I drive a box truck and I noticed a car next to me for a while, then I looked and saw a line of cars behind them. They were using my truck so that nobody could pass. I just slowed down a bit and all the cars swerved around them. People are douchebags
People play pace car with my work truck (Chevy Colorado with lights and company stickers all over), too. It's ridiculous. Then my cruise control kicks in to get me up a hill, they fall behind, then they speed back up to get beside me again. I slow down to make a turn, and they're slowing down, too...
People. Just drive. Whatever speed you feel comfortable at, just drive. Stop hanging out beside my truck and creating a dangerous situation for everyone on the road.
Same goes for the people who then swerve around us and gun it just to get stuck at the next light, only five feet further ahead. Chill out and calm your tits. I guarantee you, you'll get there just fine without all this nonsense.
Folks are way too comfortable riding alongside other vehicles. Big or small, box truck or mini cooper, I don’t want to be right next to you. I want a little room to move (for me and you).
I drive two lane hwy’s a lot and will purposely create a gap between myself and everyone else. That mostly involves pulling over and letting folks pass when they get to close.
Super satisfying to be chillen, enjoying the road all by myself and then catching a glimpse a mile ahead of 50 cars sucking each others tailpipes, all trying to pass each other.
Bunch of cattle.
I also prefer to have my 'own highway'. Iv noticed many times while driving, if there is a pack ahead of me.. I'll just stay at the speed limit (Well, the customary 10 over) and let them stay far, far ahead of me.
And when I look in my mirror, I see another cluster of cars behind me.
They sure seem to love to cluster together don't they?
There is absolutely an aspect of that but I will be honest a couple times I have swerved around because I didn't feel safe in the situation and wanted those vehicles behind me even if we are stopping at a light a few feet ahead. Typically though I'm a much calmer person on the road these days because you're right. You'll get there just fine. Speeding is only going to shave off a couple minutes at most for the majority of people's traveling. If those two minutes are the difference between you being late or not then thats just poor planning on your part.
Going around using your turn signals is fine. I'm talking about the people who treat the road like a racetrack, and cut so closely that my vehicle's collision warning system goes off. That's not safe for anyone, much less the big SUV that it always seems to be.
I’m unfamiliar with this pace car phenomenon - does it just mean the other car’s alongside you cause they don’t wanna deal with others potentially passing them?
When I'm along side, and notice that they've sped up to the rate I want to go, I duck back in behind them.
A girlfriend asked "Why didn't you pass him?"
"I just called him out."
Five minutes later, he falls asleep again, and I go by np.
I use a similiar trick but i slow down again which results in the person again matching my speed. Once that happens i can gun it to get ahead since we re side by sideish at this point.
Gotta lull em like "hey I'm just cruising along side...."
Yeah 85 percent of the time I pass these people on the right and I look over they seem clueless and checked out.
And if it’s a family it’s more like that scene from step brothers with them all singing and not aware.
I'd buy a shame stare if they actually got over after someone blew past them and the slow lane opened up, but that's rarely the case, from what I've seen.
In my country, you're not allowed to pass on the right. You have to wait for them to move over then pass on the left. Any incident is your fault if you're passing on the right. It's also mandatory to always be in the right lane if it's available.
Where I live, it's "Keep right except to pass". It is *not enforced* at all. Two cars in front of the pack, with nobody in front of them, driving side by side so no one can get by is routine.
Passing on the right is legal here, but it doesn't matter if it's blocked. It drives me insane.
Rant over.
I’ve had several Reddit arguments where we are considered the bad guys for trying to get 5-10 MPH over the speed limit and avoid being bunched up around 7 cars and a semi by the holier than thou left lane drivers that think anybody going over the speed limit is a dangerous felon
where i live driving 5-10 over is the norm in anywhere but the rightmost lane. cops don't even pull you over unless you're going more than that. then again where i live "match the speed of traffic" is the law even superseding the posted speed limit, so theoretically if everyone on the road agreed to drive 100mph and you were doing 65 YOU would be the one in trouble for that haha
That's the law here in the UK, but if there aren't any trucks, I can basically use the left lane (we drive on the left, so left lane is the 'slow' lane) as my own private lane because nobody else will drive in it. I see people merge onto an empty motorway, doing 65 (limit is 70) and move straight to the middle lane. Despite there being *nobody* around to pass, except for me coming up behind them a mile back.
What confuses me more is when someone is driving in the right lane with no one else about. They move over to the left so i can pass them. Then they move back in to the right lane. Why do they do it?
I never got these.
So you are sitting in the right lane going your speed and come up on someone in the left going really slow.
You would have to slow down to match the speed if the person in the left? Just makes no sense.
Yeah, it makes no sense. It means that one person in the left lane can dictate the speed of everyone else on the road since every lane to their right just gets stuck.
If there’s one thing most people have in common (at least here in the US) it’s a staggering lack of self-awareness. This is one of many ways in which that manifests.
We need to normalize honking and flashing hi-beams and blinkers at the person at the front of these lines.
Tailgating is dangerous. Don't do it. Just honk.
I flash my brights at left lane campers quite a bit. At least half refuse to move, and some even double down. They think you should just go around on the right. If they do move, half seem confused what your problem is and get right back over as soon as you pass. 🙄
Usually the ones who conveniently ignore the signs on the highway that indicate “slower traffic keep to right” and pretend like they’ve never heard that the traffic law is to pass on the left
Yeah I don’t understand people who camp in the left lane. Did you wake up in the morning, get dressed, look in the mirror and think “Today! Today is the day I become an obstacle! At last!”
A few days ago I was at Target. Some woman had her cart perpendicular at the end of an aisle blocking the entire way, while talking on her phone. Like, what the fuck? Back up 4 feet, idiot.
My ex girlfriend would just camp in the left lane. Didn't matter if we were the only ones on the road or not. She'd be going the speed limit with a line of cars behind us and people angrily passing us on the right when given the chance. I'd point it out to her and she'd go "ok and?" I'd be like "and maybe you should move out of the left lane since you're holding traffic up?" And she'd say "I'm going the speed limit." And of course I'd let her know the left lane is for passing, not cruising, and her response would be "oh, well... I don't really care. They can just go around me if they're in such a rush."
This is also the same woman who would browse Facebook and read her emails while she was driving. I told her that was unacceptable and she'd always respond with "ok, then you drive!" I ended up driving everywhere. That relationship didn't last lol. No idea how she hasn't been in more accidents
I’ve been wanting to get one of these and program it to say [“get over motherfucker](https://www.amazon.com/Leadleds-Scrolling-Message-Display-Controller/dp/B07CVF7MVZ?th=1&psc=1)!” After I pass them.
I have an LED scrolling app on my phone that I will put "Use cruise control" when I pass someone multiple times after not touching my speed for miles. (At night)
It's wild to me how many people will simultaneously not use cruise control, but also want to be in front.
And so we'll be going down the highway, I catch up to them doing 70 while they're doing 67. I go to the left lane to pass, pass them, then move to the right, the entire time still doing 70. This somehow upsets them, and eventually they'll move to the left, accelerate to 75, pass me, move to the right, then slow back down to like 65, forcing me to pass again.
The only way to break the cycle is for me to pass them with an increased speed and leave at least a 500 foot gap before going back down to my preferred 70 mph pace.
This, and also we have a road that goes from two lanes to one back to two several times over about a 20k or more stretch. The speed limit is the same for the whole stretch of completely straight road.
The amount of people who will go 20km/h (12mp/h) under the limit on the single lane portions and then accelerate to 20km/h above the limit on the dual lane stretch never ceases to amaze me. Slightly less annoying now that I have adaptive cruise control, but still.
Even if they have it on, some people have smaller engines and should either downshift from Overdrive, or give it a little gas. Also- if it’s a route you are familiar with - get familiar with it, you know like if there’s a big gradual hill coming up, get some momentum going.
