Freep this poll!!! Keep slow drivers out of the left lane...

Capital Online - Annapolis, MD ^ | 03-12-2003 | Capital Online

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

	Updated March 7, 2003

This Week's Poll

Check back next Friday to see the results.

The House of Delegates recently passed a bill requiring slow drivers who stay in the left lane of multilane highways to move aside for faster traffic; failure to do so could be punishable by a point on their driver's license and a fine of up to $500. What do you think of this?

	Good idea - this will reduce accidents
	Bad idea - it rewards speeders
	Neither - I'll email my thoughts

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

It's such a pain in the *ss having to move to the right to pass the 45 mph granny/gramps putting along in the left lane. It's dangerous too. Make the slow drivers move right so that traffic doesn't have to weave around them!

[alisasny]

In addition I would reckon slow drivers in left lane are a major cause of road rage.

[ko_kyi]

I will attach a "rider" to this....

Make the penalty similar for tailgaiting in the slow lane.

I am for both.

[DoughtyOne]

Tell you what, when I'm traveling down the freeway at 72 and some butthead comes up behind me, I'd appreciate it if they'd go around instead of honking and flashing lights. If they want to break the law, they should be the ones weaving in and out of traffic.

As for the grannies in the left lane, I see about 1 of them to every 10,000 speeders.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Freep bump

[AdA$tra]

Speed limits are for wimps. They violate my constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Don't even get me started on seat belt and helmet laws.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Oh, puh-lease. Left-lane slowpokes irritate me, too, but I don't want more statism as the answer to this particular problem. I yield to faster traffic, by the way.

[robjna]

while it is a pain in the ass dealing with slow passengers in left lanes, America as a whole needs to relax its driving habits. Everybody is always in such an all-fire hurry to get somewhere. Plan better, allow more time, and be polite!!!!
#$%hole drivers are the main cause of all accidents. Many of the @#%hole drivers are the ones going right up the butt of the people in the slow lanes.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

...seat belt and helmet laws.

Here's a good one for you. I got a ticket in Deleware many years ago for riding my motorcycle without a helmet attached to it. The helmet didn't have to be on my head it DID have to be attached to the motorcycle if not on my head!

[patriotUSA]

How will you feel when your body ages and your skills to drive weaken? I think you will learn to like those speed laws, helmets and belts. Until then, let me know when your coming through and I'll gladly get out of your way.

[kesg]

If we don't use all of MOABs on Saddam and his army, I have a wonderful idea what we can do with them...

[ctlpdad]

slow passengers in left lanes?

that would be my wife!

I live in the capitol of slow drivers in the left lane - connecticut, and the ultra-fast, really bad tailgating drivers from NY & NY. These people make me miss my boston commute, almost.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Sign me up for this. If you are not passing traffic, you have no business in the left lane. And unless you are getting on or off the fwy, you probably shouldn't be in the slow lane, either.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

but I don't want more statism as the answer to this particular problem.

Then we really need to get rid of the State owned roads and make them all private. Otherwise, being the owners, of course, the State will want to control their roads with "statism," as they are doing by posting speed limits.

[1Old Pro]

Simple Rule, use left lane to pass only. I find that people on 3 lane roads love to plod along in the middle lane clogging traffic.

Stay right except to pass, wht's so difficult about that to understand?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

How will you feel when your body ages and your skills to drive weaken?

Remember the old lady in Florida who killed 7, yes SEVEN, people with her car. In seperate accidents no less!!! I would feel like killing myself if I drove the way she drives. Right over people.

Being old and impared while driving is no different than driving while drunk. Neither should be controlling two tons of steel (well, steel and plasitc now adays) at 65 mph.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Sounds fine for limited access interstates and freeways. Just pay a toll. I'm not sure how streets and unlimited-access roads would be funded--advertisers? stock ownership?

[Ku Commando]

"America as a whole needs to relax its driving habits. Everybody is always in such an all-fire hurry to get somewhere. Plan better, allow more time, and be polite!!!! #$%hole drivers are the main cause of all accidents. Many of the @#%hole drivers are the ones going right up the butt of the people in the slow lanes

---

Hey, I drive a TV truck (6-wheeler / 24,000#) & I hate those few "rage-types" that intentionally pull in front of you & then brake to slow me down....I've literally had to stand on the brakes to keep from hitting them.....DANGEROUS

[princess leah]

It seems to me that the driving rules state that slower traffic is to stay to the right and that LEFT lanes (NOT just on the freeway) are for PASSING only...people should KNOW and ABIDE by the common rules for driving or not drive! This shouldn't be about fast or slow, grannies or speeders...it's about the rule of law! Same as during the Florida election ~ people want to bend the rules for their own selfish purposes...(I'll get off my grandstand now)

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I'm not sure how streets and unlimited-access roads would be funded

One way would be similar to the way that the Washington D.C. water and sewer company (WSSC) pays for new water and sewer systems. Front Foot Benifit Charges. You pay a fee by the amount of road frontage you have on your peoperty. Each new house (read gets passed through to buyer, developer isn't paying it) pays roughly $20,000 in system developmment fees and FFBCs.