# Hey fuckwit! The signs say, "keep right except to pass" ... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089 "2015-06-21T18:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/41 "2015-06-25T19:53:09Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > That’s ignorance, though. To them, they’re trying to be fair by not cutting in front of someone else, and they regard those of us who use the lane as assholes that are just trying to get the jump on everyone else. They exhibit the very same type of behavior on freeways that lose a lane (by design or for construction), and don’t understand that zipper merging is better for everyone, and that the people doing it aren’t freeloaders. I admit I used to think I was doing the right thing by getting into the queue instead of using the available space. True zipper merges are one thing, but the example of this lane I know of is a very short lane designed to let cars turn into a gas station and a side street without blocking cars in the through lane. If no cars use it to jump the line, traffic on the other side is smooth, if cars do then someone has to brake to let the pusher in and things get bogged down unexpectedly. Ir is amusing when cars trying to jump the line get stuck behind someone actually turning into the gas station, and wind up further behind. Another example of bad behavior is that car in an exit only lane (with less traffic)who cuts into the through lane at the last minute. This is illegal in California, and once or twice I’ve seen the Highway Patrol ticketing cars doing this, But not nearly often enough. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/42 "2015-06-25T19:55:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You ain’t seen nuthin’ until you’ve driven on the freeways in CA. Californians believe they have a birthright to drive in the left lane no matter what their speed. We often have freeways that go over hills, and an extra lane is put in for the uphill side. Nine times out of ten, the right-most lane is the fastest lane, and where I end up driving. True dat. In fact, where I drive the right lanes are faster than the carpool lane on the left. I think this comes from slowpokes there, and from the clowns who drive in the carpool lane half a mile just because they can and then try to push through four lanes of traffic to the exit. They slow down to get out of the carpool lane, slowing everyone behind them up. in LA they have limited exit points, up here you can change lanes at any time. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/43 "2015-07-24T00:50:42Z")
Thing that pisses me off is I am in the right lane, cruise is on, and now I see I am creeping up on a semi. So there is some prick on my left shoulder, taking a mile to pass me, squeezing me up into the truck, so that I have to kick off the cruise and slow down. I mean, just fucking blow past me so I can get out. I have taken to passing people quickly because of this. It is rude to hang on someone’s shoulder, fucking pass them already. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/44 "2015-07-24T05:37:11Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Where is it illegal to pass on the right? > > ETA: I’m not sure which Portland you’re in, but both [Oregon](http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.415) and [Maine](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-a/title29-Asec2070.html) explicitly allow passing on the right while in an actual lane, as opposed to on a shoulder. Perfectly legal in California too. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/45 "2015-07-24T13:27:14Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Out west, the signs don’t say that. The left lane is a normal lane except faster. As John Mace says, except the right lane is sometimes the fastest not due to driving speed but because the left lanes are clogged. I don’t know where you are “out west” but in Washington state, the signs most assuredly do say “Keep Right Except to Pass” on multi-lane freeways and highways. We also have “Slower Traffic Keep Right” signs that are used for truck lanes. And “Slow Vehicles Must Use Turnout” signs where there are single lane highways. And signs about it being unlawful to delay more than 5 vehicles. Oregon has “Keep Right Except to Pass” signs, too. IME the I-84 drivers seem pretty damn serious about it, to the point of cutting you off to get back into the right lane. Man, I hate driving in Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/46 "2015-07-24T19:55:12Z")
Double post ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089/47 "2015-07-24T19:56:28Z")
So I finally met a slow driver on the 403 to London, Ontario who actually announced exactly what he was doing; making sure you don’t speed. Oh, and he was in the left lane where it is clearly marked slower traffic keep right. One (of many) bumper stickers on his POS blue Chevy van said, “Speed right by me, Hell ain’t full yet!” It made me happy for some reason to blow by this sad little fuck, I only regret not asking for the missile launcher on the rental. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-fuckwit-the-signs-say-keep-right-except-to-pass/723089.md?page=2)