Yep... That's pretty much the case most of the time.. they are too busy texting or whatever and when you get next to them, they look up and realize that they have slowed down or that someone has the audacity to pass them..

I occasionally have to drive a 4-lane to work. One day, I realized that the left lane is soooo much less beat to hell that driving in the right lane is muchharder on my car (for this road). I began to wonder what is happening to the right lane and much less so the left. I concluded that truck traffic is beating the road to pieces. Further thought leads me to believe this to be correct as east-bound right lanes are much worse than west-bound right lanes and the pulp tree carrying trucks are loaded east-bound but unloaded west-bound.

So, now I ask myself what is the correct thing to do when being overtaken by faster traffic (not driving under or at the speed limit in the left lane)? Unless I'm being passed by someone REALLY hauling the mail and doing so would create problems, I try to move right, let them pass then go back to the better lane on the left. Maybe I should just stay put in the left all the time but that seems pretty self-absorbed.

I often drive in the left lane with no one behind me...indefinitely....the smooth lane ;), and pass on the right when a clueless driver is holding up traffic :). Don't think twice about it....

Not often, but over the years, I have been in that situation, left lane in good shape, right lane is crap, I'll drive in the left lane all day. If someone comes up behind me hauling rear, I'll move over long enough to let them pass then move back over.

Agree with the last 2 comments.:cool:

The entire time I drive I'm tuned to spatial relationships.
Normally there is no one I want to follow or have them follow me.
Obviously thats my decision...;)

At the same time, my friend can drive the exact speed limit for hours 5 car lengths behind a truck blocking his view while averaging 3 more miles per gallon freeway.:)

I have absolutely no qualms about passing people in the right lane. I have to do it all the time here on our 4, 5 and 6 lane interstate. Mainly because the left two lanes are clogged with all the thru truckers and drivers going from coast to coast. The only way to go our recognized speed limit of 70-75 (instead of posted 60), is to pass in the center and far right lanes.

And god forbid some thru driver has to get off to get gas somewhere. Next thing you know we're going 15mph waiting for Montana Mary or Pennsylvania Pete to try and cross 4 lanes of traffic to exit. That's always fun!

"I don't always pass. But when I do - my pedal is to the metal."

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I posted a thread about my 500 mile one way drive on I-81 recently. It is just a horrible interstate and people sit in the left lane and meander while the 18 wheelers pass their peers when only going 1/2 MPH more. They get in left lane and stay there for miles and miles before getting back.

On my trip a couple of weeks ago, I saw an 18 wheeler sitting in the left lane and people were backed off him and not in any hurry to go around. So I found my gap, passed on the right, which I hate to do, and left a couple of dozen cars sitting in the jam behind the 2 18 wheelers.

About 20 minutes later a woman comes up to where I was and passed me then brake checked me. I then recognized it as one of the cars I went around to pass the trucker. She was soooo pissed. Wanted me to pull over at the rest area, to fight or something. Flipping me off and since I was in a Porsche making gestures indicating what I would assume is my penis size, incorrectly assumed small size of course :).

So yes to the OP, you are not alone in this. But what gets me is how people are unaware and will allow others to do stupid crap without a horn honk or move to get by, flash lights or anything. Oblivion.

People are clueless.

I travel on the interstate about 70 miles each day. I am amazed how many women are putting their makeup on at 75 mph. When I pass a car holding up traffic in the left lane I hit the horn when I'm at the side of their car. They usually are shocked that I am there because reading their text is more important. :mad: Defensive driving requires making the other driver aware that you are there.

On the highway it is human nature to more or less consciously go to sleep, think about other things, even if that is a beauty treatment, and just keep it mostly between the lines. They slightly pay attention to only the car directly in front. They are basically just following along.

Invariably, when you come up behind or pass it wakes them up. However, it only wakes them up enough to realize they are just plodding along and the first reaction is to speed up. Often without consciously assessing their surroundings. This can be especially dangerous if you are approaching from behind and they are poking along behind another slower car. Just as you are about to pass, they will speed up and pull into the passing lane.

Well now that I have read all the responses it confirms what I originally stated. I guess being a "car guy", I am always aware of my surroundings, the cars, noises and performance (or lack of) cops on the side of the road, and the overall flow of traffic. I had a uncle that was a Mechanical Engineer that had actually designed an I beam on a hinge that could be attached to the front of a truck to be used to sweep vehicles in front of you off the road. At the time I thought "wow that's stupid", but have a different view of that today.

:cool:
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I see this ALL the time. Poking along in the left lane with cars in the right lane, preventing passing. When they enter a zone where there is a gap in right-lane cars, they speed up. To prevent passing, very obviously. I see this a LOT.

There are folks who have figured out (consciously or not) that if they get in the left lane and go slow, there is never anyone in front of them. It's like traffic is light....for that one car....even in dense traffic.

I was coming into Knoxville about a year ago out near the turn off to Pigeon Forge. Passed about 3 school buses. Driver in the front bus was browsing something on his phone. I saw his finger swipe.

I got the number of the bus, figured out which school district they belonged to and called the superintendent's office. They were not too happy. Happy with me for calling but not at all by the driver's actions.

Oh yeah, the bus was full of kids.

Those are the ones who need a good brake check!

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No brake check, but maybe bbs (the small ones for bb guns) or some sort of fireworks, maybe those things that you throw on the ground and they pop. Certainly something to get their attention.

I've always fantasized about having remotely launched bottlerockets in the grill of my car for when I'm stuck behind someone.

Passing on the left on a paved shoulder is just good clean fun. Bonus is kicking up misc debris onto their windshields as you re-enter the "fast" lane. I don't mean all the time, just those times where traffic is moving freely yet some navel-contemplating dolt has to self-enforce speed limits causing faster traffic to pass on the right.

LOL!! You just described my Father in Law!:rolleyes:;)

My friend and I got stuck behind a Rednec k driving his PU Truck during a drive yesterday morning. He was cruising at 50 in a 55 and everytime we would reach a passing zone he would block us by moving to the middle of the road. He would also slow down to 40 MPH on the turns:mad:

We were able to take him out about 20 minutes later by outing in our right directions to make a left turn at on of the intersection.

15 minutes later we get stuck behind a Prius that would not go above 40 in a 45 zone, ugh.....