KenONeill

For a fair bit of the way to work, I'm driving on a road which has wear ruts about car to truck distance apart down it. When it's raining heavily (ruts visibly filling with water) I try and drive to the side of the lane and out of the water (maybe 6 or 7 mm deep).
There is no increase in danger to oncoming traffic from me doing this. Good idea or not?

ap0gee

I take it you mean that you drive nearer the middle of the road, rather than nearer the kerb? I guess if you can be POSITIVE that there's nothing coming the other way, then it's maybe a good idea. But then AFAIK, the depth of water has no impact on 'wet grip' levels up to the depth of the treads, at which point you may start aquaplaning if you go too fast. I gather aquaplaning is highly unlikely below 50mph in normal driving, so unless you can guarantee you're not going to meet something coming the other way, maybe it's best to stay where you normally would, and keep it under 50...?

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KenONeill

I may have under estimated the depth of water a bit then. It's deep enough to feel some of the time.
There are very good sight lines on the relevant stretch of road.

ap0gee

Tough one, then. The IAM say you should stay on your own side of the road, no matter what (that's right, no apexing!) but then driving any great distance through standing water is going to drench your brakes, if nothing else. I reckon trying to drive so that your wheels are just inside the two sets of ruts would be too great a distraction to be safe, even though you said the ruts might be wider than the track of your car. I really don't know what to suggest for this one, but I guess that as long as you make sure you can stop in HALF the distance you can see (to make up for any oncoming traffic), then I guess you might be safest out of the ruts, but right the way over to the middle of the road...

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KenONeill

I'm not on the "wrong half" of the road.

ap0gee

Should be fine then. IAM 'guidance' says you can use as much of the width of the lane as necessary, as long as you don't cross the centre line!

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ScoobyChris

If visibility is good, I'd happily take as much road as needed to drive on more predictable road, moving over to the left as appropriate to facilitate oncoming cars and anyone coming up behind who may wish to overtake. IAM/RoSPA don't like you straying over the white line, but I would argue that if the road is there and it's safe to do so (because you're aware of what is around you), then why not!

On dual carriageways and motorways I'll also hold the outer lanes where possible as there is far less surface water where trucks don't travel and it also means that you're out of the majority of spray from other vehicles in lane 1. If people approach, I'll move out of their way and return to the outer lanes.....

Chris

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Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

KenONeill

- well except that I rarely to never drive on m/way where L1 is grooved and general traffic levels are light enough for me to find this tactic viable.