Left lane campers

[john70t]

Went down with pops to stay at his friend's place on Sanibel Island. Had one day there. At dusk we swam very far out, even for me, in a mirrored glass ocean with glowing orange skies. It was the night before a hurricane with full state evacuation was scheduled to hit the next day.
Back on the road again.
The next late night I found him driving 55mph in the center and left lane with cars whizzing by on both sides honking. And to be honest I lost my temper when he wouldn't let me drive. He was the kindest person to every stranger he ever met, even the scumbags, and I used to think that as a flaw, a weakness, and thought less of him for it. I didn't know how to give benefit of the doubt and pick my battles back then.

That was my first experience with 'sun-downers' syndrome, and he was diagnosed with dementia shortly afterwards, succumbing a few years later.

There are all types. Most are oblivious with interior distraction but will move over eventually. Some don't care. Some don't realize. And sometimes some are trolling for a contest and a fight.
The most important thing is to get to B without damage to your vehicle or person and have fun doing so.

[Icemaster]

Been to California lately?



Makes me want to install a rocket launcher behind the grill.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Snowbirds, Capt. Carrera?

Haha, that did cross my mind.

True story, last year I was in Miami and met this nice Latino gentleman. I told him I lived in Bradenton. He replied, "Ah yes, cranky old mid-west men with no money." That's how I knew he'd been to my city.

[herr_oberst]

Why is anyone surprised? The powers that be have no desire have a nation of competent drivers in this country...'drivers ed' has been a sorry shame for decades.

And while we're at it, sticky winter tires that don't need metal studs to grip ice and snow have been a thing for a few generations now. How come someone that does things hasn't decided to heavily tax studded snow tires, at least in urban areas that only get modest snowfalls a couple of times a year? The savings in road maintenance would be astonishing.

[2porscheguy]

it's the same shyte up here on the frozen tundra of Canuckistan....I really hate it when someone else's dog sleigh cuts in front of my dog sleigh doin'...maybe 15 km/hr instead of the posted 20 km/hr!! Dammit, I need to get back to my Igloo! The wife's cookin up my favourite dish......sauted beaver!

[ramonesfreak]

Hahaha I love eating beaver too. But hey, I’m close to the Canadian border

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

I m a left lane speeder not a camper. Further more, I am an all lane speeder and do most of my passing in the number 2,3,4 or 5th lane.

Left lane camper using their phone surfing Tictok

Yep. The sad thing is that my experience is that the left lane is usually 80% full of traffic, lane #2 is usually 40% full of traffic, and lane #3 is often mostly empty. Sadly, it's not unusual for me to be able to pass folks for a mile in the far right lane.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Try Rt 40 thru Tennessee. It's two lanes for very long stretches and 18 wheelers will park themselves in that left lane forever.

the other day I was coming home from work. A long stretch of I10 was recently expanded from 4 lanes to 6. When we get to the spot where the west bound lanes go from 2 lanes to 3, THere's a semi in the left lane and 2 semis passing in the right by about 0.1mph. I managed to pass the one semi on the right. In my rear view, I noticed that after I passed, that semi moved right. Then one of the other two semis moved from the left lane to the center lane. For the next mile or two, all I saw behind me were those 3 semis side by side by side across all 3 lanes. Fargin' wankers! (but at least I was in front of them and not stuck behind them)

[lindbhr]

In Texas there are signs everywhere saying "left lane for passing only". It's great when people move over to the right to let others pass. Sadly, this is not always the case and is very frustrating. I try not to let it get to me, but often it does.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

Been to California lately?



Makes me want to install a rocket launcher behind the grill.

That is our state motto. I am sure you noticed that people actually move over as soon you leave the state line but as soon as you get back across, there they are, in the left doing the speed limit.

it use to be that if you flipped your lights, they actually mover over. Now, is, F you, dare you to pass me up in the next lane.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by lindbhr

In Texas there are signs everywhere saying "left lane for passing only". It's great when people move over to the right to let others pass. Sadly, this is not always the case and is very frustrating. I try not to let it get to me, but often it does.