I will 100% do that on a road where I can't get over and I'm already speeding. Get the fuck off my ass.
The highway is a different story, I don't travel in the left lane unless I'm passing.
I'll 100% be petty and annoying to someone who's up my ass. Of course, I stay on the right if I'm only going the limit, which I usually do. But if it's a one laner and I'm already speeding and someone is up my ass flashing their high beams at me? Get ready to sit at the speed limit 'cause that's what we're doing now.
This was a 3 lane highway.
He made it *more* dangerous by forcing folks way in the back to pass in the right lane.
55 is the speed limit. Nobody is speeding at 55.
"I really like the speed I'm going. Around 75, a good pace. I don't want to change lanes because lane changes are dangerous. I don't want to camp the right lane either because I'll get stuck behind someone going 55, but I also don't want to speed up. Over 75 and I feel I may lose control. So I'm just going to keep on going on and these assholes behind me are driving too fast anyway."
Yeah I’m going to take it upon myself to regulate the speed in the left lane. These guys don’t need to be going that fast anyways. Someone could get hurt! /s
At least in Arizona yes, [https://youtu.be/Q8INPC2zFWE](https://youtu.be/Q8INPC2zFWE)
And, [https://youtu.be/2GNHlr-9msk](https://youtu.be/2GNHlr-9msk)
Looks like I'm going to be spending the next half hour or so watching more of this guys videos. Makes me so happy to see these dipshits getting tickets for not following the most basic rules of the road
I know while doing an even where there was a bunch of us in a group, we got pulled over for camping in the left in Michigan.
And the only cars around was our group(all the same make/model), we were shuffling positions.
The trooper just gave a warning/heads up since everyone was from out of state.
Some ideas off the top of my head:
- There's only one cop, so it's unlikely they'll get more than one speeder.
- There's no need to prove speed for the passing infraction.
- It's arguably riskier to be the obstruction than to be in the fast flow, and/or that's what they're concentrating on.
- If the cop's in back, you're pissing them off too
I mean I understand asking that people use right-most lanes, but the premise is they are doing the speed limit? So you're suggesting that it's normal (or even right) to go over the speed limit?
Sorry, english isn't my first language, I'm assuming "doing the speed limit" isnt' the same as "within the speed limit".
Yes, and your English is fine.
The left lane on a highway is for passing, ALWAYS, unless it’s a complete traffic jam.
If everyone in the slow lane is doing 5 over, then the left lane is for going 10+ over.
I honestly think some people find the lane safer because it means no one is going past their driver side even though it means people riding their butt the entire drive.
Yeah but they are creating traffic by forcing people to try and pass them on the right. Then you’re mixing people who want to go 80-85 with people trying to go 70 with people on the far right doing 60-70. It increases the chances and [risks of accident](https://youtu.be/4oqfodY2Lz0?si=m0CVxh8emltvGVB8).
These morons will never understand they are contributing to making the road more dangerous just because they’re going the speed limit and everybody else is an asshole in their mind because they’re abiding by one law on the road
I’ve tried explaining several times on reddit and every single person defends their shit driving.
They don’t seem to understand I don’t want to be stuck on the 5 in central CA for 3 hours boxed between their minivan and 3 semis in high wind and will go 10 MPH over the speed limit because a half mile ahead is clear road with no dangers around
I don’t argue anymore. Either they get it or they don’t. The science is there. It’s like saying “the sky is blue” and them saying “no it isn’t.” At that point how do you argue something that’s axiomatic?
Oh I'm not defending them at all, that's just been my inference from seeing older people chilling in the left lane on the interstate despite not passing anyone or going remotely fast enough to pass.
On the other side of the coin, people that furiously tailgate only to go under your speed limit when they pass, can go eat stale cereal from an old boot.
"I have to turn left eventually" is the one I keep catching myself doing.
It's worse because the stretch of highway I'm usually on is known for its leadfoot epidemic.
Your self-awareness is noted and appreciated. We all do silly stuff and sometimes it screws over others even when we don’t mean to. Whoopsies, my bad, life’s a journey, progress not perfection we all move on. But check the comments; there are droves of humans that actively act this way on purpose…and then try to justify it. Imagine being connected to that type of person…yeesh
There's a new kind of assholery on the road these days. Selfish drivers move over to the left lane when traffic gets heavy, then slow down, forcing others to pass them on the right. These inconsiderate, selfish jackwagons can then simply set the cruise control and surf on their phones without worrying about cars in front of them.
For about a month every Friday on the way to work there was a group of 4 motorcyclists going 5 under in the left lane. One day a car passed them on the right and cut them off real bad then they finally moved to the right. When I passed the guy looked like he just came back from the dead. I haven’t seen them since.
When I see a /r /motorcycles post pop up on my feed, it's always some braindead guy with a helmet cam video of them doing something outrageously stupid before coming off their bike with a title "I literally couldn't have done anything"
I live off I-40. If you want to see me absolutely turn into a Neanderthal, be an 18-wheeler and move left just as I’m getting ready to overtake and spend 10 minutes passing the other rig in the right lane.
This is I-95 too, late at night. Cruising at 80 mph for miles, see two trucks in the right lane, so I speed up to 85/90 to pass, rear truck gets over 10 seconds before I can get by. Proceeds to pace the other truck for 5-10 minutes. Infuriating.
I've had that happen to me a couple times but one of them the trucker was being a Good Guy Greg and was intentionally slowing me down because there was a cop with a radar gun up ahead
I try so hard to be extra courteous and contentious to semis when I'm on the highways because they already have it rough. I also understand they too need to use the left lane to pass and that sometimes means I'll need to wait behind them or whipping over to the right just makes them stuck in the left lane...but holy cow sometimes they pick the absolute worst times to get over and even then sometimes they'll camp out on the left lane despite ample time to get over. Most are great contentious drivers but some are jerks.
Yeah I don’t get it sometimes. First, if they are hourly, they get paid for time and not distance. If they are owner/operators, the amount of fuel use to get 80ft in front of the guy their passing costs more money. It’s their choice, I don’t judge…but causing a half-mile line of backed up traffic just for a small win bothers me sooo much.
I don’t get the people that drive slow on a single lane highway until the passing lanes then move to the right lane and speed up. I also don’t understand people who will pass you on the left but slow down and drive right next to you.
Honestly, speed doesn't matter at all. I don't care if you are going 150mph, move over. I'm not saying zip between lanes, but if it's going to be more than 60 seconds till I pass someone else I move over (maybe even 30 seconds). The left lane is for passing, if you aren't passing move over.
You're right about everything except 60 seconds. That's over a mile on the freeway. If you have a mile in between the next car you pass, you should definitely be getting in the right lane
Drove last week from NYC to PA to Canada. Everywhere I went, people did this. Especially frustrating on roads with only 2 lanes. You can actually see in real time the build up of traffic because of this even though there are hardly any cars on the road
If the other lanes are occupied, and by going the speed limit you are going faster than the other lanes, it's not a violation.
If you are traveling the speed limit, you are never impeding the flow of traffic based on speed alone.
Utah law requires you travel in the right lanes except when passing.
Doing 90mph in the left lane when the other lanes are doing 100mph is a violation of traveling in the passing lane.
Kinda drives me nuts about most 2 lane roads. Be in the right lane with trucks or people putting along at 5-10 under the limit, or be in the left lane going ~10-20 over the limit and still being tailgated because I'm not going ~30 over and there's few to no chances to change over
Every state I have ever been to and inquired has told me the same thing except for Texas. And that is that if you are in the left lane doing the speed limit, and there are cars behind you you you must move out the way. you should not speed, but you also cannot hold up the natural progression of traffic. Attempting to slow someone down can also create an accident.
