It is that double white line...can't change brain lanes...

Here in Houston, the HOV lane has a speed limit of 60, and eventually, there's always someone that's going exactly that. (drives me nuts. I'd be happy with 70ish)

Not in Houston, the HOV lane is a single lane separated from all other traffic by concrete barriers or both sides. The only way you could pass would be to illegally pass between the car and the barricade on a motorcycle.

I read the original post again and realized it. Still, as someone who racks up 95% of my miles on the highway, solo, and doing less than 70 mph, I still think the OP is a bit of a jerk for driving slower than the socially accepted flow of traffic in the diamond lane. Why not just move on over and let faster traffic proceed? Or is he one of the self-righteous ones who does 55/65 mph in the #1 lane just to prove a point?

You can call me a jerk and that's okay - that is your right. To be honest - I was wrong twice. I was speeding, 70 in a 65 (headed to Long Beach too Milt) on the 405. There was some traffic so there was benefit to the HOV lane. It is illegal to drop out or into the HOV outside of designated spots so I had two choices: Speed up or do nothing. I choose to do nothing. This guy was riding me a like a fat chic on prom night too. I swear he was inches from me. I had my cruise set at 70, I rarely go over 70 for the same reasons that Milt stated. While I haven't had a ticket in a long time for speeding - they are expensive and I don't intend to get one.

Show me on the books the 'flow of traffic law' that allows me to speed if everyone else is. I've been pulled over for exactly that so I don't do it anymore. I choose, for the most part to obey the posted limits. If you do not, then YOU are the problem. Not me. You (the guy behind me) can just take a firetrucking hike. I don't spend a great deal of time on the freeway these days, I have in the past but not these days. Just because you can go 80 does not mean you are entitled to go 80. The speed limit is 65. Period. My last speeding ticket was for 71.

If you have a problem with this, take it up with the legislature.

I can't just move over because that is illegal as well. I wouldn't call myself 'self-righteous' just 'right.'

Actually, since I was doing 70 instead of 65 I was wrong and I can't 'invoke' the law on my side. I can admit that much but the guy behind me - I believe he was being far more dangerous than me. He was give me a colonoscopy with his bumper, he was threatening me by backing off and then quickly running back up on my rear end...crap like that. I have never wanted to brake check someone so bad in my entire life.

Mikester, what was the purpose of this thread?

Thanks,
Tom

I couldn't brake check the guy - I wanted to vent. I knew there would be folks on his side to argue with because it has happened before.

That is the purpose.

Denis, why do we have to work at understanding what people write who like would like to be clever. I took him at his word that he drives a SUV. If people want to fvk with people, go out on the freeway.

I'll be over there in no. 4. Come fvk with me over in the "innocent" lane and I'll drive my truck up your ass.

Since everyone isn't clear from my original post - I was the driver in the Prius.

Also, to the guy who mentioned I4 in florida - I am very familar with I4 having lived in Orlando and Tampa. I'm from florida. I4, and I95 to the north as well as LA's 405 are their own versions of 'H', 'E', double hockey sticks.

Wow, sounds like you have a serious case of grumpy-old-man syndrome, complete with situational UNawareness on the road. Slower traffic keep right. Period. If you are impeding traffic, speed up or move over. Otherwise, yes, YOU are the A-hole.

You're right, Mike. You can't just move on over with the double-double yellow line separating the carpool lane from the regular flow of traffic. And if you're only comfortable with going 70, either from a safety or legal perspective, you shouldn't have to go any faster. (Though, if you don't feel comfortable going 80 in the carpool lane as that seems to be our societal expectation of the flow of traffic in that lane, perhaps you should stay out of it altogether.) None of this excuses the dangerous tailgating from the SUV behind you.

But it's also certainly reasonable for you--at the next opportunity when the car pool lane merges with the rest of traffic--to exit from the carpool lane and let faster traffic go by. If you don't do that, you're certainly being a bit of a jerk. Even worse if you're one of those who then speeds up when lanes open up to make passing you more difficult.

One thing guys, everyone does not (thank God!) live in Kalifornia. Local laws apply! Blanket statements do not help anyone.

In other states you CAN legally move over across a single or double white line when entering or leaving the HOV lane. Arizona for one its legal and I know of a couple of others who have the same situation.

I would have reset the CC to 60mph, but that's just me.

A) The HoV lane is almost a free-speeding lane. They won't bust you there.
2) Move over when you get a chance when someone is on you like that.
iii) would going 5 more mph made a difference to you? honestly?

