Why you shouldn't drive slowly in the left lane - Vox (Finally! this is one of my pet peeves!)

[Bill USA]

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5804590/why-you-shouldnt-drive-slowly-in-the-left-lane

There are basically two types of drivers: those who get worked up about people driving slowly in the left lane, and those who do it all the time and have no idea they're upsetting everyone else.

In case you're in the second group, some background: every state has some sort of law that discourages people from traveling in the left lane on multi-lane roads and highways. It's not that you're never allowed in the left lane, just that you should only use it when necessary, for passing, then get back over.

That's because even if you're driving fast, there's always someone going faster. If you promptly get back over after passing, that car will be able to pass you, allowing everyone on the road to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. If you don't, it'll inevitably lead to buildups of traffic and likely raise the chance of accidents.

The system works best when people aren't hogging the left lane. That's one reason why National Motorists Association has declared June Lane Courtesy Month in an effort to to raise awareness about the importance of getting out of the left lane.
(more)

[hlthe2b]

1. yet, when it is total congestion with both lanes packed to the gills...and nowhere to go--

there is always some asshole who thinks THEY and THEY alone should use the left lane....Inevitably their road rage ends up in a multi-car pile-up.

The system works best as described, but only to the threshold limit of traffic. After that, it collapses.

[_Blue_]

9. LPT: slower traffic keep right

http://www.slowertraffickeepright.com

[hlthe2b]

13. Have you never driven in congested traffic, both lanes bumper to bumper?

Apparently not... What a ridiculous response. Not all interstate highways are armadillo crossings, after all.

[_Blue_]

14. The slower traffic keep right law isn't intended for bumper to bumper gridlock

More often than not on my morning commute (divided 4 lane interstate, two lanes NB/SB), someone squats in the left lane doing 70mph +/- 2mph, causing traffic to back up for miles.

[hlthe2b]

15. which if you bothered to read my post, was my POINT.

[_Blue_]

16. Your post talked about multi-car pileups caused by left lane

Utilization adherents. I propose it is the left lane squatters causing the pileups.

[hlthe2b]

17. yes, because the self-entitled aholes still try to weave through bumper to bumper traffic

to claim the sole right to the left lane--even though there is nowhere for the traffic to go.

[_Blue_]

18. If they can "weave in and out", the left lane squatter can merge over too.

[hlthe2b]

22. stay with your armadillo crossing highways... clearly you have no business nor clue re: traffic

[_Blue_]

24. I'm just advocating adhering to traffic law and safe driving practices.

Get out of the left lane except to pass!

[hlthe2b]

26. no..you are just being intentionally obtuse

[_Blue_]

33. Nonsense. If even one left lane squatter changes their ways, it's worth it.

[Drahthaardogs]

112. Are you one of those aggressive drivers?

The kind who weaves around traffic, passing on the right, tailgating people you deem in your way?

[_Blue_]

122. Only if they're disobeying the traffic laws by driving slowly in the fast lane

[Drahthaardogs]

126. Do you really think that helps?

I drive in the slow lane. I get up fifteen minutes early.

I never understand it. Risk everyone's lives and we get to the same point at just about the same time.

Let's look at this way. Assume you commute 15 miles to work. Speed limit is 55. I go 55, you go 65. Assuming perfect conditions (no red lights, no stop and go traffic), I travel one mile in 1.09 minutes. You do it in .92.

You would save exactly 2.55 minutes. I got there in 16.35 minutes. You get there in 13.8 minutes. However, add merging traffic. Lights, etc = your "time savings" is greatly reduced.

Please don't tailgate. You are risking everyone's life -- including your own. Also, just in case you were wondering, if you get in accident and rear end the car in front of you, you are likely getting a ticket whether the person was driving too slow or not. Unless the lane had a speed minimum sign in it -- you were following too closely. Unless something really weird happens, these case are almost always a summary judgement against the rear ender.

[carolinayellowdog]

37. 72 mph is a "squatter" backing up traffic for miles?

I clicked on your profile thinking "this guy must be from Houston" but didn't see any regional ID. Have driven in DC, NYC, LA, and all points in between, but never felt that the default was "everyone goes 80+ in all six lanes" anywhere but Texas.

[_Blue_]

40. Yes.

Because the guy behind him is going 70-71, and the guy behind that a little slower, and so forth. Once you get several dozen cars behind a squatter, the ones in the back are going awfully slow.

[whopis01]

70. That isn't how it actually works

Why would you think each car further back is going at a slower speed?

[_Blue_]

71. So they don't crash into the one in front of them.

They would have to be going less than or equal to the next car. This effect is small at first but grows pronounced as the chain of cars caught behind the squatter grows and grows.

[whopis01]

72. They are not going slower

If they were there would be an ever increasing distance between them and the car in front of them. That is just not how people drive. Particularly people who are behind someone driving slower than they want to be going.

Most drivers simply maintain a distance behind the person in front of them. As you get closer you slow down a bit and as you fall back you speed up a bit - the end result is that your speed (when averaged) is the exact same as the person in front of you.

[Gman]

75. Because in Texas we've got a long way to go

and we want to get there.

Pity the poor fool who drives 70 in the left lane on I10 on the way to Ft. Stockton. Speed limit is 80.

[Agschmid]

116. Boston.

[carolinayellowdog]

117. a PERFECT city for walking

I spent three weeks there this summer and fall, first long visit in decades, loved it more than ever, and WALKED everywhere. As far back as the 1980s I realized that learning to drive in DC and being brave enough to venture onto the Beltway on a regular basis was NO qualification for driving in Boston! If you experience the city on foot, the "these people are CRAZY and MEAN" feeling is not a factor. Read somewhere that VA has the most law-abiding drivers in the US re speed limits, which seems plausible.

[Aerows]

128. Houston driving

could test the mettle of an Indy 500 driver. 8 lanes each way, and if they aren't all going 80+, it's suddenly a standstill. I've sat in a lane on the I-610 circle for an hour and went exactly 10 feet. 8 frickin' lanes. I got out of it and went home. Luckily, I was in college and decided that lecture could wait that day.

If you aren't doing at least 80, you will get run the hell over on I-10 in Houston.

[Martin Eden]

88. No. It should be **KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS**

Too many drivers who hog the left lane do not consider themselves to be "slower traffic" if they're going 5MPH over the limit, even when cars frequently have to pass them on the right.

[AwakeAtLast]

94. Absolutely!

It should be a simple concept, but alas, no.

