If you ever drive in Florida

[Bad_Byte]

Driving is a privilege, not a right and it's a freedom that all should be able to enjoy as long as they are capable of observing the rules of the road.

Bingo! Key words being "as long as they are capable of observing the rules of the road".

Too many drivers are NOT capable of observing the rules of the road. They want to enforce their speed limit on the rest of us by continuing to drive 3 and 4 abreast instead of moving to the right as the law and simple courtesy demand.

Even on a two lane farm to market highway you're required in most states I know of to move to the right when something like 6 vehicles are behind you. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen that law broken and the highway patrol/cops don't seem to care.

Pure frustration can cause as many wrecks as speed.

PS: I can't drive 55.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

You guys who demand instant open road even if the guy in front of you has to dive into very congested traffic on the right, are being childishly self centered.

I didn't think anyone requested diving into congested traffic and I'm too lazy to go back and read all the posts. Just move over when it's safe to do so and don't play cop by holding everyone up (ironic phrasing intended).

 

[98MODMTR]

More than most of the highways in and around Europe do infact have speed limits. In the 2 years I was there I managed to get 26 speeding ticktes! Good thing for me, I was in the military and they pretty much overlook anything not to serious. However, 100km over and they send the letter not to you, but directly to your battery commander. Doh!

 

[98MODMTR]

Oh...and 5 parking tickets.

 

[joe117]

Here's what you said Chuck.

My question
"If I was going 85 in that left lane, do I move into the jam so some guy can go 100?"

YES

You said "yes".


I don't know where you guys get the idea that some state is going to go back to open roads with no speed limit.

We are not heading in the direction of autobahn type roads.

We are heading in the direction of slower traffic and more restrictions.

This is partly driven by the money that is collected from traffic fines.
I believe states make money from traffic enforcement.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Fine Joe, just move over first chance you get ok? Jeeze man, I can't believe you're thinking we expect you to slam on the brakes and dive into a 12 foot opening. Do you need an instruction video? I thought it was common sense. My mistake.

It may be a while before no limit roads return like Montana from 1996-2001(?). I would be happy just to see limits upwards of 100mph where safe to do. But Joe, if folks like you can't figure out when to move over then I agree with you, it aint gonna happen.

 

[Bob K]

As I was driving home from work yesterday I pulled up behind a large motor home pulling a car and sporting 4 bicycles hanging from the back. Guess which lane they were in? Thats right, the left passing lane. And they stayed in that lane for miles even though cars were passing them on the right and on the left in the HOV lane. I see 18 wheelers doing this same thing all the time. I have yet to see this law enforced.
Frustrating.

Bob K

 

[joe117]

"I can't believe you're thinking we expect you to slam on the brakes and dive into a 12 foot opening."

Perhaps I thought that's what you expected because that's what you said.

Hardly a car on the road is going to be going as fast as me when I'm driving on the highway.
Anyone who is going faster will have no trouble getting by me because I'll move over as soon as I see them coming.

If I cant move over right away, the reason will be apparent to any reasonable driver.

I'm not going to be part of the problem.

 

[Viperfreak2]

Good for you Joe. Just don't call us childish when we are all saying the same thing!

Unfortunately, we can never have a safe system in this country (until computers start driving for us in 10-20 years) because America is too large and spread out. What makes the German system so good is that: #1) hard to get a license without proving extreme skill and judgement #2) PERFECT highways (no potholes ever) #3) 50% income tax rate! and finally #4) efficient, safe, fast public transportation. Old folks (back to the Florida debate) do not NEED to drive cars there. There isn't a city or town that doesn't have a bus to take you to the train. I spent six months in the Munich area and didn't need a car to go anywhere in Europe! I missed my Ferrari so bad, and wanted ANY car at first, but after a few weeks realized I didn't need one. Here in the US, we think we need a car to go 1/2 mile to the store, so we give anyone a license.

 

[joe117]

Well, the childish part is for the guys who expect an open road from everyone else no matter what's happening in the next lane.
Sometimes it's just not possible to get out of the way RIGHT NOW without major inconvenience.

As far a bad drivers in the USA. I agree, some people shouldn't have a drivers license.
But because these grandmas, phone dialers, makeup checkers, map readers and just plane dumba$$es are out there, the US highways are not really safe for people who want to go 100+ in the left lane while there are people going 65 in the next lane.

I know it's fun to travel very fast. It's not dangerous in itself but if you are blasting by people who may or may not be paying attention, you are risking their lives and yours too.

That's why I think this whole "left lane for passing only" law has been misunderstood by some.
Sure nobody wants a slow car holding everyone up by hogging the left when they could just as easily drive the same speed in some other lane, they should get out of the way.
But the cops aren't going to give a "lane" ticket anyone going very fast in the left just because some other guy wants to go even faster.

If I'm going 85 or 90 or any speed and you want to go faster, I'll get out of your way ASAP. That won't be a problem.

I'm not going to try to slow you down, I'm not a cop, but I just don't see how it's responsible to blast by normal incompetent drivers on a fairly crowded highway. I'd say leave the VERY high speed driving for the times when there isn't much traffic.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Joe, I don't know how Maryland is these days but I know there are a lot of safe open highways throughout America where 90-100mph would be reasonable. Maybe not in the congested highways of the Northeast or Kalifornia, but just about every state in between has miles and miles of open highway.

But first people need to realize there is a lane where motorist might be driving a bit faster and that they should keep that lane open as much as possible.

The electronic speed limit signs the Autobahn has would also help here.

 

[joe117]

Maryland and Virginia Rt95 is fairly crowded, still it's not uncommon to be driving at 90 with other traffic in the left lane.
Last time I did that was a few weeks ago in the wife's Aztec. Don't even start.....

Like I said there were a handful of cars in a bunch, all going 90 for long periods. We were the fastest drivers I saw that day.
None of the cars seemed to have much interest in having the lead car move over.
If I had come up behind that bunch going 110, I wouldn't expect them to all scatter for the other lanes when I came into view.
But that's just me and that was just then.

On uncrowded highway, who cares about the left lane? There won't be enough cars to worry about it.
I drove out to South Dakota last year to go hunting. Lot's of open road out that way. No reason for anyone to hog the left and I don't remember seeing anyone causing problems by doing so.

I'm going again in October. We have to drive out because it's the best way to get the dogs there.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Last time I did that was a few weeks ago in the wife's Aztec. Don't even start.....

I'm resisting but you aint making it easy. Aztec...