# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/141 "2011-02-17T00:20:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, it is always illegal to exceed the speed limit in any lane, and speeding causes physical danger which driving the speed limit in the fast lane does not. Maybe where YOU live it doesn’t… ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/142 "2011-02-17T00:21:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Nope, it doesn’t. Using it as a pretense for PC might happen, but just pulling people over that are going the speed limit in the left lane and giving them a ticket - no, it doesn’t happen. Sorry. Unfortunately, I read this post. Now I can only sit and wait as the “stupid-ness” pervades my consciousness. Slowly eating away at all rational thought, like a virus, multiplying and filling every corner. Will I ever be the same? Only time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![NCDane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecccb3/32.png) [@NCDane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NCDane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/143 "2011-02-17T00:31:22Z")
I prefer to drive in the left lane in light to moderate traffic not to hold anyone up, but because a driver’s range of vision is almost always several 100m/y greater in the left lane than in the right. Hasn’t anyone else ever noticed this before? I usually drive 5-9mph over the limit. That is fast enough to keep from obstructing other drivers about 2/3 to 3/4 of the time. When I see one of those speed-demon-morons approaching in the rearview I take my sweet time moving the the right lane, since I self- evidently owe them not a damn thing, and since it won’t hurt them to slow down a bit for a few seconds. ---
**Author:** ![LAnderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@LAnderson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAnderson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/144 "2011-02-17T00:32:06Z")
I usually follow, flash the lights and if they don’t move over, I pass them on the right. THEN, I get in front of them in the left lane and proceed to decelerate at increments of 5 miles an hour, until we are either crawling down the road, or they move to the right lane to try and pass me. That’s when I hit the gas pedal and take off. Yeah, it’s juvenile, but it makes me feel better at least. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/145 "2011-02-17T01:00:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, it is always illegal to exceed the speed limit in any lane, and speeding causes physical danger which driving the speed limit in the fast lane does not. No, it is (almost) always illegal to [del]exceed the speed limit in any lane[/del], impede traffic and [del]speeding[/del] impeding traffic causes physical danger which [del]driving the speed limit[/del] speeding in the fast lane does not. It’s like we’re talking past each other… Obviously we can argue about which practice we find more dangerous. Getting back to my other post though, why do you think legislators leave out or specifically remove speed limit considerations from “move over” laws? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/146 "2011-02-17T01:05:27Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > When I see one of those speed-demon-morons approaching in the > rearview I take my sweet time moving the the right lane, since I self- > evidently owe them not a damn thing, and since it won’t hurt them > to slow down a bit for a few seconds. No doubt the drivers who prefer to do 12mph over the speed limit appreciate the valuable life lesson being imparted to them by the self-appointed highway crusader who prefers to do 9mph over. Keep up the good work, and may your life be long and happy (up to the point where it inevitably ends in a tragic road rage incident that you could’ve easily avoided). ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/147 "2011-02-17T01:06:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What part of “I don’t do that” do you not understand? I don’t drive that way. I don’t impede traffic. I AM the faster flow of traffic. nevermind ---
**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 17, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/148 "2011-02-17T01:31:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’ve been driving for almost 30 years, and I’ve never seen anyone ticketed for going the speed limit in the left lane. > [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I know at least one sheriff’s deputy who would happily take care of that for you… > 😉 > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He would falsify a ticket? Because I don’t drive that way. I’m a speeder. I just recognize that my desire to speed is not an entitlement. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What part of “I don’t do that” do you not understand? I don’t drive that way. I don’t impede traffic. I AM the faster flow of traffic. The statement to which I responded was that you had never seen anyone ticketed for driving the speed limit in the passing lane. I assume you misread my joke about the cop who would take care of that… not that he would specifically ticket you. And then I responded (with cites! 🙂 ) that a ticket for impeding would not be a falsification. Part of the problem with this entire argument/thread is that there are no “universal driving laws.” Regulations vary by country, state, municipality, etc. ---
**Author:** ![NCDane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecccb3/32.png) [@NCDane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NCDane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/149 "2011-02-17T01:39:25Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > No doubt the drivers who prefer to do 12mph over the speed limit appreciate the valuable life lesson being imparted to them by the self-appointed highway crusader I made clear that I drive in the left lane not out of a sense of mission, but because can see better, hence because it is safer. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > who prefers to do 9mph over. 5-9, with the average much closer to 5. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Keep up the good work, and may your life be long and happy (up to the point where it inevitably ends in a tragic road rage incident that you could’ve easily avoided). Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. Grow up. