# What do you do about people blocking the passing lane? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476 "2011-02-15T18:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/41 "2011-02-16T01:57:17Z")
If you asked my husband his biggest driving pet peeves, this would be way up in the top three (behind DUI, but well ahead of even loud-ass bass speakers thumping away.) I love that he tickets people for hindering the flow of traffic if they lollygag in the left-hand lane - it’s illegal here, but he generally only tickets if there’s a lot of traffic and the slowpoke is preventing smooth traffic flow. My biggest pet peeve is that I’m not allowed to do the same thing, and that I can’t get a permit for a hood-mounted flamethrower. I will pass on the right if it’s safe/possible, but I will question the parentage of the left-hand driver, and wish horrible things upon them (“May fleas infest your carpets and bedbugs take over your Posturpedic, and may your children eventually choose a crappy nursing home.”) ---
**Author:** ![UncleNito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7cd45c/32.png) [@UncleNito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleNito)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/42 "2011-02-16T02:44:41Z")
I pass on the right routinely. It’s as natural as breathing. Even if the other driver is paying attention, which they aren’t 90% of the time, which is why they’re blocking the passing lane, highbeams just invite a “Ha ha, now I’m slowing down” pissing match. Better to just sidestep and continue on my way. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/43 "2011-02-16T02:55:33Z")
Wow. This thread got more responses than I expected since I posted it. > [@flickster](#): > > I’m still trying to picture this scenario. Why is your vision of the right hand lane blocked? If it’s because you’re too close to the vehicle/truck in front of you, you’re the hazard. I’d have to be about 100 yards back to be able to see a tire tread laying in the right lane in time. If it’s a large truck in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to see a small vehicle close to the front of it which would be dangerous if that vehicle is travelling much more slowly. (It’s rare but there are the occasional people who drive 50 on the interstate.) > [@shiftless](#): > > Don’t bother coming to DC and driving on the beltway then. There is a small class of people who feel that driving 50-55 in the left lane is doing some sort of public service. Are there any rural interstates in DC? On urban interstates with heavy traffic, the rules go out the window. > [@Heyoka13](#): > > I match their speed in the RH lane and watch the fun when someone else comes up behind them and gets aggressive. > > Funny as hell, and it pits 2 groups I don’t like (tailgaters and folks who drive slow in the passing lane) against each other. > > Passive aggressive for the fun of it! I may start doing that. If it blocks up a bunch of traffic, maybe people will start being more concerned with it. > [@Daylate](#): > > About a month ago this subject was discussed on a talk show here in Western Washington. A State Patrolman was a guest on the show, and he gave the information that in the past year the WSP had issued over 9,000 tickets to left lane campers. He emphasized that the law here, while it did allow driving in the left lane, definitely required that you pull over into the right lane if traffic was coming up behind you faster than you were traveling. Your speed and the speed of the overtaking traffic didn’t enter into it. He stated that a driver here is not to take it upon himself to try to enforce speed limits. > > I think the ticket cost is $124. Good for Washington. I’ve never seen or heard of it happening in Texas. > [@scr4](#): > > I thought flashing the high beam was the standard method of saying “please move out of the passing lane, I’d like to pass you.” It is, but it doesn’t always work. There was one guy driving in a truck that I flashed my high-beams at several times, and ended up honking my horn two or three times for about 30 seconds at a time. He just couldn’t be concerned with traffic behind him. After several minutes, I passed him on the right. Not to long thereafter, he passed me again and then slowed down. That is probably the most pissed off I’ve ever been while driving. > [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It was dark, so I couldn’t see what his deal was. There was something deeply satisfying about sounding the horn once I broke ten seconds and kept right on at it. Oh hell, if it was dark, I’d just turn on my high-beams until he pulled over. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/44 "2011-02-16T03:01:29Z")
There are stretches of I-55 in NE Arkansas that the passing lane is much smoother. than the right lane The right lane is full of large expansion joints and all you hear is “da-dum da-dum da-dum” every second or so. the Passing lane has been re-surfaced recently and 90% of the traffic cruise in the passing lane. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/45 "2011-02-16T03:12:05Z")
