| gdot |
I just got back from a short road trip from Seattle to Portland and I had my cruise control set to a few mph over the speed limit. BTW, I averaged low 19 mpg each way on dubs and a/c, but that's a different thread. I tried to stay in the right lane unless I came up upon a slower car to pass. However, on most occasions, I ended up passing slower cars while driving in the right lane.
I know I don't like being passed on the right, so is it my fault for passing on the right or is is the other cars fault for not driving in the slow lane?
Also, If it's a three lane highway and there's one car driving in the middle lane and I'm in the right lane going at a faster speed, am I supposed to switch two lanes just so I pass it on the left? |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by gdot
I just got back from a short road trip from Seattle to Portland and I had my cruise control set to a few mph over the speed limit. BTW, I averaged low 19 mpg each way on dubs and a/c, but that's a different thread. I tried to stay in the right lane unless I came up upon a slower car to pass. However, on most occasions, I ended up passing slower cars while driving in the right lane.
I know I don't like being passed on the right, so is it my fault for passing on the right or is is the other cars fault for not driving in the slow lane?
Also, If it's a three lane highway and there's one car driving in the middle lane and I'm in the right lane going at a faster speed, am I supposed to switch two lanes just so I pass it on the left?
You sound like a seasoned driver, hardly one who is not aware of what is happening around him. There is a reason why you feel 'uncomfortable' passing in the right lane. Because I believe the odds of a car drifting into your lane from the left is much greater due to turn-offs, etc.
I rarely use cruise unless I have at least the left lane totally to myself, or have to make very few lane changes for faster cars to pass me. |
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| vlam |
Also, If it's a three lane highway and there's one car driving in the middle lane and I'm in the right lane going at a faster speed, am I supposed to switch two lanes just so I pass it on the left?
Here is the way I look at it. Just continue driving on the right lane and overtake the vehicle on the left lane. You are not technically making a pass. You would be making a pass if you go by the vehicle and then get onto the middle lane in front of the vehicle. If you are driving on the right hand lane around the speed limit, the other vehicle is not obeying the laws by driving at slower than speed limit on the left lane. One of my relative received a warning before for driving too slow on the left lane.
I ususally just get far far away from vehicles that drives like the way you mentioned. It's clear that they could care less about others on the road. |
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| Pauls MDX |
| In my experiences, you are always supposed to pass on the left. Yes I would of changed 2 lanes and passed the guy on the left. In general when setting the cruise control to any amount over the speed limit, I stay in the fast/left lane. I know Police Officers don't appreciate seeing a vehicle pass another vehicle in the right lane. I'm not even sure if there is a law that a Police Officer could give you a ticket. I've passed on the right because I've been to lazy to change the 2 lanes and go over, especially on a low traffic road or late at night. Just my opinion. |
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| gdot |
quote:
Originally posted by Pauls MDX
In my experiences, you are always supposed to pass on the left. Yes I would of changed 2 lanes and passed the guy on the left. In general when setting the cruise control to any amount over the speed limit, I stay in the fast/left lane. I know Police Officers don't appreciate seeing a vehicle pass another vehicle in the right lane. I'm not even sure if there is a law that a Police Officer could give you a ticket. I've passed on the right because I've been to lazy to change the 2 lanes and go over, especially on a low traffic road or late at night. Just my opinion.
I've always gone by the rule that you should drive in the right lane(s) unless you're passing. And the left-most lane should only be used for passing. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've gotten into some discussions with people who also believe that just because they're already going over the speed limit that they're allowed to stay in the left lane. IMO, it actually forces people who do want to risk speeding tickets to pass you on the right. |
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| Pauls MDX |
| I do get annoyed with people who go 10 mph over the limit feel they can cruise in the left lane. If a vehicle is comming up from behind at 15 mph over the limit, the slower driver should move to the right as a courtesy. I get so annoyed at vehicles that cruise in the left/passing lane at 5-10 mph over the limit. Bascially the faster vehicle should be given a courtesy. |
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| evoge |
Fortunately, more states now have "stay right except to pass" traffic laws, like on the PA Turnpike now. Despite all the signs, though, some people still don't bother moving over.
