Left-lane Slowpokes Drive you Crazy?

[Lzen]

http://discover.aaa.com/default.aspx...iving/Monthly&


The words ‘move over’ – even if readable in the rearview mirror – may not mean much to them, but a ticket might. Some states are cracking down. In these days of longer commutes and simmering tempers, nothing seems to set off already-testy motorists like the left-lane camper – the guy/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 aid 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. That’s not just a pretext. Last year, a driver was arrested on Interstate 79 outside Pittsburgh after allegedly brandishing a semiautomatic pistol at a driver who was on his tail.



You could get a Ticket ~ Some states didn’t allow left-lane lingering but didn’t enforce the law. Now they are. At the start of last summer, the Washington State Patrol began pulling people over for violating the state’s left-lane law, which prohibits “impeding the flow of other traffic.” This is a real big hot-button topic for the public at large right now; there’ve been a lot of complaints from drivers who’ve had to deal with left-lane campers. So far authorities have been gentle with the $124 ticket; the drivers stopped were given verbal warnings. Last year, news outlets reported that Oklahoma was bolstering enforcement of its left-lane law as well.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that they deal with the left-lane drivers going too slowly weekly; they’ve issued more warnings than tickets. Insurers haven’t gotten aggressive yet; but this kind of ticket has the potential to raise rates. Any moving violation that applies points to a driver’s record could affect that driver’s car insurance rates. And because left-lane driving would be considered as such an infraction, this would be taken into account when reviewing a driver’s policy.



What’s the law in your state? The laws vary widely. A few states – for instance, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts and New Jersey – permit use of the left lane only for passing or turning left. Georgia, Colorado and Louisiana follow the Uniform Vehicle Code, requiring drivers to keep right if they’re going slower than the speed of traffic. Wyoming prohibits blocking the far left lane of a highway “for a prolonged period,” though it adds that the traffic should be “at a lawful rate of speed.” In Arkansas and South Dakota, vehicles don’t have to stay right. Alaska, Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio vehicles can drive in the left lane so long as they’re moving at the speed limit.



Florida is trying to join in: Lawmakers reintroduced a Road Rage Reduction Act in 2008, requiring motorists to stay out of the left lane on interstate highways except when passing. It passed the legislature in 2005 but was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush, who questioned whether it was based on sound research.



It’s no wonder drivers can be confused and often frustrated.
One of my biggest Pet Peeves – One of those exasperated drivers in your rearview mirror might be Eli Dozier. “That’s one of my biggest pet peeves in the world, is when people stay in the left lane. They’re not passing, they’ve got people behind them, trying to go around, and they just cruise,” says Dozier, 31, and a stay-at-home dad. “It’s probably the most uncourteous thing you can do,” he says, adding that it’s “obviously” unsafe. “I’m a fast driver,” Dozier allows. “But if I’m not passing, I don’t use that left lane at all.” So what’s a frustrated motorist to do?



Dozier heard in a chat room about some windshield decals that said “Slower Traffic,” with an arrow pointing to the right-hand lane, printed backward in large letters for reading in a rearview mirror. “And so I immediately ordered one. I jumped on it.” He loves the thing. “Most people, its just inattentiveness” that keeps them in the passing lane, Dozier says. “Most people, when you pass them, they’ll give you a wave, they’re thankful” for the reminder.



At lease, he says, women tend to be. Men sometimes take Dozier’s sticker as an affront and will retaliate by slowing down, he says. There have been some middle fingers, some choice words. And then, Dozier says, “I have been known to show them how good the back of my car looks.” At very close range. Which only exacerbates the situation. Overall, through, both he and his wife are delighted with the results, he says. They recently bought her a Dodge Ram 1500 with a quad cab and they’ve ordered a decal like his for it.



Pennsylvania authorities also find that reminders do work. “Anecdotally,” says Carl DeFebo of the Turnpike Authority, “you do see a lot less people . . . enjoying the weather” in the passing lane since 25 signs went up on the turnpike in recent years. It probably helps that “sometimes our police will actually enforce this,” DeFebo adds, handing out warnings or tickets that add up to $108.



Courtesy Counts – The creator of those stickers, J.A. Tosti, is also director and founder of Left Lane Drivers of America. “What we’re seeking to do is raise awareness,” he explains. Tosti said aggression only aggravates other drivers. For him, response to the decal on his car has always been positive and pleasant – in large part because he is a patient, non-tailgating driver. “It’s amazing how effective the stickers are,” he says. “On one trip from Portland to Seattle, I felt at time like I was sweeping the left lane with a broom.” A faster, more courteous – well-swept – highway? Sounds like something most folks could live with.