> [@UncleNito](#): > > I pass on the right routinely. **It’s as natural as breathing.** Even if the other driver is paying attention, which they aren’t 90% of the time, which is why they’re blocking the passing lane, highbeams just invite a “Ha ha, now I’m slowing down” pissing match. Better to just sidestep and continue on my way. uh, yeah. i had no idea that it was such a big deal. the libertarian inside me yearns for driving “guidelines” instead of driving “laws” ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/46 "2011-02-16T03:50:42Z")
I’m strongly in the camp of “pass on the right, no trouble, no strife.” Getting agitated or engaging in countermeasures is indistinguishable from bad driving. > [@snailboy](#): > > I’d have to be about 100 yards back to be able to see a tire tread laying in the right lane in time. If it’s a large truck in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to see a small vehicle close to the front of it … There should be no problem in pulling into the right lane gently enough that you’re able to see whether it’s clear. And you should stay aware of the road well ahead as you approach the vehicle you’ll be passing - there’s no percentage in winding up on his bumper with view restricted and unaware of what’s ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/47 "2011-02-16T03:58:52Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > When I get in front of them, and I will get in front eventually, I cut over in front and tap my brakes and sometimes give them the finger. Any use of the middle finger at any time is an absolute admission that you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t calmly and gracefully handle - probably not the message you most want to send to someone who’s being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/48 "2011-02-16T04:25:31Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > YEAH…SURE… The Left Lane Loser is sooooo frigging worried about safety, and he/she has got a mile long convoy of frustrated tailgaters who can’t get around them because there is someone blocking the right lane as well, and even if I retired to the right lane, unless I completely dropped my speed to dangerously low levels or pulled over completely, I am stuck in the highway cluster fuck of reality = it’s dangerous to me, even if I get to the right lane and forget about trying to pass. > > Yes, _TECHNICALLY_, the left lane loser isn’t doing anything wrong if they live in a state that allows it, or even in a state that allows it to the speed limit… but we’re _MANY DECADES_ into this experiment of who is right TECHNICALLY, but it’s REALITY that rules, and reality is done experimenting: > > MOVE THE FUCK OVER, BECAUSE THIS MANY DECADE’S-LONG EXPERIMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BLOCK THE LEFT LANE LIKE SOME SORT OF FUCK-NUT, HALF-WIT. GET THE FUCK OVER AND STOP DENYING REALITY. > > . I hope I get to do you REAL soon. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/49 "2011-02-16T04:33:25Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > I’d have to be about 100 yards back to be able to see a tire tread laying in the right lane in time. If it’s a large truck in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to see a small vehicle close to the front of it which would be dangerous if that vehicle is travelling much more slowly. (It’s rare but there are the occasional people who drive 50 on the interstate.) > > Are there any rural interstates in DC? On urban interstates with heavy traffic, the rules go out the window. > > I may start doing that. If it blocks up a bunch of traffic, maybe people will start being more concerned with it. > > Good for Washington. I’ve never seen or heard of it happening in Texas. > > It is, but it doesn’t always work. There was one guy driving in a truck that I flashed my high-beams at several times, and ended up honking my horn two or three times for about 30 seconds at a time. He just couldn’t be concerned with traffic behind him. After several minutes, I passed him on the right. Not to long thereafter, he passed me again and then slowed down. That is probably the most pissed off I’ve ever been while driving. > > Oh hell, if it was dark, I’d just turn on my high-beams until he pulled over. I’ve seen you, or drivers like you, on the Interstate highways. You’re either an accident waiting to happen or soon to be a victim of road rage. Too bad there’s not a maturity test involved where you get your license. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/50 "2011-02-16T07:40:04Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Any use of the middle finger at any time is an absolute admission that you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t calmly and gracefully handle - probably not the message you most want to send to someone who’s being a jerk. Keep telling yourself that. There’s dozens of ways to flip the bird. One of my favorites is smugly - which I pull off quite calmly and with ample grace. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/51 "2011-02-16T11:19:14Z")
