The left lane is the passing lane.

I've actually gotten a lot more calm behind the wheel, and don't set the cruise anywhere near as high as I used to, but like someone else said, for me, nothing sparks a fit of road-rage faster than a clueless left-lane hog...except perhaps, someone who comes flying up behind me at 90mph, I give up the lane, they pull in front of me and slow down to 60.

Here's a weird one from AFTER I posted this yesterday:

I'm cruising along in the right lane, cruise set @ 74 in a 65. I move to the left lane to pass a van (with florida tag) that's going the speed limit. I do this in a very polite manner, i.e., a gazillion car lengths between my vehicle and the van both when I start and complete the pass. As soon as I pass him, the guy whips into the left lane, like I've somehow insulted him by getting in "his" lane. "Weird" I think to myself.

About ten minutes later, he goes berkeleying screaming by me at around 90. "Weird" I say again. When he gets about 10 car lengths in front of me, I see a bottle come flying out of the passenger side window.

I'm really trying to be better about not engaging with folks who do E36 M3 like this, but I couldn't let it go. I followed a safe distance behind him, but keeping pace at around 90 until we got to the lone traffic light (this is a 4-lane divided hwy) which he almost didn't have enough room to stop for. I hope for the sake of everyone in North Georgia, he'll take my advice and stay the berkeley in filthy ass florida when he gets back there.

OK so... speaking of weird, unexpected behavior... I'm cruising down i81 this AM all alone in the right lane and I see a minivan doddling along in the left about 1/2 mile ahead. I pull into the left lane and get in the mirror from a reasonable closing distance (rather than just blasting by on the right...) and THEY GENLY MOVED OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE. Holeeeeey berkeley. Shoulda bought a lottery ticket today.

MrJoshua wrote: I think the problems come from BOTH overcrowding and ignorance. If I were Supreme Ruler everyone would have to read and understand the following rules for 3 lane interstates: -The far right lane is for merging, exiting, and steady flow of slower traffic including big trucks. The merging and exiting is primarily the responsibility of the merging or exiting party and should be done in such a way as to minimally effect the flow of traffic already on the interstate. -The middle lane is for traffic moving slightly faster than the right lane with as little variation between speeds of the cars in the lane as possible. The middle lane is also for people moving out of the left lane to avoid slowing faster moving traffic in the left lane. Big trucks are also permitted in this lane. -The left lane is for all cars moving faster than those in the right two lanes. Priority is given to whomever wants to drive fastest. If possible all drivers in the left lane should merge right whenever a car driven more rapidly approaches. It is the responsibility of the slower car to attempt to not slow the flow of faster traffic. If that involves increasing speed then it is the slower drivers responsibility to do so. If the slower driver is unwilling to increase speed to the level where they do not impede other drivers then they should move to the center lane even if they have to reduce speed to do so. Big trucks may only use this lane in emergency situations.

You've just described driving in Germany.

I've given up on the thought that anyone else is going to alter their driving behavior so I just drive defensively and calmly.

In reply to e_pie:

Yeah, I can't take credit for the for coming up with the ideas myself. I was taught them as a kid by my father and by reading car magazines. It just shocks me how few people have a clue that there is a logical safe way to accommodate most everyone on the interstate if everyone just makes a little effort.

Otto Maddox wrote: I've given up on the thought that anyone else is going to alter their driving behavior so I just drive defensively and calmly.

I think it's too far engrained in our culture now to make any massive changes, 15-20 years from now? Maybe, but it's doubtful.

Cars shouldn't be treated as a right, they are a priviledge.

I'm a bit of an old road nut (pretty dorky I know) and I love the history of the US route and Interstate systems. A vast majority of our highway systems are engineered for much higher speeds than they have now, especially with modern vehicle technology. There are actually sections of old Route 66 in Illinois that were engineered to carry traffic at 100mph, with awful 50's/60's automotive technology.

I lived in Europe for a couple of years and it was so refreshing driving in Germany at 100 or so on the highways, it keeps you much more focused on the task at hand. With artificially low speed limits driving is boring and your mind wonders away from the task of driving because it isn't taking all of your concentration. Automatics just compound that aspect. Drivers are so far removed from the act of driving now it's no wonder the roads are such a clusterberkley.

I was reading the comments on an article a while back about the speed limits in Texas getting raised to 85 in some places. By the comments people were writing you would think the highways were going to spontaneously burst in to flames with speeds that "high". Anyone who has ever driven in the Texas panhandle can tell you, even 85 is low for the roads out there. It's one of the few places that I've ever driven with the cruise control set to 100 and it was still excruciatingly boring.

The driving culture in America is just awful, driver's training is useless, traffic law enforcement is vauge and random and used as more of a revenue generator than something to actually help traffic move faster and safer, vehicle inspections are either non-exsistant or they don't care what condition the car is in as long as it passes emissions, it's just sad.

Otto Maddox wrote: I've given up on the thought that anyone else is going to alter their driving behavior so I just drive defensively and calmly.

