Left-lane slowpokes drive you crazy?

[liberal N proud]

In these days of longer commutes and simmering tempers, nothing seems to set off already-testy motorists like the left-lane camper -- the guy or gal who drives in the passing lane and bars faster drivers from easily passing. Web sites have cropped up to educate other drivers, or to vent. There's a (somewhat painful) YouTube song called "Keep Right."

Even bigwigs get frustrated. Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, weary of having his limo slowed down by such left-lane pokies, ordered an aide to have the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission install signs a few years ago reading "Keep Right, Pass Left. It's the Law."

And now some states are cracking down on left-lane campers, both to keep traffic moving and to tamp down the road rage that goes from zero-to-60 faster than ever before.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/left-lane-slowpokes-drive-you-crazy.aspx

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. My commute home includes a left exit

So I drive in the left lane, especially when there is heavy traffic and changing lanes is dangerous. The rules change when highways are part of a city's rush hour traffic.

No one ever seems to remember these left exits when they complain about left lane drivers.

[chimpymustgo]

2. Oh, so it's YOU!??! Just kidding.

[liberal N proud]

5. It's the guy that sit in the left lane driving from Chicago to Iowa that is the problem

I think the rules are different in the cities because of things like left exits and amount of traffic. But even there, if you are driving below the speed limit and someone comes up from behind, you could pull to the right and let them pass.

Passing on the right is unsafe.

Besides, even if I am driving the speed limit, I will let the speeders on down the road, it is not my job to slow them down.

[riqster]

46. Let the dipshit speeders zoom on by

...so they can get the tickets so they so obviously desire. That way, the pigs leave the rest of us alone.

[Book Lover]

67. Better a pig than a sanctimonious ass (nm)

[riqster]

87. As has been discussed elsewhere, and ad nauseum at that,

...our experiences with the police tend to color our view of them, and so how we name them.

As to the speeders, hey, fuck 'em. They do the crime, they do the time (or, in this case, pay the ticket). I used to speed, until I got a ticket back, in 1981 or thereabouts.

[Book Lover]

98. Not "them". Me

You are saying fuck you to *me*. So, right back atcha.

[riqster]

112. Ah.

I didn't tell you to take a job that is frequently taken by authoritarian assholes who get off on shoving other people around. Or who used to beat the freaks (like me). Or beat up blacks, hispanics, or the homeless.

You may or may not be one of such: you might be one of the good cops, and if so, good on you. However, it doesn't seem much like it at the moment.

[awoke_in_2003]

180. 95% of all cops...

give the rest a bad name :)

[riqster]

186. Yeah, kinda like politicians,

and other such critters. :hi:

[liberalhistorian]

151. A lot of times it isn't speeders. Too many

"campers" in the left lane drive way below the speed limit and absolutely refuse to move over. In those cases, yeah, they need to be ticketed. They're not just an incredible annoyance, they're a traffic/highway hazard.

[riqster]

153. Agreed. Some states do in fact ticket such drivers nt

[codjh9]

187. Yep. Speeding 'only' is a major contributing factor to global warming, dependence on foreign

oil, more deaths (and higher medical costs, medical insurance) from crashes... but the majority do it anyway. I'll never get it. Peak Oil may 'cure' everyone of this before too long, though.

[treestar]

143. Where there are lane divisions and exit only lanes

It's inconsiderate of the speeder to expect people to pull over and perhaps miss the exit so that a speeder can get by faster.

A lot of the time I have trouble getting into the correct lane in time to go where I'm going because of idiots who just have to make that extra inch by going 80 mph.

It is just not that simple in urban areas with a lot of traffic.

[nerddem]

6. not only that,

but the speed limit applies to all lanes, a fact which seems to escape the 30+ crowd (30 mph over the limit, that is). I'm often on 95, so I've observed the speed of choice on the left in delaware and maryland is about 85-90.

these people never seem to get tickets, what's with that? maybe i should start a website venting about irresponsible drivers. i've always wanted to be highway patrol in an unmarked car going at a reasonable rate on the left, have some angry jackass tailgate and flash their highbeams then eventually i'd acquiesce and change lanes, they'd speed by and i would just go back and flip the siren on. just the thought of the look on their faces would be so rewarding.

[yodoobo]

10. +30 is excessive

And while I'll shake my fist and get annoyed with them, the last thing I'll try to do is try to block their progress.

I just slide over to the right and let them put as much distance between us as possible.

[mwb970]

16. I want poor drivers in front of me, not behind me.

My dad always pointed out that as long as the idiot was in front of you, you could control the distance between you (and avoid any possible fireball resulting from the poor driving). When he's behind you, he's in charge.

[nerddem]

20. yeah, i don't block their progress either

well, every now and then, but it's not about them, i just don't feel like getting a reckless driving (20 over) ticket for their sake.

still though, 80 in a 55? and it's usually never the cars you'd suspect, either, it's always like 92 accords or families on vacation in a minivan. once or twice i've seen an m3/m5 or amg weave in and out at 80+, but at least those cars can handle it. my most vivid memory is a ford astrovan that was weaving like crazy for about a mile before and ahead of me on a sunny day. this guy went by me northboud a few miles before the md/de border, and by the time i got to the 495/95 split before wilmington after the toll booth, he had flipped on his side in the middle of the highway.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. The average speed in the left lane on 95 through DE/MD is more like 75/80

I used to drive down that way every other week. NJ to VA. It was a slowdown for me, after getting off the NJ turnpike, where I could go 90 or so without worrying about getting pulled over. The troopers on the Turnpike only pull over out of state drivers, since getting in trouble for only pulling over black people.

[nerddem]

18. i try to keep the cc at about 15 above

i've been in traffic court twice in my life, and it seems cops mostly want to after 20+ people, which makes sense because as far as in know in md and va (i think pa too) that constitutes reckless. so i tend to keep the cruise control at about 15 over, depending on volume, time, and weather, however even going 80 in a 65 i have people racing past me on the right.

a lot of them are from new york, then jersey, then md. rarely va people though, i think we're so jaded from traffic around dc that most northern virginians don't realize their cars can go more than 20 for stretches longer than 30 feet, haha

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. I hated driving on the beltway

So slow...

Then, once I got down into Culpepper, I'd put my cruise on. The sheriffs down there used to just love to follow my car to the county line.

[riqster]

92. In Ohio, my rule is 4+

It used to be 9+, but the cops started writing between 5 and 10 over. Not often, but often enough.

[high density]

25. NJ Turnpike

I drove that a few weeks ago for the first time ever and was impressed by the speed. I was driving in the pre-dawn hours and 85-90mph seemed to be about the flow of the traffic. I was happy to drive 85, though I guess my out of state plates would've made me prime picking for the troopers...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

100. Yeah, if you're out of state, you should really obey the speedlimit on there

[ProfessorGAC]

44. I Was Going 60 in the Middle Lane Recently

The speed limit was 65, but there were several exits in a row, so moving all the way to the right just creates congestion and hazard when dozens of cars are trying to merge. So, i stayed in the middle lane.

Left lane was crowded, but we weren't bumper to bumper.

Somebody pulled up behind me, as i was passing a semi. He got 4 or 5 feet off my bumper and stayed there until i passed three trucks and a car who were going about 55.

I admit that only at 5mph faster than them, it takes a long time to pass three trucks and a car, but that guy stayed glued to my bumper the whole time. When i finally could get left, i moved. He flipped me off!

Exactly where was i supposed to go? And better question; where are the cops to enforce recklless driving laws?
GAC

[Ikonoklast]

57. Increase Following Your Distance.

You did the right thing. The guy behind you was trying to intimidate you into increasing your speed by tailgating. As long as you were passing slower traffic on the right, at a steady overtaking pace, maintaining your speed and lane, you did nothing wrong.

One of the first rules for dealing with tailgaters for commercial drivers is 'Increase Your Following Distance'. What this basically translates to is, 'Slow Down'. It will, without fail, get a tailgater to either go around you, or back off.

If there was a vehicle in front of you that needed to suddenly change lanes, or decrease speed, you had an 'out' because you increased your following distance, i.e. created more available space in front of your vehicle. The person behind you has no such safety margin as his reaction time vs. distance traveled is practically nil.

If he flips you of, so what. Don't take it personally. It's just an easy way to identify ignorant people that have a future date as a Darwin Award finalist.

I usually give them a big smile and a thumbs up.

Ikonoklast, pissing off people I've never met in 48 states and four provinces.

[ProfessorGAC]

59. Thanks. I Do The Same Thing

My dad was a truck driver, so i knew most of the good tricks before i even knew how to drive!

