Left-lane slowpokes drive you crazy?
 

The words 'move over' -- even if readable in the rearview mirror -- may not mean much to them, but a ticket might. Some states are cracking down.

In these days of longer commutes and simmering tempers, nothing seems to set off already-testy motorists like the left-lane camper -- the guy or gal who drives in the passing lane and bars faster drivers from easily passing. Web sites have cropped up to educate other drivers, or to vent. There's a (somewhat painful) YouTube song called "Keep Right."

Even bigwigs get frustrated. Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, weary of having his limo slowed down by such left-lane pokies, ordered an aide to have the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission install signs a few years ago reading "Keep Right, Pass Left. It's the Law."

And now some states are cracking down on left-lane campers, both to keep traffic moving and to tamp down the road rage that goes from zero-to-60 faster than ever before.

That's not just a pretext. Last year, a driver was arrested on Interstate 79 outside Pittsburgh after allegedly brandishing a semiautomatic pistol at a driver who was on his tail.

You could get a ticket
Some states didn't allow left-lane lingering but didn't enforce the law. Now they are.

At the start of the summer, the Washington State Patrol began pulling people over for violating the state's left-lane law, which prohibits "impeding the flow of other traffic."

Talk back: What are your biggest pet peeves on the road?

"This a real big hot-button topic for the public at large right now," says Trooper Cliff Pratt. "We've had a lot of complaints" from drivers who've had to deal with left-lane campers.

So far authorities have been gentle with the $124 ticket; the drivers stopped were given verbal warnings.

Last year, news outlets reported that Oklahoma was bolstering enforcement of its left-lane law as well.

"We deal with it weekly," Lt. George Brown, supervisor of public affairs for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said of left-lane drivers going too slowly. He's issued more warnings than tickets.

Insurers haven't gotten aggressive yet, either, but this kind of ticket has the potential to raise rates.

"Any moving violation that applies points to a driver's record could affect that driver's car insurance rates," says Susan Gallik Rouser, a spokeswoman for Progressive. "And because left-lane driving would be considered as such an infraction, we would take that into account when renewing a driver's policy."

What's the law in your state?
The laws vary widely, according to John Carr, who works for a software company in the Boston area and who compiled a list of the rules in each state after taking an interest in the issue:

A few states -- for instance, Kentucky, Maine Massachusetts and New Jersey -- permit use of the left lane only for passing or turning left.

Georgia, Colorado and Louisiana follow the Uniform Vehicle Code, requiring drivers to keep right if they're going slower than the speed of traffic.

Wyoming prohibits blocking the far left lane of a highway "for a prolonged period," though it adds that the traffic should be "at a lawful rate of speed."

In Arkansas and South Dakota, vehicles don't have to stay right.

In Alaska, Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio, vehicles can drive in the left lane so long as they're moving at the speed limit.

Florida is trying to join in: Lawmakers reintroduced a Road Rage Reduction Act this year, requiring motorists to stay out of the left lane on interstate highways except when passing. It passed the Legislature in 2005 but was vetoed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, who questioned whether it was based on sound research.

It's no wonder drivers can be confused, and often frustrated.

'One of my biggest pet peeves'
One of those exasperated drivers in your rearview mirror might be Eli Dozier.

"That's one of my biggest pet peeves in the world, is when people stay in the left lane. They're not passing, they've got people behind them, trying to go around, and they just cruise," says Dozier, 31 and a stay-at-home dad.

"It's probably the most uncourteous thing you can do," he says, adding that it's "obviously" unsafe.

"I'm a fast driver," Dozier allows. "But if I'm not passing, I don't use that left lane at all."

So what's a frustrated motorist to do?

Dozier heard in a chat room about some windshield decals that said "Slower Traffic," with an arrow pointing to the right-hand lane, printed backward in large letters for reading in a rearview mirror. "And so I immediately ordered one. I jumped on it."

He loves the thing. "Most people, it's just inattentiveness" that keeps them in the passing lane, Dozier says. "Most people, when you pass them, they'll give you a wave. They're thankful" for the reminder.

Continued
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...you-crazy.aspx

This annoys the living day lights out of me.......

Get the fuck out of my way already!

Oh yeah, please, maybe that would teach them a lesson. Very few things are annoying me more than left-lane slowpokes.

In Victoria Australia it's illegal to sit in the fastest lane (which for us is the right lane) on a road with a limit 80km/hr or greater.