[pnwmom]

156. In my city, most of the time both lanes are always full.

Keeping to the right would make traffic twice as slow.

And what is a speed limit? No one is supposed to drive over the legal speed limit, in either lane.

[Martin Eden]

157. "Keeping to the right would make traffic twice as slow"

In heavy traffic on a 2-lane interstate (both lanes full) cars in the faster lane are continuously in the process of passing cars in the other lane. Following the KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS rule, you never have to move back into the right lane -- unless faster traffic is piling up behind you and there is a growing gap between your vehicle and the traffic in front of you.

Taken in context with your comment about the speed limit, it sounds like that's what you're doing. If so, you are creating a traffic hazard when faster vehicles attempt to pass you in the small gaps that temporarily appear on the right. They have to accelerate and cut back in front of you just in time before they reach an even slower vehicle in the right lane.

The reality of traffic on interstates and metropolitan expressways is that a high percentage of vehicles exceed the speed limit. In the western suburbs of Chicago where I live, if I go 5mph over the limit I am being passed by about 75% of vehicles on the road (in traffic where those speeds are attainable). Regardless of the legal speed limit and my attitude towards those drivers, if I stay in the left lane I am making the situation even more dangerous -- especially when there is more traffic, not less.

[pnwmom]

196. I wasn't talking about an interstate. Our regular city roads have multiple-lanes each way.

Last edited Sun Dec 28, 2014, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

(Often two plus a third turn-out lane). And there are lights at every corner, and people have to be on the left to make a left turn.

And police do ticket in the city, and I've gotten tickets for going 4 miles over the limit.

Meanwhile, our freeways look like this:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2014/05/12/road-rage-survey-seattle-drivers-are-polite-but-look-out/

I don't see how everyone in all these lanes can keep to the right. Lately, they've been talking about getting rid of the carpool lane because we need another lane to take regular traffic.

And here's a point made by a Canadian driver who thinks American drivers sometimes follow the right-lane rule in a way that adds to the danger when they're passing another car.

http://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/2jxhtv/

Anyways, I'm from Canada and it hadn't occurred to me that there might be a difference in driver culture until a recent trip I made to the US. I was driving for three or four hours on the beautifully-paved divided-highway interstate in desolate North Dakota. It was late at night and there was basically zero traffic. In that time I only passed two or three cars, and I was passed probably five or six times.

edit: To be clear, while driving down this empty highway, I'm definitely driving in the right lane like you should. Every time I was passed, I was shocked that the drivers came right up behind me before changing lanes to the left, despite the fact that there were no other cars in sight behind or in front of us. Even worse, once they had pulled out and passed, they would immediately pull back into the right lane in front of me, leaving less than a second of driving distance between my car and theirs.

This made me physically uncomfortable, especially the latter, because I'm always conscious of leaving enough stopping distance between my car and those in front of me, and I know that I'm liable for anything that happens if we are in a collision in that scenario. If a deer jumped in front of their car a second after they pulled in front of me, and I rear ended them, I would be at fault. Annoyed, I made a point of immediately pulling into the left lane to drive for a while until the passing car was a safe distance in front so I could drive directly behind them again.

There were no other cars around, so there was no reason to leave the left lane vacant for any amount of time that would cause danger of a rear-end accident. In Canada our driving instructors teach you to leave 4 seconds of driving time between your car and the car in front of you, which is what I try to keep, both when following someone and when pulling in front of them. It was clear when I crossed the border into the US that the priority was not to keep that safe following distance, it was to keep the left lane clear. In a country that has thousands of miles of smooth and safe divided highway (a luxury we do not take for granted in Canada), causing unnecessary danger by leaving one of those lanes vacant at all times for no reason seems like quite a shame.

[Martin Eden]

199. City roads with stoplights and left turn lanes

That's a different matter. Obviously, if you will have to turn left ahead you need to be in the left lane far enough in advance so you don't get blocked from making the turn. And, as I explained before, in heavy traffic with all lanes crowded, traffic in the faster lane is continuously in the process of passing slower traffic. Therefore, the KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS rule doesn't come into play (except, as I explained, if you are not keeping up with the traffic in front of you and other motorists are attempting a dangerous maneuver to pass you on the right).

I appreciate your lengthy explanation to clarify your position with specific examples.

Let me clarify:
The intent of KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS is to promote efficient, predictable, traffic patterns and safety. In 2 or 3 (or more) lane highways, slower traffic should be to the right to avoid the dangerous maneuver of faster traffic attempting to pass on the right.

There are many different kinds of roads and traffic conditions. Drivers must always use their judgement to employ a driving strategy that makes the most sense for safety. If you have to turn left ahead or there is heavy traffic, I don't think anyone expects all vehicles going the same speed to crowd into the right lane, leaving the left mostly vacant. That's not what this topic is about.

You noted some unsafe drivers you've encountered in the US. Some are reckless or over-agressive; some are inattentive; and some are just plain clueless. The high number of posts in a non-political thread like this indicates that most people here have encountered those kind of drivers and are motivated to educate fellow DUers on a driving "rule" that far too many ignore or don't understand. Not all intelligent people are necessarily smart drivers. Some prefer to stay in the left lane so they don't have to change lanes to pass or to deal with merging traffic from the right. Others feel that going 5mph over the limit classifies them as "fast" traffic and entitles them to the left lane even though faster vehicles frequently maneuver to pass them on the right.

From what you've written, I no longer get the impression you are one of those drivers.
I wish you safe motoring and a Happy New Year.

[pnwmom]

203. I think I misunderstand you before, or maybe it was the way the OP was worded,

talking about all freeways and multi-lane roads. We agree that multi-lane roads within a city are a different situation. Yes, if you are planning to make a left turn and you don't get into the left lane soon enough, you risk getting blocked out, or causing an accident if you try to enter at the last minute.

And we agree that on crowded freeways people in the left lane should be driving faster than those on the right, so they're passing them automatically.

[CreekDog]

125. Doesn't work/Not intended for stretches leading to left side exits

Or left side transition ramps to other freeways.

The other point to be made is though in other circumstances, one should be passing, i'm not required to be passing as fast as the car behind me wants to pass. I have to pass safely.

[DCBob]

161. yes. good point. many roads have left exits.

And drivers have the right to drive a safe speed in the left lane as they approach the exit.

[1monster]

109. This!

[cemaphonic]

115. Yeah, whenever these threads come up, it seems like half the posters have never encountered

urban/suburban commuting traffic.

