Must You Drive Straight in the Middle of the Road?

[FelicityDella]

Driving straight generally means staying in the middle of the road. Here is some relevant information about driving straight: 1. Introduction: Driving straight refers to beginner drivers starting the vehicle, gradually accelerating, and shifting gears from the lowest to the highest to reach high speed. 2. Techniques for driving straight: When driving straight, the driver should look ahead and pay attention to both sides, select a reference point, maintain a straight path, correct the direction in time, and always be aware of traffic conditions ahead to detect and handle situations promptly. The driver should look far and near while holding the steering wheel straight, adjusting the viewing distance according to the speed. At higher speeds, look farther ahead; at lower speeds, look closer; and use peripheral vision to monitor the surroundings.

[McJoel]

With 20 years of driving experience and frequent long-distance trips, I know it's unnecessary to rigidly stay in the exact center of the lane during straight-line driving. Unexpected situations can arise anytime on the road—like a broken-down vehicle on the shoulder, which requires me to shift slightly left in advance. When encountering large potholes or waterlogged sections, flexible maneuvering is also essential. On highways, maintaining the center of the lane is indeed the safest practice, but on narrow urban roads, considering the proximity of cyclists and pedestrians, positioning slightly left can actually increase buffer space. The key factor is observing lane markings: adjustments are permissible on roads without solid lines, but crossing solid lines risks fines and penalty points if caught on camera.

[StevenLynn]

When I was learning to drive, the instructor kept emphasizing staying centered in the lane, but real-world driving is completely different. Last week while dropping off my kid at school, the entrance was packed with e-bikes, forcing me to intentionally hug the left side of the lane to avoid scratches. It's more noticeable on rainy days - the waterlogged road edges get slippery, so I consciously deviate from the center to drive on drier patches. Remember, as long as you don't cross solid lines or drive against traffic, road rules allow reasonable adjustments. Just make slight steering corrections - large movements can actually be dangerous.

[MacCaden]

As a beginner, I also struggled with this issue until an experienced driver enlightened me. When following a car on a narrow single-lane road, slightly shifting to the right helps maintain clear visibility of the road ahead; when driving alongside large trucks, moving left can reduce wind pressure effects. Nighttime driving on national highways requires even more flexibility - if opposing high beams dazzle you, shift half a wheel width to the right. Essentially, the center of the lane serves as a reference range - deviations within 10 centimeters in normal lanes aren't considered violations.