Posted on 12/10/2008 8:53:48 AM PST by Smogger
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.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.moneycentral.msn.com ...
Miami is going to CHARGE MONEY FOR THE FAST LANE!
“Was STUNNED when vacationing in Vermont. Virtually EVERY SINGLE DRIVER IN THE ENTIRE STATE vacated the left lane instantly when not passing. It was WONDERFUL!”
We used to notice that with Oregon drivers in Oregon when we went there.
Then, if/when they crossed over the California Border into California heading south, they wouldn’t leave the left lane.
The funniest thing re the Oregon drivers happened the first Sunday in November this year. I was driving N on I5 the day after Cal played Oregon. Herds of Oregon drivers would blast past way over the speed limit in the left lane and stay there until they got radared and pulled over by several CHIPs. It must have been like shooting fish in a barrel for the CHIPs.
Nothing complicated about it, make your pass and move back to the right lane.
Unless the right lane is completely full, same answer to the others driving 80. Stay in the right lane unless you are passing. Period
I don’t think anyone is arguing you should move over for somebody speeding.
But, if you are going 55 in the left lane when 10 cars behind you are going 65 in a 70 so they don’t hit you, move over.
You are impeding traffic, and those people need to be ticketed for not using the right lane as slower-moving.
I still pull over and allow someone to pass and I still wave if someone allows me the same courtesy. Tinted windows sometimes don’t allow others to see your thanks so I don’t have a problem with hitting the blinkers as a way of saying thanks.
Don’t even try arguing on this topic. It’s amazing how so called “conservatives” love the letter of the law until it comes to them speeding.
I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand about “speed limit”. This whole “impeding the flow of traffic” garbage is exactly that, garbage. It sounds eerily familiar to “will of the people” (Obama’s citizenship) and “for the children” (pretty much everything else) comments of the left. An excuse to ignore laws and do whatever you want.
The speed limit is the MAXIMUM speed at which you can drive. The logic on this board is that if enough people break the law, then speed limits no longer matter. I guess everyone here is cool with illegal immigration, too?
>>Regardless, (and your statement is not necessarily true.) unless you are passing, you should not be in the left lane.<<
There is a caveat to that. On I-90 between Seattle and eastern Washington there are a few places where the right land is unbearably rough while the left lane is smooth as glass. I will camp out in the passing lane, but watch for cars coming up on me. I’ll move over for them and then go back to the left lane.
That would be me, if you're hogging the left lane. :)
Wrong as usual. You won't find a single instance of a single conviction of impeding traffic by someone going the maximum speed allowable by law. It's an affirmative defense in every jurisdiction.
Several states such as Alaska have it codified in easy to understand language for fellows such as as yourself who have trouble with the whole notion of what constitutes affirmative defense. See 13 AAC 02.050. sec b. of the Alaska code.
Upon all roadways outside an urban district, a vehicle other than an emergency vehicle proceeding at less than the maximum authorized speed of traffic must be driven in the right-hand lane or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle
What highway is that? The most I had heard of was 18 lanes for the Ontario 401. That beast looks like 20 lanes!
In most states, mine included.... "following the law" means moving your @ss over to the right lane. In most states, that left lane is for passing only. Check your own state law, odds are it's the same there.
You've got 2 lanes of highway traffic, the right lane is jammed with an 18-wheeler convoy.
Everyone is slowly but surely getting past them in the left lane and traffic is backed up in the left lane to pass the trucks.
Inevitably, some jerk wants to race up to the back of the 18-wheelers in the right lane and then force their way back into the left lane almost causing a chain-reaction accident.
These are worst than the slow-pokes and I do everything in my power to not let them back in the left lane in front of me. ...end of the line, jerk.
Interstate 10, heading west from Kerrville has an 80mph posted speed limit. It is a bit hilly out there in patches and it seems every time I’m on that road two tractor trailers block the road, driving side by side uphill... if I ever could have road rage that might be the time.
I have a friend that will tap the rear bumper of the car in front of him. It has to ramp up to that point though...
And then one of the trucks turns on his blinkers and moves to the left lane ...
Just like Kimmers confessed, they are not Native Texans and brought their bad habits with them.
Yeah you are right about the tinted windows it just aggrevates me a bit We Texans take thanks personally.
My wife a Kansan never understood the whole wave thing until we were in Texas for a while then she started to get it.
>>Court after court has affirmed that anyone going the maximum allowable speed by law has the right to the left lane as legally it cannot be slower traffic.<<
The reverse is also true. Depends on the state. The law is not about speed. It is about relative speed. If you are in the passing lane and someone is on your tail and wants to pass, and you are not passing another car, you are breaking the law - in some states.
Simple courtesy might be called for, even if there is a legal argument you can attempt due to a conflict between the two laws.
Something wrong with simple courtesy or are you more special than everyone else on the road?
Something we should know that gives you a special right to block traffic just so you're not bothered with the hassle of the other vehicles traveling in the right lane?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.