Safe Driving with Driverthink

One of the most visible and obvious ways to demonstrate basic driving competency is to keep our vehicles centered in their lane.  We’re observed as, at the least — fundamentally accomplished and safe drivers.

If we can’t keep the buggy centered in the lane, we’re advertising that at best, we're less than proficient drivers who don’t take driving very seriously.  We’re going to be considered Road Hazards, both by our uncomfortable passengers and by fellow drivers.  

Now we’re not talking “precision driving” here.  We don’t have to place the car precisely dead center.  We do, however, want to keep our machines pretty close to center of lane unless there are specific or intentional reasons not to do so.

Okay.  Sounds easy – but is it?  After all, we’re sitting way over on the side of the car and the middle of the car is what wants to be in the middle of the lane.  Why don’t they at least help us out by positioning the driver in the middle of the car?  Wouldn’t that be easier?  Of course not!

Anyhow, when we first started driving, our brain started calculating how to accomplish this Lane Centering magic.  There doesn’t seem to be much written on the subject, but there do appear to be two basic schools of thought.

The first we’ll call “Riding the Side”, for lack of a better name.  Since our body is on the side of the car, we determine where on the side of a lane to position our body so that the actual center of the car is, well — centered.  Then we follow that “off center track” keeping our physical self appropriately off center.  The car will then be miraculously centered in its lane.

Interesting technique.  If it works for you, so be it.  It doesn’t work real well for me.

The second school is simply to ride the angles.  Train the brain.  Once it learns the angles required to place center of car in center of lane, it becomes kinda’ automatic.  Mission accomplished. 

A third method (not suggested) is to simply follow directly behind the car in front of us and hope it does the right thing.  This can work quite well unless the car in front of us isn’t doing the right thing – a distinct possibility.  Ever see two cars together, weaving back and forth?  The one in front can’t keep it centered and the one behind it follows blindly along.  Not a good thing.

In the hope that we prescribe to either the first or, more likely the second technique, there are still some very conscious things we can do to more precisely maintain our desired lane position. 

The first and most obvious thing we need to do is focus on the issue.  We have to actually care.  Once we accept the fact that we want to be a driver – not just a rider behind the wheel, Lane Centering will become a priority.  It will develop as an excellent way to demonstrate our proficiency while exercising ultimate control over our vehicle.  Lane Centering will become a desired “second nature”. 

Next, we have to develop and maintain the basic driving skills required to physically control our little buggy.  A straight road is, well – pretty straight forward.  It’s when we start taking the bumps and curves at speed, that a higher level of skill may be called for.  Throttle Steering, for example, is a developed skill that can help us stay centered.

Perhaps the most important (and also the easiest) technique for staying centered is to Forward Look.  We always want to be looking as far ahead of us as we can.  We do this for lots of reasons but Lane Centering is definitely one of them.

Looking further out ahead of you will be one of the easiest ways to center yourself in your lane.  It’s like automatic Lane Centering.  The brain has more time to make its calculations and you will naturally find yourself centered — with little or no effort! 

If you should find yourself wandering around in your lane, stop and Driverthink.

Where is your focus – your line of sight?  You may discover that you’re mind has wandered and that you’re fixated on the bumper in front of you — or the road right in front of you.  Maybe you can’t see further ahead because there’s a large vehicle in front of you.

Drop back a little and shift your focus further out.  Your brain will pop out of its little cocoon, pick up on the expanded surroundings – and the road further out in front of it.  Try it.  You’ll be amazed how quickly and easily you will become centered in your lane.

Lane Centering.  It’s a critical driving skill.  Master it, and you will be a safer, smoother driver.

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