Driver's etiquette

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

You're jumping ahead to future questions.

Hey, man... make a decision... quick!

[schamp]

The car in the right lane needs to pay attention. Had he been doing so he would have pulled out to pass before the left lane cars got there. Too many times I have seen the right lane driver wait until they are close on the car in there lane before they even glance in the mirror to check the left lane. This is usually when they hit their brakes. I will sometimes slow down a bit and give them a hole. If they don't make a move and soon, then the hole closes up. They don't think ahead.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by schamp

They don't think ahead.

Exactly. They are in an insulated 2 ton protective bubble hurtling down the road oblivious to all around them. They aren't attentive enough to anticipate. Even if they are starring straight ahead it is still a huge surprise when another car 'suddenly appears' in front of them.

Ian

[SLO-BOB]

Originally Posted by schamp

The car in the right lane needs to pay attention. Had he been doing so he would have pulled out to pass before the left lane cars got there.

Another good point - I see that a lot. People seem oblivious to anything more than 2 car lengths ahead. Example - Any time I see an emergency vehicle with it's strobes on I'll slow and move left asap, like 1/2 mile or so. Usually, the other cars will cruise blithely along changing nothing. I know they don't even see the situation until they are right on top of it. That's when the brakes come on and they "wobble". Of course, the other travelers who actually did plan ahead or just happen to be in the left lane do nothing to allow the 1st idiot over. Same thing with avoiding tickets. I notice I brake waaay before the other people do when we spot a radar trap. It's not my reaction time or eyesight - its that I am paying attention, i.e. "driving", not eating, reading, dialing, etc.

But, other times, due to circumstances, one can get trapped between slower moving cars, especially if there's a lot of traffic volume. It's tempting to jump out to the passing lane to get "in with the fast crowd". I've done it, but I at least speed up to match the speed of the group. That's a little different scenario though.

[exitwound]

Seeing the brake lights on the highway for any reason is a bad thing. It's for cruising. Any braking is due to lack of preparation from the drivers on the road.

Slow down for a few seconds, let the faster man in the left lane pass, and then pass the slower guy in the right lane yourself. It's dangerous to jump in front of someone in the left lane without knowing exactly how fast he's going, how many people are behind him, etc.

I drive 2.9 miles to work every day and I see something like this non-stop. I HATE PEOPLE that don't know how to follow the rules of the road.

[billybek]

Speed up, get out and get out of the way!
When I see a car reeling me in, I will back off until he goes by if the traffic isn't heavy and the situation is right. Everyone needs a bird dog running out front anyway.
Driving is a job, and some people really blow at it....

[Freybird]

You (in the left lane passing) should complete your pass and get behind me in the right lane. My left signal is on and I'm accelarating in the right lane and execute the pass of the slower moving car. I return to the right lane ASAP freeing the passing lane for you to pass that slower guy and again pull in behind me. If you wish to continue faster, the left lane is open, but come back into the right lane ASAP as there is another car passing at 95 mph! Keep your distance and no one applies their brakes.

[Milu]

I think the right way to look at the scenario is that the correct way to drive is to never cause another driver to brake or slow down. It goes without saying that one needs to be aware of what is happening as far in front and behind as one can see.

[GothingNC]

Too many drivers are oblivious with their surroundings with no concern about others unless you get in their way.

Driving is now multi-tasked with cell phones, texting, looking at the GPS, dealing with the kids, changing the movie, eating, shaving, make-up, reading the paper, hormone issues, etc...

I'm one of the few that actually use the directionals and stay to the right as needed, give enough space...

[burgermeister]

Hmmm ... seems whenever I'm the middle lane guy and I let some let lane person have first crack at a pass, there is a 70% chance it's an idiot who will slow down to the exact speed of the car in the middle lane I want to pass, thus blocking the road for me and everyone else. Makes it easier to talk on the phone or type on the crackberry - after all, the road ahead is guaranteed clear.

I get at least 3 or 4 of these every drive home.

So I usually take the pass. I tend to speed up though...