But, in this case, i didn't want to slow down and get in the blind spot of the trucks or car. I felt it was the safest thing to get past them, but i wasn't going to speed up. I had Cruise on. You know what Seinfeld said: "I don't want to push the button again!"

But, thanks for getting it!
GAC

[Scout]

70. whenever i try to increase my following distance some asshole

changes lanes into the space i just created for myself!

people who tailgate me better be prepared for sudden braking ... i think a bunny just ran out in front of my car!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

65. Cops pick off the easy ones.

People shouldn't speed but I really wish they'd go after the aggressive and distracted drivers more. I'm so sick of being on the road with assholes who veer from lane to lane and tailgate, along with the ones who are so absorbed in their cell phone conversation that they don't realize you are trying to merge into the exit lane.

[amdezurik]

131. you see that is the thing right there

the left lane on highways is a PASSING LANE. if you are not passing, no matter how "reasonable" you think your rate is if you are not passing you are the problem. GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE PASSING LANE IF YO ARE NOT PASSING.

[liberalhistorian]

152. I don't know why people like that never seem to get

tickets, but it irritates the hell out of me whenever I see it, which is too often. I was once driving about eight miles over the limit on an interstate hwy and several cars were just zooming right past me. But a state trooper pulls ME over for a fucking ticket. Usually, I'm very polite and respectful to cops, but this time it really pissed me off. I came out and asked (in a curious manner, not an angry one, didn't see any point to an angry manner and knew he'd respond better anyway) why he didn't go after those other cars that were clearly going much, much faster than I was. He said "you're easier to catch, you weren't going nearly as fast." OK, pal. Translation: I don't want to do my fucking job, so I'll let the more dangerous drivers go while picking on the less dangerous ones that are easier pickings. Uh-huh. Still shaking my head over that one fourteen years later.

[yodoobo]

9. Left exits are a special situation

that folks should take into account.

IMO there's nothing wrong with getting into the left hand lane a few miles before your exit and then driving at your preferred speed. Not much anyone can do about that. Besides, if other drivers are paying attention to road signs, they'll know a left hand exit is coming up and adjust accordingly.

I only have a problem with it, when some dimwitted folks get into the left hand lane and then drive slow for miles and miles, under the mistaken belief that they are being safer. When in fact, they are simply forcing everyone around them to change lanes multiple times to get around the rolling obstruction. Its those idiots that upset the traffic flow and endanger everyone around them, including themselves that are really the cause of the problems.

Unfortunately, its exactly those kind of folks that are the hardest to reach and most set in their misguided ways.

Kind of like Republicans now that I think about it.

[JerseygirlCT]

84. For a while, there was a woman who was traveling at the same time

as me every morning. I'd watch her get on the highway, move to the left lane, and do 55. When traffic is moving at 80. Then she'd just self-righteously park herself there, for miles and miles and miles. At first, I'd hope - "oh the next left exit is coming up, she'll be getting off". Nope. She'd do this for a good 10 miles every morning. Rolling roadblock is right.

I learned to get by that gold sedan at any opportunity or be stuck behind her, in a developing traffic jam, for a good part of the commute.

[LiberalEsto]

24. I agree

"No one ever seems to remember these left exits when they complain about left lane drivers."

I have to make a left turn to get into my neighborhood. Since DC-area drivers have no mercy on people trying to change lanes, I need to get in the left lane and stay there for at least one traffic light before my exit. I refuse to go over 50 in the 45 mph zone, because the police always run speed traps in this area. It's not like I'm doing 35 or something, I'm actually traveling over the limit.

But these speed-crazy jackasses get right on my tail and want to run me down in their SUVs anyway. Just what the hell am I supposed to do?

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I drove in Connecticut over 30 years ago

and I remember signs admonishing drivers to keep right except to pass. According to legend, the rule was enforced with a hefty fine.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. In CT, traffic is usually moving too slow for anybody to be passing anybody

I hate driving across CT.

I once made it from NJ to Stonington, CT in 2 hours and 15 minutes (about 150 miles) I was THRILLED. Other times, it has taken me over 5 hours.

[joeunderdog]

48. Maine is the WORST.

At least in CT, you can blame it on the Statees. In Maine, the moving roadblocks are around every corner. People doing 12 in a 20 zone, 45 in the passing lane...:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Greyhound]

58. Come to Oregon, nobody's in a hurry and couldn't care less if you are.

We also enjoy a division of self-appointed speed monitors. They're the one's that will run a light to get in front of you and then lock in at 5 under the limit, riding their brakes the whole time.

When you see that evergreen tree, get around ASAP.

[Nightflurry]

90. Oh god, not them.

I lived out in Washington for awhile, and spent some time in Oregon with a cousin who was a truck driver and also a Michigan transplant. We spent, I kid you not, hours laughing and joking about how bad Oregon drivers are. Slow, slow, slow, slow. And they freaking stop on the highway to let people in sometimes! They're nuts out there, I tell ya.

[Greyhound]

99. There's lots of good things here, but the drivers are not one of them.

I've lived all over the country and I'll take the suicidal maniacs of the Chicago-land area over this eternal creeping along any day. It's extra double plus funny when you get one in a Ferrari or a Porsche.
:rofl:

[JerseygirlCT]

78. I don't know - lately 84 in the left lane moves pretty dependably

at 80 or more - so long as the pokes stay over to the right. It's gotten much faster.

You were probably traveling on 95? That road sucks. No two ways about it. No good way around it. It's just a horrible, awful, road.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

101. Yep, when I'm in CT, I'm on 95...all the fucking way to exit 91

[JerseygirlCT]

108. 95 is awful

You have my sympathies. I can usually avoid it completely. Which I do!

[NutmegYankee]

132. exit 83.

It just sucks.

[JerseygirlCT]

77. So my dad says

He remembers the good old days, when they'd drive through CT, and that would be the biggest offense you could get nailed for - not speeding, but failing to pass in the left lane.

Of course, we've got some ridiculous road design here, and some genius decided left exits were a dandy idea, so that slows things down, too.

[pipi_k]

105. Left exits are from the devil himself

I hate them!!!

There were a couple of times I had to drive from Mass down to the CT shore near Niantic, and passing through Hartford you have to take a left exit to get to New London/Niantic.

One time I just couldn't hack it and decided to try and take Rte 5 through Hartford and try to pick up the highway after going through the city.

What a nightmare.

Stuck in the bowels of Hartford on a hot summer's day...hopelessly lost

In the end, I ended up sucking it up and getting on 91 North, getting off at the exit before McDonald's, then getting back on again going South and then white-knuckle it through the left exit. I'm sure I must have pissed off a lot of people behind me, but I was having a serious panic attack and it's lucky I didn't cause an accident....

:scared:

[JerseygirlCT]

107. The flyover on 91 N in Hartford (from 84E) is what

gives me anxiety attacks - especially in bad weather.

Or an even worse exit from 84W in Waterbury. Sharp left turn and heading down at quite an angle all at once. I will even drive through Waterbury (and I'd take a drive through Hartford before that, lol) to avoid it!

Rt 5 isn't much through Hartford - and it's tough to get around there. I can imagine that was NOT a fun time! There's got to be a better way - everything's all spaghetti in that mix between 91, 84 and all the smaller highways there. Were you headed from 84W trying to get on 91S? There might be a simpler way of going through downtown (not nearly so scary) and picking 91 up then.

[kentauros]

156. Left exits aren't so bad here (Houston).

However, the worst freeway design I have ever seen is if you need to get from Loop 610 S to I-45 N. There is no standard ramp that is a simple left curve over (or under) the other ramps to get you there. Instead, you have to exit the freeway like you're going to one of the cross streets, go under the loop, parallel it on the other side going east, turn left on the cross street you just went under as well, and then you have a curved acceleration lane for a left entrance! The worst is if you're behind a rig getting on the freeway and getting dumped into the passing lane at 20mph!

This interchange has been this way since they rebuilt it thirty years ago (or more.)
Here's google maps if you want a closer idea of it:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=29.698473,-95.29231&spn=0.007139,0.017627&z=17 (map)
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=29.699796,-95.29209&spn=0.001785,0.004407&t=h&z=19 (aerial of entrance ramp)

[TheFarseer]

4. We usually don't have trouble with that

I can't say enough about Omaha drivers. The rest of the state is packed with idiots including Lincoln, but everyone in Omaha is always really good.

[Buns_of_Fire]

133. They were always very kindly to me.

Even after I managed to skid across three lanes of traffic after making a left turn after the first significant snow. All the drivers backed off and gave me plenty of room. I think it was because they noticed my Georgia tags and realized that they were dealing with someone who didn't have the foggiest idea about how to drive in snow.