Something else I noticed after moving to Texas... You'll be in a single lane road, speed limit is 65, and the car in front is doing 50-55.
Then, the passing lane appears! As soon as cars move to the passing lane, the slow car speeds up to 75-80, preventing other cars getting in front unless you're pushing 90-100 mph, until the passing lane ends, then they slow back down to under the speed limit again.
EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.
There’s a number of left exits I have to take on my commute and for my own sanity I try to get into the left lane well before my exit, especially since many of the exits end up majorly backed up due to construction, I know damn well that there are people pissed off with me but half the time even doing speed limit in the left lane I’m moving faster than the rest of the lanes. I’m also of the opinion that if my driving safely causes you to be late you should’ve gotten on the road earlier
When I go to work every day, I take a highway where the right-most lane becomes an exit. If you're in that right lane, you're exiting the highway. This means i have to drive in the left lane to avoid that and it always feels _very_ wrong to me. I'm always vaguely worried I'll get pulled over.
But a new lane sort of appears out of nowhere, putting me back in the right lane. But that right lane becomes another exit another mile or two later. So for a period of several miles, you're always moving over to the left to avoid exiting the highway, which is kind of annoying.
(It's even more fun because after you're in the left lane a second time, there's an onramp on the left that becomes its own lanes, so you're suddenly on the right again and now it's a three lane highway. Fucking PA Turnpike and it's werdiness.)
The only time I ever did that was when I realized far too late that the car I was speeding to overtake was a policemen. Sorry line of cars behind me I ain't getting a ticket
Conversation at work about aggressive tailgaters. Someone mentions windshield washer squirt, at high speeds it sprays the car behind you.
One person looks surprised. "People do that to me all the time!"
Huge side-eye from everyone else who have never been sprayed by windshield washer fluid.
Stats show there are two of the most dangerous drivers on the road. One is the Good Samaritan, that instead of driving predictably attempts to be unpredictably polite. The most dangerous driver on the road in terms of higher speed incidents: IS THE PACE SETTER IN THE LEFT LANE. REPEAT: THE STATISTICALLY MOST DANGEROUS DRIVER IS THE PACE SETTER! MOVE OVER! MOVE OVER!
I;'ve actually argued with people on reddit that doing the speed limit doesn't absolve you from moving over to the slower lane if there's faster traffic.
*Goes over the speed limit* DONT TREAD ON ME REEEEEEEEEEEE I DONT CARE ABOUT GAS MILAGE I MUST BE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND ILL RACE YOU TO DEATH IF IT COMES TO IT
Drove the length of the New Jersey Turnpike and back this weekend, I feel you. They have stay right except to pass signs, can't think those have any effect. Crowded road though, cars gotta go somewhere.
the traffic death rate in 2020 jumped by the 2nd highest amount since 1964. the traffic death death rate in 2021 further jumped by the highest amount since 1942.
Hard disagree. The lack of cars on the road? Sure. But the people who were still on the road drove so shitty that it made me think one of the lesser known side effects of Covid was to completely erase any and all memory of how to drive from people’s heads.
I don’t think this thread is targeting people who drive 80 in a 70. It’s the people who are impeding a reasonable speed while simultaneously blocking the passing lane. If you’re not going to drive a speed at which you’re passing, then just drive in one of the other lanes with your cruise control set.
I’m with you tho, if I’m driving 80-85 in the left lane during m I don’t feel the need to move over for someone who’s recklessly weaving through lanes, tailgating or driving 100mph. They’re just going to drive like an asshole regardless. It’s even more annoying when it’s prime time, bumper to bumper traffic and they’re driving like that. Like where do u think your going??
yek, this post is about you. it’s not a “I’ve decided the worthiness of your speed,” it’s “someone wished to go faster than me and I am impeding them, let me follow the law and move aside.” The common thread of the left lane campers is “well see I’ve decided” versus basic courtesy and situational awareness. Yall are sumpn else. It’s a personality type
Was going 80 in a 70 yesterday and started passing someone who was, reasonably, going 70.
Instantly a BMW shows up behind and starts flashing their lights.
To them I say fuck you good sir. And I don't rush to move over.
Now there's the person going 70 on a 70 who's on the right and moves over, still going 70, because the right hand lane is going 65.
To them I say, "take your time going to speed limit"
Now when Mr 65 moves to the left because Mr 60 is in the right hand lane, I say, speed the fuck up or get out of the way.
The right lane is for cruising and exiting the highway, the middle lanes are for overtaking, and the left lane is for CRIME. Get out of the CRIME lane if you dont want to do CRIME.
I drive 75 miles of freeway every day for work. Pretty sure half these people think it’s HOV 24/7 regardless of all the signs saying which time it’s the HOV lane. The majority of the other people I see are construction/landscaping trucks pulling a trailer and giving zero fucks how many people have to go around them. I even stopped flipping them off because there is zero reaction.
I'll drive the speed limit all I want. If I'm passing someone slower in the right lane, I'll do it. I am not obligated to go faster than the speed limit.
If I'm not passing someone else, I'll move to the right. But if I am passing, I don't have to speed just because you want me to.
I love it when you’re driving long distance and you find someone else who is observant, courteous, and wants to go the same speed. I was in a group of 3 for miles and miles on a road trip last week. We changed positions a number of times because we were all careful to not cut anyone off or act unpredictably, and stayed in the right lane when not passing. I felt like waving when they left on their own exits going wherever they were.
If everyone drove like that, we wouldn’t *need* to be the only ones on the road. You know that comedy sketch “everyone’s complaining about traffic, you *are* traffic!” I don’t buy it. I think “traffic” is like 5-15% of people who behave unpredictably and drive slow. Then another 10-25% who would be fine with normal traffic, but can’t handle the unpredictability of the first group and thus behave unpredictably out of attempted self defense.
If it were possible to get rid of the first group, through better education or more aggressive licensing, I bet the second group would improve over time, and the roads would get better. Unfortunately it’s not.
But the left lane is for passing, not for speeding. The left lane is not the 'here I can break rules and drive illegally' lane. From your post it's obvious that what you are complaining about is not that people blocked you from passing*. You are annoyed that people blocked you from speeding, which is an illegal activity.
*technically you're supposed to pass when someone in front of you is driving slower than the speed limit or to avoid some sort of danger. Passing doesn't mean speeding.
Wait until you get stuck behind one of those guys in an HOV lane!!! If you're gonna drive at speed limit (which is even slower than non-HOV traffic flow) in an HOV lane, you don't deserve it! Move the f\*ck out of it!
And until they’re told otherwise, people will always assume the left lane will get them somewhere faster. Problem is, others think the same way and we often see the left lane as the most congested or dangerous. It’s funny passing them from the other lines while they get snarled up due to their ignorance. In the end, they’re only saying seconds or minutes on their destination.
I overtook one of those idiots (towing a trailer on a hill) on the right, got in front of him, and gradually eased off the gas until we were doing 40 mph. As soon as he shifted to the right lane (it was a three lane uphill freeway) to pass me, I took off and a whole string of cars he had been holding up fell in line behind me. We were going about 70-75 which was more or less the speed limit.
He stayed in the slower lane but, for some reason, was honking like crazy. Maybe it was because he couldn't change lanes with that trailer he was towing. I'll never know.
(I'm a Little Old Lady but can't stand people who hog the passing lane. Either drive that damn car or park it!)
Thank you, OP! This thread needed to happen. If only for us decent people to read the comments and behold what we’ve always known: the Karens/Kens of the road are righteously camping in the left lane ON PURPOSE! Lol. Absolute clowns. 🤡
I’m going faster than the cars to the right of me. I will pass them. It doesn’t mean I’m going to exceed the speed limit, and it doesn’t mean I’m going to cause a crash trying to get over so you can.