Fifteen years ago I even got a ticket in NJ for traveling in the left lane (in addition to going about 80). I'd never heard of such a thing until then.:3: |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by Pauls MDX
I do get annoyed with people who go 10 mph over the limit feel they can cruise in the left lane. If a vehicle is comming up from behind at 15 mph over the limit, the slower driver should move to the right as a courtesy. I get so annoyed at vehicles that cruise in the left/passing lane at 5-10 mph over the limit. Bascially the faster vehicle should be given a courtesy.
What he said!:4: |
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| cycler15 |
quote:
Originally posted by Pauls MDX
I do get annoyed with people who go 10 mph over the limit feel they can cruise in the left lane. If a vehicle is comming up from behind at 15 mph over the limit, the slower driver should move to the right as a courtesy. I get so annoyed at vehicles that cruise in the left/passing lane at 5-10 mph over the limit. Bascially the faster vehicle should be given a courtesy.
Ditto that!
There are tons of drivers like that in So Cal. Stupid idiots that just cruise at 65mph when there is no one in front of them for 500 yards and 5 cars piled up behind them trying to pass.
Very annoying. |
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| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by Pauls MDX
I do get annoyed with people who go 10 mph over the limit feel they can cruise in the left lane. If a vehicle is comming up from behind at 15 mph over the limit, the slower driver should move to the right as a courtesy. I get so annoyed at vehicles that cruise in the left/passing lane at 5-10 mph over the limit. Bascially the faster vehicle should be given a courtesy.
You are preaching to the choir...:4: |
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| eurohazard |
1st off, I think the WORST offenders on the road don't actually use cruise control. (in regards to the comments off people locked at 65MPH). The absolute worse drivers will slow you down, then when an opportunity allows a pass, yes even in a right lane I will pass someone, they speed up. I am not a driver who tailgates, so I know it's not drivers intentionally trying to piss me off.
2nd, I know that stretch of I-5 very well (Seattle-Portand). It is horrible around the metro areas. Washington drivers in particular are notorious for "cock-blocking" as I call it. I am not sure why, but it is annoying. I grew up in the Seattle area, and I love it up there. But I hate going home to visit. |
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| frostyra |
One of my high-school buddies, almost 50 years ago, moved to CA to attend a technical school. He told me in one of his letters that he had been stopped on a freeway by a CHP cruiser while doing 85; he got two tickets -- one for speeding, and one for impeding the flow of traffic. When he went to court, he had to pay them both! Do they still do that in CA?
Other than that, I'm usually passing slowly in the left lane, but when someone is gaining on me from behind, I move to the next lane ASAP. The drivers who tick me off the most are the chronic lane-changers who are constantly weaving in and out -- for every 5 miles of highway, they must log at least 7 miles on their odometers! |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by eurohazard
2nd, I know that stretch of I-5 very well (Seattle-Portand). It is horrible around the metro areas. Washington drivers in particular are notorious for "cock-blocking" as I call it. I am not sure why, but it is annoying. I grew up in the Seattle area, and I love it up there. But I hate going home to visit.
I found watching Seattle drivers at the first rain entertaining. At a distance...... |
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| eurohazard |
That 1st rain thing is kinda funny......but it is worse here in Cali. Mainly because the time span between rains is far greater than in Seattle.
Frostyra.....you are right, the chronic lane-changers suck. They are often pretty dangerous....much more so than a speeder per se.
Even though I travel at a high rate of speed, I also gladly move out of the way when a faster motorist comes up behind me. It amazes me how few people actually do this. |
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| twosomeca |
quote:
Originally posted by gdot
I just got back from a short road trip from Seattle to Portland and I had my cruise control set to a few mph over the speed limit. BTW, I averaged low 19 mpg each way on dubs and a/c, but that's a different thread. I tried to stay in the right lane unless I came up upon a slower car to pass. However, on most occasions, I ended up passing slower cars while driving in the right lane.
I know I don't like being passed on the right, so is it my fault for passing on the right or is is the other cars fault for not driving in the slow lane?
Also, If it's a three lane highway and there's one car driving in the middle lane and I'm in the right lane going at a faster speed, am I supposed to switch two lanes just so I pass it on the left?
I hate driving in the PNW, but, of course, you are talking to someone from So.Cal. here. There's nothing wrong doinig what you did. Why? What else would you have done? Tailgated? Waited? Put yourself in an unsafe and maybe stressful situation? I just go around people. I don't flash anyone, honk the horn, or use hand gestures. Of course, people up there do all of these things to me when I pass them. It's really different up there.
