Left Lane Police

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223


Trucking along in the left lane keeping pace with whomever is in front. They do 80MPH I do it that is unless someone behind me is going faster. I then of course move over. At this rate the the left lane is steadily passing the right lane as it usually does. The flow of traffic on this highway is usually 80-85mph in the left lane.


So by your own admission you're just following the rest of the scofflaw herd, and you fell into someone's trap. Rather than act like a mature adult and ignore them, you elect to get suckered into their little game, to the point that you make a juvenile gesture. By your own admission you were tailgating:

Quote:
still keeping a min. 1 car length everytime to his rear

1 1/2 - 2 car lengths behind but the Lexus can't maintain a steady speed to save his life so I am constantly adjusting my right foot


Quite honestly you're just as bad and guilty as the "left lane police" driver, and both of you were behaving in an infantile manner.


No that is my speed on this highway and usually others as well. If I am already doing 80-85 mph I am not going to force someone to move over. I will keep a reasonable distance from them. In all likely hood it is probably greater than 2 car lengths but certainly not more than a semi length. I've kept large distances bewteen drivers in the past only to be cut off by someone in the right lane who can't judge speed/distance and attempt to pass doing 60mph. This speed keeps me away from the pack effect on the right lane as well. That is the most dangerous, 8 cars all following each other closely.

Tailgating is being a mere yard of the person's bumper and easily to distinguish between keeping a safe distance. So you are wrong I was not tailgating and trying earnest not to even with his varying speed. He apparently just wanted the whole left lane to himself which was obvious after I passed and the cars stacked up behind him trying to get away from the truck traffic on the right.

Now the gesture may have been infantile but nothing leading up to that was, at least on my part. I actually tried to get away from him yet he "choose" to cut me off yet again.

So you are wrong on both parts.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Here in upstate NY the police don't give you much over the limit (72 is about it), so the speeders try to stay in the right two lanes, weaving in and out of the cars proceeding closer to the limit. It really does seem to be true that the police have the radar gun pointed at the high speed lane, because I rarely see one of these slalom speeders pulled over.

I just try to stay far away from anyone driving erratically. It is never worth it to tailgate or cut someone off--how do you know what they will do? Why take that risk?


Lol that's certainly not the case where I'm at. They let you get away with 16 over before they pull you over. I pass troopers almost ever day on my 60 mile commute doing 79 in the 65 and 69 in the 55 and they leave you alone. Worked this out with a few co workers, 81 or 71 and they will pull you over, but set cruise at 14 over and you are golden.



Speaking of idiotic drivers, I was almost killed last night twice by some idiotic 18 year old stupid blonde twit. I'm getting off the exit ramp on my way home from work, about to start the turn into the leaf part of the cloverleaf, and this IDIOT in her PRIUS whips in front of me out of nowhere, missing me by inches, cut accross from the left, directly in front of me. I'm beyond ticked. And THEN, after we merge on to Route 9, she sits in the right lane going 40 in the 55. I merge into the left lane to turn onto old post road. The light turns yellow as I come up to it, but I'm too close to stop safely so I go to make the left turn. And guess who cuts me off AGAIN, from the RIGHT, cutting across both lanes IN FRONT OF ME during the TURN,. Again missing me by mere inches, forcing me to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting her.


I'm beyond raging and I've never done this before, but at the next red light I pulled alongside her and "politely" "asked" what she thought she was doing. She gave me this completely dumb blonde look of confusion, she had no idea what I was talking about. I don't understand how IDIOTS like that can be allowed on the roads.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
^But if driving a marked car all they seem to do is cause those around them to drive stupid slow. RADAR traps seem to just cause brake slamming and sudden lane changes. So much for promoting safety.

It's all about the money.

Slow people cause brakes to come on and lane changes as well and that is why they are more dangerous than people that drive faster.

I see the "civic duty" slow pokes all the time. They are a serious navigation hazard.

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Originally Posted By: donnyj08
Sounds like an Ohio driver.. i swear everytime i go anywhere i see someone with Ohio plates that cannot drive a lick.. its always a chuckle


I imagine Indiana people say the same thing about Ohio plated drivers.


Exactly my point!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I get that on 81 almost every morning on the way to work.

Through the city of Syracuse , it's 2 lanes and there's a bit of congestion. There's people in their left lane talking on cell phones going 45, while traffic is trying to go 55 in the right lane and deal with merging, etc.