In heavily congested traffic, the less cumulative lane-switching there is, the faster everyone can move.

[Bill USA]

206. true. When traffic is any more than "light", all the lanes tend to fill up.

[Bill USA]

207. WOW! I never expected to get this kindof 'action'. Well, perhaps it did everyone some good to

ventilate on the issue.

I haven't been on the web for a few days, so I didn't see all the 'action' until just now. Whew!

[CTyankee]

2. WTH? I never get in the left lane unless I want to pass someone. I stay in the mddle lane.

I get menaced by trucks that can't go in the left lane and want to pass me, so I am forced to get in the far right lane to "accommodate" them. Of course that is the lane that people are entering on so it has its own challenges.

Just got back from my trip from Boston to New Haven. I know all about it.

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Gotta love that word "menaced"

Yeah............ That's pretty much what I and all other truckers aim for when we just want to get down the road


Menace

[CTyankee]

55. I have had them sound their horns and I am scared of them...this is before they

do their thing. I didn't like it very much at all. I felt intimidated...

[BubbaFett]

97. Step on the gas pedal

[alphafemale]

100. If a truck driver has honked their horn at you?

You were doing something especially egregious.

Trust me on this.

[B Calm]

105. I use to blow my air horns to warn them when they did something stupid and are about to be killed.

The #1 rule of the road, the one with the biggest wheels always wins.

[CTyankee]

168. I have an extremely good driving record and as a result I get very good insurance rates.

I drive the speed limit. For one thing, it saves a LOT on gas. AND, I don't fancy myself as an Indy race driver and I never have. I simply don't have to prove anything on the highway...

[B Calm]

171. Me too! Now if everybody drove as good as you, there wouldn't be any road rage, right?

[CTyankee]

173. I guess so. I get frustrated like anyone else but I figure that I am a mature adult

and can manage the stress of bad traffic, heavy congestion, etc. I try to travel at times that would avoid lots of traffic but sometimes sh*t happens. I had a bad tire blowout several months ago but since I was not speeding I was able to control the car while slowing and there was a breakdown lane I could get into smoothly. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had been speeding...

[B Calm]

174. I have no doubt you are a good driver. I don't know why a truck driver blew his horns at

you, there are bad truck drivers too. But most times when a truck driver blows his horns, it's to warn you. I had a guy on rt 31 four lane road in Michigan at a traffic light that was green who came to a complete stop. I wasn't expecting that to happen and I was pulling 80,000 pounds of steel. I slammed on my brakes and they were smoking, but I kept moving forward. So I let the air horns blow. He turned around and looked out the rear window and I could see the fright in his face. He smashed his gas pedal down and went through the intersection, thus avoided me running over him. When I got to the intersection I saw what he stopped for. There was an ambulance about a 1/2 block away coming towards the intersection. I was driving the posted speed limit 50 mph, but I wasn't looking for the unexpected. My fault if I would have hit him, just thankful he took off.

[CTyankee]

176. Most truckers are just fine. I do worry more about those crazy asses who zigzag around

you crazily. I try to stay away from them. I figure "hey, if it's so important for you to do crazy sh*t, go ahead of me by all means! I don't want to be anywhere NEAR you!"

[B Calm]

178. I use to team with an owner operator coast to coast. We were out in LA

and he was doing the zigzag around other vehicles. I told him, damn you drive this truck like you're driving a go cart. He said, I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult. I smiled and found another job when we got back to Indiana.

[CTyankee]

179. I've never seen a truck doing that. Just crazy smaller cars...kinda like mine.

[B Calm]

180. Like I said, there are bad truck drivers too. I knew it was time to retire,

the roads are so unsafe anymore.

[alphafemale]

96. I've never felt menaced by a truck driver.

Maybe because I know how to drive.

[A HERETIC I AM]

98. ......

[alphafemale]

101. A truck is coming. I don't want to be behind a truck.

I pull into highway. Fast acceleration is bad for an engine when first started.

Why did that menacing, scary truck just blow its horn at me and make all that big stinky smoke from its tires?

[CTyankee]

170. Well, thank you, sweet of you to say. I'll take my excellent driving record and my

excellent insurance rates that go with it, thank you very much.

[alphafemale]

183. Irfyou are intimidated by truck drivers?

And they blow their horns at you?

You are not a good driver.

You are just extraordinarily lucky.

[CTyankee]

186. Lucky me, yep!

[alphafemale]

188. If a professional driver blows there horn at you?

You are doing something stupid.

Trust me on that.

[CTyankee]

189. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were there when it happened and saw the whole

interaction!

[alphafemale]

190. This response confirms my suspicion.

Thanks.

[NJCher]

54. Haha

while I am an English teacher, I think I will start making an exception to my noun as verb excoriation practices. Fabulous verb. Truck menacing!

"Are you menacing me?" (said like "Yew lookin' at me?&quot




Cher

[CTyankee]

56. yep, pretty much!

[RKP5637]

60. I generally do the same, middle lane and often the right lane if those folks

are going the speed limit. ... using the left lane just for passing. Of course on some of the 6 lane roads I've traveled you often end up in many lanes.

[CreekDog]

167. You never get in the left lane to exit or geton another highway?

Wow.

[CTyankee]

172. of course. I was talking about this particular run that I make between Boston and CT.

[Little Star]

3. Amen!

[Dont call me Shirley]

4. OMG! +1,000,000,000,000

It is taught in safe driving classes for the elderly to drive in the left lane, so as to lessen the chances of rear-ending someone turning right. In other words, drive in the left lane so you don't have to pay attention.

The left lane is the passing lane, if you're not passing someone, stay in the right hand lane! No matter your age!

[Bagsgroove]

5. Even worse...

What irks me is people in the right lane who speed up when you try to pass them. Then you fall back in behind them, and they slow down again.

[cpwm17]

20. Yep, that happens sometimes

I like to stay out of the left lane if someone's behind me. But some people won't let you pass unless you travel at really high speed. I've had to go over 90 MPH to pass, when the person was going much slower before.

It might not be deliberate. Unconsciously, the driver may speed up to match your speed and they are oblivious to what's going on.

[question everything]

6. The funny thing is when everyone is on the left lane

and thus the rest of us can zoom on the right and middle lanes. Seen this often on I-5 between San Diego and LA.

[JDPriestly]

12. True. But some are always in the passing mood.

[LWolf]

65. So Cal freeways are different.

In my experience, at least. I drove on them for 30 years before moving out of the state.