Driving should certainly be more systematic. If we all drove like they more or less do on the Autobahn, we'd be good to go. And the speed limit wouldn't be 60 mph in the PNW, either. :( But that isn't going to happen.
Oh, and you guys do have people who like to get in the left lane and drive UNDER the speed limit. I think they do this on purpose. They are trying to get you to slow down. I saw this in Boise, ID. There was a program called P.A.C.E. (Google it, you'll see.) Their goal is to slow people down. They hit roads and drive at or under the speed limit (usually under). I emailed them about this program. Never said anything about CA. The response was to go back to CA where I belonged. Whatever.
Don't mean to rant on the PNW, but if it is any consolation, I don't have a problem with what you did. Thank you for not flipping me off. :D
quote:
Originally posted by frostyra
Other than that, I'm usually passing slowly in the left lane, but when someone is gaining on me from behind, I move to the next lane ASAP. The drivers who tick me off the most are the chronic lane-changers who are constantly weaving in and out -- for every 5 miles of highway, they must log at least 7 miles on their odometers!
Those people don't bother me. As long as they aren't doing that in front of me or a few vehicles in front of me that causes someone up ahead to lock up. There are just too many people who refuse to move over. Instead of waiting for them, I just go around them. If I get busted, I guess I get busted. I got tired of waiting. I just take charge and go. Most places I have lived, no one cares, but in the PNW, people seem to get personally offended when you pass them on the right. You get one of three reactions. The offending driver camped out in the left lane wakes up and realizes they need to get over and then they do. (I can live with that.) You get the driver that is oblivious and does nothing. (I can actually live with that as well.) Or you get the nutcase that goes bezerk, flips you off, flashes you, or worse. (I have a hard time living with that, but I got very accustomed to this and got to a point where I let it roll right off my back.) |
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| gdot |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
I found watching Seattle drivers at the first rain entertaining. At a distance......
It's more like anytime it's wet around here. As much as it rains up here, you'd figure that people would learn how to drive in it. |
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| squaw_ski_bum |
Glad I'm not alone in grumbling about this.
I-80 across the Sacramento valley seems to be full of clueless, zoned out drivers. 4 lanes, and the #1, 2, and 3 lanes will be clogged up with people going 65, and the #4 (rightmost) lane is wide open. So I often find that I'm passing on the right, and I long ago got over it being "wrong."
And going over Donner summit where it's 2 lanes with lots of trucks - don't get me started.
CA has a "slower traffic keep right" law, though you'd never know it from the way people drive. Heck, no matter how fast I'm going, if there's some speed racer over taking me, I move over. I want that faster car in front of me to get the CHP's attention instead of me.
And if you think it is entertaining to watch west coast drivers in the first rain of the season, try watching the amateurs in their new SUVs who think they are invincible in the snow in the Sierras. |
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| JR8 |
Hey Squaw, I am right there with you. I drive 100+ miles a day on the freeway and when it isn't bumper to bumper, the left most lanes are always packed with slow moving vehicles. I follow a very simple rule...if there is a lane to the right of me with nobody in it, I should be there so people can pass me on the left safely.
We spend a lot of time in the Sierras also (Mammoth). I also enjoy watching the people with the expensive rims and low profile tires try to drive around in the snow and ice. |
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| twosomeca |
quote:
Originally posted by JR8
Hey Squaw, I am right there with you. I drive 100+ miles a day on the freeway and when it isn't bumper to bumper, the left most lanes are always packed with slow moving vehicles. I follow a very simple rule...if there is a lane to the right of me with nobody in it, I should be there so people can pass me on the left safely.
We spend a lot of time in the Sierras also (Mammoth). I also enjoy watching the people with the expensive rims and low profile tires try to drive around in the snow and ice.
If you are in So.Cal. driving on the freeway, facing possible traffic snarls, and can't access a carpool lane, you should probably drive in the #2 lane, maybe the #3 lane. This way you can pass the guy in front of you on either his left or right. If you drive in the #1 lane, you cut your options in half. Same for the #4, unless there is a #5 lane available! :D |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by gdot
It's more like anytime it's wet around here. As much as it rains up here, you'd figure that people would learn how to drive in it.
I was being kind.... :4: |
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