driver rant
 

What the eF is with people staying in the left lane when they have a train of cars behind them? (all interstate) I just came home from a 7 hour drive from the beach and 75% of the way I'm stuck somewhere behind some effing moron holding up 30 cars of traffic. And once they finally get past the other people in the right lane, they STILL don't move over, so everybody goes around them on the right. I looked at most of them and yes, mostly women, but older people and a lot of 30 something guys that you would think know better. The last hour or so, I just rode their ass and flashed my lights pointing for them to move to the right. The ones who did move over, acted totally oblivious that anyone was even behind them. I could see the startled look in their eyes in the mirror. WTF?

I dont care if Im going 100mph, if someone comes up behind me, I move over. Is that too much to ask??

ok, over....

Between Chicago and Bloomington (and I make the drive at least once a month) I only have to pass someone on the right about twice a year. Most people move over if you are simply closing on them fast enough. Once in a while I encounter a car full of people having a conversation or someone parked in the left lane talking on their cell phone. If I have to reduce my speed, I count to ten then pass them on the right. Like I said, I only have to do this once or twice a year.

I have noticed the number of left-lane cruisers diminish dramatically around here in the past ten years...

Out here I see that all the time, they think the speed limit is 65 and that's what they are going to do, not one mile over. Screw you. I will blink at them but usually doesn't help, just have to go around and let the next guy harass them.

Legion - How do you account for that?

Best,
Tom

I hear you , brother!!!


They are totally oblivious to anyone around them. They probably just left the local coffee stop where they made all others wait while the created their cup of coffee.

Dumba$$es!!!

There is a pattern on I-95 from S.C. All the way to daytona.......it's been like that for years, the trick is to time your passes on the right so you don't get stuck in the inside lane, stay in the left lane at all times except when passing on the right, if there is a slowpoke you pass them on the right as soon as there is an opening.....most all the time the slowpokes will slow when they see you on the right and you can slide back into the left lane.....
You will encounter the ass' which will "defend" their lane so don't use your blinkers or hesitate when changing lanes.......if these type of people mess with you just be smarter and stay in front of them.....they love to brake check.....

Perhaps it's that I now drive a large pickup truck that makes other drivers "uncomfortable" and they tend to pick it up in their peripheral vision faster?

I guess I did have more drivers trying to mess with me in the Porsche. Maybe it's the "personality" people ascribe to the vehicle? I think the NRA and ISRA stickers help...

I drive all over the country in the pickup truck and have very few problems with other drivers. I NEVER get cut off.

This happened in Cali when there were all those freeway shootings. People are just oblivious to the world around them. I just pass when I can and be done with it. No time to teach 'em a lesson or flip them the bird.

Washington State has started ticketing left-lane hogs. They figured out that it is one of the leading causes of road rage, so they say they are going to crack down on these idiots.

It should be a felony. I'd love to see a year of hard labor for left lane squatters AND their families. Maybe let them out early and force them to ride only motorcycles. That would thin the herd a little. Oh, if only I ruled the world.

I hear ya. Just drove 260 miles back from Portland yesterday and had this happen several times. I move left (tires over the line) and flash, often times I can see the driver and he/she doesn't check the mirrors for several minutes at a time. Occasionally folks will get it and move over, but often they act like it's their right to be there, even when the is NOTHING in the right lane.

It seems as though folks just need to be educated. I say that because I get so many "What?" looks. It should be a requirement that every year, you take a test. Nothing major, just a 10-minute sit down from the drivers manual. I am sure many folks would be surprised to learn which lane you are supposed to turn into, what fog lights are really for, how to move right except to pass, etc...

It'll never happen.

having driven to NY a couple of times recently, I noticed that when I come up behind cars and turn my right blinker on, they almost instantly pull over to the right. if I flash, they just sit there. that's in a car.

When I come up behind cars on the bike, they almost always pull over to the right automatically, no flashing or blinker.

not sure why flashing has started to piss people off so they just stay there, but the right turn signal has been working great.

I don't like those un-observent drivers either, my satisfaction is the happy pedal and leaveing them quickly behind, my worry, is there so in left field that they don't do the brake pedal in time.

I remember when the State Patrol announced this a few months ago. I have seen no enforcement, no change whatsoever. I have lost track of how many times since this announcement that I have passed freeway speed traps, with someone within my view either left lane cruising or clearly holding up traffic. Never once have I seen a trooper pull out to stop them.

I've reached the point where I simply pass them on the right and just don't get worked up about it anymore. If that is not possible, I'm not above using the carpool lane to pass them. I'm waiting for the day I get stopped for that, so I can ask the trooper why in the hell he didn't stop the idiot holding up traffic, per their "emphasis" patrol.

This is a huge problem on our nation's freeways. I just cannot understand why it is not addressed.

The more the population of Oregon grows, the worse it gets...where did these people come from?

