Road Rage

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Here in Washington, driving in the right lane is not "foolishness", it's the law. Our freeways are clearly posted "keep right except to pass". Our State Patrol has identified left lane squatters as one of the single biggest causes of traffic congestion and ensuing road rage in others, as they camp in the left lane and refuse to move over to let faster traffic pass them on the left. They have now started pulling these clowns over and issuing warnings. Next will be citations, then "emphasis patrols" specifically targeting these left lane cruisers. I find it appalling that any traffic school would encourage left lane camping. Are you sure you read that right? Which traffic school is this?

I see more left lane squatters in WA than in OR. Have you noticed the same? Last time I drove I-90 there were 4 or 5 lanes, yet every small vehicle was in the left two lanes. I could sometimes get the guy in the far left to move right so I could pass, but not once did anyone move from the second lane into the third, despite the fact that there was virtually no traffic in the right lanes! I ended up passing on the right out of frustration. So when I hear of millions of dollars proposed to be spent on extra lanes, I have to wonder if education would be a better tool. Especially as left land squatters seem to be the #1 cause of road rage.