I miss Omaha. Nice people.

[FormerDittoHead]

7. Yes. Here's the tip: if people are RACING past you on your right - MOVE OVER.

I almost got killed one day coming home from a job that was 60 miles away.

I was really foolish, but I was tired.

The guy in the left hand lane had people RACING past him on the right.

I managed to get in front of him, and started going *35* miles an hour and the man finally pulled over onto the middle lane to pass, and then I FLOORED it.

The man CHASED after me, but the traffic was heavy and he was PISSED. I'm guessing he "liked" driving in the left hand lane with everyone passing him on the right. Flashing his high beams at me and honking, I could tell that if we had gotten stuck in traffic, he would have gotten out of his car and had it out with me...

[ixion]

8. It's very simple: Slower Traffic Keep Right

If someone is coming up behind you, you are the slower traffic, no matter what speed you're going. So many traffic issues could be solved if people would follow that simple rule.

[hlthe2b]

15. Some think that is possible when it is heavily congested in both

lanes. It is NOT. The single dweeb who thinks HE is special and EVERYONE should (MUST) move over so that he can go 90 when both lanes are bumper to bumper (yet moving at highway speed)... That is when it gets dangerous. These idiots will stop at nothing, weaving in and out, taking the median or the right shoulder... Yet, they think the law is on THEIR side because of "keep right except to pass." :eyes:

[rucky]

13. One exception: Michiganers driving through Ohio

need to chill the fuck out. I don't blame them for wanting to exit the state as quickly as possible, but maaaaan!

[Romulox]

14. It's passive aggression.

[DCKit]

22. Definitely. And, in my experience, most of them are middle-aged white men...

like me. Nothing like learning what NOT to do, by example.

[liberal N proud]

35. I find most of them are form Ohio or Illinois

[jazzjunkysue]

113. Nope. They're all from long island.

Ok. I live in the tri state area. Long Islanders are far and away the worst offenders in the left lane.

They beat NYC, Jersey and connecticut hands down.

The rudest drivers are in Westchester county, just north of NY,

but the brain dead drivers are ALL in long island.

It's simply beyond explanation.

I don't know. Maybe it's because all the exits and towns look the same, so they can't tell 'if they're going anywhere" or not.

Mall, Mall, cemetery, Mall, Mall, Mall....

Or, maybe it's because it doesn't really matter where they get off. I don't know.

But you're guaranteed to find someone doing 50 in the left lane every 10 miles without fail.

And, yes, people are FLYING past them in the right lane.

[liberal N proud]

142. LOL

Mall, Mall, cemetery, Mall, Mall, Mall....


Suburbia hell.

[Radical Activist]

121. hah I was thinking most were from Ohio and Wisconsin.

And that its often women don't seem to have any idea what's going on around them.

[liberalhistorian]

155. I lived in Ohio for forty years, most of my life, and

I thought OH drivers were bad until I moved to SD a few years ago. Yikes! No one follows any traffic rules, people do what they want how they want and to hell with you if you even look like you're gonna complain. And, in Rapid City especially, don't even bother to try to change lanes, signalling or not. People will simply speed up and deliberately block you from changing lanes, I kid you not. There was once a letter in the paper complaining that no one ever seemed to use their turn signals anymore. Other people responded asking why bother when people don't let you change lanes anyway.

[liberal N proud]

159. Even worse that the Ohio drivers who sit at your rear quarter on the left?

[liberalhistorian]

174. Yep! I know that's hard to believe, given

how unbelievably annoying Ohio drivers often are, but yeah, they're worse here in SD.

[treestar]

145. That's absurd

[conscious evolution]

17. On German autobahns in cities

different lanes have different speed limits.
I wish we would try that here.

Another thing I was taught over there,though I don't know if it is true,is if you are in the left lane and get rear ended by a faster vehicle it is your fault and you will get the ticket.

[Duckhunter935]

23. Germany is great

"Another thing I was taught over there,though I don't know if it is true,is if you are in the left lane and get rear ended by a faster vehicle it is your fault and you will get the ticket."

That is probably true as you will get a ticket if you fail to move out of the way of faster traffic in the left lane. They also enforce left lane for passing only. I loved driving over there as they actually know how to drive and I found it much safer over there even with the higher speed. Down here they spent a lot of money on signs to let you know a lane is closed ahead and you know what people do is the see a lane with less traffic ang go for it and then are surprised that that lane is blocked then slow everything down be trying to push in to the through lane.

[Bandit]

30. Things have changed there then since I was there, because when I was there

There was No Speed Limit...

[conscious evolution]

36. This was only when they autobahns

passed thru cities.
Out in the countryside there was no limit.

[Jim__]

21. Yes! They drive me crazy!

If you want to drive 35, at least do it in the right lane.

[SheilaT]

26. I do most of my long distance

highway driving in the western part of the country, and I'm more driven crazy by big trucks who decide to pass another big truck while going up a hill, and neither one can maintain a speed above 55 mph in a 75mph zone. I've been on roads that have signage telling the big trucks to stay on the right and that helps.

This past weekend I drove from Santa Fe to Tulsa and back, and on the way there on I40 in Texas, there was a sign telling vehicles to stay on the right except to pass. I'd been trailing another car that had been staying in the left hand lane the entire time, no matter how empty the right lane. As soon as he saw the sign he moved over.

Signage can help.

Oh, yeah, and on that trip there was a time or two when someone was in the left land doing a little less than the posted speed, forcing everyone to pass on the right. And no, there were no left hand exits coming up within several hundred miles. Actually, I don't know if there are any left hand exits the entire length of I40, but I've only driven most of it, not all of it.

[Horse with no Name]

27. What makes me angry is when there are signs 5 miles back that there will be a lane closing

and I have been positioned and sitting in the one that won't and people come speeding up the lane that everyone has abandoned expecting someone to let them in. I say fuck them. I will not let someone in that does that. Their time isn't any more valuable than mine.
I am quite certain they should have read the signs at the same place I did and had plenty of time to plan for it.

[Romulox]

32. That means that the road is OPEN for 5 more miles

You cause traffic jams by attempting to "clamp" off the merge lane 5 miles prior to any lane closure.

[Horse with no Name]

50. I can understand that

But when it gets to the last 1000 feet...you mean to tell me that they couldn't find an opportunity to merge?
After I have sat in the bottleneck for 15-20 minutes--they can sit their ass there waiting for a kinder person to let them in because I damn sure will not.

[Romulox]

104. I agree w/r/t the final bit of merge.

But I have seen both sides: the guy driving in two lanes 1.5 miles before the lane closure is causing more people more grief than the folks zipping in at the end.

I personally will flat out refuse to queue up several miles before a lane closure just because someone decides that's when they feel like queueing up. As I said, if the sign says "Lane closed in 5 miles", that means that the lane is OPEN for the next five, and it is wasteful for amateur traffic cops to unilaterally decide to close the lane down early.

[Kansas Wyatt]

43. Drive in both lanes so they cannot get by.

I've seen and done it several times. It shuts people down from trying to butt in ahead of everyone else.

[Fumesucker]

120. Driving in more than one lanes is as illegal as speeding.

The lanes are there for a reason, you are legally required to stay in one lane unless you are in the process of changing lanes.

[Kansas Wyatt]

172. When traffic is backed up and merging to one lane, and some....

Jackass wants to fly by and cut in front of everyone else, I see no reason not to take my time merging. If it holds up assholes from butting in, then piss on them. If a cop wants to explain to the judge that I only have so much time to merge, because assholes want to create a traffic jam out of a back up, then so be it. I suspect that only assholes who want to butt in ahead of everyone else are the only ones who have a problem with someone stopping them from doing it.

[LanternWaste]

28. My time's not so important that I would allow...

My time's not so important that I would allow a temporary variance of fifteen or twenty miles an hour to frustrate me. If I get to where I'm going five and half minutes late, so be it. :shrug:

However, I'm sure most other people's time is indeed more critical, important enough, and timed-out well enough to the point in which slowing down for a driver in front of them for five minutes would cause a major disruption in their lives. I imagine it would result in bankruptcy or even divorce for many people (if the frustration they advertise is any indication) because they were forced to slow down from 65 mph to 61mph.

My God-- the horror. The horror.

[Romulox]

33. You're one of the passive aggressive ones. What a surprise.

[LanternWaste]

39. No-- I simply don't care one way or the other...

No-- I simply don't care one way or the other...