In So Cal, on many freeways, all lanes carry heavy traffic almost all the time. Some exits, entrances, and changes from one freeway to another happen in the left lane.

And, of course, so many have carpool lanes on the left.

Slower traffic keeping to the right works well where I live now, with a parkway and a couple of highways, but no freeways.

[Lizzie Poppet]

95. Same thing on I-5 up here in Oregon.

Especially between Salem and Portland...

You get long lines of cars backed up behind some jackass in the left lane going +5 on cruise control...and the right and middle lanes are fairly open. And yes, I blow by those lines on the right...

[PatrynXX]

8. highways where there are many left turns sure left lane is used. ahem how many go thru WI etc where

there's suddenly two lanes actually use that right lane. I actually get over to the right seeing some idiot speeding. How do I know he's speeding. if I'm going 4 miles over the speed limit and he's coming up on my ass much fast you figure that out. I primarily stay in the right lane until I run into another idiot who's a crash hazard. ie there is a minimum speed limit too.. X_X

[JDPriestly]

11. Slow traffic to the right.

That is especially important for bike riders.

And especially at night.

People can have impaired night vision -- cataracts for example -- and not realize that they are not seeing well. Cataracts creep up on people. You don't suddenly wake up one morning with cataracts. They develop slowly.

Think safe. Drive safely.

[B Calm]

19. I use the left lane speeders as Bear Bait!

Google it if you don't know what the hell I'm saying!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bear%20bait

[IDemo]

53. I've always called them "chum", but Bear Bait works too. n/t

[RKP5637]

61. Yep, they come in really handy, I do the same, let them get snagged in the traps! n/t

[Anansi1171]

130. indeed give them the left lane and let evolution do the work! nt

[Takket]

108. lol, i didn't know there was a term for this!

I called them "pace cars" from the car racing term. Speed limit in rural parts of Michigan is 70. I usually go about 75 but if a pace car zooms by me i'll go up to 80 or so until he is out of sight.

[B Calm]

169. Exactly! Most speeders are too dumb to get out of the left (hammer) lane. When Smokey Bear

comes from the opposite direction, they are using the hammer lane too. Their radar gun will catch the speeder in the hammer lane before the guy speeding in the right lane.

[canoeist52]

21. Couldn't be more clear...

?w=1200

[B Calm]

27. Then you have the speeders who think the left lane is for them only and will box you

in and make you slow down when you come up on a slower vehicle.

[TlalocW]

31. Best time I ever got around a slowpoke who was in the left lane

And admittedly, this was jerky of me... I came up behind him and got a safe distance behind him and waited. Nothing. Flashed my lights. Nothing. Tooted my horn nothing. Finally just barreled around him on the right, and I moved back into the left lane and gradually dropped down to 50, forcing him to slow down (and he honked at me) - timing it so I could roll down my window and point to a sign like what you have in your post. Then sped back up to the speed limit.

TlalocW

[Gidney N Cloyd]

92. I hate to admit it but that's been a fantasy of mine.

[B Calm]

118. After your little bit of road rage was over, did you continue down the road in the left lane

as if you thought it was your lane only?

[TlalocW]

119. For about half a mile while I passed another car on the right

Then I moved over like a GOOD CITIZEN!

TlalocW

[B Calm]

121. . . Next time you drive, try to B Calm!

[cpwm17]

23. It's my biggest pet peeve

It takes the enjoyment out of my long drives across country.

Some parts of the country are worse than others. Clueless drivers are everywhere, unfortunately. South Florida might be the worst, though El Paso, Texas is really bad.

[hay rick]

47. South Florida might be the worst...

Yes. Moved here 3 years ago from Jersey. What bothers me more than slow pokes in the left lane is drivers who want to pass in the right lane when I am doing speed limit +5 in the middle lane. Happens all the time.

[RKP5637]

63. Yep! Then you've got the ones entering the highway that just as you're at the intersection

decide they really should have pulled out earlier, so they go now. I go about +5 in the middle lane too whenever I can. The left lane I leave for speeders, crazies and those on a death wish or looking for a date with a cop.

[lobodons]

25. I drive +5 in left lane

I drive in the left lane going +5 on cruise control when there is not a middle lane so I don't have to deal with all the cars going on and off the highway in the right lane. Occasionally I get headlights flashed at me from behind and or passed on right, but so beit.

[JoePhilly]

28. If you aren't actively passing, move to the right

[B Calm]

30. In many states the far left lane is truck restricted, making the middle lane the truck passing lane.

[frazzled]

49. Unless you are passing the cars to your right at that speed

take off the cruise control and get over into the right lane. The left lane, on interstate highways, is for passing ONLY. Not cruising at whatever speed you choose. This is what causes jam ups.



Thank you

[cpwm17]

51. Have some basic courtesy and move over.

You're holding up progress and making the roads less safe for everyone.

[rhett o rick]

76. And you are part of the problem. Can't be bothered with "dealing" with the people entering the hiwa

you should get tickets. If there are faster cars, you should give way to them.

[Tommymac]

77. You are the problem the post is talking about.

Learn to drive safely or park it.

[TeamPooka]

124. You're the problem. FYI nt

[carolinayellowdog]

133. A bunch of lawbreaking assholes are attacking you

There's no highway in this county where going 70+ is remotely safe, so this issue doesn't hit close to home-- but I find the self-revelation of people who think themselves entitled to break the law by 10-20-30 mph to be all too revealing of WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY. Shame on these speed demon fuckers who cause thousands of deaths every year.

[riderinthestorm]

134. Say what? Many highways are 70 mph. In IL I believe 90% of them are 70mph

Edited to add a handy chart with state speed limits. Turns out 32 states now have highways with speed limits of 70 or higher!


http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/speedlimit_laws.html

[Maedhros]

185. As vehicle technology improves year-to-year, vehicles become safer to operate

at higher speeds.

Consider the autobahn in Germany, where speeds certainly average in excess of 70 MPH yet traffic fatalities are less than on American freeways.

[Maedhros]

184. You are behaving very selfishly.

When driving, one must "deal with all the cars." It's part of being a competent driver.

[ileus]

193. Are you from Ohio...it's not the "I'm doing 5 miles over the speed limit lane"

It's not the fast lane...


It's the passing lane, use it and move over.

[JoePhilly]

29. They don't want to be considered slower traffic.

[BlueinOhio]

32. Sorry

There are speed limits and they are not just suggestions. Another thing sometimes the turn off is on the left. So get over it. If you like to speed over the speed limit that is usually is the cause of accidents.