I drive a '72 F100 at 60 mph in the slow lane. That is BELOW the speed limit. Doesn't that just grind your gears guys?

Give mikester a break. People need to slow down.

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/12mph02.gif
http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/lib...fficDeaths.gif
http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/speed/fig/fig2p2.gif

Hokay, let's throw some perspective on this. I don't know of any freeway in LA County that was originally designed for a HOV lane. They have all been constructed from what was a shoulder in the center. At first, they didn't even work the shoulder over, they just painted lines and said, "Go for it, it's the new car pool lane." More than that, we lost all of our emergency lanes. You should see the clusterfvk that happens every time a paramedic or fire truck gets on the freeway. If you're on fire, just move away and let it burn.

As such, many of the HOV lanes will just about get you airborne in some stretches. Go faster and you get closer to out of control. You track monkeys know how that works, a fast sweeper with a good bump or 2 in it. You learn to compensate after a few laps, a leaning curve freeway drivers don't have. Of course braking distances are extended on bumpy surfaces. Everyone doesn't drive an R8 around here in spite of what you're heard.

Next is the differential of speed between the HOV lane and the no. 1 lane. At times, it can be as much as 60 MPH. At times, no. 1 lane is going 10 MPH faster than the HOV lane. To be sure, the differential is always more than, say, the diff between no. 1 and no. 2.

My Stepson was driving to vacation last year and there was a pretty good rear ender in the no. 1 lane next to him as he traveled about 60 in the HOV lane with 3 little kids, mom and all the luggage. Next thing he knows he's underneath a SUV. The SUV hit the car in front and it bounced over in front of the son. Not a chance to react. Car totaled, injuries not too bad. This same accident happens every day somewhere in SoCal.

But, my main point is that we have this so called "societal expectation" to whiz down the HOV lane as if it was exempt from speed limits. This is the result of the fact that each lane to the left is supposed t be faster than the one to the immediate right. Where and when did the furthest left lane become the Autobahn?

See above. 5 MPH then 5 more. 75 in the worst lane on the road. Most are still asphalt while most of the main freeway surface is groomed and grooved concrete. And there's no place to go to avoid an accident if you'd like to move left. Just a wall. At least in the other lanes I get 2 choices.

But wait, why don't I get in the one-choice lane and hit the gas? Maybe you guys should call the HOV lane the Darwin lane. Works for me.

Nice graphs there Mr. Puff, but I'd say the biggest factor in accidents is the speed "differential" (delta V in your 1st graph). In other words, it is much more dangerous to have one car going 60mph while everyone else is going 80mph, than if ALL cars were doing 90mph. Speed doesn't kill, speed differential kills.

Exactly why you should be traveling no faster than the no. 1 lane.

This is such a regular occurrence in So Cal it's not even funny. The "rules of the road" have gone out the window.

Now regarding the dreaded Prius - I must say, I had to go from 1000 to 8000 ft elevation today in the local mountains - pretty challenging drive - to pick up my daughter from camp. Early in the morning, I am in a late model Lexus with 300+HP, aggressive tires etc, and there's a (approx) '08 Prius in front of me on the way up. I don't know about may cruise speed of 75, but this little POS with its skinny little tires was kicking butt. I suppose I could have been a jerk and tailgated/passed him, but really, there was no need. I don't know if it was the car or the driver, but that thing scooted up that hill!

ps: Don't flame me 'bout the Lexus. I know it has no soul, but it's a dream of a DD.

Hoookay Grandpa! :D

the other (obvious) correlating issue is proximity. A 30mph speed differential is much less dangerous when you are 6 lanes apart. However, all it takes is one (slow) guy to fark up the flow of traffic, causing the domino/concertina effect. Problems ensue when you switch up the "rules" (putting along in the fast lane, or blazing by in the slow lane (trying to cut someone off, or avoid being cutoff).

Regardless, the primary issue here is slow traffic in the "fast" lanes. It's really not that hard: Speed up, or move right. If you notice someone in your rearview mirror, and they are getting closer, don't get all butt hurt. Just move over when possible. Simple.

Ideally, all drivers would know the basic slower-traffic-keep right rule, and that the farthest right lane is (usually) the slower exit/on-ramp lane. Sadly, it seems that a lot of people become clueless mouth-breathers as soon as they get in their cars.



Oh, and BTW: The #1 lane is the farthest left ("fast") lane. ;)