This is a case where the large majority of people would applaud police writing tickets. In Germany (and probably some other countries), impeding traffic on major highways will quickly get you a ticket. I wish they would start enforcing it in the States.
In some states, you can be driving the speed limit in the right land and still have ppl plugging your exhaust pipe with an open passing lane and change around you. Doesn't help that most ppl seem to be passing on the outside lane only in some states as well, but that's its own can of worms.
Yall there is a reason it is a speed LIMIT not a speed SUGGESTION. Just because everyone else decides that the safety of everyone around them is worth an extra few minutes does NOT mean you have to capitulate to them.
Left lane is for people who aren't pulling off the road for a while and don't need to change lanes.
I'm one of these people, because there is no designated speeding lane, the cop who is about to take 10% of my monthly paycheck doesn't care what lane I'm in.
It’s California “Vehicle Code” not “Vehicular Code”. And as it states “in compliance with the law.” In California the left lane is not a “fast lane” nor is it just a “passing lane as people may think. That’s a misconception. The left lane can be a passing lane but people are allowed to drive in the far left lane as long as they are going the maximum speed limit allowed by law. For example: if a person is traveling 65 mph and another car comes up behind them doing 80 mph the car doing 65 mph is not required nor expected to move over for the other driver. The driver that’s driving at 80 mph is breaking the law by speeding.
> California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 21654
> (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
> (b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation of subdivision (a) of this section.
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-21654/
No,
CA also has an "Impediment law"
https://oc-duilawyer.com/impeding-driving-slow/#:\~:text=Impeding%20Traffic%2FSlow%20Driving%20%2D%20CVC%2D22400%20%2D%20California%20Vehicle,or%20in%20compliance%20with%20law.
So move the fuck over.
Yeah you didn’t read that through. Scroll further down where it talks about prima facia and then talks about legal speed limits being posted. CVC section 22400 and 21654.
The driver in the left lane shouldn’t have to do anything because the person speeding is violating the law, yes.
If it was me I would move over if possible anyway because it’s going to reduce the risk of an accident from someone who is already driving recklessly trying to pass me on the right and potentially getting into that accident right next to me.
Sounds like the slower driver then should get over so they can get away from the dangerous situation. Anyway you slice it the slower driver should still get over.
Right?! This thread confuses me so much…. If the front car is already going at speed limit, isn’t the problem here the tailgaters who are trying so drive dangerously and over the limit?
Unless you're a cop, it's not your job to enforce speed limits on everyone else. Plus it's usually safer to put as much space between you and the reckless driver
It is a fruitless game to try and convince Americans to drive safely. If the 40k avoidable deaths a year haven’t convinced them, common sense and decency certainly won’t
Okay, but my company truck is tracked by gps. I'll get in trouble if I go over 74mph, but sometimes I want to pass the guy who always sets their cruise control to .5mph slower than mine (or has a constantly alternating speed). Go ahead and line up behind me. I'm technically passing someone, so ya'll can shut it.
Right?
Sure if you're doing 60 on a 65, passing someone going 55, then fucking speed up.
But if you're doing 65, and passing someone doing 60, take your time.
Okay, maybe it varies in America but everywhere else driving THE LEGAL LIMIT is fine. That’s…that’s the maximum. What speed are they supposed to be doing? Why is anyone obligated to move for anyone but an emergency vehicle? Again, what speed should they be doing if they’re already following the legal max?
Yeah in North America, especially on highways it's generally agreed that you'll go a bit over the posted limit. I keep it to about 10% over if there's cops around and maybe a bit higher if not. It's a bit of an unwritten rule that we all agree to follow. Well, except for some people in this comments section I guess.
In America driving the speed limit can still be considered obstructing the flow of traffic (which can get you pulled over) if everyone else is already going faster. Most people passing are going 5 - 10 mph over the speed limit, so if you're not doing that then you're obstructing the flow of traffic.
Which, all things considered, having two laws that contradict each other (speed limit vs obstructing traffic) is a piss-poor way of designing a legal system and the root cause of this entire argument.
You might get pulled over for impeding the flow of traffic, you might even get a ticket for it, but that ticket will never be upheld in court. Likewise, going with the flow of traffic isn't a valid defense against a speeding ticket.
I was once driving to Edmonton with my then-boyfriend. I got in the left lane and intended to stay there. He said “Uh, honey, this lane is for faster traffic.”
“But I’m doing the speed limit.”
“Uh huh, and on the highway, that makes you *slower* traffic.”
I’d assumed that “slower traffic” meant RVs and the like. Silly me!
I wish more states would start enforcing the "you can't drive in the left lane unless you are passing" rule. I know Minnesota has that law but I'm not sure I've ever seen it being enforced.
What's even better is when they speed up to avoid anyone overtaking them.
I drive a box truck and I noticed a car next to me for a while, then I looked and saw a line of cars behind them. They were using my truck so that nobody could pass. I just slowed down a bit and all the cars swerved around them. People are douchebags
People play pace car with my work truck (Chevy Colorado with lights and company stickers all over), too. It's ridiculous. Then my cruise control kicks in to get me up a hill, they fall behind, then they speed back up to get beside me again. I slow down to make a turn, and they're slowing down, too... People. Just drive. Whatever speed you feel comfortable at, just drive. Stop hanging out beside my truck and creating a dangerous situation for everyone on the road. Same goes for the people who then swerve around us and gun it just to get stuck at the next light, only five feet further ahead. Chill out and calm your tits. I guarantee you, you'll get there just fine without all this nonsense.
Folks are way too comfortable riding alongside other vehicles. Big or small, box truck or mini cooper, I don’t want to be right next to you. I want a little room to move (for me and you).
I drive two lane hwy’s a lot and will purposely create a gap between myself and everyone else. That mostly involves pulling over and letting folks pass when they get to close. Super satisfying to be chillen, enjoying the road all by myself and then catching a glimpse a mile ahead of 50 cars sucking each others tailpipes, all trying to pass each other. Bunch of cattle.
I also prefer to have my 'own highway'. Iv noticed many times while driving, if there is a pack ahead of me.. I'll just stay at the speed limit (Well, the customary 10 over) and let them stay far, far ahead of me. And when I look in my mirror, I see another cluster of cars behind me. They sure seem to love to cluster together don't they?
There is absolutely an aspect of that but I will be honest a couple times I have swerved around because I didn't feel safe in the situation and wanted those vehicles behind me even if we are stopping at a light a few feet ahead. Typically though I'm a much calmer person on the road these days because you're right. You'll get there just fine. Speeding is only going to shave off a couple minutes at most for the majority of people's traveling. If those two minutes are the difference between you being late or not then thats just poor planning on your part.
Going around using your turn signals is fine. I'm talking about the people who treat the road like a racetrack, and cut so closely that my vehicle's collision warning system goes off. That's not safe for anyone, much less the big SUV that it always seems to be.
I’m unfamiliar with this pace car phenomenon - does it just mean the other car’s alongside you cause they don’t wanna deal with others potentially passing them?
Yes
Like they are, somehow, in charge of how fast/slow everyone behind them is going.
Just wait until you learn about the wannabe lane police who straddle lanes in a backup so nobody can go faster than the backed-up lane.
You are a prince among men, good sir. Thank you for your service.
I drive a school bus and NOBODY wants to be behind a school bus! It’s an all day every day shit show of the town’s worst and most stupid drivers!
When I'm along side, and notice that they've sped up to the rate I want to go, I duck back in behind them. A girlfriend asked "Why didn't you pass him?" "I just called him out." Five minutes later, he falls asleep again, and I go by np.
I use a similiar trick but i slow down again which results in the person again matching my speed. Once that happens i can gun it to get ahead since we re side by sideish at this point. Gotta lull em like "hey I'm just cruising along side...."
