When driving on a multilane street with two-way traffic:
Drive alongside other vehicles so the drivers can see you.
You should drive ahead of or behind the other vehicles.
It is safest to drive in the lane next to the centerline.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
You should drive ahead of or behind the other vehicles.
Explanation:
When driving on a multilane street with two-way traffic, it is generally safest to avoid driving alongside other vehicles whenever possible. Here’s why:
- Visibility and Safety: When you drive alongside other vehicles, you create a situation where both you and the other driver have limited visibility of each other. This can be particularly dangerous, as the other driver may not see you in their blind spots, or they may make a sudden maneuver that could cause a collision. To mitigate this risk, it’s better to stay ahead or behind other vehicles, where you have better control and visibility.
- Reducing the Risk of Side-Impact Collisions: Side-impact (or T-bone) collisions are more likely when vehicles are traveling side by side. By driving ahead of or behind other vehicles, you position yourself in a way that reduces this type of risk. This gives you more time to react if the other vehicle suddenly changes lanes or if an obstacle arises.
- Lane Positioning and Safety Zones: Driving ahead or behind other vehicles also helps you maintain a safer following distance, allowing you more time to react to sudden stops or changes in traffic conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends leaving at least 1 car length for every 10 mph of speed when following another vehicle. This distance helps reduce the chances of rear-end collisions.
- Why Not the Center Lane? While it may seem like driving in the lane next to the centerline is safer, it can often bring you closer to oncoming traffic, which increases the risk of a head-on collision in the event of a misjudgment by either driver. Therefore, unless it’s necessary (e.g., for a left turn), staying further from the centerline is typically safer.
In summary, the safest strategy is to avoid driving side-by-side with other vehicles on a multilane road. Driving ahead of or behind them increases your safety by providing better visibility, reducing the risk of side-impact collisions, and allowing you more time to react.