[Riverman100]

48. amen!

[A HERETIC I AM]

66. Wrong.

Wrong on so many levels!

1st of all, speed limits are arbitrary. Most of the miles of interstate highway in this country are capable of 100 MPH + speeds. There is no material difference between a rural stretch of I-10 in Arizona and a similar stretch of I-5 in California, yet in AZ it is 70 or 75 for all vehicles. In CA trucks are limited to 55.

Speed limits are set arbitrarily.

Left hand exits on the interstate system are the exception, not the rule, so that argument is specious.

Speed itself is NOT the cause of accidents. Disparity in speed is most often the cause.

[Hosnon]

74. Here's the thing:

It's not your job to enforce traffic laws.

Thankfully, if you impede traffic by driving in the left lane in my state (GA), you will now get pulled over and ticketed.

[Go Vols]

111. +1

[distantearlywarning]

152. +1

n/t

[Martin Eden]

86. You should be sorry

If you stay in the left lane when not passing, you are a traffic hazard.

The plain fact of the matter is that cars on an expressway or interstate travel at a wide variety of speeds, legal limits notwithstanding. Your attitude is to assign blame rather than practice safe driving, while creating unsafe situations yourself.

Of course if there is a left lane exit you should shift to that lane in time so you don't miss it, but I think you're fully aware that is not the debate at hand.

[alphafemale]

99. I turn left in 5 miles.

My driving skills are limited, so I will get into the left lane as soon as I can and let everyone else deal with my skittishness.

[Glassunion]

201. Sorry

There are passing laws and they are not just suggestions. Most of the time the turn off is not on the left. So get over it. If you like to impede traffic in the passing lane that is usually the cause of accidents.

[cer7711]

34. I'm Confused

If every car that enters a highway or toll road drives the speed limit they won't be catching up to cars in front of them, nor will cars behind them ever get any closer.

???

..................

Sincerely,

An Alien Newly Arrived On Earth.

[cherokeeprogressive]

43. Suggestion for the alien: Refrain from driving...

Or understand the reality and act accordingly.

[The Jungle 1]

35. 4 way stop

I am OK with the left lane drivers. Maybe cause I don't drive on multi lane highways much. What I can't stand is people who refuse to understand how to move through a 4 way stop. I go out of my mind when I pull up last and three other cars are sitting there looking at each other. I go and then all three are mad at me. I can't help it. Four way stops are a good safe system of traffic control. But people have to move through them. Don't sit there and wait for a note from home. You really don't need an invitation just go when it is your turn and get out of my way.

The other one that drives me out of my mind is people who pull into a store lot or gas station and stop at the entrance. Really, you need to stop and look around before you make a decision as to where to go. Please get the hell out of my way.

Then there are the folks who politely allow multiple cars to pull into traffic in front of them. YO I want to go home too. Again get the hell out of my way.

Don't even get me started on people who wave cars across traffic. Now that is just plain ignorant and dangerous.

Apparently I have some traffic issues. Who knew.
Is it "Stand Your Ground" when I shoot at people waving cars across traffic. ***JOKE**** Yea I think it is. Maybe I should call my local PD and ask.

[Jesus Malverde]

58. Arcata No-Go:

The four-way stop dilemma in which all drivers insist that the others proceed first. Alternately known as the Arcata Courtesy Fight and/or the NoYouGo.

http://lostcoastoutpost.com/2013/nov/22/humboldictionary/

[caraher]

131. Never had this problem until I moved to Indiana from Michigan

Consequently my wife and I call this a "Hoosier Standoff"

[B Calm]

36. I see a lot of road rage in this thread!

[The Jungle 1]

81. steam pressure

The key is to vent the steam. Ranting is a real good vent. So to prevent rage you must let off some steam. Recording my commute and driving issues is very healthy and helpful.

My present commute is the best one I have had in years. About 20 miles and it takes 40 minutes. Almost all country roads. My last commute was a stressful nightmare. 11 miles and it took 40 minutes. All I did was sit and wait. Wait for lights, wait for trains, wait at 4 way stops.

[FiveGoodMen]

38. My pet peeve: Car in front of me goes 30 down the freeway entrance ramp

thereby forcing me to try to merge starting at WAY below freeway speed -- which is dangerous -- just because the idiot in front of me doesn't know what freeway ramps are for.

[B Calm]

42. Hold your ground, you have the right away. The car coming onto the interstate has to yield

to traffic.

[FiveGoodMen]

44. No, I AM the car coming onto the interstate.

And I can't do it properly because some idiot who got on the ramp before me treated it like a residential street.

[B Calm]

45. Oh, okay I know what you are saying. Now if that vehicle in

front of you is a heavy truck, you do know it won't accelerate as fast as a four wheeler?

[RKP5637]

64. Yep, I know exactly what you mean. I hate it when that happens. Then you've got to floor it like

hell to get into traffic.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

67. Or better yet. They stop and put on their signal. Seen it more than once.

[CANDO]

127. You would be following a hyper miler...

The folks who squeeze nickels till they shit pennies. Gas mileage freaks who have extreme carbon buildup in their injectors because they try to accelerate at idle.

[annabanana]

87. Would you rather be right than hit?

just askin'

[B Calm]

104. I use to drive 18 wheelers. If they had hit me they would be dead!

[The Jungle 1]

83. MOM

My dear Mother never did figure out how to merge. She would pull up and stop everytime. It was so dangerous but I could not get her to merge. I would always drive and I think she avoided the highway.

[helpmetohelpyou]

39. George Carlin said it best

[TexasProgresive]

41. Left lane for passing only in Texas is only when marked with signs.

In our town we have a divided multilane highway with 2 lanes each way. If you are in the right lane you will not be able to maintain the speed limit because of my pet peeve, people don't know how to merge or leave the highway. The mergers will match their speed to your car door so you must brake the ones leaving the highway slow down before the ramp. If you want to maintain a constant speed of the speed limit or above you must use the left lane.

[harris8]

46. Simplistic bullshit. "There are basically two types of drivers..."

"...those who get worked up about people driving slowly in the left lane, and those who do it all the time and have no idea they're upsetting everyone else."

Neither of those apply to me. I avoid the leftmost lane as much as possible, due to the assholes that "own" it.

[CTyankee]

187. I'm mystified by those in this thread who seem to be prickly about the lane thing.

I do what you do. What is wrong with obeying the law and driving carefully and respectfully?