Jeff - From eading many of your posts, it almost seems that you are a "cop magnet". If you would try driving in the left lane, at the speed limit, for a few days, one or more of several things could happen:

1- You would not be stopped, therefore you are Not a cop magnet
or
there is no emphasis patrol
or
you were at the right place at the right time.

2- You do get stopped, therefore: Your ARE a cop magnet
or
There IS an emphasis patrol
or
Both
3- Other combinations, but I lost my train of thought.

Best,
Tom

(Good seeing you at the XXX)

California

Best,
Tom

You'd love it down here in TX.

We get three lane drag races to no where.

If you are all going to go the same farking speed then get in line in the same farking lane for gods sake and get the **** out of my way.

Yeah, Rattlesnak. What you need to do is get right the EFF up on their bumper, and start flashing your lights and honking and stuff. That will TOTALLY make it better.


I'm very conscientious about being in the left lane at the correct times. But when a guy comes hammering up behind me going 90 and freaking out, I get a real urge to slow down a little bit.

Stupid people are everywhere, and lots of them are driving. The only thing that's MORE STUPID is getting mad about it.

I would never do it right off the bat. I am actually very tolerant of things.. And i don't really get mad, just frustrated at the stupidity. I'm not talking about coming up on someone quick and then expecting them to move right over, although that would be awesome..., I'm talking about being stuck behind someone who is going 1/2 a mph faster, then slower, then faster, etc, right next to someone in the right lane so as it takes them 10 miles to pass them and there is a huge train of cars behind them. How in the -h e l l- can they not notice this???

Bingo. Some people just absolutely refuse to move over or use turnouts no matter how many people they might be holding up. Their actions DO cause road rage and they SHOULD be held accountable.

I live in south Florida, this is the epicenter of stupid drivers. I also just spent two years in Germany, everyone knows how to drive and nobody is in the left lane unless they are passing someone. Real nice place to drive, low stress.

FWIW: When I am pulling a trailer and going the speed limit but the right lane is going SLOWER than the speed limit I will be in the left lane to get around the other people. Yes, others will get stuck behind me but I can only go so fast. I will always get back to the right after passing everything going slow.

I will almost always have some idiot try cutting me off on the right as I am changing lanes back to the right. I will give myself some extra room before moving back to the right (while signaling) to ensure I am not going to hit the slow person with my trailer. It is the idiot passing on the right while I am moving into the right lane that I want OFF the road. Just wait the extra 10 seconds....

I also get ticked when I am stuck five/ten/thirty cars behind the slow car and someone is riding my bumper to get me to move. WTH? I'm in the same boat...

People drive WORSE around me when I am pulling a trailer and when I am in a Porsche. Just don't get it...

I don't even want to get started about the idiots who pass on the left and make a right hand turn right in front of you!! One of these days I am NOT going to be able to stop. It has been very close more times than I can count.

Had the same thing happen to me a few times, gives me the urge to pull a "pit maneuver" on the idiot.


Nowadays I end up passing mostly on the right driving on 540 in Raleigh since it is usually moving faster then the middle or left.

Now about those vans with 30 ladders piled on the roof with bald tires, blown shocks/springs with a cement mixing barrell in tow swinging back and forth:rolleyes:

+10 I see it all the time. The A**hole that designates themselves as the absolute speed monitor. They personally know the perfect speed for everyone. I have driven all over the country. In many places there is no other traffic at all and some moron is driving along in the left lane.

I've been told I have a "magnetic personality".;)

Hmmm... cop magnet... I think I've been stopped all of four times in 32 years of driving. The force must be weak with this one.

Hay Marc, its most common on I-85 and I-20 in Alabama! Left side interstate drivers who seems to let you know they own the lane and nothing gets them over to the right!

Last tuesday I took the 73.5T up to Blairsville for the twisties, came back through Dahlonega and home on 400. Driving in the left lane with a train of traffic behind including me was a "Drivers Ed" student and instructor. I could'nt friggin believe it!!!!!!!!! And rolling at least five miles an hour lower then the speed limit. When I got to the right side of this car, I looked at the instructor (middle-aged guy) and it was hard not to flick this guy off. You'd think he would instruct the student , left lane is for passing and slow driving can cause an accident. He did not budge even with drivers coming extremely close to the front bumper to jump in front, almost cutting this kid off.

Amazing..................

Road rage is good for the circulatory system!

Bob
73.5T

I think many folks who stay in the left lane are totally oblivious to the fact that they are not supposed to be there and are slowing traffic, seriously, I've seen them texting, eating, cell phone and whatever and when you pass them on the right they get all upset. I've also stopped blinking my lights as it does no good! They just don't seem to be aware of anything going on around them.

You're preach'n to the choir here.

Well Jeff, it must be the quality of the stops that you report here, rather than the quantity!

