Why Is the Most Simple Rule of the Road Impossible in Poughkeepsie?

I've been holding this in for a while, but if I don't vent now, my blood pressure is going to be higher than my tire pressure. Why can't drivers in Poughkeepsie, NY seem to follow the most basic rule of  the road?

Before I rant, I'll admit that driving in the Hudson Valley can be challenging. From tricky turns to ridiculous merges, daily commutes aren't exactly a walk in the park (you voted the eight worst local roads here), but the trend in Dutchess County, NY is ridiculous.

Driving Issues on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

The source of my frustration stems from the Mid-Hudson Bridge. The span, which connects Highland, NY and Poughkeepsie, NY, has never been immune from criticism. Most complaints focus on the alternating flows of traffic across its three lanes (two lanes open eastbound in the morning, two lanes open westbound in the afternoon), but my issue is specifically a driver problem.

Why Can't Drivers Stay in Their Lane on the Mid-Hudson Bridge?

In my years of travelling across the Mid-Hudson Bridge, one issue seems to always plague the car driving in front of me. Despite the bridge having full, regulation-sized lanes, cars appear to be unable to keep their four wheels inside the lines (below). Eastbound or westbound, passenger vehicles (and only passenger vehicles, more on that in a sec) love to straddle multiple lanes of traffic.

Lane Straddling on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

Whether they're in the far right lane and are worried about coming too close to the guardrail, or in the left lane and are wary of oncoming traffic, the solution for timid drivers seems to be to travel in both lanes. The reason I get so mad, however, is that there is absolutely no reason to straddle, and I have proof.

The Best Drivers on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

One type of driver who never seems to have this issue are the skilled truck drivers who traverse the bridge daily. Huge commercial vehicles towing massive cargo have absolutely zero problem staying in their lane... so what's the excuse of the compact sedan that feels the need to take up extra space?

Listen, I get it, driving can be scawy. The Mid-Hudson Bridge is juuust big enough to fit three lanes of traffic, and nearly every Hudson Valley resident (myself included) wishes that there was room for not only another lane, but a decent-sized should on each side as well. Just like life, however, we don't always get what we want, and we need to work with what we have. If a 40-ton truck can stay in their lane... why can't you?

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If you're already a bridge-driving pro, check out some other roads in New York where you can test your skills below. If you enjoy dessert over danger, keep scrolling to map out your own road trip on New York's "ice Cream Trail".