Driving question?

Spook · Jul 24, 2010

I used to frequently use a old expressway here, US 23 between Brighton & Ann Arbor. At rush hour, the right lane is 50mph or less, big trucks, lots of traffic merging off and on. Sometimes modular homes being moved from Indiana to northern Michigan. The left lane is 70 - 75 mph. Once in the right lane, it's hard to get into the left, and hard to pass on the right.

The question: If I am doing 70+ mph, staying 3 or 4 car lengths minimum from the guy in front of me, do you think that I have an obligation to move over for an idiot that comes up behind me? As you might guess, I think the answer is Helll no!! But what do you think?

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jul 24, 2010

That's an interesting call. One could say the speed limit is 65mph, so if I'm going 70 or more, I don't need to move over. The other scenario is if the flow of traffic is running 75mph, and you're running 70, you're creating a rolling roadblock and creating gridlock. There are a few states that have laws to that regard. Arkansas and Texas I think are 2 that do.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 24, 2010

(quoted from post at 11:53:40 07/24/10)I think the answer is Helll no!! But what do you think?

I think you need to work on your people skills and try being a little more sensitive to other drivers' needs and feelings :shock:

Drove a couple hundred miles on the autobahn today.... Trucks here can only go 80kmh and have plenty of restrictions that are verified by a tachograph. They can get by with (I think) 90kmh for short periods like passing. Get a line of trucks a half mile to 1 mile long and one in back decide to pass the rest. Puts the brakes on a bunch of 160+ kmh drivers for several minutes. That'll work on the ole people skills......

Dave

Jg20601 · Jul 24, 2010

If I have cars in front of me like you said, I dont move over....after all how far is he going to get?

If I am running alone - I will let him by, maybe he will get a ticket instead of me

Anonymous-0 · Jul 24, 2010

"The game of life is like the game of baseball. It's how many times you get home safe that counts."

ericlb · Jul 24, 2010

obligation no, common sence , depends, since 2 idiots make a mess on the road, if your in a econo box doing 70 and the 80,000lb rig behind me is commin up fast id move my little hiny over, if you and the vehicle behind you are roughly the same size, up to you you pays your money, you takes your chances

Spook · Jul 24, 2010

That's pretty much my take on it. If I can get over, no traffic, I won't even be in the left lane.

GRJ · Jul 24, 2010

One car lenght for every 10 mph. At 70+ you should have at least seven car lenghts or more between you and the car in front. Have "rules of the road" gone away?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 24, 2010

In Kentucky the law is RIGHT LANE EXCEPT TO PASS! some police and all trucks will hold you to it to death! LEARN TO DRIVE! the life you save may be your own.

old · Jul 24, 2010

As per law the left lane is for passing only and the right lane for normal driving. That said few people know what the laws are and drive in the left lane all the time. Also as per law passing on the right is not legal in any state. As per the CDL drivers manual

MarkB_MI · Jul 24, 2010

I try to move over if someone is on my tail, but more than anything I try not to disturb the flow of traffic. If I have an opportunity to pull over to the right and not slow down, that's what I'll do. But if traffic is heavy and I'm matching the speed of the vehicles in front of me, I figure it's going to cause more problems if I pull over than if I let the guy behind me ride my tail.

Colorado addressed this problem a while back by passing a law that says you can be ticketed if you're in the left hand lane and you're not passing anyone. Interesting reading in this (PDF) brochure from the Colorado State Patrol.
Colorado Left Lane Law

Alex C. · Jul 24, 2010

Its best to do so. Let the "Common clay of the land, you know, morons" (Gene Hackman, Blazing Saddle's) go by and just try to fell sorry for them that they think 10min. early is late and have less common scene than us. Be careful though, in most states the left and fare left lane is for passing only. I saw a local Mexican Gravel Hauler(thats what we call them down here,ratty Freightliner or Kenworth and trailer and drive too fast and all that) try to avoid a traffic jam on I-10 try that and got busted by DPS and DOT at the same time. He was doing 70 at least and the duck tape that held the hood together was coming off.Its very common though to see cars and small trucks do that and most cops turn a blind eye to it particularly if there is heavy traffic in the other 2+ lanes. Just don't travel that close to another vehicle at that speed or the cop YOU DON'T SEE will bust you for tailgating at excessive speed. Just my 2 cents.
Alex

wolfman · Jul 24, 2010

In Pennsylvania the rule or law is called "Blocking Traffic" if you ride the left lane on an Interstate or other four-lane and are not passing. Three points on the point system, about $100 fine, and your Insurance goes up.

wolfman · Jul 24, 2010

In Pennsylvania the rule or law is called "Blocking Traffic" if you ride the left lane on an Interstate or other four-lane and are not passing. Three points on the point system, about $100 fine, and your Insurance goes up.

Jimmy King · Jul 24, 2010

Old I ask a OK State Trooper about 2 weeks ago about passing in the right lane and he told me it is legal in OK.

NEBeef · Jul 25, 2010

Yes, in MA it is legal to pas on the right if you are on a road that has more than one lane for traffic each way, and is divided by a median of some sort.

IndianaRed · Jul 25, 2010

But I think it's still ok for illegals to drive 45mph in the left/passing lane on interstates, as long as they have at least 18 people in the car, all their household goods tied onto the roof, no drivers license, bald tires, bad brakes, and only one headlight.

Fred Martin · Jul 25, 2010

So many Ohio road cops getting hit while having someone pulled over in the right lane...state made a law that you have to get over in the left lane if faced with this situation. Son Earl got fined the very first day the law went into effect. Said he never heard of this law, the patrolman said...You know it now! ohfred

old · Jul 25, 2010

You know I have found that a lot of law enforcement officers only know about 50% of the laws. That said I have gotten tickets from cop only to show in court that what I got a ticket for was not even a law in the first place or there was a law that covered it and I was in the right not the cop. Like the 30 liecne (sp) tag law in Missouri. Yep got a ticket for that and boy was the PA mad when I proved it was law that you can use a tag from your old car on your new one for 30 days

redtom · Jul 25, 2010

And an Obammy/Bidey sticker on back

Driving question?

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