Why do people insist on driving in the wrong lane?

Can someone make me understand why a three-lane interstate driving lane stays empty, yet the two passing lanes are full of vehicles driving 55 mph? Does anyone else find this phenomenon annoying?

 

Greetings.

I've been listening to Fibber McGee & Molly transcripts. I'm up to the early '50s. In one of the public service announcements during their show (Fibber McGee & Molly was one of the most popular & longest running radio programs ever), the announcer talks about not driving slowly, and about showing curtesy towards other drivers. How times have changed! Even though current vehicles (like my spiffy Honda 919 motorcycle) can safely cruse along at 100mph (assuming one can find a clear stretch of properly paved road: LOL!), driving over 55mph -- which is lower than the speed limit was in 'McGee's time! -- is considered a ghastly offense, and one worthy of crushing fines and, potentially, imprisonment. Loitering about, in a manner that is the complete antithesis of passing, in the passing lane is, however, swell! In fact, it marks you as a safe driver!

And don't get me started on turn signals: blinking lights aren't just for Christmas! Further, if you start signaling only immediately before, or during the turn/lane change, what's the point?

Oh, what an embarrassment America's roadways are! Big, fat, stupid people driving about in big, fat, stupid SUVs, their massive weight (both) gyrating from the combination of tank-trap sized pot holes below, and the recoil of maxi-mega-xtreme bass speakers within. Space cushion? Sure, it deploys on impact! I blame this all -- everything, in fact -- on the Democraps, for getting rid of poor Tail-Gunner Joe. Americans were so much better when they had to be. Or Else.


Richard Kanarek,
The Fight for America

 

It definitely is a strange phenomenon. I noticed this last year when I was driving down along I-75 to Florida.
If you want to see something really strange.....try driving on one of Canada's major highways. The speed limit is posted at 100km ph (65 mph) and the average person drives at 120km ph(85mph)....and that's not in the passing lane!

 

P.T. Barnum said that there is one born every minute

Yes, I can tell you why: because some people are stubborn.

Here is a classic example that occured on a six lane interstate highway. It occured in the three northbound lanes while I was driving a marked police car:

The speed limit was 70 mph with a posted "minimum" speed of 40 mph. The average speed was about 75 to 85 mph. Signs were also posted "slower traffic keep right."

A stubborn young fellow (about 25 to 30 YOA) was driving 42 mph in the center lane, which was hazardous because drivers didn't realize that he was going so slow until they were "right up on him," so they would swerve into the right lane or into the left lane to avoid plowing into his rear end.

I pulled the guy over with the intention of giving him a "verbal warning" by asking him to drive in the far right lane if he was going to drive that slow. I had no intention of writing him a ticket.

Well, the guy immediately begins arguing with me. Remember, I told you that these kinds of drivers are stubborn. He says that since the minimum posted speed limit is 40 mph, he is entitled to go that speed in any lane and there was nothing that I could do about it.

I explained to the guy that I didn't want to write him a ticket, but I only wanted him to acknowledge that he is required to travel in the far right lane if he is going to go that slow because it is a danger to public safety to travel in any other lane at that speed (I explained everything to him).

Well, he looked a gift horse in the mouth and he refused to acknowledge that he was required to stay in the far right lane (if he was going to go 40 mph) so, as a last resort, I wrote him a ticket.

He refused to admit that he was wrong. After issuing him the ticket, I told him that if he continued to drive like that, then I'd pull him over again. He managed to stay in the right lane after that.

Then he challenged the ticket in court.

It takes all kinds.

 

Since this is an educational forum, I should point out the irony of the educational status of this fellow. He was attending a special college for gifted people because his IQ is off the charts.

It just goes to show that ”super intelligent” people don’t always have common sense.

 

so how is it you decide when to give a ticket and when to give a verbal warning? Is there some secret? I always got tickets...

of course, it has been 10 years since I got pulled over, so I guess I should just be glad...

clint

 

Criteria for Issuing Tickets

Every officer is different. For example, Bruce is a sworn officer and his criteria might be different then mine. Having said that...

I try to consider three things to help determine whether or not to issue a ticket:

• What is in the interest of the community?
• What is in the interest of the violator?
• What is in my interest?

Since every situation is different, it is hard to use a "one size fits all" gauge.

Well, there is one exception to the rule: The minute a citizen becomes belligerent, it is an automatic ticket, without fail.

 

Oh, this is very easy to explain: PEOPLE ARE FUCKING STUPID!!!

Christian, who just drove SF to LA and back.

 

Erm, there is a very simple answer....

YOU YANKS DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!

Cheers,

George

(who is currently in the USA conducting a series of site audits on 9 schools, and can't get the hang of American roads!!!)

 

How can the "right side" of the road possibly be considered the "wrong side"??

 

Because it's there!
(20+ years law enforcement experience)

 

Easily corrected George,
Just drive down the right side of the road in reverse and you'll feel right at home.

 

They are not common, are they?

Opherus

 

It is pleasing to see that people are the same everywhere when they hop into cars.

I thought I had seen it all until about two months ago when a motorist drove down the walkway to the front door of the police station instead of the entrance to the public car park.

When halfway down, he then realised the flower beds were obstacles to further progress and went to back up, unfortunately hitting a power pole on the footpath. He got out of the car and then blamed his wife for failing to direct him properly. He had an appreciative audience of officers who generally have to go out and find drivers like him, instead he "home delivered"so to speak.

So why worry about lanes when you can drive on the pedestrian walkways or footpaths?
.

 

Obeying traffic laws is a real good place to start.

Seriously, the big thing is to not make yourself stand out. Don't go much faster or slower than the flow of traffic, don't "lane shop" (weave between lanes), don't cut-off other motorists, stop at yellow lights instead of flooring the accelerator, and make sure your equipment (lights, turn signals, etc.) are all working properly.

Last but certainly not least, if you do get pulled over......DON'T ARGUE!!!!!!! It's the quickest way to a money ticket & probably a roadside safety inspection to return a little grief.

If you abide by all the above, I would be very surprised if you ever got a ticket.


Bruce

 

I've a friend who is a PA State Trooper. He told me that he won't mess with someone unless they're going at least 7 over the limit.
Although normally they are looking for the "bigger fish" and may let a lot slide on the interstates.


Kevin

 

These same idiots force me to do all my speeding in the far right lane.

Cops feel sorry for me and don't give me tickets.

 

When I used to drive a marked car, my tolerance was at least 15 mph over the posted speed limit, usually much higher.

 

Do you consider your number the average on the interstates, or were you just more lenient?

Are you saying that most troopers won't stop someone going 10-12mph over?

Not that I'm justifying speeding, I'm just curious.


Kevin

 

I would speculate that I'm in the middle of the bell curve and there are two extremes on a bell curve.

However, I've never been a trooper and they are much more inclined to write tickets.

"Most?"

I would speculate that most troopers would not; but with the bell curve in mind, there are many that might.

Everybody speeds these days.

It's interesting to note that about five years ago, the Florida legislature changed the law so that it is now illegal to write someone a speeding ticket for speeding less than five miles over the posted speed limit. You can write them a written warning, but not a real ticket. Apparently, a few legislators must have been ticketed - or - their constitants were ticketed and "complained their ears off."

It's also interesting to note that if you arrest an average person, they will become as quiet as a lamb; but if you write them a simple civil ticket, they go ballistic. Go figure. < scratches head >