# Is this bad driving etiquette? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292 "2008-05-14T15:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/1 "2008-05-14T15:51:08Z")
My usual drive home is about a three mile stretch down a public road three lanes each way. I usually drive the entire way in the far right line, as I enter the road via the far right line, will leave the road via the far right line and traffic is fairly heavy so that going to the far left lane at same point and then going back could cause me to miss my turn. There are about five traffic lights before I get to my turn off, and invariably when the light is red there are cars behind me wanting to turn right on red, but sometimes can’t because I’m blocking their path- if I’m first at the light I pull up far enough so they can get around me, but not possible if I’m second, etc. My question in short is, are you an asshole if you are in the far right lane and not turning at the next light? ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/2 "2008-05-14T15:58:25Z")
More than likely, yes. If you’re the first one in the right lane when the light turns red, you should move to the middle lane if possible. If you’re not the first one in the lane, then it doesn’t matter as you don’t know if everyone in front of you is turning or going straight. It’s especially dickish if you are the absolute first one at the light and still take the right lane spot and leave the other two lanes to your right open. If I experience that, I usually make my right turn from the middle lane in front of the schmuck with poor driving manners. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/3 "2008-05-14T16:02:08Z")
For the love of Og, yes. You say going in the far left lane puts you at risk of not being able to turn, so why not drive in the middle lane? ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/4 "2008-05-14T16:02:27Z")
I don’t think so. If the right lane _isn’t_ designated as a right-turn-only lane then it’s fine to use it if you’re going straight. On a three-lane road with fairly heavy traffic aren’t there right turn lanes?? That would take care of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/5 "2008-05-14T16:06:47Z")
If it isn’t a right turn only lane, you’re as entitled to it as anybody. If I’m envisioning the heavy traffic you describe correctly, I would be more peeved at you for trying to force your way left and then back right in such a short distance. Makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/6 "2008-05-14T16:12:03Z")
[QUOTE=Jammer] If it isn’t a right turn only lane, you’re as entitled to it as anybody. If I’m envisioning the heavy traffic you describe correctly, I would be more peeved at you for trying to force your way left and then back right in such a short distance. Makes no sense. [/QUOTE] I agree with this. There’s nothing wrong with being in the right lane as long as it isn’t a right-turn-only. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/7 "2008-05-14T16:14:10Z")
I don’t think you’re being rude. You don’t know that the people behind you will want to make a right turn, and you don’t know that traffic coming from your left will be clear enough to allow them to make the turn. If it really bothers you (and bless you for caring!) maybe you could drive in the middle lane for the first two miles and move right for the third mile. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/8 "2008-05-14T16:16:52Z")
It depends on where you’re driving. Different areas of the country have different driving etiquette. Here in Chicagoland, you wouldn’t be rude in that situation. You’re not really blocking anyone if you’re not the first car. Whoever is in front of you is either turning or not. If he’s turning, then when you get up there, you move ahead enough to let the guy behind you turn. If he’s not turning, then HE’S blocking traffic, not you. The only way being right and not turning is rude is also if you’re blocking others from turning because you haven’t moved up enough. Out in Indiana where there are two lanes, but they are actually serious with those “left lane is for passing only” signs, then you’re expected to stay right unless you’re passing. No one would expect you to get left at a stop light, and would be really annoyed if you got left and then weren’t going fast enough to pass someone immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/9 "2008-05-14T16:18:27Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] I agree with this. There’s nothing wrong with being in the right lane as long as it isn’t a right-turn-only. [/QUOTE] I agree too. ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/10 "2008-05-14T16:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=Jammer] If it isn’t a right turn only lane, you’re as entitled to it as anybody. If I’m envisioning the heavy traffic you describe correctly, I would be more peeved at you for trying to force your way left and then back right in such a short distance. Makes no sense. [/QUOTE] Word. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/11 "2008-05-14T16:36:03Z")
It’s poor lane discipline. Not necessarily rude, though. Assuming a three-lane road, the right lane should be primarily for people getting on or off of the road. Once you get on the road, move into the center lane to leave room for people to slow down and exit or to get up to speed as they enter. Unless you’re a painfully bad or timid driver, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to move from the center lane to the right lane to exit in less than a mile. On re-read, you mention traffic lights. OK… change that to there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to move from the center or left lane to the right lane in less than a block. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/12 "2008-05-14T16:40:50Z")
Another reason I tend to stay in the far right lane is that I don’t drive fast enough for the far left lane, and don’t like the middle as I don’t like having to worry about hitting cars on both sides of me- one side is bad enough. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/13 "2008-05-14T16:46:15Z")
[QUOTE=taxi78cab] I don’t think so. If the right lane _isn’t_ designated as a right-turn-only lane then it’s fine to use it if you’re going straight. [/QUOTE] I agree completely. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/14 "2008-05-14T16:49:11Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] If he’s turning, then when you get up there, you move ahead enough to let the guy behind you turn. If he’s not turning, then HE’S blocking traffic, not you. The only way being right and not turning is rude is also if you’re blocking others from turning because you haven’t moved up enough. [/QUOTE] I don’t know the laws where you live, and I’m not a lawyer, but one of my clients was found at fault for a loss in which two vehicles struck each other, and then one rebounded into her. The reason: She had moved up to let traffic turn right. Had she not moved past the “stopping line”, the rebounding car would have missed her. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/15 "2008-05-14T16:51:39Z")
[QUOTE=Dante] I don’t know the laws where you live, and I’m not a lawyer, but one of my clients was found at fault for a loss in which two vehicles struck each other, and then one rebounded into her. The reason: She had moved up to let traffic turn right. Had she not moved past the “stopping line”, the rebounding car would have missed her. [/QUOTE] Ah yes. There may be a conflict between what is rude and what is actually legal. Again, being Chicagoland, we’re used to this and don’t let it bother us too much. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/16 "2008-05-14T16:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] It’s especially dickish if you are the absolute first one at the light and still take the right lane spot and leave the other two lanes to your right open. If I experience that, I usually make my right turn from the middle lane in front of the schmuck with poor driving manners. [/QUOTE] I believe this would count as bad etiquette. Idling in the right lane, where you have the _option_ of making a right turn on red, is not, IMHO, rude. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/17 "2008-05-14T16:58:20Z")
The fact that you are aware of the situation and try not to block the turn is more than most people do. You’re fine. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/18 "2008-05-14T17:01:53Z")
What’s wrong with being in the middle lane for most of your trip? You can move over one or two lights away instead of 5. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/19 "2008-05-14T17:05:55Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] It’s especially dickish if you are the absolute first one at the light and still take the right lane spot and leave the other two lanes to your right open. If I experience that, I usually make my right turn from the middle lane in front of the schmuck with poor driving manners. [/QUOTE] (I assume you meant “leave the other two lanes to your **left** open”.) Surely you’re joking. I hope you get a ticket next time you do something as rude, stupid and illegal as making a right turn from the center lane, in front of the person in the right lane. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292/20 "2008-05-14T17:06:16Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Ah yes. There may be a conflict between what is rude and what is actually legal. Again, being Chicagoland, we’re used to this and don’t let it bother us too much. 😉 [/QUOTE] I always knew there was a reason Chicago was on my short list of places of where to relocate. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-bad-driving-etiquette/449292.md?page=2)