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I got pulled over today. Long story short, riding on the white line isn't allowed in the state of Wisconsin, and I have an official warning issued by a state trooper to prove it. Maybe we shouldn't be encouraging this?

Was it on 41? What exactly was the infraction on the written warning? Did he say it was unsafe, or just that it was illegal? Were you doing something to draw his attention, like much slower than traffic?
Sorry for all the questions, just want to know why he thought it was so important to waste your and his time.

Keith

41, yes. I was going about 45mph, he commented on that, but said it wasn't a big deal. I remember him saying it gave the impression that I was inebriated (I even got a sobriety test), but didn't specifically mention it being unsafe that I can recall. The citation on the warning is "346.13(3) DEVITAION FROM DESIGNATED LANE". So... I take it you have experience with this?

Sorry about that encounter.

Having said that, warnings are sometimes given because officers figure it would be dismissed on appeal.

Case in point is a couple of years ago, a hypermiler in a Insight was going 50 in a 60 zone to the Baltimore airport and pulled over on I 95. Officer told him he was going too slow, although at midnight the traffic was light and going 50 is an acceptable minimum in EVERY state.

I suspect this officer had some time on his hands....crossing the solid line in the median is far more serious. If it's a freeway, solid lines on the way to an exit is also serious.

______________________________

Let's find a link conclusively stating ridge riding is against the law.

I don't make a habit of questioning authority, but neither do I accept all they say at face value.

What I do is drive close to the ridge and if someone tailgates, flash the emergencies, maybe take the shoulder if it's clean and has room to allow an easy pass.

Let's find a link conclusively stating ridge riding is against the law.

I don't make a habit of questioning authority, but neither do I accept all they say at face value.

We do have this:

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/statutes/Stat0346.pdf page 5, top right. If you interpret the white lines as clearly indicating the designated limits of the lane, then crossing them, even slightly, is illegal.

Obviously, other states' statutes may differ.

Day before Thanksgiving 2008, I was boarding I35E when a Constable pulled me over for doing 45 in a 60.....I would have been doing 50-55 in a half mile or so with the help of a hill.

He must have been looking for drunks.

If it's the law - it's the law.

I'm not advocating breaking it - just making sure it's backing up the officer.

41, yes. I was going about 45mph, he commented on that, but said it wasn't a big deal. I remember him saying it gave the impression that I was inebriated (I even got a sobriety test), but didn't specifically mention it being unsafe that I can recall. The citation on the warning is "346.13(3) DEVITAION FROM DESIGNATED LANE". So... I take it you have experience with this?

Not direct experience, but I'm going to guess that there were 3 factors in this scenario: 12 year old car, doing 45 in a 65 zone ,(was it on the north edge of Appleton/Kaukauna between Northland and County J which has a comparatively high accident rate?) and riding the line. The combination of going slow and riding the line could indicate someone having difficulty driving because they are drunk. The fact that you got a sobriety test means that riding the line was a minor issue. He had his suspicions about you, and found a technical reason to pull you over.

Keith

Not direct experience, but I'm going to guess that there were 3 factors in this scenario: 12 year old car, doing 45 in a 65 zone ,(was it on the north edge of Appleton/Kaukauna between Northland and County J which has a comparatively high accident rate?) and riding the line. The combination of going slow and riding the line could indicate someone having difficulty driving because they are drunk. The fact that you got a sobriety test means that riding the line was a minor issue. He had his suspicions about you, and found a technical reason to pull you over.

Keith

Exactly that spot actually. We stopped just short of the Ballard offramp, heading eastward.

That explanation makes perfect sense to me. Still, I'm not going to ridge ride anymore unless inclement weather encourages it, and even then, if I can see the lines, I'll be careful not to cross them.

Probably a good choice. I would imagine he would not be good-humored about catching you doing the same thing.

Keith

Standard reason for pulling someone over to search for more.

Hi Roothorick:

___Two items. First, Ridge Riding is not riding on the white line, only next to it so you are not illegal. Two, RR did exactly what it was supposed to. Attract attention. Sorry you were stopped but you did great.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Yeah, it puts you at risk of being stopped. In the same sense that it calls the attention of other drivers, it heightens the attention of any policeman who might be following.

The stop itself, the possible fine, the court time and the inconvenience are a pretty high price to pay. Even if you win on appeal, there is a lot of lost time. I do it occasionally, but only after I check my rear view - not that that is foolproof either. I find a better practice is to just get close to the line, and use the flashers briefly for any large trucks that appear in my rearview. The trucks seem to appreciate that, and sometimes they even give me an acknowledgement. (If you keep the flashers on constantly, that also runs the risk of a stop.)

