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Driving across Poland (zigzag style)


Polonius3  980 | 12275  
5 Jun 2011 /  #1
An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side which forces drivers to drive with two wheels on the verge to let speeders by. Used to be that a driver drove along at his own speed and it was up to the speeder who regarded it as too slow to overtake on the left if he felt so inclined. When was this practice of rural zigzag driving introduced? Is it known in other countries?
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
5 Jun 2011 /  #2
An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side which forces drivers to drive with two wheels on the verge to let speeders by.

Nothing new. It's been done in other countries for years, particularly Ireland.

Anyway, no-one is "forced" - it's just polite to move over if someone wishes to overtake, in order to make it easier for them. However, many people don't do it.

Used to be that a driver drove along at his own speed and it was up to the speeder who regarded it as too slow to overtake on the left if he felt so inclined. When was this practice of rural zigzag driving introduced?

Avalon  4 | 1063  
5 Jun 2011 /  #3
An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side

That lane is for Maluchs or so I was told when I first came to Poland.
pawian  219 | 24697  
5 Jun 2011 /  #4
An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane.

It is a Polish style motorway. Used with common sense, is as good as regular highway.
Belgrade  
5 Jun 2011 /  #5
We do that in Serbia too! However the roads do not look nearly so nice as in that picture...
wildrover  98 | 4430  
6 Jun 2011 /  #6
It gets a bit tricky when you pull into this empty lane on your left get stuck in it for a few hundred yards while a load of cars pass you , then around the corner you find....

A polish family having a picnik in the lane... or a bunch of peeps selling apples and mushrooms...!
peter_olsztyn  6 | 1082  
6 Jun 2011 /  #7
Is it known in other countries?

I think it is verboten in Germany and we shouldn't do it anymore due to increased number of bicyclists and scooters. They are almost still in comparison with the cars running about 130km/h
ShawnH  8 | 1488  
6 Jun 2011 /  #8
or a bunch of peeps selling apples and mushrooms...!

and other, erm.... Services...
ShawnH  8 | 1488  
6 Jun 2011 /  #10
I thought that they had car detailing services behind the camper off the driveway.....

Polishing, rust removal, spit shine on the old drive shaft.....
Antek_Stalich  5 | 997  
6 Jun 2011 /  #11
The style of the freeway discussed in this thread will certainly (and unluckily for drivers!) change very soon. Last night I drove by the E2 part from £owicz towards Warsaw. The number of islands for pedestrian and making the left-turn safer was enormous. In fact, I had a single chance to overtake a truck on the whole route £owicz - Błonie. Yeah, such islands increase the safety in one respect but these are curse for a tired driver at night... I almost drove into two of them...
wildrover  98 | 4430  
6 Jun 2011 /  #12
The number of islands for pedestrian and making the left-turn safer was enormous. In fact, I had a single chance to overtake a truck on the whole route £owicz - Błonie. Yeah, such islands increase the safety in one respect but these are curse for a tired driver at night

They are definatly a good idea... but do they really need to have these super bright flashing arrows to tell you the island is there....?

The lights are needed , but they are so bright that they dazzle you , and you can,t see if there are any people crossing... They destroy your night vision for several vital seconds.....
Antek_Stalich  5 | 997  
6 Jun 2011 /  #13
Wildie, the islands are one of major reasons I avoid principal roads. After 20 km of night driving after a truck at 70 km/h, I'm getting very sleepy and wake up only to avoid the collision with an island. I do not say the islands are wrong, the single carriageway roads are wrong. Especially those passing inhabited areas. The commie road planners should have their bollocks cut off for that!

Last night, I saw something worse than the flashing lights at the safety islands. I drive and SEE WAT?! Some UFO coming in my direction from the opposite lane! Something flashing so strongly I'm losing my night vision and desperately try to keep up along the road axis! WAT DO?!

It was !@#$%^& cyclist, making him VISIBLE... Sheesh...
GrzegorzK  
6 Jun 2011 /  #14
Its been this way for a while... you might run into some crazy locals that will speed by your frequently.
polishmeknob  5 | 154  
6 Jun 2011 /  #15
Better get your shocks spruced up before starting out.

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