I can understand a bit why some people do it - if they're in the left lane they don't have to deal with entrance ramps and such ... but to the point that it impedes traffic.

I won't pass someone on the right. Period. If They're going 55 in the left lane, I'll be going 54 in the slow lane. I will also make sure to leave enough space that someone can comfortably get by to pass.

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
I won't pass someone on the right. Period.

I don't get this. If they are slow, go around them. Nothing special about the right lane that says you must go slower than the left.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I get that on 81 almost every morning on the way to work.

Through the city of Syracuse , it's 2 lanes and there's a bit of congestion. There's people in their left lane talking on cell phones going 45, while traffic is trying to go 55 in the right lane and deal with merging, etc.

I can understand a bit why some people do it - if they're in the left lane they don't have to deal with entrance ramps and such ... but to the point that it impedes traffic.

I won't pass someone on the right. Period. If They're going 55 in the left lane, I'll be going 54 in the slow lane. I will also make sure to leave enough space that someone can comfortably get by to pass.


Why? there is no law against passing in the right lane. I try not to, but if someone is going slow, and doesn't get over when I'm coming up behind them, I'll pass on the right.

 

[DBMaster]

The reason to keep the left lane clear, period, is for safety. It should be for passing ONLY, period. That doesn't apply to certain city street or boulevard situations, but on the highway it should and usually does. It is not the number of cars on the road that cause traffic issues. It is the individual choice we all have to be dumb you-know-whats. I, for one, can hardly wait until highways are automated. Very, VERY few of us are good drivers. And, we are only getting worse due to lack of focus.

 

[rslifkin]

I hate to say it, 1 carlength IS tailgating. 2 - 3 is minimum distance at highway speed, more than that is ideal.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I get that on 81 almost every morning on the way to work.

Through the city of Syracuse , it's 2 lanes and there's a bit of congestion. There's people in their left lane talking on cell phones going 45, while traffic is trying to go 55 in the right lane and deal with merging, etc.

I can understand a bit why some people do it - if they're in the left lane they don't have to deal with entrance ramps and such ... but to the point that it impedes traffic.

I won't pass someone on the right. Period. If They're going 55 in the left lane, I'll be going 54 in the slow lane. I will also make sure to leave enough space that someone can comfortably get by to pass.



Why? there is no law against passing in the right lane. I try not to, but if someone is going slow, and doesn't get over when I'm coming up behind them, I'll pass on the right.

I'm not passing on the right. I'm travelling at a safe and prudent speed in the right hand lane. There just happens to be a slower moving vehicle in the left lane contrary to the signs that indicate "LEFT LANE FOR PASSING ONLY."

Don't know what he is "passing" at 45mph in a 65mph zone.

 

[InvalidUserID]

When I used to have a longer commute, I used to notice what you described at least a few times a week. Some idiot in the left lane going slower than the flow of traffic, usually they go exactly speed limit. Thankfully I've never dealt with anyone that tried to play games like that. If they did, that's my cue to just get as far away from them as possible.

I read/saw somewhere that some people take it upon themselves to go into the left lane and do exactly speed limit to keep others drivers behind them..."pacers" or something.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: InvalidUserID
When I used to have a longer commute, I used to notice what you described at least a few times a week. Some idiot in the left lane going slower than the flow of traffic, usually they go exactly speed limit. Thankfully I've never dealt with anyone that tried to play games like that. If they did, that's my cue to just get as far away from them as possible.

I read/saw somewhere that some people take it upon themselves to go into the left lane and do exactly speed limit to keep others drivers behind them..."pacers" or something.


I always imagine them saying,
Hey! If 55mph was good enough for President Nixon it's good enough for me.

Or maybe they are eco-Nazis. Imposing a lower rate of speed on us all for the "good of mother earth and the good of us all..."

I got stuck behind Methuselah in a fairly new 7-series driving 48mph on the freeway. I remember it was 48mph. Cars are flying past making last second lane changes. I didn't even know you could drive 48mph on the open interstate in a 7-er. Like an "!ACHTUNG!" would pop up on the i-Drive display. "You are driving in a manner not fitting for ze Ultimate Driving Machine!!! Please resume normal freeway speed immediately or ve vill summon ze authorities und a tow truck!"