Of course, this is all 4 lane stuff. On 2 lane roads, I try maintain at least a respectable speed, and sometimes pull off if I'm backing up a long line. Obviously I don't have to do this, but in an environmental/safety sense, it seems the best thing to do.

Ridge riding doesnt have to be on the left side!!! I ride on the right side. No problems there.

I use ridge riding to good effect even on roads with a hard curb. You don't have to be ON the line, just near it.

Yeah, it puts you at risk of being stopped. In the same sense that it calls the attention of other drivers, it heightens the attention of any policeman who might be following.

The stop itself, the possible fine, the court time and the inconvenience are a pretty high price to pay. Even if you win on appeal, there is a lot of lost time. I do it occasionally, but only after I check my rear view - not that that is foolproof either. I find a better practice is to just get close to the line,

There seems to be a bit of confusion in various posts above. As I get it, Ridge Riding means driving so your right tires are close to but not on or to the right of the white line defining the right edge of the right lane. There is nothing illegal about this; all your wheels are within the right lane. Since most traffic drives more or less centered in the lane, driving near the right white line will put you up onto a "ridge" of higher pavement.

Goes without saying, but imho this is not something you want to do if there is even a possibility of oncoming traffic.

Really? Why wouldn't you want to be farther away from the oncoming traffic? (to the right, when they're on your left)

Yes, I think roothorick was riding far right, though one could ride far left to ridge ride. Lane markings are a traffic control device, so by being directly on them he was technically illegal, but I was still suprised he was pulled over. The other details were helpful in understanding why it happened.

Keith

How does Ridge riding improve MPG?
Somehow I've missed that.
Thanks
Charlie

In rain it helps because the water is thinner on the ridges on the right side of the lane and in the center of the lane. Less drag, and less tendency to hydroplane.

In dry conditions it doesn't help mpg per se but it reduces "pressure" from drivers coming up from astern and so makes it easier to drive more efficiently. And improves safety.

Lightfoot-thanks- so it is a rain technique.

Lightfoot-thanks- so it is a rain technique.

I do it in both wet and dry conditions, but for different reasons. I've never had a cop bother me for doing it.

On two lane roads I move close to the right line when I come to an open passing zone, to hint to following traffic that they should pass me. If they're not too distracted by their cell phones, it works.

Thanks.

Big aside, but somewhat related; I'm pretty sure that on interstates and other 4 lane highways I get better mpg in the left lane. The right lane is where trucks tend to travel, and it is roughened/dented by them. Of course it is the passing lane, so you can't really travel in it-not doing under the speed limit.

I use it mainly as a traffic-control technique. If people see me farther ahead because I'm ridge-riding, they can pull out around me sooner and the whole traffic flow is less disrupted.

Also, if they see me sooner, it's safer for me.

It can sometimes be worse for FE, because the grooves where everyone drives have been worn smooth, unlike the rough ridges.

I have been pulled over for ridge riding one. I simply tell the officer that because I drive slower than the normal speed of traffic I do it to alert drivers behind me that I am doing so. In fact in Indiana it is the law for slower moving vehicles to stay as far to the right in the lane as possible. The officer was looking for drunk drivers, evidenced by the sobriety test, and personally I would rather him pull over someone acting suspicious by ridge riding than miss someone that is drunk. The whole better safe than sorry thing. Most officers if you explain to them why you are driving the way you do will let you go since, in most cases, you aren't causing any trouble, just driving abnormally.

(I just woke up so my thoughts may not be very clear.)

I have been pulled over for ridge riding one. I simply tell the officer that because I drive slower than the normal speed of traffic I do it to alert drivers behind me that I am doing so. In fact in Indiana it is the law for slower moving vehicles to stay as far to the right in the lane as possible. The officer was looking for drunk drivers, evidenced by the sobriety test, and personally I would rather him pull over someone acting suspicious by ridge riding than miss someone that is drunk. The whole better safe than sorry thing. Most officers if you explain to them why you are driving the way you do will let you go since, in most cases, you aren't causing any trouble, just driving abnormally.

(I just woke up so my thoughts may not be very clear.)

Good morning! Want some coffee?

Drunks commonly actually do a better job of following a straight path than sober drivers. Unfortunately, they also tend to fixate on the center line and follow it, instead of centering in their lane. Sounds like you were emulating common drunk driver behavior.