[KauaiK]

50. Kauai = 1 highway; 2 lanes - 1 in each direction

Max speed is 50 MPH - which visitors ignore regularly at their own peril. I think, however, a rule should be imposed is that IF you can't see over the steering wheel, you can't drive. I followed someone doing (I swear) 8-9 MPH on the Hwy for miles - I was like the 14th car back. I couldn't decide if he was oblivious that 20+ cars were backed up behind him or he delighted in the fact that 20+ cars were back up behind him.

[freedom fighter jh]

52. Not always

Sometimes there's enough traffic to keep both lanes pretty much full, with both lanes moving at more or less the same speed, even tho traffic speed fluctuates. If the left lane goes a little slower than the right, are all the cars in it supposed to move over to the right because they aren't passing everyone?

I often get into the left lane the first chance I get if my exit is on the left and I don't know when I'll see another chance to move over.

[Jesus Malverde]

57. People do that because they don't want to deal with people merging into their lane from the left...n

[JoeyT]

59. I've seen left lane

speed cops refuse to get the hell over and get out of the way of emergency vehicles. If our giant red lights and blaring siren can't move them, I don't think the idea of courtesy is going to get them out of the way either.

I always wanted to ram them, but was never allowed to drive. :/

[Historic NY]

62. NY State Thruway.... its 65 but Florida drivers hang out there at 55 or less.

Oblivious to the 18teen wheeler or anyone else one their bumper.

[Bonobo]

68. In my experience, Connecticut has the worst left lane drivers.

They simply WILL NOT move over. I just don't get it.

[NutmegYankee]

151. Is it the I-95 section between New Haven and NYC?

I find that that portion is just too congested for traffic to flow properly. The drive right method works on the I-395 and easternmost I-95 sections, but those are rural.

[Bonobo]

162. Yes exactly! Nt

[Vattel]

69. The left lane is the safest lane and so that's where I drive. I don't go too slow though.

[Tommymac]

78. Hogwash. Left Lane is the passing lane. Neither lane is 'more' safe. Drivers are safe...or not.

Be courteous and drive in the right lane until you need to pass.

Or be a self centered jagoff, drive constantly in the left lane and get honked at, flashed at, yelled at, flipped off, and increase the chance of causing an accident. Road rage is real and the NRA has ensured that a lot of head cases have firearms now...

Your choice.

[Vattel]

79. On my commute on I95 there are three lanes each way.

If the left lane was used just as a passing lane, traffic would be a nightmare. I prefer the left lane because there are no big trucks, fewer merges from onramps, and less need for me to change lanes to go around slower traffic. That's why it is safer.

[Martin Eden]

85. You are an UNSAFE driver

Forcing others to pass on the right is dangerous -- if not for you, then for others.

[Vattel]

93. I don't force others to drive on the right.

If someone is driving really fast (I usually go about 75-80 in a 65MPH zone), I get out of the way.

[Martin Eden]

106. That's potentially dangerous

Someone driving faster than you at those speeds will not want to slow down, so they may move right to pass just as you start to move right.

Now, if you're going faster than most of the other traffic and constantly passing them, staying left most of the time may be better than constantly changing lane changes to pass. It all depends on how much traffic there is and relative speeds.

But the best and safest guideline to follow is KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS. There's no need to be in the left lane if you're not approaching other vehicles to pass, and if another vehicle passes you on the right then 90% of the time you're doing something wrong.

[Vattel]

129. I disagree. It depends on the highway, but sometimes the left is the best.

I explained why in my earlier post.

[Quantess]

73. Be considerate: the left lane is the passing lane.

Some days you are not in a hurry, and other days you kind of are.

[ChosenUnWisely]

80. If one is not speeding one is impeading

It does not matter what lane one is in, if someone is going faster behind you then one has the duty to give way to the other vehicle.

If one chooses to not keep up with the flow of traffic stay in the right lane, it is the least one can do otherwise the slow drivers are the menace on the roads when the majority of drivers are exceeding the speed limit.

A few other driving tips...

If ones vehicle is not at least 200hp stay OUT of the left lane, most of the vehicle's with less hp cannot keep up with those that have at least 200hp or more. There is no replacement for displacement.

On the Roads, Size is King! In traffic accidents and especially high speed accidents, physics will always win, just ask Dr Tyson, meaning a Prius or Civic traveling at 55 mph impeding traffic will not fair very well when say a Tahoe going 75mph slams into the back of it. Not only is the smaller vehicle destroyed the occupants usually don't fair very well either. The Tahoe and occupant(s) always does much better with the worst outcome being insurance covering the cost of a new Tahoe and the owner has to wait 30 days for the insurance money. Deny science at ones own peril.

[CTyankee]

200. Just because I drive a Nissan Altima doesn't mean I should sacrifice my life or limb to

someone driving a Tahoe. With that reasoning you could say that Nissan Altima owners shouldn't be on the road at all, due to lack of size and heft in their cars.

Really?

[Reter]

82. What kind of idiot doesn't know the left lane isn't for snails?

BTW, is this an American thing, or do most countries use the left lane for going faster?

[Martin Eden]

84. KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS

It irks me whenever I see the sign SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT. "Slower" is relative, subjective, and a lot of drivers who hog the left lane (forcing others to pass on the right) do not consider themselves "slower."

[davidpdx]

89. Happens here in the Seoul Metropolitan Area in South Korea

I tend to get a little pissed off.

[MineralMan]

90. The problem with this is that too many people believe

this applies to all roads with two lanes in both directions. Where I live, almost all arterial streets and major county roads have two lanes in each direction. They also have stoplights and many left turn opportunities. They're surface streets, and even when the speed limit is 55 MPH, there are intersections and people turning left at those intersections.

Sadly, too many drivers seem to believe that the left lane is the passing lane on those roads, too. It's not. It's just a traffic lane. I stay out of it, due to all the left turners, and the right lane is usually the one that's moving faster.

Only restricted access roads are subject to this "passing lane" rule. Any road with intersections simply isn't subject to any such rule. Someone will always need to turn left. Even if there are left turn lanes, they're usually not long enough to slow down within that left turn lane.

So, if you're on a road with intersections, stow your anger at left lane drivers who aren't going as fast as you like. They'll be turning left soon. Please!