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: InvalidUserID
When I used to have a longer commute, I used to notice what you described at least a few times a week. Some idiot in the left lane going slower than the flow of traffic, usually they go exactly speed limit. Thankfully I've never dealt with anyone that tried to play games like that. If they did, that's my cue to just get as far away from them as possible.

I read/saw somewhere that some people take it upon themselves to go into the left lane and do exactly speed limit to keep others drivers behind them..."pacers" or something.


I always imagine them saying,
Hey! If 55mph was good enough for President Nixon it's good enough for me.

Or maybe they are eco-Nazis. Imposing a lower rate of speed on us all for the "good of mother earth and the good of us all..."

I got stuck behind Methuselah in a fairly new 7-series driving 48mph on the freeway. I remember it was 48mph. Cars are flying past making last second lane changes. I didn't even know you could drive 48mph on the open interstate in a 7-er. Like an "!ACHTUNG!" would pop up on the i-Drive display. "You are driving in a manner not fitting for ze Ultimate Driving Machine!!! Please resume normal freeway speed immediately or ve vill summon ze authorities und a tow truck!"



LOL That is probably the funniest thing I've seen today.

Seriously, it's flat out dangerous to go that slow on a highway. You are literally going almost half the speed of everyone else.

 

[DBMaster]

Again, I will say that it is not the number of vehicles that are the problem. It is all the individual, illogical decisions. We are way past the critical mass point. Too many people/vehicles on the road to expect more lanes to resolve the issue. We are throwing billions of dollars into the toilet. We should be pushing for highway automation. The comedian Gallagher used to say that if we had twenty lanes there would be a sign that stated "Left 19 lanes closed ahead." In downtown Dallas we have five lanes in each direction. If you want to drive 70 you have to do a lot of weaving. It is the illogical, inattentive (possibly intoxicated) individual that is the issue, not the roads.

We are spending money unwisely.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I get that on 81 almost every morning on the way to work.

Through the city of Syracuse , it's 2 lanes and there's a bit of congestion. There's people in their left lane talking on cell phones going 45, while traffic is trying go 55 in the right lane and deal with merging, etc.

I can understand a bit why some people do it - if they're in the left lane they don't have to deal with entrance ramps and such ... but to the point that it impedes traffic.

I won't pass someone on the right. Period. If They're going 55 in the left lane, I'll be going 54 in the slow lane. I will also make sure to leave enough space that someone can comfortably get by to pass.


Why? there is no law against passing in the right lane. I try not to, but if someone is going slow, and doesn't get over when I'm coming up behind them, I'll pass on the right.


Part of it is is fear that I'll get a ticket for it (really didn't know it wasn't illegal)

The other part is, if someone is that oblivious to be driving 45 in the fast lane, what's stopping them from just moseying on into my lane when I'm passing?

 

[DBMaster]

The right lane is the one used for entry and exit. There are plenty of potentially dangerous situations that can occur when faster traffic is forced to pass on the right. Just the fact that there is any argument about this is telling me exactly why we have to take individual emotions and decisions out of the picture.

Our interstate highway system was modeled after Germany's autobahns. Eisenhower was very impressed with them during WWII and also saw potential strategic value for troop and supply movements with the U.S. should there ever be military action on our soil.

Just TRY moseying in the left lane on an autobahn.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Driving down I78W closing on the the 309 interchange for you ABE people.

Trucking along in the left lane keeping pace with whomever is in front. They do 80MPH I do it that is unless someone behind me is going faster. I then of course move over. At this rate the the left lane is steadily passing the right lane as it usually does. The flow of traffic on this highway is usually 80-85mph in the left lane.

I happen behind a new white Lexus ES350 after some other cars move over to the right. I don't tailgate but I don't leave 2 truck/trailer lengths either because that just invites people to cut you off. 1 1/2 - 2 car lengths behind but the Lexus can't maintain a steady speed to save his life so I am constantly adjusting my right foot.

Closing on 309 once he sees the 55mph speed limit he literally coast down to 60mph even though he had no problem keeping it at least above 75mph before. Those that know this highway know it leads to a very steep grade that see's heavy truck traffic so just about everyone with an ounce of sense stays far left. It opens for 2 lanes to 3. Trucks usually stay right and everyone is happy except Mr Lexus.

He takes my adjusting to his free wheeling tactics as an insult and proceeds to brake check me...once....twice....still keeping a min. 1 car length everytime to his rear. Apparently the PennStatePolice tasked him with keeping order in left lane and this is my punishment for keeping with the flow of traffic.

