When is it okay to cross the centre line and drive on the right-hand side of the road?
Never, according to the law - unless you are overtaking.
But it seems plenty of Northland drivers are flouting the Road Code and choosing to cut corners, putting themselves on the wrong side of
the road and the law.
During the first operation of its kind in Northland, police are carrying out a sting targeting drivers who fail to keep left.
In two days police photographed 14 offending drivers on the Brynderwyn Hills and 17 drivers on Conns Hill between Whangarei and Dargaville.
Latest Land Transport New Zealand statistics show that between 2002-06, nearly all accidents resulting in injury in Northland happened on bends, including 82 fatals, 361 serious injuries and 1295 minor injuries.
Excessive speed for the conditions was cited as a major factor in the crashes on corners and bends.
The head of Northland's Highway Patrol, Acting Sergeant Lance Goulsbro, said "straight-lining" through corners was a bad habit that could be fatal.
"We want people to stay on the correct side of the road. Cutting corners is just bad driving," he said.
Drivers came up with all sorts of excuses for failing to keep left. Some claimed to be driving racing lines while others said there were no other cars coming from the other direction.
Mr Goulsbro said "locals" who knew the road became blase and took short cuts.
During the sting operation, traffic officers saw truck-and-trailer units manage to stay on the correct side of the road.
"There's just no excuse for cutting corners," Mr Goulsbro said.
Failing to keep left attracts an instant fine of $150. For drivers not stopped on the spot, a letter is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle asking for details of the driver at the time the car was photographed.
If the details are not supplied a fine of up to $10,000 can be handed out by the courts.
Roads throughout Northland will be monitored by police during the on-going operation.