[HughBeaumont]

91. Get the hell out of the passing lane. NOW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nestor

Even police can't stand these oblivious traffic-clogging assholes:

More assholery in action:

[seabeyond]

102. my son and i watched a police flash his lights at a motorist in the left lane.

follow it all the way to the shoulder of the hwy, then took the lights off and went on his way. son and i busting up.

we are seeing a handful of people with control issues, in this thread, with the demand that they have the right to drive in the left lane for one or another of their reasoning.

i find it a hoot.

lots of psychology goes on watching drivers. living in the west, with everything so open, it is clear why left lane should be used for passing.

i watch. if i need to speed up to pass, to get out of the way of a another car, or to not box another in, i do it. we should be paying attention as we drive. none of this is rocket science.

[HughBeaumont]

154. This goes double for long-term two lane entities like the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Driving on that damned thing from the west to Breezewood is nothing short of a nightmare. I've never seen a larger collection of left-lane clogging assholes. At least in Ohio I can get around these idiots because most of our interstate is 3-4 lanes.

[SheilaT]

103. I also hate it when a big truck decides to pass the big truck

in front of it while going up a hill. Invariably the truck trying to pass can't keep up the speed, and I've been slowed down to 55 in a 75 mph highway which is just nuts. If you can't at least maintain the speed limit in the passing lane, don't try to pass. At least not if there are any other vehicles behind you.

[brewens]

107. If your cruise control setting is like 1/4 mph faster than some guy you catch up to,

don't leave it on and take two miles to pass the guy. Step on the little peddal that makes the car go, get by and get back over. It's not that confusing.

[B Calm]

120. That was a big problem I had with speeders who thought they owned the left lane. I drove

a truck that was govern to run a certain speed, usually 68 to 70 mph. Passing other trucks who were govern even slower would always piss off the speeders who thought they owned the left lane. Sometimes their stupid road rage would put peoples life's in danger.

[Marr]

110. This is next to meaningless in Los Angeles.

Last edited Sat Dec 27, 2014, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Yeah, when I'm driving out of the city or out of state, it's a given. Keep right, only use the left lane to pass. But in LA, the norm is that all lanes are full of cars going as fast as the traffic will allow. The middle lane is usually the fastest, since the far left is dealing with mergers into/out of the carpool lane/freeway interchanges, and the far right lane is a general merging hell.

The people who drive ME insane on the road are people who start slowing down for their exit while they're still on the freeway rather than doing it on the exit ramp. Or people who slow down for a turn on the regular roadway rather than doing so in the turn lane.

[zappaman]

113. "the middle lane is usually the fastest"

stop giving away state secrets!!!
man, is it bad the week before Xmas or what?

[Marr]

114. lol!

No kidding. And yelling curse words doesn't seem to speed the traffic at all. Or maybe I just haven't found the right one.

[DCBob]

164. Yeah. same situation here in dc.

Using the left lane just to pass doesn't work here.

[Warpy]

123. Mr. Putt Putt, piddling along doing the minimum highway speed in the left lane

is the guy who causes the accidents but is rarely in them as people try to get out from behind him. They tend to take chances as they get angrier and angrier at his oblivion to the other drivers around him.

In between cities, your admonition to stay out of the far left lane unless you're passing is an apt one. In the cities, and even on some highways in the northeastern urban corridor, it just won't work. You drive in any lane you can get into and that's moving, including the far left. Unfortunately, that's the place Mr. Slowpoke is most likely to cause the accidents.

[d_r]

135. what I don't get

On the open interstate, not in a metro area with jammed traffic, is the people who won't keep a constant speed. I call them yo-yo drivers. They will be gong along at 80 and so that's fine, get in front of me, then they are doing 75 and I have to tap the break and turn off cruise, then it is 70 so I go around then it is 80 on my tailgate, repeat. Heres the thing people, If you don't have cruise control, you have to mash the gas pedal a little harder going uphill and a little lighter going downhill.


Eta and another thing. If it is solid traffic on the right and the speed limit is 70 and I am in the left doing 80 constantly passing people, I don't have to pull in right and go 70 because you want to go 90. Stop tailgating me and when a big enough spot opens on the right I'll shift over and you can pass. And when I do don't slow down, pass.

[ChosenUnWisely]

136. So becasue you don't want to go faster then the person behind you

you choose to intentionally block or imped them instead.

So now people have to pass you in the breakdown lane because you want to be selfish.

I bet you get flipped off frequently, I know I would if you would not get over and were blocking the left lane by driving at a slower speed then those behind you.

Most cars today have cruise control as standard, if one is not going to use it on the open interstate do the rest of us a favor and NEVER leave the right lane, otherwise you become a danger to other drivers and yourself.

Perhaps the cops will go on strike nation wide and the Highways and Byways become a Mad Max style free for all on the roads, it would make the commute much more interesting and if one has a passenger they truly would be riding shotgun!

[d_r]

137. Dude read what I wrote

when I am constantly passing people and the right lane is full you do not have to tailgate me, I will pull to the right when there is an open spot.

Did you even read what I wrote? Good lord.

[ChosenUnWisely]

138. I did read it either speed up or pull over

If one is not speeding one is impeding.

[d_r]

139. No

If I am doing 80 and passing the traffic on the left doing 70 then I do not have to pull over because you want to do 90. If I am passing I am passing. When I am not passing I will pull over and let you get your ticket.

ETA and when somebody is doing 75 in the left passing the people doing 70 on the right and I want to do 80, I have to wait until they pass.

[ChosenUnWisely]

140. So you admit you are selfish and intentionally go slower in the left lane because

of the potential of getting a speeding ticket.

Nice, please stay out of the left lane if you are going to block faster traffic.

[d_r]

141. No

If I am passing the person on the right I have no obligation to speed up because you want to. I will pull over when there is a place, there is no need to tailgate.

[ChosenUnWisely]

142. Not in my world you block me I will tailgate and flip you off

[d_r]

192. my responsibility

Is to be passing the car in the right lane not going whatever speed you want

[B Calm]

143. Are you the guy who passed me and two other trucks in the emergency lane and

then cut across two lanes of traffic and slammed on your brakes just in front of me because it was taking me too long to pass, forcing me to drive off the interstate to avoid running you over?

Seriously, you need to have patience and control your road rage.

[ChosenUnWisely]

144. Nope I would have blown by you and gave you the finger as I went by

I would not waste my time playing games like stopping short after I passed you.

[B Calm]

145. Does giving me the finger help you feel better? I always considered the finger

as a safe driving award.

[B Calm]

147. The only one being a dick is the aggressive driver who has no patience. George Bush lost

patience when it was taking too long for them to find WMD's in Iraq, look how well that turned out!