Fine...I'll just pass him when the 3rd lane opens...NOPE! As soon as I try to pass he cuts me off, no signal. Fine I'll just pass you on the right. Forester has 0 problem doing this even if most drivers floor it.

Wife comments on what an idiot he is and off we go and guess who has a line of traffic behind him in the far left lane...sheesh

Way down the highway I've move back to the center lane after some busy off/on ramps. Guess who comes zipping down the left only to cut me off again so he can get to an exit ramp on the far right. Yup Mr. Lexus, he had at least 10 ways to not cut me off again to get over but apparently I deserved it.

Well he deserved something too, a certain bird...the one fingered variety.

I bet I'm the arse he talked about riding his rear that he taught a lesson to. Ya that was his dinner table convo that night.

Well if its any consolation homeboy, I own a Lexus and I DO NOT drive like that idiot!

I share your aggravation here because this happens to me a lot too on I FLY 78.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
^But if driving a marked car all they seem to do is cause those around them to drive stupid slow. RADAR traps seem to just cause brake slamming and sudden lane changes. So much for promoting safety.

It's all about the money.

Slow people cause brakes to come on and lane changes as well and that is why they are more dangerous than people that drive faster.

I see the "civic duty" slow pokes all the time. They are a serious navigation hazard.


I could not agree with you more!

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Driving down I78W closing on the the 309 interchange for you ABE people.

Trucking along in the left lane keeping pace with whomever is in front. They do 80MPH I do it that is unless someone behind me is going faster. I then of course move over. At this rate the the left lane is steadily passing the right lane as it usually does. The flow of traffic on this highway is usually 80-85mph in the left lane.

I happen behind a new white Lexus ES350 after some other cars move over to the right. I don't tailgate but I don't leave 2 truck/trailer lengths either because that just invites people to cut you off. 1 1/2 - 2 car lengths behind but the Lexus can't maintain a steady speed to save his life so I am constantly adjusting my right foot.

Closing on 309 once he sees the 55mph speed limit he literally coast down to 60mph even though he had no problem keeping it at least above 75mph before. Those that know this highway know it leads to a very steep grade that see's heavy truck traffic so just about everyone with an ounce of sense stays far left. It opens for 2 lanes to 3. Trucks usually stay right and everyone is happy except Mr Lexus.

He takes my adjusting to his free wheeling tactics as an insult and proceeds to brake check me...once....twice....still keeping a min. 1 car length everytime to his rear. Apparently the PennStatePolice tasked him with keeping order in left lane and this is my punishment for keeping with the flow of traffic.

Fine...I'll just pass him when the 3rd lane opens...NOPE! As soon as I try to pass he cuts me off, no signal. Fine I'll just pass you on the right. Forester has 0 problem doing this even if most drivers floor it.

Wife comments on what an idiot he is and off we go and guess who has a line of traffic behind him in the far left lane...sheesh

Way down the highway I've move back to the center lane after some busy off/on ramps. Guess who comes zipping down the left only to cut me off again so he can get to an exit ramp on the far right. Yup Mr. Lexus, he had at least 10 ways to not cut me off again to get over but apparently I deserved it.

Well he deserved something too, a certain bird...the one fingered variety.

I bet I'm the arse he talked about riding his rear that he taught a lesson to. Ya that was his dinner table convo that night.

Well if its any consolation homeboy, I own a Lexus and I DO NOT drive like that idiot!

I share your aggravation here because this happens to me a lot too on I FLY 78.


+1, I too drive a Lexus and don't drive like that clown! Don't judge us all because of one idiot.

 

[InvalidUserID]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog


I always imagine them saying,
Hey! If 55mph was good enough for President Nixon it's good enough for me.

Or maybe they are eco-Nazis. Imposing a lower rate of speed on us all for the "good of mother earth and the good of us all..."

I got stuck behind Methuselah in a fairly new 7-series driving 48mph on the freeway. I remember it was 48mph. Cars are flying past making last second lane changes. I didn't even know you could drive 48mph on the open interstate in a 7-er. Like an "!ACHTUNG!" would pop up on the i-Drive display. "You are driving in a manner not fitting for ze Ultimate Driving Machine!!! Please resume normal freeway speed immediately or ve vill summon ze authorities und a tow truck!"


"Achtung" hahaha. That gave me a good laugh.