What makes people drive in the left lane?

[masraum]

So I'm always thinking about things around me. I've spent enough time driving that I've come up with a few theories on why folks drive in the left lane (assuming it's not the .5% that use it just for passing).

1) 2% People with control issues that have deputized themselves and think "I'm going the speed limit, they can kiss my rear," or "well, someone has to keep those people from speeding!!"

2) 40% People who are clueless.

3) 30% People who are scared to drive on the freeways, and drive in the left lane because not having other cars close to them on the driver's side makes them feel safer.

4) 25% People who don't care because the world revolves around them and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

So, what do you guys think?

[Hugh R]

I think you nailed it pretty well.

[kaisen]

I wish the US would adopt the ROW practice of using the left lane only to pass.

But even then, people will pull out in front of me (closing at 10+ mph delta) to pass someone doing 2 mph slower than them in the center lane. That doesn't work so well on stretches of Autobahn or Autostrada where the delta could be 100+ mph. They're pretty conscious of how fast someone's coming up.

[Noah930]

The clueless. That's gotta make up the largest demographic of left-lane-hoggers.

Then you'll have some self-righteous speed limit enforcers, but I'd bet they're in the minority.

[krystar]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I wish the US would adopt the ROW practice of using the left lane only to pass.

But even then, people will pull out in front of me (closing at 10+ mph delta) to pass someone doing 2 mph slower than them in the center lane. That doesn't work so well on stretches of Autobahn or Autostrada where the delta could be 100+ mph. They're pretty conscious of how fast someone's coming up.

we do have the law on paper...guess what...there's no enforcement and nobody cares.

[romad]

I passed a guy yesterday who was doing just under 70 in the left lane. He got pissed off and tried for 25 miles to pass me back, between 75 and 85mph. Funny thing was a few people passed him on the right just before and after that, but he only got worked up with me?

[Noah930]

Didja flip him the bird as you passed by? Maybe moon him?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by krystar

we do have the law on paper...guess what... there's no enforcement and nobody cares.

Yep... just like the laws that you must have OEM wheels and exhaust system.

I agree with all your points but IMHO #1 is a larger percentage judging by the way they immediately increase speed when I try to pass on the right (illegal I know)

[VincentVega]

4) 25% People who don't care because the world revolves around them and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks

bingo

[Zeke]

Never thought of #3.

The reason people use all the lanes in SoCal is because we don't have enough lanes to begin with for all the cars. If you told LA drivers that they couldn't use the left lane except to pass there would be anarchy. The same anarchy that exists regarding cell phones i.e., no one cares about the law.

If CalTrans thought they could put an Autobahn somewhere in CA, it would not be close to LA. There simply would never be enough room between cars to get one over 100 before landing behind another.

[romad]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Didja flip him the bird as you passed by? Maybe moon him?

I drive I94 every day I gave up long ago the road duals and finger pointing. My heart would explode if I had to run that emotional every day......that said it doesn't not mean I won't stick it to a guy when I can, like letting him repass me or some guy trying to move up thru a traffic jam. One of the small victorys in life is shutting the door on a guy trying to cut a line of some kind.

[imcarthur]

I was thinking about this yesterday as I passed 2 cars driving blindly in the left lane - with no close traffic fore or aft - on a lonely stretch of 24 north of Chattanooga. I was wondering how people can be so dazed? On the drive from Atlanta to Nashville, I probably passed two dozen cars on the right because they wouldn't yield the lane. No transports of course . . .

Ian

[kaisen]

Sometimes, particularly in the snow belt, the right lane is POUNDED by heavy trucks during the freeze/thaw cycles and that lane is so battered you feel like you will either lose a kidney or filling, or both. Where since trucks don't frequent the left lane, it is still smooth. You may not notice it too much in a car, but try it in a big pickup. Ouch.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I wish the US would adopt the ROW practice of using the left lane only to pass.

But even then, people will pull out in front of me (closing at 10+ mph delta) to pass someone doing 2 mph slower than them in the center lane. That doesn't work so well on stretches of Autobahn or Autostrada where the delta could be 100+ mph. They're pretty conscious of how fast someone's coming up.

If you drive in FL, you'll see "slow traffic keep right" signs all over the place. It doesn't matter.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by masraum

So I'm always thinking about things around me. I've spent enough time driving that I've come up with a few theories on why folks drive in the left lane (assuming it's not the .5% that use it just for passing).

1) 2% People with control issues that have deputized themselves and think "I'm going the speed limit, they can kiss my rear," or "well, someone has to keep those people from speeding!!"
Much higher percentage.

2) 40% People who are clueless.
maybe 10%

3) 30% People who are scared to drive on the freeways, and drive in the left lane because not having other cars close to them on the driver's side makes them feel safer.
Much lower.

4) 25% People who don't care because the world revolves around them and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
Bingo. Many folks just do not care what anyone else on the road wants.

So, what do you guys think?

I took a recent 3,000 mile road trip. There were cluster of folks all going 1 or 2 MPH faster than the left right lane. They figured that was fast enough and no one should ever want to go faster than they have deemd "fast"

Some people will never get out of the left lane even when there is no one else around. They "own" the left lane and it is just too much trouble to change lanes anyway. There are long sections of road between OKC and Savannah GA that are mostly empty.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by masraum

If you drive in FL, you'll see "slow traffic keep right" signs all over the place. It doesn't matter.

Florida is one of the worst states for frozen left laners imho.

Ian

[Christien]

NY drivers in Ontario are pretty bad for this. MI drivers, on the other hand, seem to really get it. Of course, Ontario drivers are the worst.

[GH85Carrera]

This went on for many miles. I loved it.



I would still come up on moron in the left lane.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

I was thinking about this yesterday as I passed 2 cars driving blindly in the left lane - with no close traffic fore or aft - on a lonely stretch of 24 north of Chattanooga. I was wondering how people can be so dazed? On the drive from Atlanta to Nashville, I probably passed two dozen cars on the right because they wouldn't yield the lane. No transports of course . . .

Ian

Yes. I drive home on the freeway in Houston at 9pm so there is very little traffic (for Houston at least) sometimes with large gaps between the clumps of cars. I've seen folks get on the freeway in one of the huge open sections and go directly from the on ramp to the far left lane with all of the other lanes open for 1/8 mile in both directions. Often, they then run right at the speed limit which is no where near as fast as the rest of the traffic.

I've also seen times of light traffic where there will be 10 cars lines up essentially bumper to bumper at 70mph in the left lane, with 4 cars in the next lane taking up the same space, and then the next two lanes to the right may have 3 cars total. So often, it's not even that they are in less traffic or going any faster than the other lanes.

I think too many folks drive on autopilot.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Sometimes, particularly in the snow belt, the right lane is POUNDED by heavy trucks during the freeze/thaw cycles and that lane is so battered you feel like you will either lose a kidney or filling, or both. Where since trucks don't frequent the left lane, it is still smooth. You may not notice it too much in a car, but try it in a big pickup. Ouch.

I've driven in areas like that where one lane is horrible and the other great, I would understand if that was the case.