Defending the driving – But not everyone agrees with those who tell them to get out of the way. “The left lane is for passing . . . not a license to speed till you kill someone,” wrote a contributor to Motor Trend’s blog. “Grow up. If I’m in the left lane doing 65 while the speed limit’s 80, I’ll move over. But if I’m doing the speed limit, and someone decides he’s Mario Andretti … he/she can go around me and break the law further up the highway.”



Washington state law says it is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of other traffic. There is a misunderstanding, a lot of people think that if they’re going at or near the speed limit they don’t have to get out of the lane. And the left-lane driving debate goes on.

[sedated]

I agree with alnorth, but it depends on the situation. If its an empty road, I’m cruising at a decent speed in the left lane, with an empty right lane next to me, and someone comes up behind me, I will probably stay where I’m at. He can go around. I always go 5-10 MPH faster than the speed limit, so its not like I’m a hazard or blocking his way – that driver is just being a pr!ck if he would rather tailgate me for 20 minutes than maintain his speed.

If the highway is somewhat congested, I will do my best to get over. I won’t punch the gas or anything, but I will get over as soon as possible.

[The Dawg]

Originally Posted by frazod

I certainly question your intelligence, douche. I guess you missed the part where I said he sped up as I was going around him. So as I was passing him at 90, he had gone from around 50 (in a 65 zone) to over 80. And my typical cruising speed is generally about 7 over the limit. He was complete prick.

I guess we don't need to ask about your driving habits, do we, Nancy?

I drive a Subaru STI - I drive like a Nancy.

I hope next time you are driving over 90 mph you get pulled over by the aids police and given a through anal probing. Worthless POS

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by sedated

I agree with alnorth, but it depends on the situation. If its an empty road, I’m cruising at a decent speed in the left lane, with an empty right lane next to me, and someone comes up behind me, I will probably stay where I’m at. He can go around. I always go 5-10 MPH faster than the speed limit, so its not like I’m a hazard or blocking his way – that driver is just being a pr!ck if he would rather tailgate me for 20 minutes than maintain his speed.

If the highway is somewhat congested, I will do my best to get over. I won’t punch the gas or anything, but I will get over as soon as possible.

Just move over to the right. Do the right thing. You are in the PASSING lane, not the "I make my own rules as I drive" lane.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by alnorth

You are wrong.

If I am GOING OVER THE EFFING SPEED LIMIT, then I am not slow.

Don't like it? Too damned bad.

If you are in the left lane, you want to go fast. If you are going significantly over the limit (where 1 mph is not significant), then you are going fast. If you want to drive some crazy unsafe speed, you have no more right to the left lane than I do. Want to pass me? OK, fine, I don't mind if you pass me, but I'm not going to shift left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right for hours.

The right lane is for people who go the speed limit or slower.

PERIOD.

douchebag mentality

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by JD369

I drive a Subaru STI - I drive like a Nancy.

I hope next time you are driving over 90 mph you get pulled over by the aids police and given a through anal probing. Worthless POS

It's obvious that you're a complete mindless ****ing reerun, but again, let me explain, I was doing 90 TO GET PAST AND AWAY FROM THE IDIOT WHO HAD SPED UP FROM 50 TO OVER 80, before he got a chance to play his left-lane blocking game with the next bunch of cars. You dumb ****. Get it? Before encountering that idiot (are you two related? Probably), I was happily driving along at about 72. Driving at excessive speeds in Wisconsin, especially if you have Illinois plates on your car, isn't smart. If your cousin Goober hadn't been a complete prick and had simply pulled into the right lane, I would have passed him without ever touching the accelerator and been on my way.

Everybody seems to get this but you, dumbass. As for your anal probings, keep your Saturday night festivities to yourself.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by frazod

It's obvious that you're a complete mindless ****ing reerun, but again, let me explain, I was doing 90 TO GET PAST AND AWAY FROM THE IDIOT WHO HAD SPED UP FROM 50 TO OVER 80, before he got a chance to play his left-lane blocking game with the next bunch of cars. You dumb ****. Get it? Before encountering that idiot (are you two related? Probably), I was happily driving along at about 72. Driving at excessive speeds in Wisconsin, especially if you have Illinois plates on your car, isn't smart. If your cousin Goober hadn't been a complete prick and had simply pulled into the right lane, I would have passed him without ever touching the accelerator and been on my way.

Everybody seems to get this but you, dumbass. As for your anal probings, keep your Saturday night festivities to yourself.

I've found out over the years that when you pass somone, 9 times out of 10 they speed up as you are passing them. I think it's a subconscious reaction by them and for the most part they don't realize they are doing it.

But I'll be damned if this doesn't happen. You all know the story--you are behind a car doing 60 in a 65 and you have to follow the car for a long time because there is no passing zones or there is too much traffic. Finally, you get your chance and as you speed up to pass the car you have to floor it because all of a sudden this asshat who has been doing 60mph for the last 10 miles is going more like 65-70 so you have to go like 75 to get around him/her.

