[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

AMEN BROTHER! Few things in life annoy me more than people that camp out in the left lane.

OK and TX are terrible. I hate driving to TX

Amen. People here can't drive for crap. At least in Houston, I think there is a combination of reasons (first and foremost, crappy training/education/testing). Another big one is that it seems like all of the roads here are huge with several, wide lanes in both directions, so if you're a moron, there's plenty of room for folks to go around you or give you space so you don't hit them.

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Here in the NY/NJ metro zone, sadly I often find that I do the majority of my passing in the right lane because the vast majority of people do not respect the "keep right except to pass" rule. The right lane is the "fast lane" around here.

Same here, we don't, at least in Houston, have any "slower traffic keep right" signs. Those are all over in FL.

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Its common to see someone enter the highway from an on-ramp, and then cross over 3 lanes so they can travel at or below the limit in the far left lane. I think people avoid the far right lane because that's where all the entering/exiting traffic is. Not a legit excuse, but I believe that is the root cause of the annoying phenomenon.

That kills me. I've often wondered what causes so many people to want to drive in the left lane regardless of what's going on around them. I suspect a big part of it is that they feel safe. There are no cars on the driver's side of the car so they feel safe.

Originally Posted by Baz

It boils down to every man for himself on the highway.

I tend to drive without emotion - I have no problem passing on the right and do not hesitate anymore.

Yep. I pass where ever there's space.

Originally Posted by Z-man

In NJ, it is illegal to tailgate. It is also illegal to pass on the right. However, tailgating is significantly more dangerous than passing on the right with care.

There are two speeds allowed in the fast lane in my book - go fast, or get out of the way.
Go fast, or get out of the way. You got a problem wit dat?
-Z

I wonder about the whole "illegal to pass on the right" thing. I'd heard that for years. Finally, a few years ago, I checked here in Texas. Based on the way I read the laws, yes, it's illegal to pass on the right when you're passing on the shoulder. As far as I can tell, if there are 3 forward lanes, you can legally pass in any of those 3. It's only when you are on a road that has only a single lane going the direction that you are going that you aren't allowed to pass on the right because you would be passing on the shoulder, and that needs to be open for cars to pull into in case of an emergency. I don't think the law, at least here in Texas, is quite as iron clad as everyone seems to think.

Originally Posted by Hoss911sc

I think a huge part of the problem is inadequate driver training / licensing. I suspect many of these clueless drivers have no idea they are clueless. The driving test here in NY hasn't changed in too many years. It should include driving on an expressway. If you can't use the on/off ramps appropriately and demonstrate proper etiquette on the highway (including lane discipline), then NO license .. Of course this will probably never happen ..

More than anything else, this is the real root of the problem. You've got lots of folks who drive like crap, and they are the parents that the kids are imprinting with. Besides, most folks learn how to pass the test, but then based on observation, think "that's now how it works in real life, so I'll drive like all of the other morons."