Share the Road

[Steven_Draker]

Multiple-Choice Question

 

I've spend most of the week driving through Florida. I have to confess that I like to drive fast (within reasonable limits) and respecting those around me. However I realize that on the Interstate is hard to pass slower vehicles.

 

Now my question to the class (chose the one that applies to you):

 

When on the highway I drive in the

 

- far right lane

- far left lane

- middle lane

- emergency lane

- as far to the right as possible

- any lane I want (I own them all)

[josephga]

I'm more of the in the middle until i start getting close to my exit the right

[Bosguy]

Definitely the majority of time in the middle. Use the left lane when necessary--hate people who hang in this lane instead of moving back. Good luck driving in Florida cause they just use whatever lane they want--having owned a place in Fla for 7+ years, its not the most relaxing place to drive.

 

Boston Bill

[MiamiLooker]

I've spend most of the week driving through Florida. I have to confess that I like to drive fast (within reasonable limits) and respecting those around me. However I realize that on the Interstate is hard to pass slower vehicles.

 

Now my question to the class (chose the one that applies to you):

 

When on the highway I drive in the

 

- far right lane

- far left lane

- middle lane

- emergency lane

- as far to the right as possible

- any lane I want (I own them all)[/color]

 

Slower traffic should keep to the right lane. If you're being passed by traffic to your right, then you're driving too slow for your lane. So, I suppose my answer is I drive as far to the right as possible...

 

I read a while back that there's a FL state lawmaker introducing a "slow traffic in the right lane" law. He contends that if drivers drove in the appropriate lane for their speed, there wouldn't be the need to constantly add lanes to the highways. I agree with him.

[orbital sander]

I found traffic in Florida terrible. Many slow drivers.

 

In regards to fast drivers, I hate people who pass me like a bat outta hell and then slow down right in front of me. If someone wants to get ahead of me and keeps moving away from me then I have no problem (as long as they are safe about it).

 

If you live in an area where traffic gets jammed up, all lanes are going to be slow.

 

I tend to be a mid lane driver, unless I am driving faster than mid lane traffic. Truckers are restricted to lower speeds where I drive, and so I tend to drive left if there are many trucks on the road.

[Epigonos]

Being a native Southern Californian I must admit I am married to my car. Traffic allowing I drive 80 mph on the Los Angeles freeway system. On our system the number one lane is the lane nearest the center of the highway. This is legally a passing lane and a driver cannot legally force another to pass on the right thus if someone approaches from behind the driver is required to move to the right allowing the faster driver to pass. It ABSOLUTELY infuriates me when some slow driving moron insists on remaining in the number one forcing drivers to pass him/her on the right. To avoid being ticketed there are two thing one doesn’t want to do 1.) remain in the number one lane driving at a very high speed for extended periods of time – drive in the number two lane and pass in the number one, 2.) weave from lane to lane – cops look for this.

[Decatur Guy]

Generally speaking, slower traffic should keep to the right lane. However, the way the interstates are designed in Atlanta, you're pretty well forced to make some frequent lane changes to get from A to B.

[bigvalboy]

Being a native Southern Californian I must admit I am married to my car. Traffic allowing I drive 80 mph on the Los Angeles freeway system. On our system the number one lane is the lane nearest the center of the highway. This is legally a passing lane and a driver cannot legally force another to pass on the right thus if someone approaches from behind the driver is required to move to the right allowing the faster driver to pass. It ABSOLUTELY infuriates me when some slow driving moron insists on remaining in the number one forcing drivers to pass him/her on the right. To avoid being ticketed there are two thing one doesn’t want to do 1.) remain in the number one lane driving at a very high speed for extended periods of time – drive in the number two lane and pass in the number one, 2.) weave from lane to lane – cops look for this.

 

Good Answer Epigonos!! Spoken like a true native....now if everyone else in SoCal could just get with the program, it would be smooth sailing for the rest of us.....

[Poolboy21409]

It seems that younger...and older drivers totally don't know,have forgotten, or simply don't care. The left lane is for PASSING. PERIOD. The other lanes are "travel" lanes. In Maryland, the drivers are really assholes and I think simply don't care. Having driven in many states, I find the drivers in the metro Detroit area to be the best of the group. Have driven extensively in France and Italy on the auto-routes/stradas and found the drivers were well behaved. I actually drove faster on the autostrada Italy than most others. HAve not been on teh autobahn (I have coined a word that collectively describes these highways as the "RoutaBanaStrada"

 

To answer Steven's questions, I use the middle lane on a three lane or plus roadway except to pass. I am, conservative about planning my exits and usually are in the right lane (for a right exit) a mile before the exit. I consider myself a good driver. In the US I find consistently the worst meanest and most aggressive drivers are young women -- particularly in red Honda. Fondly called "Hassholes".

