Fucktards who drive less than the speed limit on no passing roads.

[shep_proudfoot]

Several years ago, I am driving on a four lane highway (two lanes on each side). The speed limit was 65 MPH. Usually on the highway, I do 10 MPH over, because I lived in that city, and know that there are no speed traps.

So, Im riding 75 on the left lane, and this woman in a Volvo gets behind me and tailgates me and honking the horn. The bitch wants me to get out of her way. Funny though, there was no one in the right lane, she could pass on the right. No! This bag expects me to move from the left to the right because she is in a hurry. I don’t think so. Finally she went around me and flipped me the bird. Oh well.

The left lane on the highway is NOT THE FAST LANE. This is a myth. The speed limit is the same regardless of which lane traveled. If I am going at the posted speed limit, this is the fastest legally I can move on that road. So I am free to take either lane. If I am driving a piece of dung car or something nearly broke down, I will ride the far right lane. There is also no such thing as a PASSING LANE either. This is myth number two.

Lastly, if you honk at me for driving too slow, or tailgate, I will drive slower.

What really annoys me are the people who drive with their lights on on a bright sunny day.

SP

[Cheesesteak]

Shep, “stay to the right, except to pass.”

That is all.

[bjohn13]

*Originally posted by blowero *
**Well then not only are you an asshole, but you are most likely breaking the law. I don’t think you said where you live, but in my state you are required to pull over if 5 or more cars are following you. Do you have a cite for this “10 mph leeway” thing? I suppose that might be in the vehicle code where you live, but it sounds more like you pulled it out of your ass. It’s not your job to enforce the speed limit; leave that to the police. **

I cited it earlier in the thread.

There is no “five car” law in my state or the next.

[Nimbokwezer]

*Originally posted by shep proudfoot *
**
The left lane on the highway is NOT THE FAST LANE. This is a myth. The speed limit is the same regardless of which lane traveled. If I am going at the posted speed limit, this is the fastest legally I can move on that road. So I am free to take either lane. If I am driving a piece of dung car or something nearly broke down, I will ride the far right lane. There is also no such thing as a PASSING LANE either. This is myth number two.

Lastly, if you honk at me for driving too slow, or tailgate, I will drive slower.

What really annoys me are the people who drive with their lights on on a bright sunny day.

SP **

WA WA WA WA WHAAAAAAAAT?

“Slower traffic keep right”. You’ve honestly never heard that? Where I am, there are road signs that explicitly say those words. The left lane is for the vehicles moving faster. This is COMMON KNOWLEDGE. Even if there were no laws regarding this, it is a system that makes sense. It lets people maintain the speed they want to, and it also makes for more predictable actions from drivers, which in turn increases safety.

I agree, the lady tailgating you was a moron. If the road was completely clear she should have just passed on the right. But, ideally, you should have been in the right lane to begin with seeing as there wasn’t anything there to impede you.

Even if there weren’t any laws regarding the flow of traffic, you should just frickin’ be in the right lane unless you are passing people. You aren’t losing anything by being in the right lane unless you actually want to go faster. In that case, move left, pass the cars that are going slower than you would like to go, then switch back to the right lane. I REPEAT: YOU ARENT LOSING ANYTHING BY DOING THIS. You get to go the speed you want, and so does everybody else. If you sit in the left lane and you aren’t passing anybody, you are monopolising the road for absolutely NO GOOD REASON.

…And there is such a thing as automatic day-time running lights, if you’ve never heard of that either.

[blowero]

*Originally posted by bjohn13 *
**I cited it earlier in the thread.

There is no “five car” law in my state or the next. **

Well you didn’t cite the law, you just paraphrased it. What state is that? I’d be interested in looking it up.

[blowero]

*Originally posted by shep proudfoot *
The left lane on the highway is NOT THE FAST LANE. This is a myth. The speed limit is the same regardless of which lane traveled. If I am going at the posted speed limit, this is the fastest legally I can move on that road. So I am free to take either lane. If I am driving a piece of dung car or something nearly broke down, I will ride the far right lane. There is also no such thing as a PASSING LANE either. This is myth number two.

You are completely wrong. I’m starting to get a good idea of the mentality behind these people who block traffic. I guess it’s all about arrogance.:rolleyes:

Lastly, if you honk at me for driving too slow, or tailgate, I will drive slower.

Hope you like looking at people’s middle fingers.

What really annoys me are the people who drive with their lights on on a bright sunny day.

Studies have shown that it’s safer - yes, even on a sunny day. A lot of cars come equipped with DRL’s - they cannot be turned off even if you want to. And there’s no reason you would want to anyway.