You are more wise and patient than I'll be any time in the near future. 'Defensively,' absolutely. 'Calmly,' I'm still working on. It's a lot easier when my wife is in the car, which she usually is, as we work together. Screaming, giving the one finger salute, chasing people down, etc., are all no-no's as I don't want her to get hurt, shot, etc. I'm a little more careless when it comes to my own well-being, which I realize is stupid...just not when I'm seeing red.

I love it when I end up in a group of drivers that flows like a school of fish. When everyone is spread apart but traveling at very much the same speed, and everyone respects each others space when changing lanes. And signalling, that's a lost art. I love it when people signal their lane change intentions. I will always let in a driver that is polite enough to use their signal, even if it is an old guy wearing a hat.

My favourite with passing took place years ago. I was driving my then new Hyundai Tiburon. nice little $16,000 coupe.

All the way down the Atlantic City Expressway... I was playing "tag" with a 40 to $60,000 MB. I had my cruise set to 70mph (speed limit 65) and every time I passed him, he would speed up, pass me, and then a mile down the road slow down again.. so I would catch up, pass him, and he would speed up again and pass me... Went on for half an hour.

I could not figure out why a guy in such an expensive MB was not using the Cruise too.. My cheap little Korean Import had it

z31maniac wrote:

bravenrace wrote: That's what i used to think until a friend convinced me otherwise. The problem isn't people using the lane that's ending, it's the people in the other lane that won't let that lane merge smoothly. Cars in the lane that's ending have to merge into the other lane at some point, but to leave that lane entirely empty just makes the traffic jam longer. The DOT wouldn't spend the time and money to put a lane in that we weren't supposed to use. I've seen a particular lane like that in downtown Akron that was almost empty until a police car pulled out of the stopped lane and drove down the open one. Again, you and anyone else can decide not to use a legitimate lane, but don't try to block me from using it or we will have problems.

I disagree with your friend. The argument about the lane being there is completely missing the point, since it's coming to an end for whatever reason, but I'm not going to change your mind and you aren't going to change mine. Cheers!

Okay. I'm not arguing, but if the lane is not supposed to be used, what is it there for? It doesn't take 1/2 mile to merge. Really, why is it there?

z31maniac wrote: ^Well, in a perfect world I guess, but it seems like the people in front of me never let the late merger in, so then everyone has to slam on the brakes, rinse, repeat.

I agree. But who didn't do what they should have in that situation? The guy that stopped the other car from merging, not the guy that used a lane that is there to be used.

Okay. I'm not arguing, but if the lane is not supposed to be used, what is it there for? It doesn't take 1/2 mile to merge. Really, why is it there?

The only place the lane is not supposed to be used is where it ends! No different than a merge lane onto a highway. Use it all if you need it.

When the merge lane for construction is set-out they typically take into account capacity. Using both lanes for as long as they can be used allows for capacity. Just let the guy in and get over it.

e_pie wrote:

bravenrace wrote: I agree that if the car in the left lane is passing another vehicle, then the vehicle behind that car should be patient until the pass is made and the car moves back over into the a lane to the right. But flashing your lights used to be the polite way of asking someone to move over. If you do it now you get a brake check. So if a vehicle is blocking the left lane, meaning they are moving at the same speed as the vehicle to their right, I just tailgate them, because that's all most people understand.

The problem with this is when you have someone that decides to pass multiple vehicles going maybe 1-2mph slower than they are going. These vehicles can be spaced more than far enough apart that they could move over, the train of cars piled up behind them could get by, and they could move back in to the left lane to continue their tortoise like pass before they would even have to slow down. But they don't, they just continue on taking MILES to complete their pass of 2-3 cars. I miss driving in Western Europe, they treat the left lane like it's sacred over there. :( E36 M3 is berkleying infuriating.

I understand what you are saying, but if the car is going the speed limit or greater, they are using the lane correctly and not breaking the law. If there are cars held up behind that car that want to go faster, well then they are breaking the law.
So I feel a responsibility to be patient with the car in front of me if they are in fact passing in the passing lane. I don't think I should expect them to break the law or disrupt their progress for me. But that's just me.

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

bravenrace wrote: I ALWAYS have an escape route.

Teaching my 15 year old about this now. I had an accident when I was 17. Wasn't my fault. In the same situation today I wouldn't have had the accident at all. Never been involved in another. My son finds it hard to believe that I actually think about all the stuff I tell him I do when I'm driving. He thinks I'm just making it up. When you really explain the hundred little things you do to avoid being in the position for an accident to happen it really is hard to believe. Guess you just pick it up after years of watching idiot drivers and learning to protect yourself as best you can. I bet if everyone on this forum was on the same highway going to the same place, it would be a good bit safer trip than the average commute.

I have twin 16 year old boys, so I know what you are talking about. Unfortunately, due to our lifestyle they spent more driving time with their mother than they did with me. She doesn't drive smoothly and doesn't think about anything except what is in front of her bumper. It's been an uphill battle, but I think I've finally gotten through to them that driving smoothly and having an escape route in any situation is safer and better for the car.

vwcorvette wrote:

Okay. I'm not arguing, but if the lane is not supposed to be used, what is it there for? It doesn't take 1/2 mile to merge. Really, why is it there?

