about the hazards and more frugal with the yellow paint. We could pretty well depend on the double yellow lines warning us of real hazards, such as hidden dips where another vehicle might be hidden from view or side roads where other vehicles could suddenly pull out. But some road crews have gradually extended the double yellow lines farther and farther, until some highways are double-yellowed from one end to the other. If you’re riding a quick motorcycle, it’s frustrating to hang back behind a creeping motor home or overloaded gravel truck when you can see the other lane is clear and you know you have plenty of zip to get around. More and more of us are giving in to the temptation to just ignore the yellow lines and get on with the ride.

If you were motoring along at 55 or 60 mph, would you brake for this situation? I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume the road is clear on the other side of this hill, even if traffic on the road has been light. When sight distance closes up, I believe in immediately reducing speed and preparing for evasive action.

You might be tempted to ignore the no passing lines and get around this slow-moving truck, but before you leap out and accelerate, scrutinize the situation ahead. Are you absolutely certain the truck isn’t about to make a left turn into that side road ahead?

Legally speaking, it’s no more illegal to pass over a double yellow than to exceed the posted speed limit, but the laws of physics are self-enforcing. Being on the wrong side of the road at warp passing speeds is certainly an invitation to a head-on collision if a car suddenly appears from around the corner or a local resident pulls out of a hidden driveway.

You’ll have to decide for yourself when and where you are willing to risk passing over the double yellow. My advice is to never, ever be out in the wrong lane while crossing a bridge, approaching the crest of a hill, rounding a blind curve, or riding through an intersection. But what about a long uphill sweeper where you can see the road eight or ten seconds ahead? And when you come up behind a vehicle waiting to turn left from a busy two-laner, is it smart to come to a sitting-duck stop, or should you swerve over onto the shoulder, pass on the right, and keep moving?

Regardless of the law, before you decide to zip around any slow-moving or stopped vehicle, take a good look at the situation, and try to figure out what’s happening and what’s about to happen. Is there a side road or driveway into which the other vehicle could turn? Is there a tree-shaded intersection ahead from which another vehicle could suddenly materialize? Is the other vehicle going slowly because the driver is about to make a left turn? It’s unwise to pass in any areas where there are roads or driveways along the highway, even if it isn’t a no-passing zone. And before you pass a stopped vehicle on the right, take a good look behind you to ensure that someone else isn’t in the process of zooming around you.