OK folks, I’m about to drive 15 miles to church, including about 10 of 2 and 3 lane interstate. On this interstate, I’ll sometimes be in the left or middle lane, having moved over to try to pass people who are going the speed limit or less, going within 10 miles of the limit myself. The rule here in Pennsyvlania is that you cannot drive in the left lane of restricted access highway for over 1 mile.
What do I do if there simply aren’t any gaps in traffic in the next lane to the right which are big enough for me to move over?
This applies both to the law above and to the person who’s come up behind me and wants to go faster. The interstate in question is patrolled, so I’d prefer not to go more than 10 mph over the limit – I’ve got better things to spend my money on. I’ll also pull over as soon as I reasonably can, but that’s not always immediately possible. People who flash their lights at me (a rare occurrence, fortunately!) don’t accomplish anything except make it harder for me to keep my vow of not swearing at other drivers for Lent (that vow also includes not causing other drivers to swear at me).
This happened when I was driving a Geo, so the problem isn’t that my car’s too big. Also, cutting someone off or making someone brake to let me in isn’t an option. I want a reasonable amount room around me (a few car lengths, not half a mile), and besides, it’s rude.
Opinions? Advice (changing churches/routes isn’t an option, yet)? General SDMB BS?
Fortunately, cars can use any lane here. (With traffic the way it is, anyone who wanted to keep people out of the left lanes would be lynched!)
I face merging onto a crowded freeway every day. I turn on my signal and wait for a likely opening. If there’s a good one, I’ll quickly turn in. If not, I’ll position my car so that it’s obvious I want to merge and usually the driver behind will let me in. If he doesn’t, then I’ll wait for another opening. If I can’t do that because the lane is ending, there’s really no choice but to force it. But people here seem to realize we’re all in the same situation and (this will surprise people) actually drive with some courtesy. (A friend came out from Louisiana and was surprised that people would actually let others merge onto the freeway.) Of course, I get onto the freeway when traffic is stop-and-go, so speeds aren’t an issue.
When traffic is flowing normally (70 mph or so), there is almost always enough room to merge right. If there isn’t, there will be in a few seconds. You may have to speed up or slow down for a particular slot.
One thing to do is to plan ahead. Little irks drivers off more than someone in the #1 lane suddenly decides he needs to get into the #4 or #5 lane to make the exit that’s a quarter mile ahead.
I don’t know how people drive in Pennsyvlania, but if you signal long enough someone will probably let you in.
(BTW: I used to drive a Chevy Sprint Metro – which became the Geo Metro. I was in #1 and was trying to pass a bus in #2. But at 65 mph and with ski racks on the roof, I got caught in the bus’s “bow wave” – the air being deflected from his broad front – and couldn’t pass until we came to a curve that allowed me to get out of his slipstream.)
As long as you continue passing the cars to your right the guy behind cant be that pissed. Just dont pass them at 2.5 feet an hour faster than the other guy. The occasional jaunt passed your 10mph over the limit rule (probably) wont kill you or get you arrested. I’m a fairly fast driver but when the odd guy gets behind me wanting to go faster, I will speed up to get out of his way as quickly and saftley as possible. After I pass someone, I get back in the right or center lane as quickly and saftley. Hopefully other drivers see this and learn something.
dead0man
In light to moderate traffic, you have an obligation to get out of the way, to the right. You may need to slow down to do this. You may need to speed up. Pick one. Not wanting to slow down because of a tailagater is a poor excuse, you should have checked upcoming traffic before pulling left.
In heavy rush hour traffic with full lanes, just stay where you are until it’s safe.