My new hero is a cop in Indiana!

[A930Rocket]

He gave a ticket to a slow poke in the fast lane with 20 cars behind her!

Indiana state trooper lauded as 'hero' for pulling over 'slowpoke' driver | Fox News

An Indiana state trooper’s tweet reminding people about the state’s so-called “slowpoke” or “move over” law went viral Saturday.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, an Indiana State Police Public Information Officer for the Versailles District, posted a photo of a car he pulled over for violating a law that went into effect in 2015 – going too slow in the left lane on the highway if a vehicle behind you is going faster, FOX 59 reported.

“I stopped this vehicle today for a left lane violation on I-65. The driver had approximately 20 cars slowed behind her because she would not move back to the right lane.” Wheeles wrote. “Again...if there are vehicles behind you, you must move to the right lane to allow them to pass.”



Sgt. Stephen Wheeles
✔
@ISPVersailles
I stopped this vehicle today for a left lane violation on I-65. The driver had approximately 20 cars slowed behind her because she would not move back to the right lane.

Again...if there are vehicles behind you, you must move to the right lane to allow them to pass.

2:40 PM - Jun 16, 2018
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Wheeles said he was overcome by support, as many people expressed their frustration with drivers who go way too slow, some suggesting he move to their state, get a raise, or receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal tweeted: “This guy is my hero. Fast lane cruisers are one of my biggest frustrations!”

Former NFL Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman also tweeted his support: “Finally!”

“Wow…I am overwhelmed,” Wheeles said. “You all are amazing!! Just trying to do my part to make the roadways safer for the traveling public. Blessings…”

Wheeles also addressed people who had questions about the application of the law, with one person asking if it applies even if the “slow” car is going the speed limit.

“The spirit of the law is that since many people drive well above the speed limit, it creates an ‘accordion effect’ as traffic starts backing up behind the slower vehicle,” Wheeles said. “This is where many of our crashes occur on the interstates. It’s all in the name of safety.”


Brian Hunt
@boilerbrian
16 Jun
Replying to @ISPVersailles
Even if you are driving the speed limit?


Sgt. Stephen Wheeles
✔
@ISPVersailles
The spirit of the law is that since many people drive well above the speed limit, it creates an “accordion effect” as traffic starts backing up behind the slower vehicle. This is where many of our crashes occur on the interstates. It’s all in the name of safety.


“This is in no way encouraging people to speed. Those speeders are definitely in violation, also. Vehicles all travel at different speeds. It was put in place to keep left lane drivers (or the family ten cars back) from getting run over by faster traffic while in the left lane.”

[DonDavis]

Can you imagine if people were as passionate about "merging like a zipper" as they are about who's in the left lane?

Or maybe even looking ahead farther than 3 secs?
How about proper following distance?

There are many, many other practices that affect traffic flow more negatively than left lane occupants.

More proof that advanced training should be incorporated for everyone.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Can you imagine if people were as passionate about "merging like a zipper" as they are about who's in the left lane?

Or maybe even looking ahead farther than 3 secs?
How about proper following distance?

There are many, many other practices that affect traffic flow more negatively than left lane occupants.

More proof that advanced training should be incorporated for everyone.

Did a traffic school a hundred years ago and the CHP instructor told us that the #1 cause of traffic accidents at that time in CA was following too close.

[speeder]

My hero. We need a lot more like him.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Can you imagine if people were as passionate about "merging like a zipper" as they are about who's in the left lane?

IMHO, merging and yielding are among the least-developed driving skills. Most people have no friggin' clue...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by rcooled

IMHO, merging and yielding are among the least-developed driving skills. Most people have no friggin' clue...

Oh dear God, don't get me started. In the ever so polite midwest, people will damn near run you off of the road trying to move to the left lane to allow people to merge. And if you for some reason don't move over for someone trying to merge, you get dirty looks, the horn, etc. You know, because you are the a-hole who actually made the person merging actually MERGE. I've seen people drive on the shoulder because they don't realize that if there isn't an opening, you are supposed to YIELD. Honestly I prefer bigger cities where nobody expects polite, and they just make their way into the flow of traffic.

But back to the point, kudos to this guy. People going slow in the left lane can be just as hazardous as someone going too fast.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by rcooled

IMHO, merging and yielding are among the least-developed driving skills. Most people have no friggin' clue...

Muttering and yelling are the most-developed driving skills, unfortunately.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

In the ever so polite midwest, people will damn near run you off of the road trying to move to the left lane to allow people to merge.

In this area, the biggest problem with merging are those who meander down the on-ramps at 40MPH, then just drift over into the 70MPH freeway traffic without even looking. Traffic bunches up at nearly every overpass because of these idiots. People just don't seem willing to press that right foot down to get their vehicles up to the proper speed when joining faster traffic

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Oh dear God, don't get me started. In the ever so polite midwest, people will damn near run you off of the road trying to move to the left lane to allow people to merge. And if you for some reason don't move over for someone trying to merge, you get dirty looks, the horn, etc. You know, because you are the a-hole who actually made the person merging actually MERGE. I've seen people drive on the shoulder because they don't realize that if there isn't an opening, you are supposed to YIELD. Honestly I prefer bigger cities where nobody expects polite, and they just make their way into the flow of traffic.

