Posted on 11/04/2009 8:43:59 AM PST by ExGeeEye
Assume the statutory speed limit of 70 MPH; the tendency of the local constabulary to ignore violations up to 5 MPH over; A stream of traffic in the right-hand lane averaging 68-72 MPH; and a certain sense of scofflawry and haste on my part that may rise to the level of a ticket without tipping over into the “reckless” category; and the fact that I am therefore in the continuous process of "passing on the left" all of those law-abiding drivers in the right lane.
A question: exactly how fast must I be going before I must make way for a non-emergency vehicle intent upon hitching ride in my trunk?
Someone once told me that 20-over is an acceptable maximum. That’s 90 MPH. I had to ask, "are you serious?"
No - you too, have to go with the flow of traffic. In heavy traffic, you’re not going to get a free and clear left lane. Live with it.
ok, I got it......you want to know if you should dominate the passing lane.......hmm. my SOP is to let the jerks pass me who want to race ahead attracting the cops and get a ticket......why should I slow them down? I usually go the speed limit or less than ten over.......so, I often find myself in the passing lane, however I make it a point not to sit there.
oh, move to the boonies.......it’s great - you have the highway to yourself!
This is why "HOV" lanes that sit largely empty on the freeway, like they do around here, are dangerous. If the main lanes are slow, the occasional HOV going by at high speed is a definite hazard.
No, I understand I’m not the only one on the road. It’s you who seems to not understand that. When traffic is heavy, traffic is going to fill all the lanes, and when it slows down, that means even the left lane is not going to remain open for you to keep going 70. That’s just the way it is.
nah, move to the boonies where I live. open roads as far as the eye can see. love it.
Oh wait... maybe I misunderstood you... Maybe you’re suggesting the boonies as a way to avoid those people... if so... good idea :~)
Need more coffee :~D
Gotcha ;~)
Get out of the left lane, period. No matter how fast you are going.
People who cruise in the left lane for no reason are mentally retarded.
Slower traffic keep right. If you aren’t willing to do up to 10 mph over the traffic in the right lane in order to pass, ease up and fall in behind.
1-2 mph differential is unacceptable.
Again: Slower traffic keep right.
I understand what you’re asking. In that situation (since I’m in the passing lane, and I’m passing) I move to the right when I’m no longer passing, or perceive that I can do so safely and conveniently.
In some states the left lane if for passing only. I know that sometimes all the lanes are filled and passing only doesn’t hold true. My theory is move over let the guy through so he can trip the radar up ahead and keep it clean for you.
I visited my daughter last year in San Jose....she advised me not to rent a car as I wouldn’t want to drive there. I scoffed at that, but had to agree after riding with her on the thruways.......YIKES!
>>>>>They think they are oh-so-important compared to everybody else.<<<<<<
No, they are simply oblivious to certain unwritten laws and behaviors that make this a civilized society.
>>Germans are odd people, but they know how to drive on the highway.
The Italians do, too. I was there last year, and people there “get it” on the roads. People aren’t talking on their cell phones, they aren’t applying make up, they aren’t reading the paper, they aren’t fiddling with their Crackberries. They are paying attention and *driving*.
I loved it.
But what if the people in the right lane are only doing 65? Does this mean that I should slow from 90 to 65, at the whim of the "faster" guy behind me?
Good for you. The key phrase there is "significantly but safely faster" than those in the other lanes. I live in Dallas, and if I slowed from 75 to 55 everytime someone else wanted to go 76, I'd never make it to work on time.
Note that I'm talking freeways here, not the wide open interstate.
” I hate freeways. I’ll take the two lane side road any day of the week.”
I hear you,I love them, too! I want to see America.
My answer is no... You shouldn't have to move over on the whim of someone who wants to drive without limit. Jumping back and forth between lanes that are going widely different speeds is what causes accidents. There is no right to expect the left lane is going to be free and clear in heavy traffic, and I don't think anyone traveling more than 10 mph faster than the flow to the right is safe, so you probably shouldn't be going 90, either.
On certain highways I will cruise in the left lane if the traffic is light. This is because tractor trailers have beaten the right lane into pieces and I'd rather not have the road do the same thing to my car.
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