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Road Position for Bends

Its All About Lines of Negotiation

We have dealt with cornering forces, and we have dealt with how to read a bend by use
of The Limit Point Analysis (Vanishing Point) method, in previous chapters within this
series. Now we are going to talk about where to position the car on the road.
As you know by now the ideal cornering situation is to have the vehicle travelling at the
right speed, in the right gear, and for it to be in that state of preparation before any
steering input is given. However, that is only a part of it, as your cornering performance
will also be affected by where you place the car on the road. But what is the right
position on the road when dealing with bends?

There are different views of the same road from within the same car
When you are driving your car, and if you have someone with you as a front seat
passenger, at the approach to a right hand bend, which one of the two will have the
best view of the road ahead? Your passenger of course, and when you approach a
bend to the left, who has the best view on that occasion? Thatll be you.
Whilst we cannot keep swapping seats in accordance with twists and turns of the road,
we can get the same effect, and better, by altering the lateral position of the whole
vehicle, and this is how it is done.

Dealing With Left Hand Bends


The typical road position used by the untrained driver at the approach a left hand
bend, if not just sitting in the middle of their lane, will be to hug the left edge of the
carriageway. Many do this for no reason that is known to them, but may claim they are
trying to stay away from danger by putting as much distance as possible between the
car and the oncoming traffic.

Some things we do when driving involve defying our animal instincts


This is the animal instinct for survival at work, and that is what makes you veer away
from what you perceive to be a threat. When driving a right hand bend your instincts
make you fear the nearside of the road and so you want to pull away from it. For a left
hand bend it will be the fear of being thrown into the path of oncoming traffic that will

keep you hugging the left edge.


However, when remaining tight to the left through a left hand bend you will
The most effective approach
position to a left hand bend is to place the car as far across to the right as possible, as
this will extend your range if view into the curve. The problem with that is, the right
hand side of the road tends to be used by oncoming traffic, and drivers there could
perhaps become upset with you being what they may perceive as a potential threat to
their general state of well being.
If no one else is using the opposing lane, there are no other aggravating factors such
as road signs and markings to prohibit it, then as far as we are concerned that space is
there to be used.
In our first diagram of a left hand bend the driver of the red car is using what we term
as the optimum line of approach. By stepping the car out to the right, to allow much
more visual information to become available, seeing deep into the curve.
Think about it logically. This may be a road that you have never driven before, so
instead of just identifying there is a bend ahead, consider getting out there to have a
good look at it. You need to know what sort of bend it is and what is in that bend.
Other information that is good to find out is what the road surface is like, and are there
any factors that may affect your choice of speed. It may be there is a hidden junction, a
private entrance, or even a broken down vehicle in the road, all of which hold a degree
of potential threat.

Road Position Will Enhance Limit Point Analysis


You want to know too how sharp the curve is, and whilst you will use The Limit Point
Analysis method to gain that information, The Limit Point works a whole lot better
when combined with taking up the appropriate road position.
Even if you are prevented from crossing the centre of the carriageway, perhaps due to
a double white line system, or a junction to the right, you can still move the car as far to
the right as possible, but still within your lane. It is truly remarkable how the positional
adjustment of the car, even by just a couple of feet, will have such a profound effect
upon your range of visibility into the curve.
In the diagram to the right, the red
car is still on the most desirable line, but we have superimposed a white car onto the
drawing to show the effect of using a less appropriate bend line. For both cars, the
speed is the same, but as the white car has entered the bend on a shallow line, it has

drifted wide at the exit.


For the driver of that car to have remained on the correct side of the road, he or she
would have to alter course and speed whilst cornering and risk all that is associated
with the upset of balance this will cause.
It should go without saying that the entry position taken by the red car will only be
achievable if this does not cause conflict or any inconvenience to another road user.
The golden rule will always be never to forsake safety for position, and that means, if
the offside of the road is not available, then we are going to have to keep to a tighter
line and take the bendmore slowly.

How Do You Drive a Right Hand Bend?


Nearly everyone, unless they have the benefit of some advanced driver training input,
will drive a right hand bend by doing something called Clipping. That is to say they will
take the racing line by clipping the centre white lines at the apex of the curve or
worse, they will cross the lines. That need not be too much of a problem if you have
the road to yourself and you can see clearly that you do have it to yourself by a view
right through the bend, but otherwise it is fraught with danger.
In the diagram you will see there is
a small group of trees inside the bend. Either side of the road there are hedgerows,
and whilst we cannot see what the view of the road is like from the drivers perspective,
knowing the British countryside as we do, we can guess the trees and hedges are high
enough to obscure what lays beyond.
What this tells us is that during the approach the driver will initially be unaware of the
presence of any approaching vehicles.
The white car driver is taking the typical line, and whilst there is an oncoming maroon
vehicle, it appears to be far enough back from the bend so as not to be involved in a
collision but it will have been a close call.
What if the maroon car arrived at the apex at the same time as the white one? This is
why we call the centre white line area for a right hand bend a conflict zone, particularly
at the apex, as this is where the greatest potential for contact will be.
Another consideration is that of the large goods vehicle. If the maroon coloured car
was an articulated truck, where do you suppose the HGV driver would position the cab
unit at the approach to the left hand bend? Because the trailer of such a vehicle will
always travel an arc that is inside that of the cab unit, the driver has to compensate by

taking the corner wide. If the exit to a right hand bend is blind, and you have
committed yourself to the racing line, things could get rather tight in the middle if luck
was not on your side.