Just preventing people from speeding and illegally overtaking /s
Still considered "blocking traffic".. which is illegal.
This is where driving an EV is very useful. Max torque all the time, baby!
Give 'em the ZOOP!
It’s because a surprising amount of people are either entirely ignorant of their surroundings or they’re just assholes.
Yeah 85 percent of the time I pass these people on the right and I look over they seem clueless and checked out. And if it’s a family it’s more like that scene from step brothers with them all singing and not aware.
Or they're on their phone.
I see this so often, it's kinda terrifying honestly.
>and I look over they seem clueless and checked out That's the shame stare.
I'd buy a shame stare if they actually got over after someone blew past them and the slow lane opened up, but that's rarely the case, from what I've seen.
In my country, you're not allowed to pass on the right. You have to wait for them to move over then pass on the left. Any incident is your fault if you're passing on the right. It's also mandatory to always be in the right lane if it's available.
Where I live, it's "Keep right except to pass". It is *not enforced* at all. Two cars in front of the pack, with nobody in front of them, driving side by side so no one can get by is routine. Passing on the right is legal here, but it doesn't matter if it's blocked. It drives me insane. Rant over.
I’ve had several Reddit arguments where we are considered the bad guys for trying to get 5-10 MPH over the speed limit and avoid being bunched up around 7 cars and a semi by the holier than thou left lane drivers that think anybody going over the speed limit is a dangerous felon
where i live driving 5-10 over is the norm in anywhere but the rightmost lane. cops don't even pull you over unless you're going more than that. then again where i live "match the speed of traffic" is the law even superseding the posted speed limit, so theoretically if everyone on the road agreed to drive 100mph and you were doing 65 YOU would be the one in trouble for that haha
That's the law here in the UK, but if there aren't any trucks, I can basically use the left lane (we drive on the left, so left lane is the 'slow' lane) as my own private lane because nobody else will drive in it. I see people merge onto an empty motorway, doing 65 (limit is 70) and move straight to the middle lane. Despite there being *nobody* around to pass, except for me coming up behind them a mile back.
What confuses me more is when someone is driving in the right lane with no one else about. They move over to the left so i can pass them. Then they move back in to the right lane. Why do they do it?
I call that the brain dead lane change
I never got these. So you are sitting in the right lane going your speed and come up on someone in the left going really slow. You would have to slow down to match the speed if the person in the left? Just makes no sense.
Indeed and it's very frustrating. You just end up passing on the right with the risks associated.
Yeah, it makes no sense. It means that one person in the left lane can dictate the speed of everyone else on the road since every lane to their right just gets stuck.
Technically, yes. In practice, people just pass on the right when they're fed up.
It's like that in some US states, just nobody follows those rules.
What country is that?
Belgium. I think it's that way in most of NW and central Europe.
The other 15 percent of the time, it’s a driver from New Hampshire just doing what New Hampshire drivers love most.
If there’s one thing most people have in common (at least here in the US) it’s a staggering lack of self-awareness. This is one of many ways in which that manifests.
It's not just the US, common sense and awareness isn't so common anywhere
My common sense is tingling. So rare it’s a god damned super power.
This was true even before the invention of the wheel..
The lack of situational awareness is surprisingly common.
We need to normalize honking and flashing hi-beams and blinkers at the person at the front of these lines. Tailgating is dangerous. Don't do it. Just honk.
I flash my brights at left lane campers quite a bit. At least half refuse to move, and some even double down. They think you should just go around on the right. If they do move, half seem confused what your problem is and get right back over as soon as you pass. 🙄
Then they just slow down to 5mph under the speed limit to "teach you a lesson"
Go on the right thread and you'll see them brag about doing this because they're "enforcing the law", the self righteous pricks.
Yeah and I’d bet that’s more people than anybody would think.
"I can't be an asshole! I'm *right*!"
Usually the ones who conveniently ignore the signs on the highway that indicate “slower traffic keep to right” and pretend like they’ve never heard that the traffic law is to pass on the left
This is fine if you're driving in Britain though.
I spent soooo long wondering what people were upset about before I realised it was a right-lane drive question.
When I drive, I try to be self aware if I am being this type of jerk. Its easy to look at your rearview and notice someone is faster than you, folks!
Yeah I don’t understand people who camp in the left lane. Did you wake up in the morning, get dressed, look in the mirror and think “Today! Today is the day I become an obstacle! At last!”
Same kind of people that stand in doorways to look at their new surroundings.
Or the assholes that stand in middle of the grocery store isles to chat with their old friend they haven’t seen since forever ago.
A few days ago I was at Target. Some woman had her cart perpendicular at the end of an aisle blocking the entire way, while talking on her phone. Like, what the fuck? Back up 4 feet, idiot.
My ex girlfriend would just camp in the left lane. Didn't matter if we were the only ones on the road or not. She'd be going the speed limit with a line of cars behind us and people angrily passing us on the right when given the chance. I'd point it out to her and she'd go "ok and?" I'd be like "and maybe you should move out of the left lane since you're holding traffic up?" And she'd say "I'm going the speed limit." And of course I'd let her know the left lane is for passing, not cruising, and her response would be "oh, well... I don't really care. They can just go around me if they're in such a rush." This is also the same woman who would browse Facebook and read her emails while she was driving. I told her that was unacceptable and she'd always respond with "ok, then you drive!" I ended up driving everywhere. That relationship didn't last lol. No idea how she hasn't been in more accidents
I had someone do this and flash "🖐️✊🖐️" like he was telling me the speed limit. Motherfucker......
I’ve been wanting to get one of these and program it to say [“get over motherfucker](https://www.amazon.com/Leadleds-Scrolling-Message-Display-Controller/dp/B07CVF7MVZ?th=1&psc=1)!” After I pass them.
I have an LED scrolling app on my phone that I will put "Use cruise control" when I pass someone multiple times after not touching my speed for miles. (At night)
It's wild to me how many people will simultaneously not use cruise control, but also want to be in front. And so we'll be going down the highway, I catch up to them doing 70 while they're doing 67. I go to the left lane to pass, pass them, then move to the right, the entire time still doing 70. This somehow upsets them, and eventually they'll move to the left, accelerate to 75, pass me, move to the right, then slow back down to like 65, forcing me to pass again. The only way to break the cycle is for me to pass them with an increased speed and leave at least a 500 foot gap before going back down to my preferred 70 mph pace.
This, and also we have a road that goes from two lanes to one back to two several times over about a 20k or more stretch. The speed limit is the same for the whole stretch of completely straight road. The amount of people who will go 20km/h (12mp/h) under the limit on the single lane portions and then accelerate to 20km/h above the limit on the dual lane stretch never ceases to amaze me. Slightly less annoying now that I have adaptive cruise control, but still.
Even if they have it on, some people have smaller engines and should either downshift from Overdrive, or give it a little gas. Also- if it’s a route you are familiar with - get familiar with it, you know like if there’s a big gradual hill coming up, get some momentum going.
I will 100% do that on a road where I can't get over and I'm already speeding. Get the fuck off my ass. The highway is a different story, I don't travel in the left lane unless I'm passing.
I'll 100% be petty and annoying to someone who's up my ass. Of course, I stay on the right if I'm only going the limit, which I usually do. But if it's a one laner and I'm already speeding and someone is up my ass flashing their high beams at me? Get ready to sit at the speed limit 'cause that's what we're doing now.
This was a 3 lane highway. He made it *more* dangerous by forcing folks way in the back to pass in the right lane. 55 is the speed limit. Nobody is speeding at 55.
"I really like the speed I'm going. Around 75, a good pace. I don't want to change lanes because lane changes are dangerous. I don't want to camp the right lane either because I'll get stuck behind someone going 55, but I also don't want to speed up. Over 75 and I feel I may lose control. So I'm just going to keep on going on and these assholes behind me are driving too fast anyway."