[Romulox]

45. You "don't care" enough to post about it on the internet. Right.

Being "unimportant" is torture to some, but don't worry: you're a star (if only for a moment)when you're inconveniencing strangers on the freeway.

[LanternWaste]

83. You seem to be implying that I'm the one doing the slow driving

"I don't care" referring to slow drivers on the highway.

You seem to be implying that I'm the one doing the slow driving. I'm not-- I simply don't get pissed off when someone else does it and I'm forced to slow down...

I don't know what the "star" comment was about, but I'm sure it was both impolite and incorrect.

Sheesh, pal-- you should take a step or two back from all these positions and labels you've been attributing to me as they're pretty much all dead wrong.

I'm sure you're a really nice guy to be around and all, but for whatever reason, you appear to take many of my statements out of context to suit some preconceived notion you may have. :shrug:

[Zywiec]

38. I can't wait until you have to rush to the hospital to see a loved one dying

Just make sure you keep your cool and maintain the speed limit.

Since your time isn't important, stop off and get some coffee on the way to the hospital. Maybe the rest of the family that made it in time would like something to drink.

[LanternWaste]

40. That wouldn't be my time, would it

"top off and get some coffee on the way to the hospital"
That wouldn't be my time, would it? That would be a loved one's time.

Why get pissy simply because I don't care if I'm forced to slow down or not? Seems like a waste of one's valuable time to me...

[Fleshdancer]

54. that was harsh n/t

[treestar]

144. Call an ambulance

What a dumb argument

[Zywiec]

147. Call a reading teacher

I wasn't talking about taking someone to the hospital, I was talking about going to the hospital to see someone who is dying before they pass away.

I've been in the situation, hopefully you never will.

Of course, I'm sure you won't since your life is most likely perfect.

[LanternWaste]

167. My response addressed the norm, not the extreme...

"...going to the hospital to see someone who is dying before they pass away."

Of course there will be extreme scenarios for any given situation. And in those scenarios, additional and appropriate measures would obviously be in order. In your example, driving in the passing lane with hazards on, flashing the headlights and honking the horn would not only be appropriate, but would be (I imagine) morally mandatory. And yes-- were my best friend dying in the hospital and I was stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, I probably would get frustrated.

But, all other things being equal, your particular example simply doesn't happen to each one of us very often, yes? I suppose I could have qualified my initial statement with "unless in cases of extreme duress..." or some such, but isn't that very statement implied with almost everything we post and say and do in our lives?

My response addressed the norm, not the extreme. I would hazard that our response to the norm is almost always different from our response to the extreme-- in our daily lives, in our actions and reactions to friends, family and co-workers, and yes-- in driving also...

You may get as pissy as you want in regards to how I react to a normal driving situation in which I'm stuck behind a slow driver-- but I think you veer wildly off the course of simple prognostication and into the realm of the absurd if you you presume my response to the extreme would be the same as my response to the extreme.

[JerseygirlCT]

80. OTOH,

I'm sure it would be a most terrible inconvenience for the person poking along in the left lane to actually notice the traffic flow and move to the center lane, right?

[LanternWaste]

93. Probably not...

"...I'm sure it would be a most terrible inconvenience"

Probably not. But since I don't really have any control over what they may or may not do, I file it in my "Why-Worry-About-It" file.



I don't get this-- my position is simply that I don't get frustrated or mad if I'm caught behind a slow driver in the fast lane, and this is the third snarky comment I've gotten about it-- although to your benefit, it's been the "nicest" of the three :)

It's nothing more than getting from point A to point B, and 99% of the time, our trips are simply not that important. At least, not important enough to allow ourselves to get frustrated when minor inconveniences are chewed, swallowed and digested.

[JerseygirlCT]

94. In the larger scheme of things, sure

It's not up there with the most important parts of my day.

But it is an annoyance. And one that's so easily avoided. I think it's just another example of people being inconsiderate, myself. As I said, very often, the person doing this is simply not paying attention, b/c they are busy gabbing on the phone. Suddenly they hang up and realize they've been inconveniencing who knows how many people. Just move it over, for pete's sake! And use your darned headset, to boot!

For me, I've really got just so much time to get from point a to point b, especially on the homeward commute. There's a small one waiting for me, and I don't want to risk not arriving so as to be home when the bus discharges, you know? So someone else's saunter, often causing a larger traffic hold-up... it adds up to time that's going to make my ride all that more anxious - and unnecessarily so.

[Cronopio]

97. It's obvious that your comments about taking your time on the highway and enjoying life ...

... are just meanspirited subterfuge to cover up your seething passive-aggressive spite at those who want to get ahead.

I find that I've skipped the standard drama and ulcers by staying in the right line and within 5 mph of the speed limit. However in situations where -

1. I'm stuck behind someone in the right line going 10 mph below the speed limit.
2. I see several cars behind me going approximately the speed limit for the last 20 miles (i.e., not gaining on me).
3. I decide to pass at the speed limit or slightly above.
4. Instantly, every single one of those cars immediately speed up to 90 to pile up behind me in the passing lane.

- they can .fucking. wait while I safely complete my legal pass at the speed limit. They go out of their way to hassle people on the road, they deserve all of the inconvenience they get and more. I have more than enough seething spite saved up for those types.

On the German autobahns, these little passing-lane games are clearly ancient tradition.

[LanternWaste]

168. You've uncovered my dirty little secret.

"...meanspirited subterfuge to cover up your seething passive-aggressive spite"

You've uncovered my dirty little secret. :evilgrin:

One of these days, I hope to get to Germany and try out their road-system-- it sounds like fun actually. However, for the sake of prudence I think I'll sit shotgun for the first few days :)

[B Calm]

29. I use left lane campers for bear bait. After all if you want to speed

you don't do it in the left lane, or sooner before later you'll be caught!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. (paraphrased) George Carlin:

Anyone going faster than you is a maniac.
Anyone going slower is a moron.

[LeeM]

34. "Left Lane losers"

My kids hear that all the time. I learned to drive in DC, where bumper to bumper at 65mph was not only common, it was expected. Using a turn signal is just an invitation to get blocked out.Then I moved to Atlanta. Same degree of speeding, but a whole new level of recklessness & aggressiveness.

I was traveling from Atlanta to Macon on I75 during rush hour, passing traffic while in the far left lane. I try to pass then get over if there is anyone behind me. This day, I was doing 95 (with white knuckles), but so was all the other traffic in the 2 left lanes. I looked behind to see if there was any way to get over, and my entire rear view mirror was filled with a Sheriff's Dept cruiser. I had that "Oh s@#t" feeling, because I was busted.

Now, traffic was thick. I figured he was just pacing me to write a big ticket. I got over after a mile or so, didn't slow down much, and the officer just jumped up to the next driver and rode his bumper until the guy got out of the way. This went on for about 10 miles and a bunch of cars, then the cop took an exit. No one got a ticket. I guess the problem of creating a traffic jam overrode the speeding.

I live in Savannah now, and I sure don't miss DC or Atlanta traffic.

[lutefisk]

63. .

edit: oops, posted in wrong spot

[alphafemale]

109. Hey Neighbor! Welcome to DU!

I live in the Savannah area too.

:hi:

[slackmaster]

37. They're just as bad as walk - four - abreast - blocking - the - aisle at Wal-Mart slowpokes

A pox on them all.

[sofa king]

53. Or standing to the left on DC escalators!

Here's a little tip to all of you planning to visit Washington for the inauguration:

Please stand to the right on escalators, to allow people on the left to walk up the steps.

DC is a busy town and far too diplomatic for its own good. You won't be asked to move over. You'll just be silently marked as a tourist and their glares will burn a hole in the back of your big behind.

[taterguy]

89. Escalators are one or two stories: About 40 feet

Are you in that much of a hurry?

[sofa king]

106. Oh, yes!

Or at least I used to be, before I turned in my rat-tail and bowed out of the race.

In all seriousness, yes, people are in a huge hurry there. A walk up the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_(Washington_Metro)">Rosslyn escalator might save you a full minute off the two and a half minutes it takes to ride it. And if that one minute is the difference between you catching your bus and you waiting for a half hour on a cold and rainy day that Msawbe isn't playing, you can bet you're gonna walk it the next time.

Or at least think about walking it--it's also an excellent way to keep in shape!

The cleverest birds in the DC area know that public transportation is often the fastest mode of transportation, because many connector buses blow down their own lanes while auto traffic is at the usual 4:30-7:45 standstill. But to successfully master it requires down-to-the-minute timing between train lines and/or buses, and a hold-up at any point can spell the difference between making it or waiting... or even not getting home at all. More than once, I slept on the office couch because I missed the last train out of town (they run much later, these days).