[Ludovic]

*Originally posted by Nimbokwezer *
**
YOU ARENT LOSING ANYTHING BY DOING THIS.
**

unless someone is tailgating you. Then you risk the chance of moving to the right at the same moment they decide to pass you on the right.

For this reason, when I am in the LHL and someone is approaching me from behind at a net difference speed of more than 10 MPH, I stay in the LHL. At least %50 of the time they will decide to move to the RHL before me.

Unless I can see them coming far enough away, which is seldom, because in a situation with an unimpeded view of the road, I’d most likely be in the RHL anyway.

[Cheesesteak]

Ludovic, the point is that unless you’re passing someone, you should already be in the RHL, no moving necessary. If you’re passing someone, the leadfoot won’t be able to pass you on the right, and will just have to wait.

Of course, some jerks won’t give you time to move back over safely, they’ll just wedge their way in right after you finish overtaking, those idiots I make no apologies for.

[Bearflag70]

To the slow fucktards in California, whether domiciled here or just visiting, MOVE OVER AND LET PEOPLE PASS!

California Vehicle Code § 22350

Basic speed law
No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

California Vehicle Code § 22400

Minimum speed law
(a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.
No person shall bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

California Vehicle Code § 21654

Slow-moving vehicles
(a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation of subdivision (a) of this section.
© The Department of Transportation, with respect to state highways, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may place and maintain upon highways official signs directing slow-moving traffic to use the right-hand traffic lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing for a left turn.

California Vehicle Code § 21656

Turning out of slow-moving vehicles
On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.

California Vehicle Code § 21750

Overtake and pass to left
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to the limitations and exceptions hereinafter stated.

California Vehicle Code § 21754

Passing on the right
The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:
(a) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn.
(b) Upon a highway within a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel.
© Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel.
(d) Upon a one-way street.
(e) Upon a highway divided into two roadways where traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.
The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.

California Vehicle Code § 21753

Yielding for passing
Except when passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall safely move to the right-hand side of the highway in favor of the overtaking vehicle after an audible signal or a momentary flash of headlights by the overtaking vehicle, and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. This section does not require the driver of an overtaken vehicle to drive on the shoulder of the highway in order to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass.

How I wish they would really pound these rules into people’s heads in Drivers’ Ed. :rolleyes:

[bjohn13]

*Originally posted by shep proudfoot *
The left lane on the highway is NOT THE FAST LANE. This is a myth. The speed limit is the same regardless of which lane traveled. If I am going at the posted speed limit, this is the fastest legally I can move on that road. So I am free to take either lane. If I am driving a piece of dung car or something nearly broke down, I will ride the far right lane. There is also no such thing as a PASSING LANE either. This is myth number two.

The North Dakota: Rules of the Road handbook routinely refers to the left hand lane as the passing lane. It also states that passing another vehicle on the right hand side is illegal. There is good reason for it too…as anyone who has almost changed lanes into someone coming up on the right knows.

Lastly, if you honk at me for driving too slow, or tailgate, I will drive slower.

If you honk and flash your lights, I will pull over. That is how, in my state, emergency situations are supposed to be designated.

What really annoys me are the people who drive with their lights on on a bright sunny day.

I ALWAYS drive with my lights on. Furthermore, cars are designed these days to have the lights always on when the car is in drive. Sometimes, there is a way to turn the feature off…sometimes there isn’t.

Personally, I feel there should be a law requiring a person to have his headlamps on at all times.

[bjohn13]

*Originally posted by blowero *
**Well you didn’t cite the law, you just paraphrased it. What state is that? I’d be interested in looking it up. **

I quoted from a book. All the information you need is there.

[Bearflag70]

No cites here, but, my understanding on running daylights is that Sweden or Norway implemented a law requiring all drivers to use headlights at all times when driving. The number of collisions was significantly reduced. Now, many cars come with running daylights.

California has also implemented safety zones where headlights are required at all times. These zones are typically on narrow mountain roads.

Bitching about running daylights is a wonderful display of ignorance.

[Bearflag70]

*Originally posted by bjohn13 *
**I quoted from a book. All the information you need is there. **

See my previous post in this thread re California Vehicle Code § 21656.

[bjohn13]

I was reading you post, bearflag, as you posted your last.

It seems that all of these rules apply to slow moving vehicles…i.e. vehicles driving slower than the speed limit or slower than the speed of traffic.

However, what is not mentioned in the laws you cited is that a person traveling first in a line of cars is, in fact, driving at the flow of traffic.

