finally! passing lane hogs get ticketed

nize · nize's Garage

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/traffic/4026206/detail.html

CarreraS2 · 12-30-2004, 05:05 PM

That actually seems to go TOO far.

True, the left lane is for passing, but if your cruising at 20 over and there's no one behind you, why should you not use the far left lane?

Or, for that matter, if your cruising at the speed limit AND there's no one behind you?

Seems like that law is going to cause more problems than it will solve. Seems dangerous to require a faster driver to keep going left, pass, come behind slow traffic, go left again, then back right, etc. If it was that way here in Calif. you'd be swerving all over the road constantly!

Seems like the better rule is just "Slower Traffic Keep Right," and pull over to the right if you are in the far left and someone comes up behind you.

nize · nize's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Seems like the better rule is just "Slower Traffic Keep Right," and pull over to the right if you are in the far left and someone comes up behind you.

that rule would be way too complicated for the average american driver to understand. in fact, that currently IS the law in most states, and people ignore it anyway, mostly because it's not regularly enforced.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

"but if your cruising at 20 over and there's no one behind you"

well, I heard a good reason today. Apparently nearly ALL head-on collisions on Interstate highways occur in the passing lane at night. That's because the drunk going the wrong way thinks he's crusing along in the right slow lane ...... usually with his lights off too!

A town near me recently began cracking down on people who use the turn lane as a merging lane when pulling out of parking lots, etc. I'd guess most people are completely unaware that the turn lane is not to be used as a merge lane. Not a day goes by when you don't see people pull out and come to a complete stop in the turn lane, waiting for traffic to clear. Then you'll get some 'good samaritan' who will slow or stop to let the idiot in, thereby causing a chain reaction behind them!

Oh Haha · 12-30-2004, 05:20 PM

AMEN Curt!
Every freakin' day I see this crap!!
Stupid people.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cegerer
"but if your cruising at 20 over and there's no one behind you"

well, I heard a good reason today. Apparently nearly ALL head-on collisions on Interstate highways occur in the passing lane at night. That's because the drunk going the wrong way thinks he's crusing along in the right slow lane ...... usually with his lights off too!

I heard that today too. I thought it was pretty interesting, and it makes total sense.

Jeff Higgins · 12-30-2004, 05:48 PM

They have been ticketing for left lane cruising in Washington for years, just not very often. They will also ticket for "obstructing the flow of traffic", but again, not nearly often enough. I believe it may also be illegal in this state to pass on the right, but I'm not sure. If it isn't, it should be. Enforcing these simple driving rules would go a long way towards making freeway driving more predictable, and therefor safer, for everyone. All of this is still taught in drivers' ed; it's amazing how quickly it seems to be forgotten.

SLO-BOB · 12-30-2004, 06:03 PM

I wish they would pass such a law in Wisconsin. We have the worst offenders of anywhere I have driven. Denver is nothing compared to us. They have lots of congestion, but compared to Wisconsin, much better drivers. Everytime I go on a road trip I dread seeing the "Welcome to Wisconsin" sign upon my return as I know my progress will be impeded.

billwagnon · 12-30-2004, 06:15 PM

I don't like the guys who sit in the left lane on the open highway because when they are behind me their headlights are shining in my driver's side mirror, and I have to keep checking on them to see where they are and if they've finally decided to pass me.

When people stay in the right lane, behind me, I know I have the left lane to move to, if I need it. If they want to pass, they should come up, move left, and pass.

tdatk · 12-30-2004, 06:17 PM

I agree with the "slower traffic keep right " laws but I'm not so sure about the no passing on the right deal. I have a F350 and I pull a 32' 5th wheel TT and I usually drive the speed limit. The problem I always encounter on highways with 3 or more lanes is I try to run in the middle lane with the flow and avoid the passing lane as RV's tend to piss people off in the passing lane no matter what speed I'm going and ride my ass. The other problem is "some people" like to poke in the middle lane and that leaves me with the right lane to pass to keep the peace. Ya gotta do what you gotta do...

speeder · speeder's Garage

My definition of an "aggressive driver" is one that parks their stupid ass in the far left lane and won't yield to a faster car behind them. It's like they are "enforcing" whatever speed limit that they happen to be going, it is truly enraging. I just drove cross-country and encountered this more times than I could count, it's all I can do not to run them off the road. And it's irrelevent what speed we are talking, it's the principle. "Slower traffic keep right" is the absolute cornerstone of safe highway driving, period.

Leaving for the return trip to CA. tomorrow, hopefully it will be smoother. I can tell you that the problem is everywhere in the U.S., but Nebraska was particularly egregious.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Problem is the roads are so congested anyway it would never work here. We need every available lane just to accommodate the ever-increasing tide of idiot drivers. . .

speeder · speeder's Garage

Just to clarify, I think that it's OK to use the left lane for travel as long as you yield to faster traffic behind you.

