When driving in winter, especially between cities, there are parts of the road where the cars have made tyre tracks or ruts that don’t follow the lane markings.
Which should I follow in winter: lane markings (when visible) or tyre tracks? Will the police pull me over for crossing lane markings? Will other cars follow tyre tracks instead and maybe crash/pass too close? What’s normal for most Finnish drivers?
https://i.redd.it/lc03zvxi9rcg1.jpeg
Posted by Comment-Noted
22 Comments
Safer to follow the tyre tracks. Just make sure you are in your own lane and not in the other lane’s tracks.
Follow the tyre tracks. If there are only 3, move closer to the shoulder when someone comes towards you.
Just drive on the right side of the road, should be good enough
In theory lane markings should always be followed, but it may be easier and safer to follow the tyre tracks. You won’t be pulled over by the police either way.
In principle, you should follow the lane markings, but it is often much safer to drive in the tire tracks. I don’t think the police will even take notice you crossing the lane markings if you don’t cause any danger to others. In winter, the most important thing is to drive according to the conditions.
When driving on rural roads, just drive the safest way, the police will never stop you for not following lane markings if they are covered. Not to mention will you rarely meet police when driving on rural roads.
When in city traffic lights, just don’t change lanes close to the lights even though the lane markings are covered. Driving in the ruts is fine but try not to steer out of a deep rut you’re driving in, as it may swing the car.
TLDR; drive according to tyre tracks with some caveats
tyre tracks, just drive the corners slow enough for the off-chance there is light traffic on the shoulder.
Welcome to Finnish winter, where lanes are made up and the markings don’t matter!
But yeah, like most have said: It’s safer to drive along the tyre tracks. Sometimes they go over to the other lane in curves but it’s fine. If someone is driving to the other way, slow down and drive more on the right.
Yes.
Good advice here.
The reality is that in many cases you cannot even see the lane markings, you need to guess a bit where the lane is. What you should do is make the decision to drive in the part of the road that is the safest. So where there is the least ice buildup and also is obviously a good distance away from the lanes of oncoming traffic. If you can see where all the other cars have been driving, being in the same spot as long as it is not blocking other lanes (or your best guess of where they are) is the best idea.
Getting off tyre tracks in high speeds might be dangerous , so most of the time follow tyre tracks but just check that the tyre tracks don’t misguide you to a collision
if you follow the tyre tracks you’ll end up driving on the wrong lane in EVERY GODDAM left turn
According to the situation but sure tyre tracks are a safe zone
Same rules as driving on gravel roads: keep driving on the right side
This question is more about safety than police fines or anything else
If a trail is deep, you have no choice but to follow it. A random attempt to ignore it can easily lead to skidding
If there is no clear trail, just listen to your car. If the road is too slippy, move closer to the right line; if not, fill free to use any part of your lane
The desire path is a good choice for a smooth ride, but if you run along the white part, you get better traction and better control of your vehicle. You’d have to be an experienced driver on ice, though. If you’re sporting stud-less winter tires, I’d stay away of the exposed asphalt.
If your left front wheel is on the same tyre track as the car’s that is coming towards you, steer to the right.
Tyre tracks, but look into your mirrors. In motorways, like Lahdenväylä, there are 3 lanes and the tracks go sometimes between lanes. I believe its best to follow the tracks, but to look into your mirrors often.
I drive in tire tracks, but you have to make sure you are on your side if there is oncoming traffic
I have no clue because I don’t have a driver’s license, but that is a BEAUTIFUL picture!
I really like this picture, btw. Wish I was there driving in a car right now. Soothing
Drive how it’s safer as long as the oncoming traffic can pass safely.