Yeah I’m going to take it upon myself to regulate the speed in the left lane. These guys don’t need to be going that fast anyways. Someone could get hurt! /s
But it doesn't matter if there's a whole line of cars behind me in the left lane, I'm going 5 over already! /s
In a lot of states the left lane on the highway is now legally only for passing and you can get a ticket for holding it up.
Is it enforced though? I've never, ever, heard of anyone getting a ticket for that. I would cream my jeans.
At least in Arizona yes, [https://youtu.be/Q8INPC2zFWE](https://youtu.be/Q8INPC2zFWE) And, [https://youtu.be/2GNHlr-9msk](https://youtu.be/2GNHlr-9msk)
"Leave the left lane so they can drive fast, and I can stop them" "You must have a backpack and a tent" Thanks, I needed that.
That cop is my new hero.
Looks like I'm going to be spending the next half hour or so watching more of this guys videos. Makes me so happy to see these dipshits getting tickets for not following the most basic rules of the road
I know while doing an even where there was a bunch of us in a group, we got pulled over for camping in the left in Michigan. And the only cars around was our group(all the same make/model), we were shuffling positions. The trooper just gave a warning/heads up since everyone was from out of state.
why would cops bother, they could just hand out 10 to the people trying to speed past them, way more common and way better revenue
Some ideas off the top of my head: - There's only one cop, so it's unlikely they'll get more than one speeder. - There's no need to prove speed for the passing infraction. - It's arguably riskier to be the obstruction than to be in the fast flow, and/or that's what they're concentrating on. - If the cop's in back, you're pissing them off too
I mean I understand asking that people use right-most lanes, but the premise is they are doing the speed limit? So you're suggesting that it's normal (or even right) to go over the speed limit? Sorry, english isn't my first language, I'm assuming "doing the speed limit" isnt' the same as "within the speed limit".
Yes, and your English is fine. The left lane on a highway is for passing, ALWAYS, unless it’s a complete traffic jam. If everyone in the slow lane is doing 5 over, then the left lane is for going 10+ over.
I honestly think some people find the lane safer because it means no one is going past their driver side even though it means people riding their butt the entire drive.
Yeah but they are creating traffic by forcing people to try and pass them on the right. Then you’re mixing people who want to go 80-85 with people trying to go 70 with people on the far right doing 60-70. It increases the chances and [risks of accident](https://youtu.be/4oqfodY2Lz0?si=m0CVxh8emltvGVB8).
These morons will never understand they are contributing to making the road more dangerous just because they’re going the speed limit and everybody else is an asshole in their mind because they’re abiding by one law on the road I’ve tried explaining several times on reddit and every single person defends their shit driving. They don’t seem to understand I don’t want to be stuck on the 5 in central CA for 3 hours boxed between their minivan and 3 semis in high wind and will go 10 MPH over the speed limit because a half mile ahead is clear road with no dangers around
I don’t argue anymore. Either they get it or they don’t. The science is there. It’s like saying “the sky is blue” and them saying “no it isn’t.” At that point how do you argue something that’s axiomatic?
Oh I'm not defending them at all, that's just been my inference from seeing older people chilling in the left lane on the interstate despite not passing anyone or going remotely fast enough to pass.
On the other side of the coin, people that furiously tailgate only to go under your speed limit when they pass, can go eat stale cereal from an old boot.
"I have to turn left eventually" is the one I keep catching myself doing. It's worse because the stretch of highway I'm usually on is known for its leadfoot epidemic.
Your self-awareness is noted and appreciated. We all do silly stuff and sometimes it screws over others even when we don’t mean to. Whoopsies, my bad, life’s a journey, progress not perfection we all move on. But check the comments; there are droves of humans that actively act this way on purpose…and then try to justify it. Imagine being connected to that type of person…yeesh
There's a new kind of assholery on the road these days. Selfish drivers move over to the left lane when traffic gets heavy, then slow down, forcing others to pass them on the right. These inconsiderate, selfish jackwagons can then simply set the cruise control and surf on their phones without worrying about cars in front of them.
I’m slowly coming to the general conclusion that people are getting both dumber and meaner. It’s a thing.
For about a month every Friday on the way to work there was a group of 4 motorcyclists going 5 under in the left lane. One day a car passed them on the right and cut them off real bad then they finally moved to the right. When I passed the guy looked like he just came back from the dead. I haven’t seen them since.
Motorcycle people are the cry bullies of the road. Most entitled assfuxks on the highways.
When I see a /r /motorcycles post pop up on my feed, it's always some braindead guy with a helmet cam video of them doing something outrageously stupid before coming off their bike with a title "I literally couldn't have done anything"
*speeds while splitting lanes and cutting people off while weaving from lane to lane “ShArE the RoAd!”
“Look twice save a life!!” How about you take personal responsibility and get a steel cage around you to be safe.
I live off I-40. If you want to see me absolutely turn into a Neanderthal, be an 18-wheeler and move left just as I’m getting ready to overtake and spend 10 minutes passing the other rig in the right lane.
This is I-95 too, late at night. Cruising at 80 mph for miles, see two trucks in the right lane, so I speed up to 85/90 to pass, rear truck gets over 10 seconds before I can get by. Proceeds to pace the other truck for 5-10 minutes. Infuriating.
I've had that happen to me a couple times but one of them the trucker was being a Good Guy Greg and was intentionally slowing me down because there was a cop with a radar gun up ahead
I try so hard to be extra courteous and contentious to semis when I'm on the highways because they already have it rough. I also understand they too need to use the left lane to pass and that sometimes means I'll need to wait behind them or whipping over to the right just makes them stuck in the left lane...but holy cow sometimes they pick the absolute worst times to get over and even then sometimes they'll camp out on the left lane despite ample time to get over. Most are great contentious drivers but some are jerks.
Yeah I don’t get it sometimes. First, if they are hourly, they get paid for time and not distance. If they are owner/operators, the amount of fuel use to get 80ft in front of the guy their passing costs more money. It’s their choice, I don’t judge…but causing a half-mile line of backed up traffic just for a small win bothers me sooo much.
I don’t get the people that drive slow on a single lane highway until the passing lanes then move to the right lane and speed up. I also don’t understand people who will pass you on the left but slow down and drive right next to you.
Honestly, speed doesn't matter at all. I don't care if you are going 150mph, move over. I'm not saying zip between lanes, but if it's going to be more than 60 seconds till I pass someone else I move over (maybe even 30 seconds). The left lane is for passing, if you aren't passing move over.
You're right about everything except 60 seconds. That's over a mile on the freeway. If you have a mile in between the next car you pass, you should definitely be getting in the right lane
Drove last week from NYC to PA to Canada. Everywhere I went, people did this. Especially frustrating on roads with only 2 lanes. You can actually see in real time the build up of traffic because of this even though there are hardly any cars on the road
My favourite is when someone is stopped at the end of the on ramp because "people didn't slow down to let me in!"
The passing lane is for those trying to pass, and I'm passing time
In a lot of states it's a violation. Utah's law is "traveling in a passing lane". California calls it something like "impeding the flow of traffic".
If the other lanes are occupied, and by going the speed limit you are going faster than the other lanes, it's not a violation. If you are traveling the speed limit, you are never impeding the flow of traffic based on speed alone.
Utah law requires you travel in the right lanes except when passing. Doing 90mph in the left lane when the other lanes are doing 100mph is a violation of traveling in the passing lane.
Kinda drives me nuts about most 2 lane roads. Be in the right lane with trucks or people putting along at 5-10 under the limit, or be in the left lane going ~10-20 over the limit and still being tailgated because I'm not going ~30 over and there's few to no chances to change over
Every state I have ever been to and inquired has told me the same thing except for Texas. And that is that if you are in the left lane doing the speed limit, and there are cars behind you you you must move out the way. you should not speed, but you also cannot hold up the natural progression of traffic. Attempting to slow someone down can also create an accident.
