# 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:** 9
**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, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/161 "2011-02-17T03:53:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How can it impede traffic if it’s iilegal to go any faster? Do you know what the word “impede” means? ---
**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, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/162 "2011-02-17T03:55:26Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > 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. Might I suggest(unless the OP wishes otherwise) that we stick to U.S. laws, just to keep the confusion at a minimum? ---
**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, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/163 "2011-02-17T03:55:51Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Not entirely ridiculous. The other car could do something that ends up being a problem… You are describing behavior unapplicable to anything I would be involved in. I never said I would hog the lane, or get into a sign language conversation with another driver. What I meant to convey was that I might change lanes in such a manner as to make the moron slow down a bit, momentarily, “for a few seconds”. I really doubt that doing so is any kind of a hazard. What I was specifically objecting to as “ridiculous” was the other member’s exaggeration of the peril: [QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] may **your life** be long and happy (up to the point where it **inevitably ends in a tragic road rage incident** [/QUOTE] ---
**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, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/164 "2011-02-17T03:57:57Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > 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. Getting a moron to slow down is a worthwhile “petty victory”, and I’ll take my chances with the readership. ---
**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, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/165 "2011-02-17T04:05:35Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > Getting a moron to slow down is a worthwhile “petty victory”, > and I’ll take my chances with the readership. [Moderator Note]I said that we were past personal insults, and that includes referring to previous examples of the same.[/Moderator Note] ---
**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, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/166 "2011-02-17T04:16:44Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > As Dirty Harry said, “A man has to know his limitations.” Competent drivers understand how to make safe use of all lanes. I don’t know what you are getting at here. I can drive fine in any lane, but best in whichever lane I have the greatest field of vision. Who could object to that? > [@Xema](#): > > 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? I assume you mean right-lane hugging drivers. I try to drive at the close to the prevailing speed. Consequently there are not too many drivers to whom I would seem to be a speed demon. Do you do any highway driving? On every highway I have ever driven on I would say less than 10% of the drivers hold it to as slow as 5mph over the speed limit, and less than 1% hold it to the speed limit itself. I do not mind waiting behind slower drivers for a few seconds, so there is no hypocricy involved on that count. ---
**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, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/167 "2011-02-17T04:18:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Moderator Note] > I said that we were past personal insults, and that includes referring to previous examples of the same.[/Moderator Note] I have not referred to any member in derogatory terms. Edit: Well, I guess “grow up” is derogatory, but “moron” was not intended to refer to anyone except fast drivers. ---
**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, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/168 "2011-02-17T04:21:38Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > I have not referred to any member in derrogatory terms. No, but you continue to quote others that have referred to you in derogatory terms. I want that part of this conversation to end, which won’t happen if you keep putting it in the spotlight. ---
**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, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/169 "2011-02-17T04:52:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, but you continue to quote others that have referred to you in derogatory terms. I want that part of this conversation to end, which won’t happen if you keep putting it in the spotlight. OK, but although I do not agree with any of the accusations made against me I do not take them them to cross any kind of a line either. ---
**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, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/170 "2011-02-17T05:07:21Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > I can drive fine in any lane, but best in whichever lane I have the > greatest field of vision. Who could object to that? Drivers who wish to make efficient use of the road, and find you blocking their way and deliberately taking longer than necessary to do what you are supposed to (move right). If you truly have perceptual shortcomings that make you unable to drive in the right lane with acceptable safety, then I suppose hanging in the left lane makes some sense. Causing deliberate and unnecessary delays to other drivers doesn’t. ---
**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, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/171 "2011-02-17T05:19:21Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Drivers who wish to make efficient use of the road, and find you blocking their way and deliberately taking longer than necessary to do what you are supposed to (move right). The superior visibility usually available in the left lane does not have anything to do with the issue of appropriate lane changing. > [@Xema](#): > > If you truly have perceptual shortcomings that make you unable to drive in the right lane with acceptable safety, I admit I sometimes read carelessly. In the passage above you indicate you have not read all I have posted here with full understanding. Please give it another try. > [@Xema](#): > > then I suppose hanging in the left lane makes some sense. Causing deliberate and unnecessary delays to other drivers doesn’t. I disagree with your premise that driving over the speed limit and then having to slow to a speed still over the limit constitues an “unnecessary delay”. The only “unnecessary” activity is the act of driving over the limit at all. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/172 "2011-02-17T05:22:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How can it impede traffic if it’s iilegal to go any faster? **Moderator Note** : **Dio** , the topic of this thread is what you do about being stuck behind someone in the passing lane. From your cite, it’s evident that many more than six states have some variant of a law requiring motorists to yield for faster traffic when safe to do so. Moreover, in some cases the obligation of the slower driver is irrespective of the prima facie speed limit. This isn’t about the ethics of exceeding the speed limit, or your \*pronunciamenti \* regarding the same. Kindly keep to the thread topic, and don’t derail this thread again. For the Straight Dope, **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** ---
**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, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/173 "2011-02-17T05:27:50Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Drivers who wish to make efficient use of the road, I missed something on the first read myself. I now realize that you equate driving illegal driving habits with “efficiency”. Yeah, and I guess robbing a bank is an “efficient” way of getting ahold of some extra spending money, as long as you aren’t caught: few hundred dolla or even a few thou for about 30 minutes work! ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/174 "2011-02-17T06:10:30Z")
To me the idea of moving over is simple. What’s more dangerous - a speeding driver, or an angry speeding driver? Isn’t the answer self evident? For those that throw up the argument of “speed limits”, when the local authorities start paying you to enforce speed limits, go right ahead and block the overtaking lane - until then, move the fuck over _please_ ---
**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, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/175 "2011-02-17T06:36:43Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > To me the idea of moving over is simple. > > What’s more dangerous - a speeding driver, or an angry speeding driver? > > Isn’t the answer self evident? No. As long as you aren’t drunk it probably doesn’t matter. > [@bengangmo](#): > > For those that throw up the argument of “speed limits”, when the local authorities start paying you to enforce speed limits, go right ahead and block the overtaking lane - until then, move the fuck over _please_ By that logic no citizen has a right to impede any criminal act, so maybe you should think it over a bit more. And do you really think telling me do the f\*\*\* anything is going to get you the results you want? ---
**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:** [February 17, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/176 "2011-02-17T07:04:29Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > 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. And perhaps not changing lanes randomly? The freeway I take back and forth to work is odd in that the left lanes are almost always slower than the right lanes. I have never figured out why this is, but my guess is that the very left lane is a car pool lane, and the slowness comes from people switching in and out of it, and causing the next leftmost lane to brake. Another possible cause is a car pooler going much more slowly than the regular flow of traffic, but I’m not sure about it. Passing on the right is perfectly legal in California, but making someone switch lanes do keep up with the flow of traffic slows it down for everyone and poses a danger to the lane changer and others. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/177 "2011-02-17T13:42:42Z")
> [@NCDane](#): > > No. As long as you aren’t drunk it probably doesn’t matter. > > By that logic no citizen has a right to impede any criminal act, > so maybe you should think it over a bit more. > > And do you really think telling me do the f\*\*\* anything is going > to get you the results you want? I don’t think it matters how I talk to you because I think you are such a self absorbed pratt that it doesn’t matter. And one thing I can absolutely and irrefutably assure you of - an angry driver is, ceteris paribus, way more dangerous than a non angry driver. Anybody that deliberately behaves on the road in a manner calcualted to piss others off is a menace. They make the road more dangerous for all of us. And by the way…I wasn’t talking about ANY criminal act, I was talking about speeding, uless you think that because I am allowed to drink in a bar, my six year old should also be allowed to drink, and that because I am allowed to fuck my wife I should also be allowed to fuck a three year old. ---
**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, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/178 "2011-02-17T14:10:36Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > **Moderator Note** : > > **Dio** , the topic of this thread is what you do about being stuck behind someone in the passing lane. From your cite, it’s evident that many more than six states have some variant of a law requiring motorists to yield for faster traffic when safe to do so. That wasn’t the assertion I was responding to. The claim was made that it’s the law “in most states” that the “left lane is only for passing.” That is only the law in six states. Other stay right laws are irrelevant to that point, and since when is it against board rules to correct a factual assertion. Incidentally, everybody in this thread is making “moral pronouncements,” and practically nobody is discussing what to do about getting behind slow drivers, so your singling out of me is senseless. ---
**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, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/179 "2011-02-17T14:13:12Z")
By the way, isn’t it against the rules to solicit advice on how to 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 17, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476/180 "2011-02-17T14:38:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > 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. On the contrary, you are required by law in most states to share the road in a couteous manner. So who really is the dickhead in this scenario: The faster or slower driver, regardless of the indicated speed or accuracy thereof? > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How can it impede traffic if it’s iilegal to go any faster? The notion that droves of dangerous speeders threaten vehicular assault in an ongoing basis is patently absurd. Only a tiny fraction of the driving publc could ever hope to pull that off, practically speaking. You would need to be relatively wealthy with friends in the state and local judicial systems to afford insurance and keep your license very long. In literallly every case it has been my displeasure to become personally aware of, the left lane cruiser is doing below the speed limit. Even if they are doing the limit which you seem to be basing your argument on, doesn’t matter - by law. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > By the way, isn’t it against the rules to solicit advice on how to break the law? Attempted hijack or surreptitious subject changes aside, the only part I don’t get is how being just basically disagreeable after picking the wrong battle seems to remain so enthralling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-about-people-blocking-the-passing-lane/571476.md?page=10)