Just bear in mind that someone may be stuck in the fast lane because they're overtaking, and before they can move back over all of you impatient drivers are "undertaking" them in the next fastest lane. :2 cents:

I drive slow in the left lane all the time, especially next to another car.. love pissing you guys off.

yup, they drive me nuts as well:winkwink:

I think those people in general are stupid, as in retarded, and they are topping it off with total disregard for others.

I've done a lot of long distance driving lately, and I friggin hate left lane hogs. Its ok if they are leading traffic, but if they are just barely going the speed limit I get pretty pissed. Had one of them fuckers almost get me a ticket after I cranked down the gas to pass him on the right. Saw the cop just in time and got slowed down before he could see me speeding.

Worse than them are the friggin truckers that think they can just yank the wheel into the left lane cause they are going to have to downshift if they dont. I was doing 76 about to pass a mini convoy of 4 trucks, and the one in the back just yanks in front of me at about 66. Then he hogs the left lane at less than 70 in a 70mph speed limit for the next 3 miles even though he has enough room to get into the right lane.

I practice my driving like this. Get out of peoples way as soon as you can. If someone is hugging my bumper I get in the right lane at first opportunity.

not only is it annoying, but it's not safe.

I 2nd that, I don't think those people do it intentionally, they just don't "get it". But maybe a few tickets will wake them up from their daydreaming....

:2 cents:


I would like to see all states start cracking down on the left lane asshats like they do seat belt tickets. Maybe then some of these people, old fucks, ignorants, and truckers will get the clue.

Next.. people who talk on cell phones while driving, without a bluetooth.

I hate it as well. I'm not even a big speeder but some ppl just drive slow as dirt. I normally honky like hell, pass them, get in front of them, slow down and put on my blinker while giving moving my hand in the direction of get over.

It normally works as they just don't care or have a clue.

The left lane is for people going the speed limit the right hand lane is for people going UNDER the speed limit. :2 cents:

actually this used to happen to me all the time as I was pretty bad at speeding and I think ppl used to do it to me on purpose. almost lost my licence and now I drive the speed limit exactly... If I get ppl tailgating me when I do the speed (on a no passing lane) I slow down even worst to piss them off.. cause surely I am not going to go faster than the speed limit and im aloud to drive as slow as I want unless stated min speed.

I was even thinking of starting a website and hooking up a camera around my car.. and record the temper that ppl have.. its insane, when I was in this driving school.. something you have to go to when you lose almost all your points.. I tell the lady wtf do I do when everyone on the road is driving way over the speed limit, I am like a hazzard on the road when I drive the limit and ppl get super pissed at me.. going to get shot one day over it..

can't fucking win.

Drives me MMMAAAAADDDDD!!! Is it that they know?? Or they just don't care?? I mean I know when someone flies up behind me to move....I mean c'mon. :mad:

Cheer up Barefootsies, hope this puts a smile on you're face:winkwink:


Yes different feet from yet another foot fetish set shot by yours truly:thumbsup

http://pimpandhost.com/media/simple/...89581000334317

Technically lmao. There shouldn't be any UNDER the speed limit drivers. It should be speed limit. People going slow cause as many accidents as those going too fast imo.

If I'm in the PROCESS of passing a car (me going 69, them going 64) then it only takes a few minutes at most to reach a safe distance beyond them to pull back in line.

Having said that, if I'm in the process of passing, and someone flies up behind me with lights flashing and horn blowing, then they can just fuck off and wait 5 seconds.

Nothing worse than a speeder who feels entitled to rule the road.

you slow down infront of me and i will follow you home and knock you the fuck out.

i cant stand these idiots, it is more dangerous driving slow on a FREEWAY, you should be puttin the petal to the metal.

most people do not even know what is going on and by going slow you are forcing people to swerve around you and cause accidents

"Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, weary of having his limo slowed down"

oh my, wouldnt want his limo to have to slow down. LOL

New Jersey's left lane law is ideal. And they enforce it...

I've seen numerous motorists in NJ, even those driving around the speed limit, pulled over by state troopers for left lane camping.

What many people don't realize is that the left lane is the PASSING lane - that means one is to get out of that lane at the first available opportunity, even if that means driving temporarily above the speed limit...

One can debate the legality of exceeding the speed limit slightly (ie. around 10 or so) when passing - the laws vary on this...