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/150 "2011-02-17T02:12:05Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. Grow up. Not entirely ridiculous. The other car could do something that ends up being a problem. Here’s something I witnessed (this is just a mildly interesting almost relevant anecdote): Car A in left lane driving slower than right lane traffic by a small amount Car B tailgating Car A, both drivers gesturing back and forth A small opening appears in right lane Car B passes on right and is in a hurry to get back into left lane but the gap is too small Car B left rear hits Car A right front and both cars swerve out of control towards the median barrier Both recover and regain their lanes, but it was actually kind of weird seeing it, I thought for sure at least one of the cars was going straight into the median. I gave a statement to the state patrol including the interaction between the drivers and he offered up: “well that basically matches what I pieced together by talking to the drivers. Car B is getting a ticket and I could cite give Car A for not just getting out of the way, but I am just going to give her a warning.” ---
**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 17, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/151 "2011-02-17T02:17:17Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > No, it is (almost) always illegal to [del]exceed the speed limit in any lane[/del], impede traffic and [del]speeding[/del] impeding traffic causes physical danger which [del]driving the speed limit[/del] speeding in the fast lane does not. > > It’s like we’re talking past each other… > > Obviously we can argue about which practice we find more dangerous. Getting back to my other post though, why do you think legislators leave out or specifically remove speed limit considerations from “move over” laws? Going the speed limit is not impeding traffic. Speeding is clearly more dangerous than not speeding, and that’s all the fuck we’re talking about. Nobody owes you the road. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/152 "2011-02-17T02:17:38Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > Ridiculous. Simply ridiculous. Grow up. When someone wants to pass me, I move out of the way so both of us can get on with our lives. I don’t “take my sweet time” just to score a petty victory. I’ll let the reader decide which of the two of us is suffering from arrested development. ---
**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 17, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/153 "2011-02-17T02:22:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Going the speed limit is not impeding traffic. That depends upon where you’re driving. According to Georgia Code, going the speed limit _may_ be impeding the speed limit, depending upon the circumstances. (See previous cite.) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/154 "2011-02-17T02:22:53Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > I prefer to drive in the left lane in light to moderate traffic not to > hold anyone up, but because a driver’s range of vision is almost > always several 100m/y greater in the left lane than in the right. > Hasn’t anyone else ever noticed this before? As Dirty Harry said, “A man has to know his limitations.” Competent drivers understand how to make safe use of all lanes. > [@](#): > > I usually drive 5-9mph over the limit. That is fast enough to keep > from obstructing other drivers about 2/3 to 3/4 of the time. > > When I see one of those speed-demon-morons approaching in the > rearview I take my sweet time moving the the right lane, since I self- > evidently owe them not a damn thing, and since it won’t hurt them > to slow down a bit for a few seconds. Do you not see that to slower left-lane-hugging drivers, YOU look like a speed-demon-moron? And that when you take this view of those who are faster, it’s no more legitimate than when they do? Why the hypocrisy? Why not treat other drivers as you wish to be treated? How, exactly, are you better off for driving boorishly? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/155 "2011-02-17T02:25:04Z")
> [@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 can be used that way, but the person you are signaling in that manner is under exactly zero obligation to accommodate you. If someone is “left lane camping” or whatever wait until it’s safe for you to move over then pass them. In most cases, if they don’t move over the first time you ask they just aren’t going to do it, and repeated light flashing or horn honking or tail gating will likely just make them angry and more stubborn. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/156 "2011-02-17T03:21:46Z")
[Moderator Note]We can do this one of two ways: Either I can go back through this thread and issue official warnings for all the personal insults thrown back and forth, OR y’all can follow the rules and address the issues and not each other. Take the personal crap to The BBQ Pit.[/Moderator Note] ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/157 "2011-02-17T03:22:24Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It can be used that way, but the person you are signaling in that manner is under exactly zero obligation to accommodate you. Except for that obligation we call the “law”. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/158 "2011-02-17T03:24:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Going the speed limit is not impeding traffic. Absolutely correct. Well, kind of. Except for those cases where it is impeding traffic, in that case, it is impeding traffic. But you are basically correct in that, if you aren’t impeding traffic by going the speed limit, then yes, you aren’t impeding traffic. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/159 "2011-02-17T03:26:21Z")
How can it impede traffic if it’s iilegal to go any faster? ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/160 "2011-02-17T03:40:17Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, it is always illegal to exceed the speed limit in any lane, and speeding causes physical danger which driving the speed limit in the fast lane does not. And yet the German autobahn, which has no speed limit but strictly enforces driving on the right, is one of the safest highway systems in the world, above the American interstate. That would seem to suggest that speeds have less to do with safety than staying in the correct fucking lane. And I can tell you, generally those people who are speeding are much better drivers than those who don’t know which lane they’re supposed to be in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=9)