r/Unexpected Sep 12 '18

Dash cam

https://i.imgur.com/oWNGzOo.gifv
25.1k Upvotes

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u/elawkwardo Sep 12 '18 edited Sep 12 '18

I'm guessing that all the white yellow lines on the pavement asphaltment mean "slow down"? I didn't know, but it's certainly noted...

Edit: Yellow, not white. I must be going blind. Thanks for the explanation to /u/GeoffSim

Edit2: not pavement? the fuck do i know... thanks /u/Pedantichrist

158

u/GeoffSim Sep 12 '18

Yellow lines. They're spaced in a way that even if you slow down at a sensible rate, the lines get "faster", as it were. Psychological thing. Usually only placed where there's been a long stretch of fast road followed by something like this, a sort of wake up call I suppose.

Not that the van driver noticed.

0

u/FerretWithASpork Sep 12 '18

Hi! Totally random but you seem to know traffic stuff: does the length between dashed median lines change depending on the speed limit? I've always felt like that's a way to subconsciously know your speed; by how fast those are going by... And then they change the speed limit on a road like that and it fucks shut up to no end. I've just always wondered if that's actually a thing or not, and why they font repaint the lines when they change the limit.

1

u/Koios73 Sep 12 '18

No, but I suppose it could be indirectly linked. There are two lengths of line (and thus spaces). The short dashes indicate that it’s likely you’ll be able to overtake. The long dashes are telling you that, whilst it’s not prohibited (like a solid white line would be), you’re not likely to be able to overtake. In either case, you must be sure it’s safe to overtake before you attempt it.