Over the years I have used the entire width of my lane now and then. Dropped a lit cigarette and trying to retrieve it before it burns a hole in the mat. Tuning a radio searching for decent music. Avoiding the little brown dog. Avoiding a steaming pile of defecate from an unidentified contributor. Trying to latch the seat belt that I forgot to put on after gassing up. Avoiding a puddle, the depth of which was not determinable.

A friend of ours, woman, was stopped by a gendarme who stated the reason he stopped her was she was "using too much of her lane".

She is a no-nonsense type and speaks her mind. She said, "Seriously? Did I cross over them?" The officer admitted she had not. She said, "then I guess I have a right to use as much of the lane as I want".