Sudden Changes to Speed or Steering Can Cause Loss of Control


If that were the case, or even if the cars met at the apex of the bend, the driver of the
white vehicle would most likely have to make an unscheduled adjustment to position,
suddenly being surprised by the appearance of the oncoming vehicle.
If travelling slowly enough, and with favourable road condition, he would probably get
away with it. The trouble is, because some drivers get away with it so often, their
evasive manoeuvres form part of their daily diving style. By this standard they arrive at
a state of mind where it is normal to drive in this way, and so think nothing of it.
What if the road surface conditions were not favourable, or if the white car was being
driven at a more critical speed? Would that driver get away with it under those
circumstances?
Each and every time you have to make a sudden change in direction, or a sudden
application of the brakes, it means that you have been caught out. That also means
that if you have to take evasive action then you are having to react to something that
you had not accounted for. That means your perception, anticipation, planning or
observations have been found wanting.
When cornering, if you make changes to the steering input midbend, or if you apply
the brakes, you will severely compromise the balance of the car, and that means your
level of control will suffer. Meeting potential conflict in the middle of the bend, because
you are Clipping the bend on the racing line, is going to require some swift evasive
action, and that is not good. That is just the sort of incident that is likely to cause you
to crash, not into the oncoming vehicle, but off the road to the near side possibly
into a tree, which is really going to hurt.

Taking The Most Appropriate Road Position


In the diagram, the driver of the red car has approached the bend in the same manner
as that of the white one, but has remained in position to the nearside for longer. By
remaining in this position, and following the arc of the verge throughout the curve, this
driver has,

Beware of The Bend With The Double Apex


What about the bend that continues further than first thought, or which has a second
apex? In this case the driver of the white car wouldnt be apexing the bend, because

the point where he would be clipping the centre white lines would not be the apex.
That clipping point would perhaps be a third of the way into the bend, or even less.
That being the case, what would happen beyond the real apex, because now that
driver will be driving at the nearside road edge, instead of following it.
In this next diagram we have shown one of those bends that starts out as one thing,
and then becomes another.
As you can see, this one winds up about threequarters the way through, becoming
tighter. This is not an occasion where you want to be found hugging the centre lines,
because now you are definitely going to find yourself driving at the hedges.
At the position of the car image that is the second one back from the front the driver is
going to have to do something pretty quickly if he is to stay on the carriageway, and
that something is going to have to be more steering, and possibly some firm braking as
well. But what is that going to do for the balance of the car?

Driving to The Centre Line on Approach Can Send You Into The Bushes
It doesnt pay to arrive at a right hand bend whilst hugging the centre of the road
either, no matter what lay out of right hand bend it is. Going into a bend on what we
call the Shallow Line will make the curve far greater in severity than if a deeper
approach position were to be used.
In this diagram we have projected the course of the white saloon car as if the driver is
using the same degree of steering input as the driver of the red car.
As the white car driver is using the shallow entry bend position, the steering input is
applied slightly later. As a consequence, unless the amount of applied steering
changes, which as you know is not healthy midbend, that entry position will place the
car on the verge at the exit.
Obviously there are factors that can have an adverse effect upon using the optimum
line and these have to be taken into consideration.
Examples are broken or sunken road edges, as well as accumulated dirt and debris
being present, all of which may reduce tyre grip. If it is not safe to keep the car tight to
the nearside then dont do it, but keep as far from the conflict zone in the centre as is
safe.
As with every facet of road driving, we always need to study the road surface and
surrounding environment to consider what effect the conditions will have upon our
ability to remain in control of the vehicle when we stop, or try to complete any other

particular function.
Learning to use the appropriate line when you approach and negotiate a right hand
bend is difficult, because your natural instinct will be telling you to pull the car off line
towards the road centre. Just remember that area is called the Conflict Zone for a
reason.
It takes lots of determined practice to get it right, and the best way is to start by doing
it at slower speeds, and by getting into position very early before the bend begins. It is
certainly more difficult than the left hand bend.

Apexing a Right Hand Bend Not an Approved Manoeuvre


Sometimes, when we talk to people about the procedures recommended for cornering,
particularly regarding those methods relating right hand bends, we are asked if it is
ever appropriate to apex by cutting right across the opposing lane.
We wish to make it clear this is not a manoeuvre that we approve of at any time, but
accept that no amount of discouragement is going to stop people doing it. That being
the case, if anyone is going to drive a bend in this way it is best that someone give
some advice on how to perform it as safely as possible.
Apexing can be done safely and it can be completed without getting into a conflict
situation with other road users, but the circumstances and the layout of the
environment have to be just right. It needs to be stressed at this point that if the road
centre is marked with a solid centre white line that applies to your lane, you do not,
under any circumstances, cross those lines to get a better cornering position.
In this fourth diagram of a right hand bend we have removed all the hedges and trees
from the inside of the curve so the scene represents a situation where there is a clear
view across the curve, and of a long stretch of the road on the far side. This type of
view is what we refer to as a CrossView.
What you have to bear in mind here is that once you decide to use this driving line, and
when you make that first movement of the steering wheel, you are committing yourself
to that course.
Anything that happens to change that decision will be evasive action, because to
change course will mean something has happened you had not accounted for.
Therefore, you need to be 100% certain you can complete the manoeuvre
uninterrupted as planned before you even begin. Hoping it is going to work out isnt an
option.