Gute Fahrt!
Tom

I never drive in the left lane at any time, so it doesn't matter what speed I drive. But what gets me is when 3-4 cars line up behind me in no. 3 out of 4. There's 2 lanes to the left, get off my lawn.

I used to try to max my speed, but it actually makes the trip seem longer trying to anticipate the next person who will try to pass a semi with a 1 mph speed differential. The fun one is two trucks climbing a hill. I think the rule for truck drivers must be "floor it 100% of the time and pass regardless of anyone's speed".

I pretty much go the speed limit in the right lane now. If everyone drove correctly I would love to go fast too, and I think it would be a big timesaver, but it doesn't make for a relaxing drive given the oblivious driving habits exhibited.

I don't have a problem with the common people, but why do there have to be so many of them???

I do try to make the most of them.;)

The most undisciplined, unqualified, disruptive drivers in our Solar System are right here in America. Why? because this is the land of "me first." This is the nation that idolizes the guy who blasts past everyone else, ignores the rules, and crosses the finish line first. It's the get-what-you-can nation. As opposed to everywhere else, where driving is a privilege, drivers are qualified and there are rules which allow everyone to progress safely and efficiently.

Nobody finds American driving conventions more disappointing than I do. It's not just the passing lane squatters, though I hate them passionately. It's the folks who cut across the gore-points, pretend they don't know what lane to be in and then 'merge' in front of a half-mile of cars, etc. Guys speeding up and slowing down just to ensure nobody can merge into their lane. Sometimes I look out onto a stretch of multi-lane freeway and I see a solid line of cars, nose-to-tail in the passing lane, and in the merging lane there is one car every quarter-mile. Same with the lane next to the merging lane. At times, the passing lane is accommodating HALF the traffic volume.

It's a free-for-all......in a society that doesn't like rules but loves over-aggression. Also a reflection of our economic system. Do these things really make everyone better-off?

I disagree, Superman. If everyone had a "me first" attitude, things would move a lot faster. The problem is we give licenses to anyone with a pulse and require no training or mastery of skills. Worse yet, our cops only enforce that which gets them quick and easy revenue. Driving while distracted in any form should be the same as a DUI. I think we should have a study that requires police departments to donate every penny of fine revenue to charity. Then they'd start going after the real menaces on the road.

I'll still buy you a beer any day Rick but yeah, we disagree. The drivers that Rattlsnak describes in the opening post of this thread have figured something out. They have found a way to get what they want. They are, in effect, heroes. They've found that if they get into the passing lane and just cruise at the same rate as the rest of traffic, over time they wind up with no cars in front of them. It's as if they're on the freeway alone. Very safe, very convenient. Can't really blame them, if you're a believer in the get-what-you-can philosophy as opposed to the philosophy that favors rules to ensure everyone's safety and progress.

I'm sort of sorry to be politicizing this discussion but......no kidding......I have had this conversation with myself THOUSANDS of times. Every day. I notice that if drivers would simply consider the welfare and needs of others (or if they would just follow motor vehicle law!!!!!), then traffic could proceed MUCH more smoothly. But......that's just not our culture. Our culture is to stiff-arm the competition if necessary. Getting into the passing lane and then using that position to plug up traffic for the competition......that's just AMERICAN.

In miami, I95 has 6 lanes in most places- basically you have to treat it like a high-speed game of frogger. If you expect people to move over, you are bound to get home angry. I prefer to treat it as a game, jumping into holes, lagging back to create acceleration space, letting the guy going 100mph go by me and having him soak up the radar... treat it like a game and you will be much more happy. Then again, I DO rememebr when you only have 2 lanes and someone blocks you- there isn't much to do. Perhaps buying a push-bar would help.

One thing I noticed here in Wisconsin is that in the big cities (Milwaukee, Madison) this happens ALL the time (I gave up and ride the right lane, everyone else is in the left so I fly).
However in the country everyone rides right except to pass (as it should be). Everyone in cities needs to relax and more right.

Bumper sticker in back window..
"If I passed you on the right, you're in the wrong lane. Mover over!"

I was in Germany the other day and had a driver in a VW Phaeton on the Autobahn. He worked it up to about 160 clicks on the unlimited portion, but most of the route was 120 clicks.

One thing I noticed was his lane discipline-- this guy, a professional driver with the German affiliate of a major US limo company, did NOT drive in the left lane any more than strictly necessary for passing slower traffic.

One other thing, though-- his passing style was somewhat odd-- he would drive right up on the ass of a car in the right lane and then move out quickly to the left, timing it so he didnt' hit the guy's bumper. He would then pass and move back in.

I would do that on the race track as a "draft pass" but here you would always be worried about somebody pulling out or hitting the brakes or something. I start all public road pass manuvers WELL back from closure with the traffic in front, even though that exposes me to left lane traffic for a longer period of time.

Just an observation. But given what it costs in terms of dollars and training to get a license in Germany, an interesting one.