Tips When Driving On A Multilane Street With Two-Way Traffic

Many roads and streets have more than one lane, with traffic going in both directions. New drivers will find them a challenge because of their size and the two-way traffic. Even veterans can find it hard to navigate those roadways, especially if other drivers plying those roads do not know the right way to navigate the lanes. That’s why the written exam that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) gives to new drivers in some states includes a question with that scenario in mind.

So what is the right way to drive on a multilane street with two-way traffic?

What To Do When Driving On A Multilane Street With Two-Way Traffic?

There are two things to remember when you’re on a multilane road designed for two-way traffic. First, you should stay ahead of other cars or keep behind them. Second, you should always stay in the rightmost lane. These tips can reduce the risk of a collision or accident on the road.

Stay Ahead Of Or Behind Other Cars

It’s rare to have the road or street to yourself. Other drivers will usually show up. Their driving skills, experience, and vehicles will vary, and while they have access to various tools like car horns and signal lights, they can forget to signal other drivers in the heat of changing lanes.

Whatever lane the other driver occupies, it’s always a good idea to maintain some room between them and you. Keeping some distance from other cars will reduce the chances of an accident on the road.

With that in mind, stay ahead of other cars or keep behind them. Avoid driving directly alongside another vehicle.

Even the best brakes cannot stop a car instantaneously, and factors like high speeds and slippery road surfaces can make it much harder to stop. Thus, you must give yourself and the other drivers space and time to react to sudden developments on the road.

If you stay behind other cars, maintain a safe following distance between your vehicles. Follow the three-second rule where you pick a spot on the road that the machine in front of you will cross. Count the number of seconds it takes for you to reach that spot. If you took less than three seconds, you should open the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of yours.

Keep Your Car In The Rightmost Lane

You can be alone on a multi-lane street or part of the traffic going through a road. Whatever the case, you should aim to stay in the rightmost lane.

In a multi-lane street, the rightmost lane usually contains the slowest traffic. It’s also the furthest from the centerline that divides the road between traffic going one way and the other.

Cars on your side of the road are not the only ones you should watch for. Keep an eye on the vehicles coming from the other direction. If a driver from that side crosses the centerline for whatever reason, their car is more likely to hit the lane immediately next to it than one on the rightmost lane.