How To Deal With a Series of Bends Overlapping Your Planning

Once the technique for dealing with


singular bends has been mastered
the next stage is to overlap your
planning, so as to deal with a series
of bends, or at the very least, two
bends within close proximity to one
another.
In the diagram, the driver of the red
car first encounters a right hand
bend, after which there is a short
straight before a left hand bend.
The right hand bend should be
dealt with as normal, by moving the
car tight to the left of the
carriageway.
Remaining in this position, the
driver continues through the
curve, but as soon as the view
opens to reveal the presence of the left hand bend, and there is no danger in doing
this, he extends the driving arc out of the first bend to take the car to the offside of the
carriageway.
This now places the car in the appropriate position from which to deal with the left
hand bend, flowing from one to the other.
When dealing with bends, once you have risk assessed and evaluated, and you have
set the car up correctly, by the time you begin to make that first turn the steering
wheel, that bend is history. At this point your mind should be thinking about what
follows ahead and how you are to prepare the car to deal with that set of
circumstances.
When this style of driving becomes second nature to you, which it surely will if you
work and practice at it, you will find you can drive a winding road in a smooth and
progressive manner, flowing the car along with much smaller variations in pace.
To further enhance the quality of the drive it is best to avoid changing up to a high gear
between bends. Remain in a midrange ratio, such as 3rd, as this will provide you with
greater flexibility. Holding an intermediate gear throughout a series of curves allows
you to effectively exploit engine torque. By easing and squeezing on the accelerator
you can both increase speed as well as decrease.

When this is mastered, a winding rural road can be driven at a reasonable pace, but
with hardly any use of the brakes. When it all comes together like this you really have
reached the point where driver and machine are working in perfect harmony.

Every Bend in The Road is Different to Drive


The view you will have into a bend will vary from one bend to another, and with any
particular bend, this can vary from one day to the next. Also, the condition and friction
properties of the road surface will vary considerably from one bend to the next and
therefore will affect the ability of your car to negotiate the bend safely.
Take into account the effect of overhanging trees or bushes, these perhaps shedding
material onto the road, or shielding the road from sunlight on a frosty morning when all
around has thawed. The hazards that can be encountered are as many as they are
diverse. Each bend has to be judged upon its own merits as to how you deal with it.

The entry position to a bend


will determine how well you will come out if it
The thing to remember is that whether you are dealing with a right or left handed bend
you have to set the car up on the optimum line well before you reach it, and not try to
do it during the entry process. However, should you find that you have gone in a bit too
quickly, and things are looking a little awkward, don't look at where you fear you will
end up (perhaps into a tree or a hedge that is in front of you), because that is exactly
where you will end up. Always keep looking at where you want to get to, as it is
amazing how this will produce about 5% more tyre grip!
Alternative road positioning methods for bends will work extremely well, but maximum
exploitation of space must not be used at the expense of safety, or to the
inconvenience to others. There will also need to be consideration of other factors.
You cannot, for example, step the car out to the right at the approach to a left hand
bend if there is a doublewhite line system that has the solid white line set against you.
It will be inappropriate also to use that open line of approach if there is a junction to
your right, or if there are other vehicles coming towards you.
Avoid this method of positioning, even if there is a pedestrian on the offside of the
carriageway, as being on foot with car coming at you on what will be perceived as the
wrong side of the road, can be quite threatening. From a third party perception point of
view, such actions will not win you any popularity points.

Single Vehicle Road Traffic Collisions Are Very Common


A vast number of single vehicle road collsions do not involve personal injury and

therefore go unrecorded. A very high percentage of them happen where there is a


bend involved and right hand bends seem to present the biggest problem.
The common excuse given at the scene will be that of being confronted by a mystery
oncoming car on the wrong side of the road, but that is just denial. The most likely
cause is the complaining driver was Clipping the bend, happened to meet another
within the conflict zone and had to take evasive action that upset the balance of the
car.
Think about whether the use of alternative positioning methods is appropriate for your
given driving environment. There may be no point in moving your car completely to the
offside of the road at the approach to a left hand bend if the speed limit is 30mph and
the road is as wide as a football pitch.
Finally, think about all aspects of what you are doing, act in an appropriate manner and
always consider how others may perceive your actions. The public road never should
be regarded as a competitive environment, or a place where any one driver has an
absolute right of possession over an area of tarmac. Drive to the system, always drive
at a speed from which you can stop within the piece of road surface that is visible to
you at any given time and always be willing to give ground.
Julian Smith Ride Drive Limited

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This page was last updated Thursday, 27-Jan-2011

Road Position for Bends

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