[+ azdr0710]

often called "left-lane campers", those driving in the far left lane of a multi-lane freeway who just stay there are much despised..a few smart California natives I know say it's a California thing and I notice it in states where many Californians have moved to....pretty sure it evolved from drivers afraid of getting stuck behind slow right-lane traffic and never being able to move into the passing lane because of heavy traffic.....so drivers will just "camp" in the left lane and, occasionally, move over if somebody comes up faster behind them (or not).....I've noticed some states have very definite "keep right except to pass" signs, but my state, unfortunately, has the more-spineless "slow traffic keep right", and rarely is even that sign seen.....

 

but, was just recently driving in LA traffic and thought that most of the drivers were very good....I think you have to be good in LA or you'll get blown off the road....except for the rare hot-shot lane-hopping thug, LA drivers were savvy, courteous, and knowledgeable...

 

Steven: I apologize for any driving habits over here that bother you!!....have never driven in Florida myself, so can't comment on the traditions back there....

 

 

http://cupofzup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/awesome-road-signs-536x414.jpg

[N13]

As one who does a lot of driving in Europe I can always tell Americans on the road. They seem to think they have a 'God Given' right to the left lane.

Europeans drive faster but use the left lane only for passing. We could learn from them.

 

N13

[+ deej]

My least favorite drivers in the LA freeway system are the blockers. The people who get out in the passing lane and cruise along at exactly the same speed as the people in the lane next to them. If you're driving along and the same car is next to you for mile after mile, MOVE OVER!

 

These are the same people who don't appear to notice that there's wide open road in front of them, but 40-50 cars lined up bumper to bumper behind them. MOVE OVER!

 

I got boxed in behind one of these blockers driving home from Vegas one weekend. When a state trooper, lights flashing, pulled up behind me I negotiated my way out of the lane, but the blocker continued on for many miles totally oblivious to the flashing lights behind him. Once the blocker finally caught on and cleared the lane, the cops turned off the flashing lights and went on with their day. I guess they didn't like blockers either.

[Michael Wayne]

I am sure you experienced that in south florida almost all of our drivers are blockers since our median age is so high!!! I love it down here cause I AM CHICKEN AGAIN! iMAGINE THAT, AT MY AGE! i FEEL SO YOUNG!

[Epigonos]

In many ways I find European drivers superior to American ones. In Italy the autostradas frequently have only two lanes. I am aware that Italian drivers have a poor reputation but I have always found them excellent on the open road. In the cities it is entirely a different matter. I vividly remember having to pass an elderly American couple on the autostrada between Mantua and Milan, on the right, because the driver refused to move over. Then next thing I knew a huge Mercedes pulled up behind the Americans. He had his headlights flashing. The elderly American driver held his ground until it appeared the Mercedes was about to drive right up his tale-pipe. I had never realized than anybody would have the guts to follow another car that closely. The Italian driver refused to move to the right and eventually the American moved over. The American driver pulled off the highway at the next off ramp probably having wet his pants. I regularly drove 90 mph on the autostradas and found myself frequently having to move out of the fast lane to allow other drivers to pass. The major problem in driving in the fast lane in Europe is that you MUST use your rear view mirror as much as you do your front windshield.

[Samai139]

Interesting thread and great replies. Let me preface my answer by saying that I live in New York State and most of my driving is in-state, not necessarily Inter-State highways. But I do drive in Canada sometimes and in Milchigan.

Having said that, in New York State, I tend to stay in the right lane unless I need to pass--in many places the expressways have only two lanes. If there are three lanes or more, I tend to stay in the middle until I need to exit or if I want to pass.

Observations: In Canada, at least in Ontario and Quebec, I don't think anyone obeys any lane designations---pass on the right, weave in and out of lanes with and without signals---the whole gamut,.

I was surprised on my first foray into Michigan---Detroit--to discover that exits could be from the left hand lane---very disconcerting and the first day I missed more than one of my exits.

New York State allows passing on the right, with very specific occasions, which I won't go into here. On the Thruway, you can pass on the right without fear of being ticketed, but you are in danger of getting sideswiped by someone not paying attention or having a "blind spot." We also have a new law which requires motorists to move into a left lane if an emergency vehicle has lights flashing and is either on the shoulder or partially in the right lane. Laws also require motorist to pull off the road or out of a lane to allow emergency vehicles to pass. Which means the traffic blockers mentioned above in California would be ticketed here in New York. Do you think we'll ever have universal traffic laws here?

Nice to know that in California they have laws forbidding right-lane passing---wish we had it in New York.

Question for those who drive in the east: Do you know the two cities in the east---one in the USA and one in Canada where you cannot turn right at a red stop light it there is no traffic coming?

[N13]

No right turn on red in NYC. Don't know about Canada.

 

N13

[jackhammer91406]

Florida is another world

 

For years I have spent the month of May in Florida.

 

Based on my 18 years of experience I am amazed you found any stretch of interstate that was not reduced to only one lane because it was under construction.

 

My late aunt who lived in Florida used to joke that there were only three men working at a road site at any given time. One to stand there as the token road worker, one to sit in the squad car with lights flashing to keep speeders in check and one guy on break. She claimed it was why road improvements took so many years to complete.