It pisses me off.

Then, they kind of follow you for a while as you are doing 70 and they are doing 65 and then they realize they are going faster than before and the finally slow down.

There's so many idiots on the road who do this stuff.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

I've found out over the years that when you pass somone, 9 times out of 10 they speed up as you are passing them. I think it's a subconscious reaction by them and for the most part they don't realize they are doing it.

But I'll be damned if this doesn't happen. You all know the story--you are behind a car doing 60 in a 65 and you have to follow the car for a long time because there is no passing zones or there is too much traffic. Finally, you get your chance and as you speed up to pass the car you have to floor it because all of a sudden this asshat who has been doing 60mph for the last 10 miles is going more like 65-70 so you have to go like 75 to get around him/her.

It pisses me off.

Then, they kind of follow you for a while as you are doing 70 and they are doing 65 and then they realize they are going faster than before and the finally slow down.

There's so many idiots on the road who do this stuff.

It really is amazing. If somebody passes me, so what? It's not a race. And on the other hand, my passing somebody else isn't some raging expression of dominance. I don't care who you are, or where you're going. Just display a tiny little bit of common courtesy and move to the other lane. Really, it's not that difficult.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by frazod

It really is amazing. If somebody passes me, so what? It's not a race. And on the other hand, my passing somebody else isn't some raging expression of dominance. I don't care who you are, or where you're going. Just display a tiny little bit of common courtesy and move to the other lane. Really, it's not that difficult.

When I'm driving it's by the golden rule: treat others as you like to be treated. I give people plenty of space, I always drive in the right lane even if I'm going above the posted speed limit, I don't ever play games with other drivers (ie speeding up when someone passes me) and I always try to pass in the left lane (however this is sometimes not possible because others don't know how to drive).

I can't stand it when other drivers think it's some kind of game or a just clueless.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Yes, very annoying.

Dunno about other states, but here in Mass. this part is never, ever enforced that I have ever seen.



That said, Massachusetts is a great state for driving at reasonable speeds. Most people know how to drive (people who complain about Massachusetts drivers are from cow country and can't handle crazy city traffic, which I can't blame them for), and Mass State Troopers are awesome. Especially compared to Connecticut, which sucks.

Around here, my usual cruising speed is 78 mph -- not QUITE 80, and I haven't gotten a ticket or warning in ages. You really need to be doing 80+ and/or be weaving through traffic at a high rate of speed before you'll get pulled over. Cops here care more about drunk or reckless driving than speeding.

Supposedly Kansas did something with the law a couple years or so ago. But I have not heard of anyone getting tickets for that as of yet.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

When I'm driving it's by the golden rule: treat others as you like to be treated. I give people plenty of space, I always drive in the right lane even if I'm going above the posted speed limit, I don't ever play games with other drivers (ie speeding up when someone passes me) and I always try to pass in the left lane (however this is sometimes not possible because others don't know how to drive).

I can't stand it when other drivers think it's some kind of game or a just clueless.

Just like common sense, common courtesy is rapidly becoming a foreign concept.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

Just move over to the right. Do the right thing. You are in the PASSING lane, not the "I make my own rules as I drive" lane.

My attitude is the same as yours:

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

When I'm driving it's by the golden rule: treat others as you like to be treated.

As a driver, I realize that if I’m going 15 over, on an empty road, I might have to get over into the right lane every once and a while. I don’t see it as an inconvenience, and don’t expect people to be getting out of my way simply because I choose to drive 15 over.

And I don’t see how people can bang their drum and shout “it’s the law!!!!” about staying in the left lane, when the other person in question is guilty of reckless driving and more of a threat on the road.


But this is a weird argument, because I can see myself siding for each side depending on the situation, so I don’t want to get stuck defending the people that don’t get over – nothing had ever annoyed me more than getting stuck on K-10 behind some @ssh0le. I simply highlighted a situation where I found it acceptable.

[headsnap]

Originally Posted by sedated

And I don’t see how people can bang their drum and shout “it’s the law!!!!” about staying in the left lane, when the other person in question is guilty of reckless driving and more of a threat on the road.

staying in the left lane IS reckless driving!!!!

[frankotank]

Mother**** there are so stupid ****s in here!
Get the **** OVER! Its the law BITCH!
Sonofabitch this pisses me off......youd think I was driving...

[Earthling]

I see signs all the time along the freeways...Keep Right Except To Pass. This isn't that hard of a concept to grasp...is it??

[qabbaan]

Originally Posted by Earthling

I see signs all the time along the freeways...Keep Right Except To Pass. This isn't that hard of a concept to grasp...is it??

I tend to abide by this when on interstates, but in city driving where there are exits both right and left it doesn't really apply.

I think it's mostly old people who drive with this rule in mind anymore. Young people don't seem to ever have heard of it.