But back to the point, kudos to this guy. People going slow in the left lane can be just as hazardous as someone going too fast.

Women drivers, mostly, I notice.
Here in AZ they have long merging lanes.
.
How about the woman driver in front of you?... ten cars behind you moving along nicely in city traffic.
The woman, who's identified with being a "giving" person, stops to let a car enter from the right side...usually from a parking lot.
So everyone behind her has to participate in her givingness.

[72doug2,2S]

On US 41 we have three lanes in one direction. The middle and left lanes are always full and no one drives the the right lane. Here we adjust and pass on the right, stupid, yeah I know.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Muttering and yelling are the most-developed driving skills, unfortunately.

I think the raised middle finger has to rate at least an honorable mention.

As an avid motorcyclist, I have developed what is best described as an above average disdain for these people. I am absolutely at their mercy, completely defenseless, and therefor have to do everything in my power to avoid them. I feel much the same way in my '72 911 hot rod, with its fiberglass "bumpers" at both ends. And my Boxster, for that matter - just too nice to scuff up.

Then there is my '93 Land Cruiser. My "urban assault" or freeway bumper car vehicle. If someone does something really aggressive or even stupid, and my choice boils down to hitting them or taking potentially dangerous actions - to me or those around me - I simply hit them. Sometimes pretty damn hard. My Land Cruiser is none the worse for war and tear.

Each and every time the cops have gotten involved. Each and every time, I have been vindicated, with the other party getting ticketed. Many times with witnesses vouching for me. Many times the offending vehicles have left on a hook or a flatbed. The sad part, though, is I really don't think any of them ever learned a damn thing from it. That's o.k., though. I'll just hit 'em again next time, if I'm in the Cruiser. It's actually kind of fun.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

On US 41 we have three lanes in one direction. The middle and left lanes are always full and no one drives the the right lane. Here we adjust and pass on the right, stupid, yeah I know.

Precisely.
Here we have the perfect example of the opposite of logic making more sense. I feel the right lane in metropolitan areas should be reserved for merging onto and exiting from the freeway.
Those lanes CAN be, but not always, very long to accommodate proper merging.

I really think traffic should slow down a bit overall. That would help facilitate the advanced techniques and methods learned from advanced training.

By the way, do the math of your commute and change your speed 10 mph +-.
Is a 3-4 minute arrival time worth the risk of beating that yellow, or gaining a 2 car position in rush hour?

Time of departure has much more impact on arrival time than anything you can do behind the wheel in transit.

.02

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by rcooled

In this area, the biggest problem with merging are those who meander down the on-ramps at 40MPH, then just drift over into the 70MPH freeway traffic without even looking. Traffic bunches up at nearly every overpass because of these idiots. People just don't seem willing to press that right foot down to get their vehicles up to the proper speed when joining faster traffic

You think its bad, but then I went to Pennsylvania.

It felt like the state driving instructors tell new drivers, accelerate to 50MPH, then come to a stop at the end of the ramp and look both ways.

When stuff like this happens in the V8 cars it is just an opportunity for acceleration fun. In the 944 it is brutally not fun.

Compared to my Pennsylvania experience, my worst frustrations with on ramps are nothing.

[Tervuren]

I'm glad a ticket like this is public, sustained driving next to another car IS dangerous as if something happens you have less options because a car is alongside.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I'm glad a ticket like this is public, sustained driving next to another car IS dangerous as if something happens you have less options because a car is alongside.

Yep. Just makes sense to try to leave yourself a hole. Often difficult to do on Oregon's crowded I-5.

[Don Ro]

What is OR (Portland) going to do with their highway system?
I was up there near Portland for two years and always avoided driving the freeways after 10 AM.
Bumper to bumper usually began about 12 noon.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

What is OR (Portland) going to do with their highway system?
I was up there near Portland for two years and always avoided driving the freeways after 10 AM.
Bumper to bumper usually began about 12 noon.

The position of the political power structure of Portland is to make driving as miserable as possible while catering to the mass transit and spandex bicycle brigade.
So, what will they do? There has been talk of fast (oxymoron) lane tolls during rush hour, but damn little talk of actual road improvements, preferring to put the $ in light rail and bicycle paths.

I avoid Portland now. No reason to go up there.

[Don Ro]

^^^
Ah yes...the Leftist's final solution at work.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

As an avid motorcyclist, I have developed what is best described as an above average disdain for these people. I am absolutely at their mercy, completely defenseless, and therefor have to do everything in my power to avoid them.

A buddy of mine was on his motorcycle and was nearly knocked down by a inattentive driver at an intersection, merging. He kicked her car to alert her to his presence.

Too bad though, that Virginia has this obscure law where a citizen can swear out a criminal complaint basically without the police or DA being involved. The female car driver did just that and my buddy ended up with a criminal appearance summons.

Luckily the DA has no tolerance for those types of complaints and dismissed it when my buddy went to court.

[wdfifteen]

I saw a woman get pulled over for driving slow in the fast lane on I-57 south of Effingham, Illinois about 10 years ago. The only other time I've ever heard of it.