 

As to your original question, unless the right lanes are torn up from constant truck use and no repairs, I am an old school guy. When driving , I hate folks who drive below the flow of traffic yet stay glued to the far left passing lane.

So when I drive, I usually stay right or center until time to pass and then use left lane, then back to the center or right lane. I regularly drive exactly 5 miles over the limit. Since I drive a small SUV hybrid, I am able to see what's up ahead and can move lanes if necessary.

I know, dull, but consistent.

[bigvalboy]

LOL Ya know Jackhammer, I just got back from Florida. Took me a few days to slow it down a bit...God they drive slow there. Had to dial that 'speed thing' goin on in my head back a couple of notches. I found I-95 really fast though, yes enormous amount of construction, never seen such a thing, but the run down to Miami and beyond after 9 pm was a comfortable 80-90 MPH.

[Epigonos]

I was absolutely horrified driving in Florida about ten years ago. I had never seen so many ancient, not elderly but ANCIENT, drivers driving immense Cadillac's in the fast lane of the freeways at about 45 mph. There were totally oblivious to anybody or anything around them. We have lots of retired people here in Southern California but we don't even come close to the number in Florida.

[leigh.bess.toad]

Steven -- your thread reminded me of the great quote from Dave Barry, who was at the time the columnist for the Miami Herald. He told of when he first moved to Miami, he thought that no one understood the rules of the road. It finally dawned on him that everyone was observing the rules of the road: of their country of origin.

 

Personally, I tend to be the middle to right lane, but I'm constantly checking for both traffic behind me as well as traffic merging on onto the highways. What always gets me is people in the right lane, when there is no one to their left, staying in that lane and blocking people from merging onto the highway. Look around you at all times to see what's going on and react accordingly.

 

Of course, my other pet peeve is going out of your way to let someone change lanes (slowing down, flashing your lights for them to move) and then no wave thanks. Makes me think of the NASCAR quote: "bumping is racing". For those people I need to take up a new sport - hockey. Boarding someone into the Jersey walls seems like an appropriate penalty for those guys.

[Luv2play]

No right turn on red in NYC. Don't know about Canada.

 

N13

 

Montreal. It used to be the whole province of Quebec where one couldn't turn right on a red light with no traffic coming in the other direction but that was changed about 8/10 years ago. In Montreal the drivers are so bad and the pedestrians so undisciplined that they decided to keep the old rule. And being an island city, it was easy to make the distinction of where you were. If you drive onto the island of Montreal you will see the signs overhead at the bridges about no right turns on a red light.

[justaguy]

As a person living in the DC metro area, my answer would be that I drive in whatever lane is available and seems to be moving faster than a desiccated snail.

[Samai139]

Luvtoplay--thanks for the info on "right turns" in Montreal. I used to go there a lot, not so much any more, and guess I was so busy maneuvering on ramps, on-coming traffic, that I missed the signs about the right turns overhead on the bridges--don't recall seeing them at either J. Cartier or S. deChamplain---the two bridges I used. You are absolutely correct about the drivers and the pedestrians--and I can understand why the old rule was re-instated. Crossing busy streets, mainly in the gay village, was an adventure---even following the normal rules for pedestrians. I miss the city though and look forward to a visit this summer.

[KMEM]

Funny how so many folks seem to regard driving (poorly) as a right rather than a privilege. And, that was before "modern" distractions such as cell phones, texting, etc.

 

A friend of mine who lives in the LA area says he consistently makes better time in the RH lane.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[MiamiLooker]

From the driving manual from a few states:

 

 

Florida:

Drive in the right lane and pass on the left. If there are three lanes, use the right lane for lower speed driving, the left for passing. If you stay in the right lane, watch for cars entering the expressway. Adjust your speed or move into the center lane so they can enter safely.

 

Massachusetts:

Stay to the right and only use the left lane for passing. On an expressway with three or more lanes in your direction, use the far right lane for slower driving, the middle lane for faster driving, and the far left lane for passing.

 

North Carolina:

Keep to the right, use the left lane(s) for passing

 

Washington:

On a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, stay in the right lane except to pass. On a road with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction, if there is a lot of entering or exiting traffic, use the center travel lane.

 

Texas:

Use right-hand lane:

If you wish to drive at the minimum speed limit or below the normal flow of traffic.

Using the middle or left-hand lane:

1. Use the middle or left-hand lane if you are traveling faster than other traffic.

2. If you plan to leave the freeway soon, change to the exit lane as soon as possible.

 

 

Nebraska:

Slower traffic keep to the right. Avoid unnecessary lane changing. Stay in the right lane unless overtaking

and passing another vehicle.

 

Michigan:

On a freeway with three or more lanes of travel in the same direction, you may drive in any lane, however, if driving at or near the minimum speed limit, drivers should stay in the lane with the slower moving traffic.