As a result, tourists get a bad rap for doing what we secretly all wish we could be doing--enjoying it as a new and leisurely experience. For the locals, it's just more time running on the wheel.

[NeedleCast]

157. Hehe, I actually made a blog post about that not long ago

as a DC metro commuter, I've always thought it funny that people get in such a hurry that they walk (often very quickly) up or down the escalators in the metro stations. Unless it's for the very last train, I just don't get it. It's the subway...I PROMISE they're going to send more trains. Yeah, you might have to wait 3-5 minutes, or even 15 minutes if it's late at night, but I PROMISE there's going to be another train.

This was reinforced last year right around this time - when the escalators and tiles in the metro station are often damp and slick. Some lady saw the train pulling in and started running - in heels mind you - across the tile and onto the escalator. She got about six steps down the escalator, slipped and tumbled 35 to 40 feet down jagged, steel steps. I called 911 from my cell phone and about the time the next train pulled into the station the EMTs were scraping her off the tile. I'm not sure how badly she was hurt and two army guys in uniform were checking her over so I just stayed out of the way.

As a person who makes it a point not to get myself into situation where I'm forced to hurry, I've never understood it. I'm a calm person.

[ieoeja]

170. How 'bout those who get off the escalator ... then stop?

Had that happen a couple of times when I was able to walk backwards on the escalator one or two steps before they moved. Last time I had a bunch of passengers behind me, and my arms full of lunch. So I lowered my shoulder and went for it.

Bastard moved just as I came off the escalator. I was seriously disappointed as it isn't often you have absolutely ZERO choice but to knock some jerk to the ground.

I'm only evil when I have to be. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy those occasions.

:evilgrin:

[Dukkha]

41. I'm sick of the tailgaters myself

Even when I'm already going fast in the left lane they just fly up on you and sometimes flash high beams before they recklessly pass everyone up. They particularly do this in hazardous weather conditions. All these drivers either have been in an accident or will be eventually. I always stay in the middle mow when I can for my own safety.

[TexasObserver]

117. Tailgaters are the most unsafe drivers on the road.

They think they're super good drivers, but they're not. Anyone who tailgates another car at 60 or 70 mph is a danger to everyone on the road. What kind of moron thinks saving 5 minutes of a 30 minute drive by running up on everyone's bumper will suddenly make their day more fulfilling?

This always comes down to the few people who can't drive the speed limit, refuse to drive safely, and arrogantly think the laws and the rights of others are not their concern. And it's never anyone who really has something important to do.

[RebelOne]

140. Once I had some idiot in a pickup tail-gate me at 70 mph in the left lane

I moved over and he started to tail-gate another driver. Well, that driver had to hit his brakes because the traffic slowed. The idiot couldn't stop in time and he ended up over-turned in a ditch. I had no sympathy for him.

[TexasObserver]

160. The worse the driver, the faster and closer they drive.

That's just a fact of life on the road.

I suspect there is a psychological component. People who compulsively run up on other drivers and tailgate are likely people who are underlings, workers who have no personal power in life. When they get behind the wheel, it's the most power they ever have in life, so they abuse it.

Think about who usually tailgates and zips in and out of traffic like that. It's mainly young people who think they have to hurry everywhere, or older people who are at the bottom of the work ladder.

Tailgaters are not fully matured, as evidenced by their dangerous conduct.

[brentspeak]

178. I saw a tailgater clip the rear bumper of the car in front who was passing to accommodate him

The tailgater was so impatient that even though the front car was trying to get out of his way, the tailgater would not let the front car fully complete his pass to the middle lane. Clipped the forward car's left rear bumper as the forward car was moving right, and it's a good thing that front car didn't get spun-around on the highway like a top.

[ProfessorGAC]

42. We Have A Law In Illinois

But, the way it's written makes it nearly unenforceable. The only a cop can stop someone for it is if they actually follow them for one mile. You have to be in the left lane for one mile while NOT passing a single vehicle.

If the highway is congested, the law doesn't apply to allow all lanes to be used.

So, we have a law on it, but it probably is barelly ever enforced.
GAC

[WCIL]

52. Ain't that the truth!

The closest I have ever come to killing someone happened on the dead stretch of 172 between Quincy and Springfield. A truck was in the right lane, and only able to do about 50. Along about Barry, a woman pulled into the left lane and also drove 50 - all the way to Springfield, so about 80 miles. There is almost no traffic on that highway, but it all caught up to those two. I am surprised the SP didn't hear the horns. It was horrific.

[ProfessorGAC]

60. Well, I'll Admit, I'm One Of The Slow Ones

But, i actually do stay as far to the right as is safe. (When a lot of exits are coming, the center lane is actually the safest lane, by statistics.)

But, i do see this happening.

You know another thing i see around Illinois:

I see the FAST drivers staying in the right lane until the last possible moment. I don't know if they think the troopers are only gunning the left lane, but i've seen people doing 75 in a 55 in the right lane and just snapping into the middle lane to gor around someone.

Seems to me that's WAY less safe than going slow in the left lane. But, that's just me.
GAC

[Fumesucker]

66. Do the math..

Someone driving slow in the passing lane causes many other drivers to have to change lanes to the right (more dangerous than changing lanes to the left because visibility on the right is so much more restricted) and then pass on the inside (also more dangerous than passing on the outside). One slow driver in the passing lane can easily force hundreds of not particularly safe lane changes and unsafe improper passes on the part of other drivers.

Oh, and that's pretty much the way they drive in Germany where people have to pass a really rigorous exam to get a license, pull out only to pass and get back in as quickly as possible.

[TexasObserver]

116. Or, you could look at it rationally, and blame those who drive over the speed limit.

This is where your approach falls apart. In your world, the person following the law is wrong, and the idiots trying to drive 10-20 mph over the speed limit are the good guys.

You and others are simply rationalizing your misconduct and making others the goat. The answer is to stop kidding yourselves: Your time isn't that valuable. Slow down, drive the speed limit, and stop acting like you have a God given right to drive as fast as your foot will let you.

[Fumesucker]

122. The great majority of people exceed the speed limit at least some of the time..

You are speaking of utopia, I am speaking of driving in the real world in order to minimize actual risks from the observed behavior of most other drivers.

In over forty years of driving cars and riding motorcycles I've never hit another vehicle, but I've been hit three times from behind.

[TexasObserver]

123. Try that defense when you cause an accident going over the speed limit.

EVERYONE WAS DOING IT!

Or try it for that speeding ticket.

The people who are zooming up behind others, honking, flashing their lights, and pissing their pants about someone "in their lane" are not safe drivers. If they were, they wouldn't be tailgating, no matter how pissed they were about someone else stopping them from driving 80 mph.

[Fumesucker]

124. I don't tailgate, don't honk my horn and don't flash my lights..

I just want as few accidents as possible IN THE REAL WORLD.

Your mistake is you take the behavior of a relative few, honking horns and flashing lights, and use that to bash everyone that does not drive exactly the way you wish they would.

Tailgaters are a mixed lot, quite a few of them aren't really interested in going much faster than the car they're behind.. I have a family member that's a consistent tailgater and yet he doesn't drive as fast as I do, for some reason he just likes to get close to the car in front, even when he has an opportunity to pass he usually doesn't, he just locks onto the car in front of him and gets waaaay closer than I'm comfortable with, after a longish trip with him driving my right leg is practically cramped from trying to push the brake pedal through the floor.

I'd be willing to wager a considerable sum that you don't follow every single traffic rule and regulation as scrupulously as you want others to follow the speed limit.

[ProfessorGAC]

134. What Math?

I said i stay to the right as much as is possible.

I have no idea what you're objecting to.
GAC

[Fumesucker]

161. Here is what you said..

I see the FAST drivers staying in the right lane until the last possible moment. I don't know if they think the troopers are only gunning the left lane, but i've seen people doing 75 in a 55 in the right lane and just snapping into the middle lane to gor around someone.

Seems to me that's WAY less safe than going slow in the left lane. But, that's just me.

One person changing lanes twice is less dangerous than multiple people changing lanes multiple times.

The slow driver in the fast lane causes multiple people to perform unsafe maneuvers, the driver who waits longer than you would to change lanes, while it may be equally unsafe for that particular driver, does not usually cause multiple others to perform unsafe maneuvers.

I didn't mean my comment as personal attack and I apologize if it seemed that way to you.

