Driver's etiquette

[SLO-BOB]

Most of know the laws and probably practice good driver's etiquette as well -slower traffic keep right, etc.. But, because so few others on the road do, however, sometimes I wonder if I'm the one that's crazy/rude. Here's a scenario I often encounter-

I'm on the interstate traveling 75 mph. I'm in the left lane passing cars that are going about 70 mph. Farther ahead, in the right lane, a car is going 60-65mph and another driver -you- , ahead of me (6-10 car lengths) in the right lane, coming up on the slower car at 70 mph. Do you-

A. Signal and move left while maintaining your speed, causing me to slow down (brake even), then move over once you've passed the slower car?

B. Let up on the gas, allow me to pass, then signal and pass the slower driver?

(added) C. Signal, change lanes, speed up and pass, move right and slow down?

I don't think there is a "correct" (as in legal) answer, but I think there is a "right" (as in polite) answer. I'm an "B". I slow and wait till the faster driver has passed. Once in awhile I'll encounter (and be) a C driver, but not so much. However, most drivers, ime, are "A" drivers. It drives me nuts. Am I wrong?

There's plenty more as to which you can, undoubtedly, attest, but clue me in on this one first please.

[Oh Haha]

Holy crap!!! This was the situation I was in just last week.

Same setup except that I am the car in the right lane coming up on the slower moving car. Four lane-divided highway.

I look to my left too see a car behind me so I wait before signaling to move left. I slow before reaching the car in front of me.

The guy in the left lane actually slowed a bit and gave me time to move to the left and around the other car. I was amazed that somebody else was paying attention. I gave him a wave before moving back to the right in front of the slower car.

I generally will do the same thing. If I see a car is going to be forced into the left lane I will give them a moment to do that. If they see the opportunity that's great. If not, I will speed up slightly so they might know that I will make room.

[mattdavis11]

Trick question. It depends on who is behind you. If you bring a line of cars with, I speed up, get in front of you so as not to slow you down, and move over when my path is clear. Sometimes it gets me to a speed that is uncomfortable, but I'd rather not inconvenience you, and I know I don't want to wait on your followers.

[legion]

When I'm in that position (the "you" position), I might do either, it depends on several factors:

1) Is there a long line of cars behind you? If so, I might cut in front and try to match your speed as passing.

2) Have you pissed me off previously in my trip? If so, I might cut in front of you and maintain my speed. (Or even rarely slow down if you've been an over-the-top @$$hole.)

3) Do you look like a psycho? If so, I might let you pass and just get behind you.

Of course, being in that position, I don't always notice you closing on me. Yes, I see you when I check my blind spot, but I may not have noticed your behavior prior to this. (There may have been excitement ahead or I was scanning for police.)

But the thing that really pisses me off is when I am in the right lane and come up on someone going slow in the left lane. I will usually pull into the left lane behind them and count to ten and wait for them to pull over. If they don't I pass them on the right.

[red911sc]

My opinion is he who gets there first gets to go first at his pace, first come first serve. Speeding up would be cordial but why must someone else go faster just because you want to? (just playing devil's advocate as I would prefer others speed up to get out of my way)

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Trick question. It depends on who is behind you. .

Not at all a trick question. It's very simple - Are you the kind of person that allows faster traffic to go past, or are you the kind of person that will slow someone else down to make things easier on yourself? Other cars are totally beside the point.

I can tell you that pulling out like that on the Autobahn would not only be unacceptable, but very dangerous. Yes - I know the interstate is not the Autobahn, but speed differential does occur and it lends to traffic congestion, frustration, and accidents. How will you deal with it? Is it all about you, or are you a team player? I know Red911sc's answer.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by red911sc

My opinion is he who gets there first gets to go first at his pace, first come first serve. Speeding up would be cordial but why must someone else go faster just because you want to? (just playing devil's advocate as I would prefer others speed up to get out of my way)

Sorry, that doesn't make much sense. If I see you in my rearview, and I am in the slower lane, I can get over to the fast lane "first" (before you can pass me) and continuie at my slower pace, but that is certainly bad driver etiquette. In other words: If you get there before me, but are going slower, move over. I'd do the same. That's why they call it the "fast lane."

The bottom line is that you should be aware of your surroundings enough that you don't impede traffic. Otherwise, you shouldn't be on the road IMO.

[masraum]

I run into this all of the time. I either gun it to get out in front of you but in such a way that you don't have to slow down, or I wait for you to pass and then go behind you.

