Question: I’m currently in driver’s ed and my instructor keeps telling me I’m straddling the lanes. What does it mean to straddle while you’re driving?
Answer: In the context of driving, the term “straddle” refers to a situation where a vehicle is positioned over two lanes rather than staying within a single lane. The car is riding with one set of wheels on either side of a lane line, occupying two lanes at once.
This can occur for several reasons. Common ones include a lack of steering control, inattention to road markings, or misjudgment of vehicle width.
Penalties for lane straddling
Lane straddling is generally not allowed, but each state has its own specific restrictions. For example, the California Vehicle Code states that:
“Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, a vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
If you’re pulled over for lane straddling in California, you can be issued a ticket and charged a fine. You could also receive one point on your driving record.
You might fight a straddling ticket if you feel you were safely using two lanes, or you had to drive in both lanes for safety reasons.
In Washington state, the penalty for straddling two lanes is a $48 ticket for improper lane usage. In Florida, lane straddling is a moving violation punishable by a $60 ticket.
Staying centered to avoid lane straddling
- Focus on the horizon point at the center of your lane, not at the lines on the road or the vehicle in front of you. If you focus on the lane markers to your left or right, you’ll tend to drift toward whichever side you’re focusing on.
- Don’t stare at any one spot for too long. It’s important to scan the road ahead. Your eyes should constantly be moving, taking in information from all around you.
- Hold the steering wheel correctly. Your hands should be positioned at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions on the steering wheel. This will help to prevent overcorrection and drifting.
- Maintain proper tire pressure. Tires that are underinflated can cause the vehicle to drift to one side.Check your tire pressure regularly; most tires should be inflated to between 28 and 35 PSI.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