So now you carry a gun too for your road rage?

[ChosenUnWisely]

148. from my POV the only one being a dick are those who intentionally imped others

As for carrying a gun I may or I may not, it is really not anyone's business if I do or don't.

[B Calm]

149. LOL, that motorist you think is impending your lane may have a gun too. My advice to you

is learn to have patience, take your blood pressure pills, or quit driving!

[ChosenUnWisely]

150. OK fine by me their choice as for patience I have it in spades excpt for impeding asrseholes.

[B Calm]

153. I knew you wouldn't take advice from a professional driver. Motorists like you

is my number one reason I retired from trucking at age 62. Have a good day!

[seabeyond]

159. until you shoot them because they do not get out of your way? then it is their business whether

you carry a gun?

[seabeyond]

158. in a post above tailgating and flipping off. i was gonna ask if you would pull a gun too.

and here you are. arent you the bad ass.

maybe du was chosenunwisely

[B Calm]

175. LOL +1

[distantearlywarning]

155. Yes, this is an enormous peeve of mine

It is the WORST in Florida, for some reason. I moved here a year ago, and I have never seen so many slow-ass drivers in all my life, and they all hang out in the left lane. And I'm not talking about "law-abiding citizens who like to go the speed limit and make sure everyone else does too", I'm talking the speed limit is 65, and they're doing 50 in the left lane while 10,000 cars are passing them on the right. It's not just timid old people either. I see young people doing it all the time.

It is such an egregious and widespread practice here that they actually had a crackdown in Central FL about it a few months ago - they had warnings on the TV that they would be giving tickets and everything. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any change as a result of the increased enforcement.

Actually, Florida has the worst drivers in general of anywhere I've ever lived. They drive WAY too slow, they are completely unpredictable (like suddenly stopping in the middle of a 50 mph 4 lane road for no apparent reason whatsoever, making sudden turns with no signal, etc), and they hover in the left lanes on freeways. I think it's the result of a terrible combination of old people, tourists, and "Florida Man" (who is on drugs and watching porn on his IPad as he drives). I have to drive so defensively here to not have an accident. However, Floridians do know how to merge onto freeways, unlike Pittsburghers, who have a tendency to come to a dead stop at the end of the ramp, precipitating rear-end pileups.

Anyway, please, please don't be this person! Just pass on the left and get the hell over. If you have a left exit coming up, then get over when you need to. But for the love of God, don't dawdle in the left lane! Your fellow citizens will thank you!

[DrDan]

165. I have lived in Florida for 32 years now - yes, those drivers that suddently stop in the

middle of a "50 mph 4 lane road for no apparent reason" drive me crazy also.

However, when I look at the plates of those drivers, I find they are mostly tourists (from other states, obviously) who are lost and trying to figure out where to turn.

I have never found Orlando I-4 drivers to be slow-assed.

Florida law allows for a ticket if driving in the left lane 10 mph under the speed-limit.

[cpwm17]

182. I wrote above that south Florida drivers might be the worst in the nation.

I guess it's a bad combination of old folks, Southerners, tourists, and immigrants from nations where they don't value good, safe driving. I drove through a Cuban neighborhood once down there and I saw someone pass on the right over a sidewalk. I've never seen that before.

I've noticed the extremely slow drivers on the freeways in south Florida. They're common down there, but I rarely see them any where else.

[dawg]

160. If you are constantly getting passed on the right ...

then move over!

[DCBob]

163. My pet peave are people driving way over the speed limit..

and expecting everyone to get out of their way.

[JCMach1]

166. +1000 if you are going more than 10mph over the limit for no damn reason

and driving like it is GTA ... sorry, you are just going to piss me off ...

[cpwm17]

177. Your selfishness is why there are more accidents on US freeways than on the German Autobahn

Germans drive faster but they have fewer accidents since their drivers are more intelligent. They realize the importance of the left lane for faster traffic.

Slower traffic in the left lane causes the traffic to clump up which greatly decreasing the ability of our freeways to handle the traffic. It's extremely obvious that the slower traffic screws up traffic and endangers everyone around, but unfortunately we have too many hard-headed drivers that don't care about anyone but themselves.

[B Calm]

181. +1 Couldn't agree more! You'd be surprised how many of them are cops

who are speeding with no xmas lights on. When you look down from the cab of a truck as they pass, some of them are playing with their laptop.

[Veruca Salt]

191. The one thing I loved about having to take my drivers license exam for the UK

was that the drivers here, though as crazy as NJ's drivers, actually obey the traffic rules. I almost cried a little when I found out that the passing lane was actually used only for passing on the motorways. Between that and the roundabouts I can almost forgive the insane country lane speed limits.

[cpwm17]

202. I ran into some British tourists in Florida

and they were complaining about the slower left lane drivers (I was talking to another Brit and they didn't realize I was American.) In much of Europe they apparently don't have so many selfish, hard-headed drivers that can't figure out the importance of the left lane for faster traffic.

It's just plain common sense that freeways move much smoother and with fewer accidents and stressed out drivers with slower traffic staying right. Obviously some people in this thread lack common sense.

[Glassunion]

204. On those coutry lane speed limits...

I had a discussion with a local once on those. She informed me that they are a "target" not a "requirement".

[ileus]

194. Some mistakenly think it's their "fast lane" for some unknown reason.

Around here they're 80% from Ohio. ( I drive the same stretch of interstate every day of the week)

I've watched them move over for a car that rides their ass for X amount of time then move right back into the left lane after the car passes. Most damned amazing thing...

[B Calm]

195. Very common in Indiana on I-65. They think they own the left lane because they are speeding.

They'll stay in that lane even when they can get over. They don't like it when you pass a slower vehicle and slow them down just for a little while. They'll ride your ass, flash their lights, weave back and forth and then give you the finger when they pass you. I see a lot of them in this thread. They have the patience of George W Bush when inspectors were looking for WMD's in Iraq.

[alphafemale]

197. Move the Fuck Over!

You are not the anointed damn Hall Monitor of the Fucking Freeway,

[B Calm]

198. See what I mean! Makes one wonder how they got drivers license.

[Glassunion]

205. NJ recently almost doubled the fine for travelling in the passing lane. Good!

NJ Trooper trolls passing lane hog...

NJ Trooper pulls over someone not speeding...

The fine is now up to $300 with a mandatory $50 surcharge on all tickets. Not to mention the 2 points on your license.