I try to drive in such a way that myself and others on the road don't have to use their brakes if unnecessary.

[Mothy]

It all depends on which car is running on cruise control - the one on the right who does not want to take it off cruise to back off while the faster car glides by un-interupted.

or the car on the left who is nervously waiting with his food hovering on the brake pedal hoping that the other guy won't jump in front of him at the last minute causing a loss of all that momentum and a creating a need to reset the cruise contol.

The ones I hate are when you come up behind two people side by side, both on cruise control and one is 1mph faster than the other and taking forever to complete the pass. A little bit of accelerator by the guy doing the passing would not go astray.

[Oh Haha]

I try to drive in such a way that myself and others on the road don't have to use their brakes if unnecessary.[/QUOTE]



This, I believe, is part of being an attentive, defensive driver, at least on the highways and freeways.

When I'm on those type of roads I use my cruise buttons to control my speed versus brakes whenever possible.

[bonkers]

Either B or C - signal my intent and speed up to execute the maneuver quickly and safely without impeding you. Depends on my read of the situation.

[Dave L]

If I feel I can speed up enough that the other car wouldnt have to slow down I would do that. If I think the faster car would have to slow down I would slow down let the faster car pass then complete my pass.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

Not at all a trick question. It's very simple - Are you the kind of person that allows faster traffic to go past, or are you the kind of person that will slow someone else down to make things easier on yourself? Other cars are totally beside the point.

I can tell you that pulling out like that on the Autobahn would not only be unacceptable, but very dangerous. Yes - I know the interstate is not the Autobahn, but speed differential does occur and it lends to traffic congestion, frustration, and accidents. How will you deal with it? Is it all about you, or are you a team player? I know Red911sc's answer.

Calm down there Nancy. If I have 6-10 car lengths on him, but traveling slower, and I need to speed up 5-10 mph to get ahead of the car in front of me and not inconvenience him, I would pass if he is bringing a line with him. The bottom line is my judgment on whether or not it is safe to get around the car in front of me with out him having to slow up.

You need to pay attention to what is going around you if you think other cars are beside the point.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Calm down there Nancy.

Did I come of as not being calm? Usually I'll add a bunch of exclamation points or "angry" faces if I'm upset. Like this !!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe one of the other clever emoticons such as

I read your statement as - whether I was alone or travelling in a group affects your decision to hold me up. It's okay to be discourteous to one guy, but you want to be polite to many? Or were you saying you would wait for one and speed up for many? I wasn't sure.

Feel better?

[911Rob]

I'm B or C, but never A.

bugs the heck out of me and the wife too fwiw.

[Heel n Toe]

Hey, SLO-BOB... I'm in the left lane going 78... wanna get over behind that slower guy while I come by with this 15-car train I have behind me?



I'm almost never that guy doing 65 (maybe if I'm having a look at those restaurant and gas station signs if I'm near an exit), but if I am, I'm not gonna pull out in front of you unless I can do it without you having to slow down.

[RWebb]

we need mass transit (trains) so people who do NOT want to drive can avoid doing so

next time, tell the them that after you pull them over or follow them to an exit

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by RWebb

next time, tell the them that after you pull them over or follow them to an exit

Dude... are you PUI again?

[speeder]

I've done quite a bit of interstate driving in the U.S.A. and try to keep it smooth whether I'm going slow or fast. That means anticipating potential bottle-necks before they occur and definitely never pulling out in front of someone going fast in the left lane. If you are going faster, even if you have a convoy close behind you it will not be long before you're past. Think about it; if the convoy is hauling ass in tight formation, they will blow past. If they're not tight and fast, there will be a big hole to jump into. The worst is when you're driving something with no passing power like a loaded truck/trailer, then you really need to plan your moves in advance to maintain speed.

Big rigs are a good example usually on American highways in terms of passing etiquette and lane discipline. They do not generally park their asses in the left lane or make clumsy moves. (There are exceptions of course). It still pisses me off to no end when someone just parks in the left lane with their cruise control on. It doesn't matter how fast or slow they are going, they are preventing people from using the lane for passing. Plus it makes us look like stupid/lazy/selfish Americans to visitors from other more civilised places.

Whether in town or on a highway, good drivers have good natural rhythm and it's a joy to share the road with a bunch of them. The opposite is also true.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Hey, SLO-BOB... I'm in the left lane going 78... wanna get over behind that slower guy while I come by with this 15-car train I have behind me?

You're jumping ahead to future questions.