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.

[headsnap]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Cultural norm. Most people agree that at least 5 or 6 over is the norm on the left lane. The 15-over people may disagree, but thats just too damned bad. There aren't that many of them, obviously, given the average speed in a typical 2-lane highway.

5 or 6 is your norm, 9 is mine... now move over asshole!!!!

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by headsnap

5 or 6 is your norm, 9 is mine... now move over asshole!!!!

No. Wait till the right lane clears. If it is clear, YOU go there.

[headsnap]

Originally Posted by alnorth

No. Wait till the right lane clears. If it is clear, YOU go there.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?



apparently you are the same person on the road as the one you are in DC...

[headsnap]

If you are hanging out in the left hand lane when the right is clear you are a prick... no ifs ands or buts about it!!!!

[Brock]

Originally Posted by alnorth

No. Wait till the right lane clears. If it is clear, YOU go there.

The ****? If you're not passing, get in the right lane.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Cultural norm. Most people agree that at least 5 or 6 over is the norm on the left lane. The 15-over people may disagree, but thats just too damned bad. There aren't that many of them, obviously, given the average speed in a typical 2-lane highway.

Whatever makes you sleep better at night...

[-King-]

I go at least 5-10 over the limit no matter what lane I'm on. 65 is just to slow even if you're in the right lane.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by Valiant

And here are the type of pricks people are talking about.. right lane is doing 70-75, but you would rather just hold back traffic in the left lane and not pass.. No, it is cool, create a congestion instead of just getting over and going with the slower traffic..

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by headsnap

If you are hanging out in the left hand lane when the right is clear you are a prick... no ifs ands or buts about it!!!!

No shit.. "well I do not want to zig back and forth" Well if you are having to do it that much, then obviously the norm is faster passing in the left lane and not your style..

I drive fast and I barely pass the rightlane cars on 152.. You know why I drive 80? So I can pass them quickly and not tie up ****ing traffic.. It is all these assholes who barely pass causing the problems..

Shit a couple weeks ago I was doing 80, some guy came blaring up on me, probably doing a 100.. You know what I did? I got over so he could keep going, then got back over.. It is not ****ing rocket science..

It is ****ign stupid to barely pass.. If the right hand lane is all doing 70 and you want to do 72 dont pass.. Those cars will be gone in seconds, but for some reason you want it to take minutes. The left lane is for passing cars in the right lane swiftly..

And, it always seems to be the people that barely pass or never get into the right hand lane when they need to, don't know how to use a blinker either..

I think it is all those ****s from Liberty tying up 152.. Them and Lees Summit people are the new Overland Park assholes of Missouri..

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by -King-

I go at least 5-10 over the limit no matter what lane I'm on. 65 is just to slow even if you're in the right lane.

I am generally 10 over unless I am coming up to cars in the right hand lane, then I speed up so I can pass them faster.. They always seem to want to get over in front of them if you are not blowing past them..

I am also thinking of adding a dash cam to my truck, because most of the time the people barely passing are talking on their phone or throwing trash out the window.. I figured send the video to the local PD and see if I can get some warning issued..

But I am biased.. I hate people driving slow in the left lane.. Hell when I am in right lane I go with the traffic unless you have someone doing like 35 on the highway..

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by Shag

It's not your job to police the speed of traffic in the left lane. If someone comes up behind you going faster, move your ass over. Once they've passed, you can get back in the left if you need to pass other vehicles.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

I usually drive fast but if some loser is up my ass they can expect me to pace the car next to me

They wouldn't be up your ass if you would have moved your ass like you're supposed to.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by headsnap

5 or 6 is your norm, 9 is mine... now move over asshole!!!!

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by Brock

The ****? If you're not passing, get in the right lane.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by alnorth

No. Wait till the right lane clears. If it is clear, YOU go there.

Exactly the kind of thinking that pisses people off.

It is WRONG. There's NO REASON why anyone should have to pass an idiot in the right lane.