The only place the lane is not supposed to be used is where it ends! No different than a merge lane onto a highway. Use it all if you need it. When the merge lane for construction is set-out they typically take into account capacity. Using both lanes for as long as they can be used allows for capacity. Just let the guy in and get over it.

Well if you read my previous post I state just that. He didn't agree, but didn't say why they would build a lane that shouldn't be used, so I wanted to give him a chance to explain.

In my humble opinion, the closing lane is to be used by those intending to merge into the flow of the other lanes safely. It is therefore the responsibility of the merging traffic to match the speed of the other lanes and perform a safe merge given the existing conditions. This means approaching at a safe and predictable speed so that the other lanes of moving traffic can accommodate you safely.

I am all for letting people into the flow, but in my experience, the people who come flying up in the closing lane a mile and a half after the signs have been posted tend to also be the same ones who tailgate once they're in and pass aggressively without signalling, all of which pose a threat to other drivers and create tension that is visible in drivers' reactions to being cut off, etc. Not trying to profile anyone, but in my experience, this has been the case most often.

Everyone is frustrated with the amount of congestion on the roadway, but if you aren't part of the solution you must be that other stuff, the ... how do you say ... the problem.

I always merge in at the very end of the blocked lane unless it's abundantly clear that I'm not going to get any farther in it. Otherwise you're just lowering the actual capacity of the road for no reason... Recently I was cruising on a busy highway in the left lane and started seeing very many signs warning me that it was closed some distance ahead. Everyone tried to cram into the right two lanes ahead of time and a huge jam developed, cars were literally stopped about 3-4km back from the stated obstruction. Well, I just stayed in the left lane averaging 50~60 km/h, saw more signs telling me to merge, ignored them, until I finally got to the spot where the lane was supposed to be closed and... nothing. It was wide open. No bollards, no cones, no workers. It was over a hill so you couldn't see from more than 250m back that there was nothing there. The people in the right two lanes were sheepishly accellerating out of their self-imposed jam wave and I just cruised on by. Probably saved myself an hour of gridlock that day.

Scenario: two lanes, no traffic, Cruising in the right lane a little over. Up ahead, in the left lane is an SUV that I am closing on. Do I just stay in the right lane and cruise on by ? Or do I move into the left lane and try to get him/her to move to the right lane ?

I'll tell what I did afte a few opinions are posted.

iceracer wrote: Scenario: two lanes, no traffic, Cruising in the right lane a little over. Up ahead, in the left lane is an SUV that I am closing on. Do I just stay in the right lane and cruise on by ? Or do I move into the left lane and try to get him/her to move to the right lane ? I'll tell what I did afte a few opinions are posted.

You should move in to the left lane... arm the forward cannons and lock on. If they slow your progress even the slightest bit... give 'em the whole 9 yards, otherwise, tip your hat as you pass and disarm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELZQ-Z6lASI

EastCoastMojo wrote: I love it when I end up in a group of drivers that flows like a school of fish. When everyone is spread apart but traveling at very much the same speed, and everyone respects each others space when changing lanes. And signalling, that's a lost art. I love it when people signal their lane change intentions. I will always let in a driver that is polite enough to use their signal, even if it is an old guy wearing a hat.

I've become a bit of a dick about turn signals lately, for example if someone is trying to merge in a lane that I know is going to end, but is showing no attempt at getting up to the speed of traffic, as well as having no signal on? yeah they aren't getting let in.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

iceracer wrote: Scenario: two lanes, no traffic, Cruising in the right lane a little over. Up ahead, in the left lane is an SUV that I am closing on. Do I just stay in the right lane and cruise on by ? Or do I move into the left lane and try to get him/her to move to the right lane ? I'll tell what I did afte a few opinions are posted.

You should move in to the left lane... arm the forward cannons and lock on. If they slow your progress even the slightest bit... give 'em the whole 9 yards, otherwise, tip your hat as you pass and disarm.

I thought about that. So I waved as I went by on the right..

iceracer wrote: Scenario: two lanes, no traffic, Cruising in the right lane a little over. Up ahead, in the left lane is an SUV that I am closing on. Do I just stay in the right lane and cruise on by ? Or do I move into the left lane and try to get him/her to move to the right lane ? I'll tell what I did afte a few opinions are posted.

I like to maintain the status quo. People are so clueless behind the wheel, I'd rather they just stay the berkeley where they are so I can treat them like pylons.

iceracer wrote: Scenario: two lanes, no traffic, Cruising in the right lane a little over. Up ahead, in the left lane is an SUV that I am closing on. Do I just stay in the right lane and cruise on by ? Or do I move into the left lane and try to get him/her to move to the right lane ? I'll tell what I did afte a few opinions are posted.

Probably the most important factor that determines that passing on the left is safer is that you have better visibility looking ahead on the left. But you were already on the right. The only purpose I can see for moving into the left lane is to harass the driver ahead into moving to the right. That might be worth it if that person would then learn from it, but they wouldn't, so I would say that it only makes things worse. I think you were correct to stay in the right lane.