[ProfessorGAC]

162. Now I Get It

No offense taken, though. I really did understand what you were saying. Now i do. Have a safe day on the Grand Prix tracks we call interstates!
GAC

[Fumesucker]

163. Here in Atlanta we have a perimeter highway, I-285

It seems that a lot of driver mistake the road ID number for the speed limit. :)

Since it is a more or less roundish track, it's really more like NASCAR than Formula One..

Driving in Atlanta is more or less a contact sport, we are among the fastest drivers in the USA in my experience.

[ProfessorGAC]

165. I've Been On That Highway!

I used to go to Atlanta quite a bit to consult at a plant in Jackson County (or township). It's up past Gwinnett county, but i've taken the loop when there was an accident on 85 and 285 was a better choice. Yeah, that highway is like NASCAR without the bump drafting!
GAC

[TahitiNut]

47. Nope. I discovered that I was sharing the planet with billions of other people decades ago.

I've learned to leave on any trip with plenty of time to get there. I've learned that there's lots of reasons that people do things I don't understand by merely glancing - including the FACT that there's more than enough tragedy (death, divorce, terminal illness, etc) that I doubt I could pass more than three or four cars without passing someone experiencing enormous difficulties.

Then again ... I remember when I was young, arrogant, self-centered, and ignorant ... but I grew out of it.

:eyes:

[wartrace]

183. That's a great way to look at things.

Seriously, you don't know if that persons troubles are distracting them from driving. I remember driving a beloved pet to the Vet to have her put down, I really didn't care much about driving that day. I really didn't care about anything.

I sure am glad there are people like you in our world TahitiNut. :yourock:

[IndianaJohn]

184. So true! n/t

[sofa king]

49. There should be a corollary law to that.

Which is that one can (reasonably) exceed the speed limit in order to pass. I'm convinced that a lot of campers are people who refuse to break the speed limit while passing. I'm also convinced that a lot of right-lane drivers unconsciously try to match speeds with the car passing them.

When you put one of those left-lane pussies up against the passive-aggressive dicks in the right lane, they both act like buttholes, which gives you a log jam.

And it also gives this post an NC-17 rating and a near-inevitable South Park reply.

[WillieW]

51. That is precisely the reason I got a ticket

Passing a slow driver on the only area where I was able to pass. I sped up passing and the police was waiting around the corner.

[krispos42]

55. The safety issue, it seems to me is the disparity between speeds

Rather than the clock speed the cars are moving at.

A wide disparity between the fastest and slowing moving cars in any given stretch of highway increases the number of lane changes and passing done, and increases the changes of an accident happens because a driver didn't see "that car" move up into their blind spot when the passing occurs.


Every drive the prevailing speed, whatever that is. A fixed block of cars moving in formation is safer than traffic columns sliding past one another.

[TexasObserver]

74. The speed disparity is the fault of speeders in most cases.

Most drivers who drive below the speed limit are already to the right.

When some drivers insist on driving ABOVE the speed limit, they create two dangers - one, they drive an unsafe speed, and two, they create the speed disparity which is far more risky to all the cars in the vicinity.

The core problem is drivers who think they have a right to exceed the speed limit, when they don't.

[krispos42]

75. Speed limits have nothing to do with safe speeds, IMO

State speed limits are blanket restrictions set by law. No consideration is taken into the characterists of the road or traffic load. Pretty much everybody knows this, which is why the speed limits are universally ignored by the general population.

Depending on traffic flow, it is oftent he people driving at the speed limit that create the two dangers you mention because they are in the minority most hours of the day.


Our system is screwed up. People are most likely to get traffic tickets for speeding when it is absolutely the safest conditions to do so (straight, empty roads) and least likely when it is most dangerous (curvy, crowded roads). The end result is that people speed less when it's empty and more when in a herd of cars during heavy traffic congestion.

:shrug:


Another 20 years we'll have self-driving cars and all this will be moot anyway. We don't drive anymore; we'll simply tell our cars where to take us.

[TexasObserver]

79. That's not an opinion shared by safety experts.

It is certainly better when all the traffic is moving the same speed than at different speeds, but the higher the speed, the greater the risk of serious injury or death. The correlation is indisputable.

If one has a wreck going 80, one is probably going to suffer serious injury or death.

We have speed limits everywhere, and the duty is to follow them, not make exceptions because we think it's safe to go faster. The reality is that drivers who drive over the speed limit endanger others because they lack the self disciple to simply obey the speed limit. Is the ten minutes you save in an hour's drive really that important? All those cars driving ten miles over the speed limit are barely getting there faster than their fellow drivers.

If you have a wreck going 80 mph, and someone dies, expect to serve some time for that crime. It's negligent homicide.

[krispos42]

125. Except safety experts aren't in a vacuum

They can only advise regulators and legislators who have their own agendas. For example, there's a section of I-35E in St. Paul where the speed limit goes from 70 to 55 to 45. Why?

Not for safety reasons. It's the end result of a lawsuit over noise-abatement! From several decades ago, I understand.

How about "green" policies? "Oh, we'll save x gallons of gasoline a year if only everybody would drive 55". States like New York still have a such a statewide limit, probably dating from the Arab Oil Embargo.

And of course, having a ridiculously low speed limit also adds to state coffers from fines and adds to insurance company coffers because now you're "high risk".

And finally, it generally provides a catch-all excuse for Officer Friendly to pull you over and look in your car and into your private business.




Ultimately I believe that the speed limits are artifically low to "protect us" much the same way that marijuana is illegal to "protect us". That is, not from a pratical or realistic perspective, but from influential and diverse organizations that stand to gain much from such laws. Either money or power or both.

[TexasObserver]

126. They're experts for a reason. Their opinions are based upon facts, not suppositions.

Whatever the basis of speed limits or your personal distaste for them, they're imposed by law, and it's not your option to pick and choose the ones you will follow. That's why we give tickets and prosecute people who harm others while driving recklessly.

You're free to do whatever you wish, for any reason you can imagine, but just know that from a civil and criminal liability standpoint, your rationale is not even considered a legitimate defense.

Speed limits are to protect us from bad drivers, who, in spite of no evidence to support them, think they're better drivers at 80 mph than everyone else is at 70 mph.

[krispos42]

127. And they aren't running things.

Politicians and others who want a specific result pick and choose the "safety expert" that supports the achievement of that result.

Keep in mind that it's the same "experts" that can be called up to keep marijuana illegal or teach abstinance-only education.


It's not that I'm against speed limits, it's that the system is inflexable and unrealistic. With modern technology, we could have computer-controlled speed limit signs that, when linked to the traffic-monitoring systmes many states employ and up-to-the-minute weather conditions provided by the National Weather Service, provide adjustable speed limits appropriate for conditions. Ramping them up when traffic is light and lowering them when traffic is heavy.

That would be nice.


So would a much higher speed minimum. I really don't think that the minimum and the maximum speed limits should be greater than 10mph. Not this "70mph max 40mph min" stuff that I see on Minnesota highways.

[JerseygirlCT]

81. Yup.

Which is why I'd rather see cops dealing with it that way.

Nothing wrong with driving more slowly - just keep it in the slower lanes, so that in general traffic moves along.

[Greyhound]

56. Watching the clusterfuck develop on the 101 used to be my morning entertainment.

Every morning it was exactly the same thing.

Traffic is heavy but moving well and some inconsiderate, "I'm in a bigger hurry and more important than you", asshole jumps on past Bronson and cuts across to the left lane, making the people (s)he cut off hit their brakes which start a chain reaction all the way back to the pass in less than a minute. Presto, a 4 mile traffic jam that lasts until 10:00.

[Fumesucker]

119. If someone is moving faster than you when they move over into your lane...

Why do you have to hit the brakes?

The people who truly snarl traffic are those who slow down to change lanes or merge, I've literally seen people slow to a crawl in order to change lanes. Hell, I've seen people stop in the middle of the highway in order to change lanes to the right when they think they might miss their exit.

Stopped in the middle or left lane on the interstate is just mind bogglingly idiotic.

[Greyhound]

164. Personal space, it's an automatic reaction when someone squeezes in

right in front, you anticipate having to stop short. Imagine the 285 packed but moving and someone coming on at Peachtree Industrial and cutting all the way to the left lane in one sweep.

[TexasObserver]

61. So, you're one of those speeders who thinks the speed limit isn't for you?

Is that you running up on the bumper of all who are driving the speed limit?

Contrary to your misapprehension, if they're driving the speed limit, they're right and you're wrong. Your desire to exceed the speed limit is not a right, it's a flaw.

Obviously, those driving below the speed limit should move over, but they're not the ones "clogging up" the inside lane. It's those going the speed limit.