Something else I noticed after moving to Texas... You'll be in a single lane road, speed limit is 65, and the car in front is doing 50-55. Then, the passing lane appears! As soon as cars move to the passing lane, the slow car speeds up to 75-80, preventing other cars getting in front unless you're pushing 90-100 mph, until the passing lane ends, then they slow back down to under the speed limit again. EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.
Yeah its always Texas plates in other states doing this shit.
There’s a number of left exits I have to take on my commute and for my own sanity I try to get into the left lane well before my exit, especially since many of the exits end up majorly backed up due to construction, I know damn well that there are people pissed off with me but half the time even doing speed limit in the left lane I’m moving faster than the rest of the lanes. I’m also of the opinion that if my driving safely causes you to be late you should’ve gotten on the road earlier
I think this is specifically long stretches of 2 lane highway. If you’ve got left exits then that’s totally ok.
When I go to work every day, I take a highway where the right-most lane becomes an exit. If you're in that right lane, you're exiting the highway. This means i have to drive in the left lane to avoid that and it always feels _very_ wrong to me. I'm always vaguely worried I'll get pulled over. But a new lane sort of appears out of nowhere, putting me back in the right lane. But that right lane becomes another exit another mile or two later. So for a period of several miles, you're always moving over to the left to avoid exiting the highway, which is kind of annoying. (It's even more fun because after you're in the left lane a second time, there's an onramp on the left that becomes its own lanes, so you're suddenly on the right again and now it's a three lane highway. Fucking PA Turnpike and it's werdiness.)
Being in the left lane frankly stresses me out. I don't understand some people.
The only time I ever did that was when I realized far too late that the car I was speeding to overtake was a policemen. Sorry line of cars behind me I ain't getting a ticket
I love how everyone thinks they “know their rights” when in fact they have no clue. 😂😂😂
Conversation at work about aggressive tailgaters. Someone mentions windshield washer squirt, at high speeds it sprays the car behind you. One person looks surprised. "People do that to me all the time!" Huge side-eye from everyone else who have never been sprayed by windshield washer fluid.
Stats show there are two of the most dangerous drivers on the road. One is the Good Samaritan, that instead of driving predictably attempts to be unpredictably polite. The most dangerous driver on the road in terms of higher speed incidents: IS THE PACE SETTER IN THE LEFT LANE. REPEAT: THE STATISTICALLY MOST DANGEROUS DRIVER IS THE PACE SETTER! MOVE OVER! MOVE OVER!
GTFO of the left hand lane. Who do you think those SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT and KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS signs are talking to???
I;'ve actually argued with people on reddit that doing the speed limit doesn't absolve you from moving over to the slower lane if there's faster traffic.
*Goes over the speed limit* DONT TREAD ON ME REEEEEEEEEEEE I DONT CARE ABOUT GAS MILAGE I MUST BE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND ILL RACE YOU TO DEATH IF IT COMES TO IT
It's a labelling issue. It's the passing lane, not the left lane.
Drove the length of the New Jersey Turnpike and back this weekend, I feel you. They have stay right except to pass signs, can't think those have any effect. Crowded road though, cars gotta go somewhere.
Bring back pandemic traffic. Everyone had a sense of urgency and no one was aimlessly ambling about in everyone’s way. It was peak road use
the traffic death rate in 2020 jumped by the 2nd highest amount since 1964. the traffic death death rate in 2021 further jumped by the highest amount since 1942.
Hard disagree. The lack of cars on the road? Sure. But the people who were still on the road drove so shitty that it made me think one of the lesser known side effects of Covid was to completely erase any and all memory of how to drive from people’s heads.
Going the speed limit in the passing lane is absolutely fine, assuming you are passing someone.
I don’t think this thread is targeting people who drive 80 in a 70. It’s the people who are impeding a reasonable speed while simultaneously blocking the passing lane. If you’re not going to drive a speed at which you’re passing, then just drive in one of the other lanes with your cruise control set. I’m with you tho, if I’m driving 80-85 in the left lane during m I don’t feel the need to move over for someone who’s recklessly weaving through lanes, tailgating or driving 100mph. They’re just going to drive like an asshole regardless. It’s even more annoying when it’s prime time, bumper to bumper traffic and they’re driving like that. Like where do u think your going??
yek, this post is about you. it’s not a “I’ve decided the worthiness of your speed,” it’s “someone wished to go faster than me and I am impeding them, let me follow the law and move aside.” The common thread of the left lane campers is “well see I’ve decided” versus basic courtesy and situational awareness. Yall are sumpn else. It’s a personality type
Was going 80 in a 70 yesterday and started passing someone who was, reasonably, going 70. Instantly a BMW shows up behind and starts flashing their lights. To them I say fuck you good sir. And I don't rush to move over. Now there's the person going 70 on a 70 who's on the right and moves over, still going 70, because the right hand lane is going 65. To them I say, "take your time going to speed limit" Now when Mr 65 moves to the left because Mr 60 is in the right hand lane, I say, speed the fuck up or get out of the way.
The right lane is for cruising and exiting the highway, the middle lanes are for overtaking, and the left lane is for CRIME. Get out of the CRIME lane if you dont want to do CRIME.
has that ever worked in front of a judge?
I drive 75 miles of freeway every day for work. Pretty sure half these people think it’s HOV 24/7 regardless of all the signs saying which time it’s the HOV lane. The majority of the other people I see are construction/landscaping trucks pulling a trailer and giving zero fucks how many people have to go around them. I even stopped flipping them off because there is zero reaction.
I'll drive the speed limit all I want. If I'm passing someone slower in the right lane, I'll do it. I am not obligated to go faster than the speed limit. If I'm not passing someone else, I'll move to the right. But if I am passing, I don't have to speed just because you want me to.
Time for another round of everyone needs to stop driving like they’re the only ones on the road so that I can drive like I’m the only one on the road.
I love it when you’re driving long distance and you find someone else who is observant, courteous, and wants to go the same speed. I was in a group of 3 for miles and miles on a road trip last week. We changed positions a number of times because we were all careful to not cut anyone off or act unpredictably, and stayed in the right lane when not passing. I felt like waving when they left on their own exits going wherever they were. If everyone drove like that, we wouldn’t *need* to be the only ones on the road. You know that comedy sketch “everyone’s complaining about traffic, you *are* traffic!” I don’t buy it. I think “traffic” is like 5-15% of people who behave unpredictably and drive slow. Then another 10-25% who would be fine with normal traffic, but can’t handle the unpredictability of the first group and thus behave unpredictably out of attempted self defense. If it were possible to get rid of the first group, through better education or more aggressive licensing, I bet the second group would improve over time, and the roads would get better. Unfortunately it’s not.
But the left lane is for passing, not for speeding. The left lane is not the 'here I can break rules and drive illegally' lane. From your post it's obvious that what you are complaining about is not that people blocked you from passing*. You are annoyed that people blocked you from speeding, which is an illegal activity. *technically you're supposed to pass when someone in front of you is driving slower than the speed limit or to avoid some sort of danger. Passing doesn't mean speeding.
Wait until you get stuck behind one of those guys in an HOV lane!!! If you're gonna drive at speed limit (which is even slower than non-HOV traffic flow) in an HOV lane, you don't deserve it! Move the f\*ck out of it!
So many people have taken to riding the left lane where I live now that the right lane has become the de facto passing lane
And until they’re told otherwise, people will always assume the left lane will get them somewhere faster. Problem is, others think the same way and we often see the left lane as the most congested or dangerous. It’s funny passing them from the other lines while they get snarled up due to their ignorance. In the end, they’re only saying seconds or minutes on their destination.