If it’s during my daily commute, I slow down, move back to the right and forget about it. It’s rare that I’m passing since I long ago discovered an amazing technology that solves almost all daily traffic problems. (It’s called an alarm clock). If it’s during a long trip where the additional speed could make a difference, I wait until they either leave a gap or get off the freeway, then go on my merry way at my preferred speed. For my 20 mile commute, 70mph takes about 18 minutes, 50 mph (behind a slowpoke) takes 24 minutes. I’ve got more important things to do than enter a road duel over 6 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/52 "2011-02-16T11:46:03Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > I’d have to be about 100 yards back to be able to see a tire tread laying in the right lane in time. If it’s a large truck in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to see a small vehicle close to the front of it which would be dangerous if that vehicle is travelling much more slowly. (It’s rare but there are the occasional people who drive 50 on the interstate.) I was going to write a long drawn out sarcastic response to this… Dude, it’s time put on your big boy underwear and drive like an adult instead of like a teenager who just got his permit. It’s a rural interstate, you want to pass someone, change lanes and pass them. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/53 "2011-02-16T12:29:23Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > There’s dozens of ways to flip the bird. One of my favorites is smugly - which I pull off quite calmly and with ample grace. But you’re still saying you found yourself outside your zone of competence - that the situation rattled you and you lost your cool. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/54 "2011-02-16T14:09:31Z")
You don’t have a right to go faster than the speed limit. If the person in front of you is already going the limit, you have no legal right to pass them. Why do so may people seem to think that other people are obligated to help them break the law? ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/55 "2011-02-16T14:23:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You don’t have a right to go faster than the speed limit. If the person in front of you is already going the limit, you have no legal right to pass them. Why do so may people seem to think that other people are obligated to help them break the law? There is nothing about driving on public roads that has anything to do with “rights,” regardless of speed limits, traffic laws or anything else. Nobody has any “right” to drive a vehicle at all. See “privilege,” for further edification. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/56 "2011-02-16T14:26:30Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why do so may people seem to think that other people are obligated to help them break the law? Because the law in most places is that you stay right except to pass. If you are not passing, you stay right. What others are doing doesn’t enter into it. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/57 "2011-02-16T14:44:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You don’t have a right to go faster than the speed limit. If the person in front of you is already going the limit, you have no legal right to pass them. Why do so may people seem to think that other people are obligated to help them break the law? Two different laws. One says you shouldn’t exceed a particular speed. Another says you shouldn’t drive in the left lane if you’re not passing someone. If you want to style yourself as a law abiding person, abide by BOTH laws. If you can’t be bothered to follow the keep right law, you have little standing to declare someone in the wrong because they didn’t follow the speed limit law. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/58 "2011-02-16T15:06:57Z")
And if you feel compelled to attempt to prevent me from abusing my privilege from either malice or plain old stupidity, I’ll be more than happy to put you in fear for your ever-lovin’ miserable life as a consequence of said unacceptable behavior. You wanna be an arse? Go for it - make my day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/59 "2011-02-16T15:10:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You don’t have a right to go faster than the speed limit. If the person in front of you is already going the limit, you have no legal right to pass them. Why do so may people seem to think that other people are obligated to help them break the law? Aside from what everyone else said, how do you know you’re speedometer isn’t a bit high, and whoever behind you is a bit low? You might think you’re doing the limit (but you’re not), and you’ll think he’s a speeding idiot (but he’s not; he thinks he’s doing the limit). Get out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/60 "2011-02-16T15:30:32Z")
> [@Nadir](#): > > And if you feel compelled to attempt to prevent me from abusing my privilege from either malice or plain old stupidity, I’ll be more than happy to put you in fear for your ever-lovin’ miserable life as a consequence of said unacceptable behavior. As said above, you really shouldn’t. It’s just compounding a bad situation and makes everyone on the road less safe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=4)