Originally Posted by John Forester

No, Hurst is wrong in assuming that the intent of controlling a lane is to prevent close overtaking movements. The intent of controlling the lane is to prevent incipient motorist/motorist collisions, head-ons or sideswipes, with the resulting danger to cyclists as the overtaking motorist tries to extricate himself from the danger. That is, controlling the lane forces the motorist who desires to overtake to recognize that he must use the adjacent lane in the normal manner for overtaking another vehicle.