You want to go faster than the speed limit, and that's the problem.

[liberal N proud]

68. No I am not one of those speeders

I rarely travel more than 4 - 5 miles over the speed limit if at all. And unless you have a badge, it is none of your business if I do.

The laws indicate that the left lane is for passing, not parking. And assholes who think they own the left lane need to be pulled off the road.

If you are traveling the speed limit and not passing anyone, you need to be in the RIGHT lane unless there is a left exit in a mile or less or congestion suggest that both lanes are fair game.

My rule, drive in the right lane unless passing even if I were speeding and the center lane on three lane roads to avoid the slower moving trucks. If I am in the middle lane and traffic is coming behind me and the right is clear, I will pull over there.

IT IS THE LAW.

[TexasObserver]

72. You just said you do. That's your problem, speeding.

And NO, it's not the law that drivers going the speed limit must move over for those exceeding the speed limit. You're misinformed, as most speeders are. The law speaks to driving slower than the speed limit, not slower than the idiots driving over the speed limit.

The only duty to move over while doing the speed limit is the one requiring all drivers to move over for emergency vehicles.

You're just a guy who gets mad because you can't drive as fast as you wish. Otherwise, you wouldn't have started a thread, and you wouldn't be calling people who drive the speed limit such names.

Drive the speed limit, and you'll be fine.

And contrary to your opinion, it IS my business if you're driving over the speed limit.

[liberal N proud]

96. Get your ass out of my way!

[TexasObserver]

114. Just for that, I'm slowing down to 55 mph beside that big truck.

And you can fume back there for the next 8 miles.

ha!

enjoy

[liberal N proud]

139. Glad I don't drive in Texas

Have not been down there for years

[TexasObserver]

179. Texas is, too.

[Scout]

71. yup, if i'm already going over 80 in a 70mph zone, i have no sympathy

for the tailgaters.

[TexasObserver]

73. Here's hoping you don't kill anyone!

Even yourself.

You do know if you kill someone while you're driving 80, you will likely be charged with homicide, are you not? The days of letting off criminally stupid drivers have passed.

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[donco6]

110. Oh brother. n/t

[calico1]

62. I travel I-95 to and from work every day.

Whoever said CT drivers are slow, how fast is fast enough? I average 65-70 mph and most cars fly by me.

I agree that left lanes are for passing only and I can't count how many times the traffic has come to an almost complete stop and I think there is an accident up ahead, only to find out it's some bozo cruising along at 55 or 60 in the left lane and causing a block.

I do agree though that left lane exits are just that--exit lanes. If the sign is clearly indicating that the left lane you are in is an exit up ahead, why would you use it as a passing lane? My exit is a left lane exit right off a bridge. I can't tell you how many times people use it as a passing lane and then tear back into the main highway right at the last moment. How dangerous and stupid is that? And it's not like there aren't any signs clearly indicating it is an exit.

[JerseygirlCT]

82. Every day I curse the idiots who designed those left exits, though

They ask for trouble. They beg for it. They're traffic jams just waiting to happen.

And my sympathies if you must travel on 95...

[lutefisk]

64. Many people drive in the left lane because they think it's less "bumpy"

Their reasoning is that trucks travel mostly in the right lane and cause more damage to the road surface in that lane. They are apparently oblivious to traffic laws. Many of these same people hold the belief that they are safer not wearing a seat belt because in a wreck they will be thrown clear of the danger...
:shrug:

[flvegan]

69. Yes, they do.

Ever been on the interstate and have a state police officer join traffic for several miles? Everyone behaves and goes the speed limit. Problem is, traffic backs up for a mile. It's like a 60 mph rolling roadblock. Fact is, speed limits on the average interstate are just too low for the population. If everyone did the speed limit, congestion would be a major problem 24/7. Just a fact.

[JerseygirlCT]

76. Glad to hear it. They drive me nuts.

What is so difficult about keeping right?

We've also got some just stupid road design here - there are countless left exits just on my daily commute. So you get grandma, pulling into the left lane, and poking along, slowing traffic to a halt - it would be nice if she didn't feel the need to do that 5-6 miles before her exit, though.

On the homeward commute, people who do that are almost always gabbing on the phone. I can tell when they hang up, b/c they remember to drive and start moving again. Double ugh.

[EnviroBat]

85. "None shall pass..."

[Dr.Phool]

86. I just try to be a courteous driver.

Whatever speed I'm going, speed limit, faster, or slower, If someone wants to pass me, I pull over and let them. What the hell do I care who goes by me?

[liberal N proud]

137. Exactly

Some who park in the left lane do so without any regard to the other guy/gal.

Here in NE Ohio, I swear that some of the drivers use highway time as a time to antagonize others behind the wheel. It appears to be a pass time here to pull up and sit off the left rear of cars in the right lane. They will sit almost in your blind spot until you come up on a slower moving vehicle.

When you want to pass, there they sit and you are trapped. Once they have trapped you, they zoom down to their next victim where they will sit again until they come upon slower moving traffic.

I don't know if this is something that they teach in driving school here or what.

I just want to get to where I am going and don't want to play their games. It is not something that only I have noticed, others have commented on it as well.

[bbernardini]

88. What I really hate is people who block a lane while approaching a merge...

...even if the merge isn't for another 1-3 miles. Sometimes they drive halfway in each lane, or sometimes they sit fully in one lane and crawl along so nobody can get by them. Almost happened to me this morning, but I managed to get around the person before he/she fully blocked a valid lane of traffic.

[Xithras]

91. I drive in the left lane all the time, but I yield when needed.

It's a pretty normal thing for me. I'll hop on the freeway, set the cruise control to 80, and move into the left lane. There are fewer traffic interruptions in the left lane, and it's often a better ride. If I see some dumbass waste of breath closing in on me, I'll yield to the right until they pass, and move left again.

The one thing that pisses me off are the idiots who think they have a right to get pushy about it. All of our freeways are 3 lane-per, and there is usually someone in the middle lane that I'm slowly overtaking at any given moment. If I'm doing 80 and the person in the middle lane is doing 77, it might take a minute or so to get around them, and the turd-for-brains doing 90 just might have to slow down and wait a minute. If they're considerate, I always yield. If they get 6 inches off my back bumper and start flashing their lights at me, the only thing I'll give them is a view of my brake lights and middle finger.

By the way, California has conflicting left-lane laws. One law says that the left lane is for passing, and another designates all lanes for primary traffic. If you're doing the speed limit in the left lane in California, left lane tickets are ALWAYS tossed. It's a hassle getting pulled over and having to go to court to contest it, but there are no fines and it doesn't show up on your driving record.

[county worker]

95. If you watch truckers on hills in CA with only two lanes, if they want to pass a slower moving truck

they pull into the left lane no matter who is coming up on them. I guess the have a hard time getting back up to speed if the slowed down.

Now when I am in the right lane and want to pass I pull into the left lane like truckers do. Then some ass hole who feels he has the right to do 90 or 100 and everyone else has to get out of the way comes up on me. I say fuck them! I'll get over when I pass the slower cars in the right lane and not before.

[pinniped]

130. I noticed trucks like to do this on I-80 in the mountains going to Reno.

They pull out in front of you on downgrades and upgrades.

[LuckyLib]

102. I ride occasionally with a colleague who always drives in the left lane. 55-60 mph. It drives me

crazy as folks have to pass on the right. I look down at the right mirror, and tell her "Mary, there are folks lined up behind you." She then moves over. Only to do it once again. What the hell is wrong with people? Stay in damned right lane unless you are passing or merging traffic requires that you move left to allow folks on the freeway. But that's another story: folks who have no clue how to merge ON a freeway, nor how to let folks ON the freeway by gauging their speed,
:mad:

[bertman]

103. Hogging the passing lane is inconsiderate as hell and dangerous. Traffic stacks up

and drivers start doing crazy maneuvers to get ahead. I'd like to see the HP enforce the law that says stay to the right unless you're passing.

What's really a pisser is when the offender will not respond to courteously flashing headlights or a quick honk of the horn, but acts as if he/she is deaf and blind and continues to back traffic up.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent. I feel better already.

[donco6]

111. I hate it.

My drive to work is all of 6.5 miles. I drive in the right lane except to pass. I figure, if someone's in a hurry, they probably have a reason. It's just common courtesy.

[alphafemale]

115. Hallmark of a bad driver. They need to make a left turn/exit miles ahead.

They have no idea how to merge into a lane.

Therefore they get in a lane and stick with it.

Hell to anyone else.