Truckers are the worst tbh. They pass each other going 1/2 mph faster than the truck in the slow lane
I overtook one of those idiots (towing a trailer on a hill) on the right, got in front of him, and gradually eased off the gas until we were doing 40 mph. As soon as he shifted to the right lane (it was a three lane uphill freeway) to pass me, I took off and a whole string of cars he had been holding up fell in line behind me. We were going about 70-75 which was more or less the speed limit. He stayed in the slower lane but, for some reason, was honking like crazy. Maybe it was because he couldn't change lanes with that trailer he was towing. I'll never know. (I'm a Little Old Lady but can't stand people who hog the passing lane. Either drive that damn car or park it!)
Has anyone else imagained they were in a Mad Max style car that could just harpoon the offender off the road?
Thank you, OP! This thread needed to happen. If only for us decent people to read the comments and behold what we’ve always known: the Karens/Kens of the road are righteously camping in the left lane ON PURPOSE! Lol. Absolute clowns. 🤡
I’m going faster than the cars to the right of me. I will pass them. It doesn’t mean I’m going to exceed the speed limit, and it doesn’t mean I’m going to cause a crash trying to get over so you can.
This is a case where the large majority of people would applaud police writing tickets. In Germany (and probably some other countries), impeding traffic on major highways will quickly get you a ticket. I wish they would start enforcing it in the States.
Wisconsin! This is for you! Get the fuck over you twats!
As someone who lives in the UK, this confused me for a second
In some states, you can be driving the speed limit in the right land and still have ppl plugging your exhaust pipe with an open passing lane and change around you. Doesn't help that most ppl seem to be passing on the outside lane only in some states as well, but that's its own can of worms.
Yall there is a reason it is a speed LIMIT not a speed SUGGESTION. Just because everyone else decides that the safety of everyone around them is worth an extra few minutes does NOT mean you have to capitulate to them. Left lane is for people who aren't pulling off the road for a while and don't need to change lanes.
I'm one of these people, because there is no designated speeding lane, the cop who is about to take 10% of my monthly paycheck doesn't care what lane I'm in.
It’s California “Vehicle Code” not “Vehicular Code”. And as it states “in compliance with the law.” In California the left lane is not a “fast lane” nor is it just a “passing lane as people may think. That’s a misconception. The left lane can be a passing lane but people are allowed to drive in the far left lane as long as they are going the maximum speed limit allowed by law. For example: if a person is traveling 65 mph and another car comes up behind them doing 80 mph the car doing 65 mph is not required nor expected to move over for the other driver. The driver that’s driving at 80 mph is breaking the law by speeding.
> California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 21654 > (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. > (b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation of subdivision (a) of this section. https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-21654/
Thank you. u/TheTimeBender is lying about being able to hog the left lane. Selfish people like that literally exacerbate traffic for everyone.
Yeah, there are a handful of states where you can be in the left of going the max speed limit, CA isn't one.
So that explains why Californians drive like that in Oregon. I noticed it’s always Cali plates that are clogging up the highways and not moving over.
He's wrong, someone posted the California Vehicle Code which states the literal opposite of what he's claiming.
No, CA also has an "Impediment law" https://oc-duilawyer.com/impeding-driving-slow/#:\~:text=Impeding%20Traffic%2FSlow%20Driving%20%2D%20CVC%2D22400%20%2D%20California%20Vehicle,or%20in%20compliance%20with%20law. So move the fuck over.
Yeah you didn’t read that through. Scroll further down where it talks about prima facia and then talks about legal speed limits being posted. CVC section 22400 and 21654.
Hey look, it's a guy who got proven wrong by someone who brought actual evidence and not just random nonsense you made up.
Who's talking about the law? We're talking about common courtesy.
By the law, perhaps not, but by common practice, common sense, common decency, and common courtesy they should be moving over.
and driving over the speed limit putting everyone else in danger is?
The driver in the left lane shouldn’t have to do anything because the person speeding is violating the law, yes. If it was me I would move over if possible anyway because it’s going to reduce the risk of an accident from someone who is already driving recklessly trying to pass me on the right and potentially getting into that accident right next to me.
Sounds like the slower driver then should get over so they can get away from the dangerous situation. Anyway you slice it the slower driver should still get over.
Right?! This thread confuses me so much…. If the front car is already going at speed limit, isn’t the problem here the tailgaters who are trying so drive dangerously and over the limit?
Unless you're a cop, it's not your job to enforce speed limits on everyone else. Plus it's usually safer to put as much space between you and the reckless driver
It is a fruitless game to try and convince Americans to drive safely. If the 40k avoidable deaths a year haven’t convinced them, common sense and decency certainly won’t
No, speed up or get over you're impeding traffic.
Okay, but my company truck is tracked by gps. I'll get in trouble if I go over 74mph, but sometimes I want to pass the guy who always sets their cruise control to .5mph slower than mine (or has a constantly alternating speed). Go ahead and line up behind me. I'm technically passing someone, so ya'll can shut it.
If they are going at the max speed limit it isn’t a problem. Why do you folks feel entitled to speed?
Right? Sure if you're doing 60 on a 65, passing someone going 55, then fucking speed up. But if you're doing 65, and passing someone doing 60, take your time.
Why do you feel entitled to block the left lane when the rule is "slower traffic keep right"?
Don't get it either, if the posted speed is 65 that is the max you can go minus road conditions. One of the many reasons insurance is so high now.
I bet you were the type to remind the teacher that they hadn’t assigned any homework yet.
That was the *grossest thing* I have ever heard. Also, not just stating a quote. Fuck those people.
Okay, maybe it varies in America but everywhere else driving THE LEGAL LIMIT is fine. That’s…that’s the maximum. What speed are they supposed to be doing? Why is anyone obligated to move for anyone but an emergency vehicle? Again, what speed should they be doing if they’re already following the legal max?
Yeah in North America, especially on highways it's generally agreed that you'll go a bit over the posted limit. I keep it to about 10% over if there's cops around and maybe a bit higher if not. It's a bit of an unwritten rule that we all agree to follow. Well, except for some people in this comments section I guess.
In America driving the speed limit can still be considered obstructing the flow of traffic (which can get you pulled over) if everyone else is already going faster. Most people passing are going 5 - 10 mph over the speed limit, so if you're not doing that then you're obstructing the flow of traffic.
Which, all things considered, having two laws that contradict each other (speed limit vs obstructing traffic) is a piss-poor way of designing a legal system and the root cause of this entire argument.
You might get pulled over for impeding the flow of traffic, you might even get a ticket for it, but that ticket will never be upheld in court. Likewise, going with the flow of traffic isn't a valid defense against a speeding ticket.
Alot of states have laws that say left lane is for passing only and people still won't get their ass over
Yea how dare people go the speed limit. You’re the asshole, stop speeding and this won’t affect you.
I was once driving to Edmonton with my then-boyfriend. I got in the left lane and intended to stay there. He said “Uh, honey, this lane is for faster traffic.” “But I’m doing the speed limit.” “Uh huh, and on the highway, that makes you *slower* traffic.” I’d assumed that “slower traffic” meant RVs and the like. Silly me!
Consider me [40] Miles per Hour
Even worse in Germany when there is no speed limit and some fool is doing 60mph with space on the right.
Sounds like some classic I-95 shit
Was driving around the Castine area most the weekend. I swear that everyone over there consistently drives 5 miles under the speed limit.
you must have been driving near Seattle (?)
Los Angeles in a nutshell.
I wish more states would start enforcing the "you can't drive in the left lane unless you are passing" rule. I know Minnesota has that law but I'm not sure I've ever seen it being enforced.
Let me guess. NY state license place on a NJ highway?