WaA420 · 12-30-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
They have been ticketing for left lane cruising in Washington for years, just not very often. I believe it may also be illegal in this state to pass on the right.

These are both true facts but I think that if there was any possible way that our state legislature could squeeze a nickel out of these tickets they surely would. Fact is, it apparently isn't worth their time and besides the law enforcement on the freeway would have to follow these simple rules as well. Ain't going to happen!

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
Just to clarify, I think that it's OK to use the left lane for travel as long as you yield to faster traffic behind you.

REALLY?! Why? (or were you joking?)

Why would you be in the left lane? What's the point?

THe left lane is for passing. If you ain't passin', move the h*ll over... I know a number of people that haev admitted to crusin' the left to "slow other people down". Idiots. They just end up passing on the right making a more dangerous scenario.

I'll flash my lights a few times and try and be patient. If they persist, and I'm not feeling passive, I'll pass on the right, get in front, and slowly reduce my speed. Give them a taste of their own medicine.

REAL big pet-peeve of mine if you couldn't tell. (Pet peeves are easier to feed than pet wolves BTW)

They made this a law in Illinois with ticketing too. Didn't make ANY difference. I've encouraged my buddies in law enforcement to make a concerted effort though.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
I can tell you that the problem is everywhere in the U.S., but Nebraska was particularly egregious.

oooh, I KNOW you put that in there just to taunt me

I can't argue though... People around here don't know how to drive. Semi trucks hauling cattle almost outnumber cars, and those dang Kansas people coming up on our north/south roads suck even more. I can't count the number of times I've been crusing along at 70 in a 65 only to get passed by some idiot with a K-State sticker, just to have them slow down in front of me. At least when a cattle-hauler passes you they get going and out of the way.

Moses · 12-30-2004, 08:45 PM

My dad was a police officer for 30 years. It was his experience that most really bad wrecks (involving sober people) happen when people pass on the right.

The left lane "enforcer" is more dangerous than the speeder who wants an unobstructed passing lane.

Bottom line, if you are in the left lane and you can see someone behind you, pull over.

955i911sc · 12-31-2004, 03:25 AM

try passing on the right or sleeping on the left on the Autobahn and see what happens to you, if the German cops don`t get you the public will, just more shrapnel in the middle of the night...

VaSteve · 12-31-2004, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cstreit
REALLY?! Why? (or were you joking?)

Why would you be in the left lane? What's the point?

THe left lane is for passing. If you ain't passin', move the h*ll over... I know a number of people that haev admitted to crusin' the left to "slow other people down". Idiots. They just end up passing on the right making a more dangerous scenario.

Chris, define "passing".

My usual cruising speed is usually such that I am passing most of the other traffic.

I don't park it in the left lane, but if I'm coming up on a pack of traffic I know I'm going to pass, I don't move back and forth between passes. I prefer to only pass on the left, though that is definitely not the norm.

I will gladly yield to faster cars, because I usually cruise faster than the limit, and if they want the ticket, they can have it.

Yes, the people who do not yeild to faster drivers ARE idiots. It's the police's job to enforce the law. One day last week I had to pass on the right three stake bodied trucks full of chopped up firewood. WTF were they doing in the left lane?

In the Northern Virginia area, it's actually SAFER to maintain a fast speed, keep on passing and stay in the left lanes. All the non-drivers are poking along in the right lanes, making phone calls and sucking down egg mcmuffins.

SLO-BOB · 12-31-2004, 04:46 AM

I think the above posts indicate the need for common sense rules as regards this issue. Unfortunately laws, the general public, and common sense do not mix well to make for an enforceable or practical law. Often times we are governed by the lowest common denominator.

For my part, I, like Steve, drive a bit faster than most of the other traffic. Therefore I am pretty much passing all the time in some form or another. I do get downright uncomfortable when I am passing a group of cars and I have someone who clearly wants to go even faster behind me. I have often, depending on the politeness of the speedy one behind me, found a hole to pull into to let the guy get on his 80+ mph way. Sometimes this happens at the expense of my progress as I get "pinned" for a bit while other people get on with the faster car. So you might say I'm a compulsive keep right guy.

However, there are times where the road surface on the right is notably worse than that on the left. I have to force myself to stay left for the smoother ride. This is, of course, temporary and I still yield to faster traffic-which is almost never.

As a sidenote; It's 50 degrees and sunny here in Wisconsin following torrential rains last night. That means no salt and the last drive of the year. Happy New Years everyone!