[NeedleCast]

118. While its dangerous to camp the left lane

if someone driving slower than you gets you that frustrated and angry, it's probably best that you just stay off my roads.

(P.S. "you" in this instance does not mean the OP)

[JCMach1]

128. Insane left-lane speed demons are just as annoying and perhaps

more dangerous.

[liberal N proud]

135. No doubt

[pinniped]

129. Some joker was playing lane hog at 60mph on Highway 58....

near Barstow. I couldn't pass the clown, because coincidentally, he pulled right next to the motorist in lane #2.

These young punks wouldn't yield because they were too cool.

After several miles of this shit, I saw a monster truck fast approaching.

Well, I yielded to the truck and he was right on their ass until they moved. That didn't take long.

I usually just pass left lane hogs in the other lane without incident.

Oh ya, there aren't any left lane exits on any part of 58 that I've ever seen.

I know one dumbass that likes to drive around 60mph in the #1 lane. Numerous times, cars have come from behind and flashed him, honked him, whatever. This idiots still does it.

This is an idiot that will drift into someone else's lane on the road and get mad when the other guy honks him for doing so. Uh, you drifted into the dude's lane, idiot.

Moran also got pulled over for going too slow on I-280 by the CHP. He was doing like 40mph late at night with few other cars around. He doesn't drink or do drugs, but the officer gave him a breathalyzer test anyways. Hell, I would've given the nut a sobriety test, too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

136. Can't Stand Them. But I Make Sure To Cut Them Off Sharply To Give Them A Good Ole Hint To Move The

fuck over. 99% of the time they get the message.

[Sancho]

138. When I retire, I'm going to move up North and drive slow...

That's my favorite bumper sticker! No one has problems with slow left-hand drivers like we do in Florida.

It's even worse than that because we have "Moving Road Blocks" where retired folks drive for miles side by side on the interstate with each other or a truck.

We also have "Saturday Specials" at the entrance to a church bingo, dinner specials, movie matinees or big band concerts when the over 70 crowd line up in the road and wait and wait and wait to turn in!

Of course, you DO NOT want to go to the grocery store the day that SS checks come out and stand there for 14 minutes while someone hunts for pennies to make the exact change (don't own a debit card).

Then there are "New Driving Rules": You have to put on brakes when approaching a green light in case it changes; you are supposed to wait to turn left at the big intersection just long enough to prevent the car behind you (me) from making the light; and you either never use a turn signal or else leave it on all the time.

At the gas station, you actually stand and read the screen on the pump and ask for a receipt and then go inside and ask the attendant to point out the numbers for the discount car wash and how long before the discount expires.

I can't wait to retire and get revenge on the next generation! I have devious plans to spend what's left of my retirement funds and simply drive around all day creating havoc.


:grr: :grr: :grr:

[KG]

141. not since i lashed that 4x12 hardwood plank to my front bumper! woohoo!

[Deep13]

148. First of all, "fast" means the speed limit.

That is the upper limit of allowed speed. And these days, that speed limit is usually pretty quick in most of the country.

Second, as noted elsewhere, many cities have left-hand exists that one cannot take at full speed.

Excessive speed is not only bad for the car and for gas mileage, but it reduces already inadequate reaction times. If there is a collision, it will be substentially more destructive than it would be at reasonable speeds.

So what's the rush?

Slow down, you move to fast. You've got to make the morning last.

[liberal N proud]

149. Why do you think they call it rush hour?

Everyone is always in a hurry and that appears to be specially true around here.

[alcibiades_mystery]

150. Good: Left lane campers are assholes with no concept of society

Fuck 'em with a stick.

$300 ticket for causing dangerous conditions on the roadways.

Dumbfucks.

[THUNDER HANDS]

154. when I drive on the LIE at 8:30 in the morning

I'm usually in the left lane doing about 80. And I get beeped and flashed by people who want to do 90+


should I pull over then? It doesn't seem fair.

[liberal N proud]

158. That is a bit excessive

But then I am sure you are running up some of the others who responded here that think that they have the god given right to keep you from speeding.

[cherokeeprogressive]

166. Nah. I just bide my time, and when I can get around them, I get around them.

They fade from my memory before they disappear from my rear-view mirror. I'm easy that way. If they're going faster than I am, I'll pull to the right without thinking twice about it.

What pisses me off though, is getting behind someone who can't drive a two-lane mountain road. It's two lanes for the last forty miles to my town. There are turnouts for slower traffic every quarter mile or so, but some refuse to use them. I've seen a line of thirty cars or more following one slow driver for over 10 miles. It's those people whose asses I'd like to kick.

[ddeclue]

169. In Florida It's Known as DWO - Driving While Old

Until Florida can get me some high speed rail like they promised and until I can afford to buy my plane, I'm stuck in the traffic and lately this means traveling up and down I95 every single day from South to Central FL.

It's usually the old fogeys dawdle along frequently in the left lane in their 20 year old tanks who cause accidents and don't understand they are supposed to get over to the right.

Also it's TRUCKS that insist on passing one another and trying to drive at the performance limits of their engines and transmissions under load around 70-75 MPH so that they can't maintain a fixed speed up and down hills and insist on constantly passing each other.

There needs to be a law passed nationwide like they have over in Texas: Trucks have to stay right and can only drive 60MPH while the cars travel faster at 65. If they did this they could stay at a fixed speed on cruise control and out of our way in the passing lane.

Personally I would like to see cars that are capable of travelling reasonably safely at high speeds be allowed to travel 85MPH in FL in rural interstate stretches provided that there is no traffic. There ought to be limits however to keep inappropriate vehicles (trucks and minivans for instance) from travelling this fast. Also vehicle safety inspections ought to be returned to FL.

It's my understanding on the Montana-bahn the speed limit is simply: reasonable and prudent..i.e. if you are driving a farm truck that doesn't mean 110MPH but if you are driving a high end sports car have fun..


Doug D.

[liberal N proud]

171. The Montana law also allows the patrolman to write you a ticket at 55

if you are not driving prudently. Screaming through the mountains at 90 MPH isn't exactly a bright idea just because there is no limits.

[lib2DaBone]

173. Left Lane Idiots are very dangerous.......

... they cause legal, law abiding citizens to make illegal evasive moves to get around them. (which jepordizes us all)

All truck drivers and big vehicle operators are aware of the concept of "Continuous Lane of Travel".

In other words, once you have 60,000 lbs of cargo up to speed and moving at 60 MPH, the LAST thing you want to do is change lanes or make fast moves to avoid some dick-head in a Ford Pinto who is parked in the left lane going 50 mph. (Exit ahead or no exit.. that's not the issue). Remember, these big trucks are loaded and they are on their way to market to benefit YOU! They are on a tight schedule and busting their ass to keep your food stores stocked.

When you get in the way and block the left lane in order to make a statement, you are soiling your own nest.

[liberal N proud]

175. When I am on the road, the trucker gets the courtesy

If I am coming up behind a couple of trucks, before I pass them, I check to make sure the one in back isn't about to pass the other. If he is, I will back off and let him go.

My opinion; that is these peoples job, they are out there every day and they don't need some jerk playing mind games on the road. That is one hell of a lot of weight to screw with. They are working their ass off trying to make ends meet.

Give the truck the courtesy and 99/100 he will pass the word and you will have an easy ride with the truckers on down the road.

[brentspeak]

176. In my experience, the left-lane Speed Racers also tailgate in the middle and right lanes

The tailgaters are much worse than the slow-pokes.

[liberal N proud]

177. True

At least you can get away from the slow pokes, either get around them or back off and live with it.

The tailgaters are on your ass and they stay there making it dangerous to even vary your speed slightly. And at night with the SUV's and their lights, it is blinding.

[Fumesucker]

181. Not necessarily the same group.,.

I have a family member who is a habitual tailgater, after a longish ride with him my right leg is often cramped from trying to push the brake pedal through the floor. If a car or truck he is tailgating moves over or exits he then just moves up the next car and tailgates them, rarely pulling out to pass even when it is completely clear to do so on a multi lane highway.

The thing is, I drive considerably faster than he does, you could call me the left lane speed racer but I don't tailgate, I stay a reasonable length back and pass as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

[brentspeak]

182. I used to deal with tailgaters by slamming on the brakes

That caused more than a few "let's pull over the side" type of confrontations. I finally gave it up because of the possibility that, sooner or later, a tailgater behind me inevitably wouldn't see my brake lights in time to hit their own brakes.

[liberal N proud]

185. Or some right to carry asshole might take a shot at you

That is something I do worry about. Combine crazy drivers with red neck right to carry assholes and who knows what will happen out there when the roads heat up.