Why you shouldn't drive slowly in the left lane

+1

Besides a traffic jam to me it creates a very unsafe condition. Frustrated drivers start making quick, unsafe moves trying to get around these slower drivers.

 

A useful link on that site to the specific "keep right" laws for each state.

 

On a number of hypermiling articles, I get flamers ranting about people going slower in the left lane. We don't condone it - we allow others to pass at every opportunity.

 

When I get behind a "left lane blocker" I go beep-beep to get their attention. If they ignore me, I lay on the horn to annoy them. Driving in the left lane w/o passing is a crime in my state. (Most times they will be courteous & move over.)

Here are the signs posted in many states:



http://mindfuldigressions.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/traffic-signs.jpg

 

And from the other side, I regularly drive on 4-lane and 2-lane, one way roads and occasionally find tailgaters with no one in the left, passing lane. So I often change lanes to the left and watch in amazement as the tailgater speeds up and passes on the right. I then change back to the right hand, and though some times they do make a right-turn, a couple of hundred yards ahead, many times they do not. There are right-lane, speedsters who would rather tailgate than change lanes and pass the Prius driving at the posted speed limit. I've never understood it but I don't have too.

This week I was driving West on Governor's drive, a 4-lane road with a center turn lane. I'm in the right lane doing the posted speed limit and a small car runs up within yards of my rear bumper. Sure enough the left lane was clear. So we're approaching a four story tall hill that leads to the Interstate I-565 on ramp and I change to the left lane. Sure enough, the tailgater speeds up . . . UP HILL . . . and reaches the entrance to the on ramp . . . and appears to slow down.

By now, I'm back in the right hand lane watching with amusement as they take the on ramp, now a down grade, and DO NOT SPEED UP TO MERGE. This was one of the few times I stayed slow because I did not want to be anywhere near them. Eventually they accelerated into to traffic and I merged in to take the next off-ramp never to see them again.

The roads are 'the commons' and often we see drivers whom you wonder,"Can they walk and chew gum?" One thing for sure, stupidity is an equal opportunity employer and has no brand loyalty.

Bob Wilson

 

These drivers don't care if you are driving a Prius or not.

 

Ditto. Sometimes they beep at me (or give the finger) as if I am in the wrong. It makes me wish I was a cop, so I could ticket them for aggressive driving. The right lane is the designated slow lane & if someone wants to go faster, they can pass on the 3 lanes to the left.

 

I think I see why everyone gives you the finger.

The right lane is not a designated slow lane its the lane you should be in if not passing.

 

In California the far right lane (out of 5 total) is designated 55 mph for freight trucks & cars towing trailers. It is the slow lane.

Of course the 55 mph vehicles are technically allowed to use any lane (except the left passing lane), but in practical terms the California trucks & cars with trailers stay in the right lane. It is the place where slow vehicles reside.

 

I love the penalty in Colorado...

you get a 2 point deduction if you mail in your fine within 20 days...

So if you pay the bribe they lower your penalty... revune....

but yes slow drivers are a PITA. my trip to/from work is one stretch at 55 (4 lane) and everythying else 35 2 lane.. in my current tank on the cmax I've been sticking to the posted limits. and on the 35mph stretch its usually a mix of speeds from 20-35. I've had folks sniffing my tailpipe and flashing their lights on the two lane road while I'm doing 35, while I've got cars 30-40 yards ahead of me not going any faster...

Some people just don't like to be behind others. this is why some people hit the merge lane to speed up and pass other cars in traffic, or make turns from lanes other than the turn lanes...

angry driving has really gotten out of control. the whole "me first" mentality is too much. Iknow that driving a hybrid has really calmed me down. hard to be taken seriously as an aggressive driver in a hybrid...

I will say that when traveling down the road I will find myself hanging in the left lane from time to time and it takes a car passing me on the right to "wake me up" left lanes are often smoother...

 

First of all, it's not a crime in any state. It's a motor vehicle code violation. Second, it's an infraction to violate the speed limit in any lane. So if I'm passing someone in the left lane, and going at least the speed limit, I have every right to be there, no matter how much I annoy the a-hole behind me.

 

I've seen police pull-over several people "riding" in the left lane without passing. So I would say if the police are flashing their lights at you & handing you a ticket with a 100-200 dollar fine, then that fits the definition of a crime (A rose by any other name is still a rose.).

 

^ Another one of those: PLEASE ARGUE WITH ME - PLEASE!

I'm not paranoid about police, are you?

 

If you're passing a vehicle, then I would submit that you meet the "except to pass" caveat in the law. Whether you're passing slower traffic or just hanging out in the left hand lane is between you, your fellow drivers, and your friendly LEOs.

If you're on the right side of right and wrong?
Generally speaking things will sort themselves out.

 

I made no mention of intentionally obstructing traffic. Just because I'm not passing as quickly as the guy behind me would like doesn't make me a criminal. Maybe I'm inconveniencing him by not going as fast as he would like; he's also inconveniencing me be keeping me stuck in the right lane behind someone slower because I dare not impede his progress.

Who said anything about a two lane road?

 

If you are going +1 mph faster, then obviously you're passing. If you are not going faster than the guy to your right, you are in violation of the law. Simple as that.

BTW chuck is full of a lot of hate. He could just ignore me, but instead he choses to start fights.

 

As predicted from the hatemonger/troller calling the pot black...