There are times when I fantasize about having one of these signs visible from behind my car programmed with
"Slower Traffic Keep Right"
"No your other right, Moron"



But I'd rather get past them and be on my way and not try to stir up anything.

[KFC911]

I drive in the left lane a lot, and pass on either side of cars (legally) that are slower, and don't hold up traffic if I can get over.... typically at 13-14 mph above the posted limit.

Anyone who suggests that the left most lanes are for "passing only" has no concept of "queueing theory", maximum throughput, or how to maximize the efficiency of traffic flow in congestion.... jmho.

It's sorta like when ya tune a network .... or tuna fish

[WSH]

Just back from trip to Atlanta
Worst blockers were on I-95 (for my drive, Savannah to Amelia Island)
Snowbirds, vacations, old people
Finally gave up and did most driving/passing in lane #3 (far right), of course it was empty except for the occasional truck
Most in left lane, when passed, looked incredulous

Reminds me of the George Carlin bit: No matter what speed you're driving, anyone slower than you is an idiot, anyone faster is a maniac. I guess a lot of people on 95 thought I'm the later....

[KFC911]

You do NOT want to be on I-95 south when Clemson is playing in the "Gator Bowl" the next day .... EVERY freakin' motor home in SC will cause the interstate to be a bumper-to-bumper, stop & go, parking lot "creep-a-long"... from I-26 down to Jax .

My RV want to go .0005 mph faster than the one in front of me... idjuts....

Everybody but me

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by KC911

You do NOT want to be on I-95 south when Clemson is playing...{snip}

Clemson, the 'utter' university of South Carolina.
(Sorry, my upbringing took over.)

[David]

Every few miles there's one of these signs on the Texas highways:



Unfortunately Texans don't read so good.

The speed limit is 75 on many Texas highways so I just come up behind them around 80 mph in my jacked up truck and most seem to get the hint. I do drive like an ahole tho.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by David

... I do drive like an ahole tho.

ah yes, the two gold rules of the road.
* People get out of the way of crazy.
* The most expensive car yields.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

ah yes, the two gold rules of the road.
* People get out of the way of crazy.
* The most expensive car yields.

That's not always the case. When I was younger and more likely to still do stupid stuff, my take was "this guy is trying to attach himself to my bumper, he is trying to bully, but it's all fluff because he does NOT want to have rear ended another car, especially a Porsche/whatever" (usually a huge truck tailgating a small car). So I was comfortable slowing down (maybe just a let off, maybe a downshift, maybe a brake check). I don't think I have brake checked anyone in many years (go me!). I still occasionally coast speed down to persuade someone to pass me. I don't think I've downshifted to increase my coast down speed either. These days I'm far more likely to either move over or hit the gas to get to a spot where I can move over.

My goal on the road is usually to "enable the flow of traffic" as much as possible, and certainly not reduce the flow of traffic, and hopefully, not piss anyone off in the process. But you can't control others and there are folks that will get pissed off for unreasonable reasons "no one should go faster than me" or whatever.

[URY914]

So your driving along doing 80 and see a guy ahead ding 65 in the left lane, why not just pass him on the right and get on with your day?

Why do these guys think that can force someone to move over by crawling up their ass and sitting there for 4 miles while waving their arms and flashing their lights?

Keep a safe distance, wait for the right lane to clear, change lanes and pass him. Is it the safest and right thing to do, well probably not according everything we've been told.

Youtube is full of dashcam videos of left lane bullies losing the battle of the left lane.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by URY914

So your driving along doing 80 and see a guy ahead ding 65 in the left lane, why not just pass him on the right and get on with your day?

That's exactly what I do. If I don't have to slow down or change speed, then that's perfect.

Why do these guys think that can force someone to move over by crawling up their ass and sitting there for 4 miles while waving their arms and flashing their lights?

I don't understand that either. I know a lot of folks will mention "you have to pass on the left." But in my research, that's not the case if there are 2 or more lanes going the direction of travel. I think the only time that it's actually illegal to pass on the right is if you're doing it on the shoulder.