The reality is the police, especially in highly congested areas, often don't mind a little speeding by a motorist seeking to pass and promptly get out of the left lane; to keep traffic moving smoothly.

Ron

This is exactly what I'm working on as a side effect of another project which requires cameras to record every trip I make, although I'd be more into showing what idiots some people are. I've seen a fair few near misses, a couple of accidents, and of course a ton of generally dangerous driving. The software, when it's complete, will also log GPS derived data including position, direction and speed of travel. Might also stick a mic in the boot with the computer for some general road noise/ambience. :2 cents: Now, if only FreeBSD's meteor/bktr driver actually worked as explained in the manual, I'd be on the road already!

Who told you that? I'd like to bitchslap them for being stupid.

Ever heard the term, Slower traffic keep right? It doesnt mean slower than the speed limit, it means slower than those behind you.

If you are in the left lane and someone is coming up on you because they are going faster, then congratulations you just became slower traffic, so move to the right. Regardless of the speed limit, if they are coming up on you - then you are slower, so fucking move over.

Yes and it drives me insane! At least go the speed limit.

Speed limit is actually too slow for that lane and is actually a PROBLEM. So I disagree.

Yeah but you are foreign and are use to much higher speeds. : )

You have to be joking right? Try using that line when you get pulled over. "But officer I was in the fast lane" :1orglaugh

It's one of the most annoying things in traffic!!

Everyday!!! Damn old people

everyday fucking day

:thumbsup

A lot of fuckers do it on purpose to annoy us who drive faster. I'd love it if they gave tickets for that here, but afaik it hasn't been made a ticketable offense yet.

I hate it! I flash my lights and the MEN drivers get right out of my way and the lady's they fucking go slower!



:mad:

It makes the road rage go......

No, I'm not joking. It has nothing to do with the speed limit and has EVERYTHING to do with impeding the flow of traffic.

So when the officer is writing you a ticket for that, start crying about how you were going the speed limit so you didnt have to move even though cars were stacked up behind you. See how far that gets you.

There is already low limits on speed per roadway, just like there is high limits. Cops will ticket for it if they ever come across it. But it's exceedingly rare dont you think?

It's more likely that if you see cars you think are going too slow for the road, maybe you're just going WAY too fast all the time, lmao.

edit: or you are stuck in one of those highway hell areas of the world that just gridlock at the drop of a hat unless people keep moving.

:2 cents:

no but only because I ride a bike

fucking annoying!

Well that brings up a problem I saw in L.A.. The bikers there, riding like crazy between cars on the highway.

They would be the only one's moving, which is nice. But you always had to watch for them because they would be in singles, or packs, and in the blind spot while driving down the 405, or where ever.

It is not impeding traffic if you are going the speed LIMIT and passing cars to your right. No cop would pull me over for going the speed limit so a flow of traffic could recklessly break the speed limit laws.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/i/impeding-traffic/

Hehe, that might be so, but the fact is that thinking that you can be in the fast lane just because you drive the speed limit is just wrong. IMHO :winkwink:

Refer to your driver's education book on the use of the passing lane.
:2 cents:

there is a MIN speed limit on a freeway.. otherwise its not illegal to drive slow. In situations where someone would show anger towards you... you can call the cops, but I am also the type that would follow you home.. so in this case as soon as I noticed your following me.. I would call my friends and drive to there house and you would be sorry.

(but yeah.. your metaman, the tough guy.. you can dodge bullets and take on army of men.. or any single person)

I would love for someone to follow me home one day.

Its called lane splitting, and california is the only place where its legal. Problem is, I see alot of motorcyclists abusing how it was intended and splitting lanes at 70mph.

Do the pit maneuver

Not only do I do 20km/h under the speed limit in the left lane, I'll actually speed up and block you from passing me in another lane. Because I live in Canada I don't have to worry about guns so it's just another opportunity to lure someone in to getting beaten up.

:thumbsup me too :)

what if the car has 2-3 guys in shape? no bjj will save your ass... i hate slow drivers in the left lane too, but don't think you can beat up everyone on this planet.. your ego might get you in big trouble like that

Having a large lifted 4x4 with a big brush guard and lots of very bright lights, I won't hesitate in riding up their fucking ass with all the lights on.. God help the poor fuck if she hits the brake, because then I'll floor it.