Furthermore, it seems absurd to me that a person who is traveling at the speed limit can be cited for not pulling over to let others pass. I have two choices when confronted with this situation…speed up and risk a fine or pull over and waste my time. Why should my time be wasted just because I choose to abide by the law?

However, otherwise, everything you cited is in direct agreement with what I have already posted.

My post (abot quoting from a book) was in response to someone who claimed the 10 mph under law in place in North Dakota and Minnesota was an urban legend. It is the law here, and I provided a cite for it many posts ago.

Finally…one last point…I do slow down if someone is tailgating me. I usually give about 30 seconds, then I gradually reduce my speed until the offender backs off a bit.

[bjohn13]

I appears as if I made an error. My cite appeared in a different post:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170438&highlight=north+dakota

and does not contain any information about the “ten mph under” law. However, I do remember that being a question on my license test about ten years ago. I will look for a proper cite.

However, I will reassert my basic point: if I am driving the speed limit, do not expect me to pull over to let you pass.

[Bearflag70]

My understanding of the California law, bjohn13, is that if you are in the left lane on a multi-lane road and someone else wants to pass, it doesn’t matter if you are going the speed limit or not, as long as your’re going “less than normal” speed, you gotta move over and let them pass.

If you are on a single-lane road and 5 cars pile up behind you, you gatta move over if you are going “less than normal” speed. The rule is not based upon the speed limit.

If you are the first car in a line and you are going 35 on a road that normally travels at 50, I don’t think you would get away with the argument that you are going with the “flow of traffic” because you have unilaterlly decided what the “flow of traffic” should be.

If the speed limit is 50 and you refuse to go over 50, but cars still back up behind you on a single-lane road, you wouldn’t be cited for impedeing traffic under 22400, but you could be cited for failure to yield.

If you are going 65 in a 65 on a single lane road, and the “normal flow” of traffic backs up behind you (5 or more cars), you gotta pull over. If it’s a multi-lane road, don’t slow down for tailgaters, pull over to the right lane even if there’s only one behind you. It’s also common courtesy (highway ettiquette) not to intentionally block people just coz you feel like it.

If I was a cop, I would give a ticket for failure to yield before I would give a ticket for tailgating.

I have driven all over the US, and in my experience, Californians are terrible for failing to move right for faster drivers. Many Californians just get on the freeway, head straight for the left most lane, put the cruise control on 64, and just sit there, completely oblivious to the fact that everyone else now has to undertake to pass. It seems that as soon as I hit Nevada or Arizona and many other states for that matter, people seem to know and follow the simple rule that you should keep as far right as possible at all times except to pass. There’s no reason to be in the left lane unless someone in the right lane is in your way. I enjoy driving in those states because traffic flows much better and safer, IMHO, for everyone.

I stay as far right as possible at all times. When I come up on someone, I move left, pass, then move back to the right. If someone comes up behind me who is going faster, I move right. If I can’t move right and the left lane is open, I just wait for the other driver to pass to the left.

If I am on a single-lane road, and I am going the speed limit (mainly becuase I am unfamiliar with the road) and some local drivers come speding up behind me, I will pull off the road to the right at the first safe opportunity, stop, and let them pass as soon as 5 cars get backed up. I will do this every time 5 cars get backed up. Even though I am going the speed limit, I am not the boss of the world, and it is not my place to slow everyone else down.

[Frank]

*Originally posted by bjohn13 *
However, what is not mentioned in the laws you cited is that a person traveling first in a line of cars is, in fact, driving at the flow of traffic.

That’s the nicest piece of circular reasoning I’ve seen in some time.

[Bearflag70]

Ya know, when I have a cart full of groceries and a couple people come up behind me with only a couple gallons of milk, I yield and let them pass even though I may be entitled to proceed based upon my position in line.

Common courtesy.

I guess some people got it, and some don’t.

[Bearflag70]

North Dakota Minimum Speed Law, Motor Vehicles Code section 39-09-09

It basically prohibits going so slow as to impede traffic. It doesn’t mention an actual minimum speed.

[shep_proudfoot]

It’s me again, the driver you hate!

Again, if I am driving down the highway, and the speed limit is 55 MPH, 55 is the fastest that can be legally travelled on the roadway. It does not matter what lane that you are in, right or left. If you driver faster than the posted limit and get behind me, you can pass into the other lane. It DOESN"T matter which lane it is.

If I am driving a slow crappy car or farm equipment, obviously I am going to hang it right. But if I am going at a safe cruising speed down the interstate (as defined by Shep as the speed limit plus 8 MPH) I am going to ride the left lane. If you want to pass me, there’s the right.

Daytime running lights are so utterly stupid, I am not going to respond to them.

SP