# You've got a lane! Use it already! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006 "2010-05-11T03:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/21 "2010-05-11T14:06:36Z")
You want real fun? Introduce traffic circles. Nobody, but nobody in California has the slightest clue what to do, despite copious signage. What _should_ keep traffic moving smoothly through a maze of on/off/access ramps turns into total gridlock the second Edna and her Nash rambler get off the freeway (where they were doing 45 mph.) ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/22 "2010-05-11T14:12:40Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Agree. > > Around Pittsburgh we have a bunch of tunnels. Some people (for some reason) slow down for tunnels. Traffic nightmares result. So, PennDot places **Maintain Speed Through Tunnel** signage. Which the slowpokes ignore. > > I often contemplate ramming the back end of the doofus creeping through the tunnel. Would my argument, “I was just following the signage” prevail in court? 😛 That’s why God gave us car horns. Seriously, there’s nothing more irritating than getting behind some cunt driving under the speed limit. Why the fuck do they do it? I’ll never understand what causes somebody to habitually drive 5mph under the limit. Either drive at the limit, or get the fuck off the road. Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/23 "2010-05-11T14:13:41Z")
Same kind of intersection, slightly different issue. There’s an intersection like that that I drive through twice a day, 5 days a week, where I’m the one turning right. The following doesn’t happen every day, but I’d say it happens at least a few times a month. Someone will be driving in the other lane (the one to the left of my lane that I’m turning right into), either turning left opposite me, or crossing straight across the intersection from my left. They’ll slam on their brakes, and/or honk at me, and/or flip me off/curse at me. Why? We’re in two different lanes! We can both keep going at our current speeds with _no risk of collision whatsoever_ so long as we each stay in our own lanes. The hell are you getting pissed at me for? Occasionally, it’ll turn out the person was trying to get into my lane because they were turning right soon (I still had the right-of-way, but at least I can sort of see how I was “in their way”). Most of the time though, they were staying in their lane anyway! Absolutely no reason whatsoever that me driving in my lane should have any affect on them driving in their lane. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/24 "2010-05-11T14:26:26Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Hey [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.173117,-106.640752&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172975,-106.640777&panoid=5a_EjJ4vm2JTEC-DcVPItg&cbp=12,220.24,,0,30.55)! Yes [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172966,-106.640779&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172882,-106.640814&panoid=2351gaY0S8i4pFbr6FEnPg&cbp=12,240.28,,0,29.36), in the shitty little [Sante Fe](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)! Can’t you see that your [holding up traffic](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)? Can’t you see that your little right turn exit thingy [HAS ITS OWN FUCKING LANE?!?](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17264,-106.640913&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172532,-106.64095&panoid=nia36cmZ8CgcRY5lqfejHA&cbp=12,342.5,,0,19.85) What the fuck is [wrong with you??](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17252,-106.640956&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172414,-106.641007&panoid=bQUA7UXHs105NGljYfqX7A&cbp=12,348.81,,0,16.98) You don’t even have to [merge!](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172311,-106.641066&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172182,-106.641168&panoid=kUXVn5cM3bwkvs3FM41DNQ&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) Maybe it’s for the best, though, since a half mile later this [Ram](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172173,-106.641178&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.17198,-106.64142&panoid=DTeRTQh4iKAYhukTpeMPZA&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) might have cut you off if you’d have just gone. Well, except that you would have been ahead of the Ram if you’d just gone. Man, talking about citing your source! I had a good and serious chuckle at you providing the images from Google maps. For these types, I think I shall install a rocket launcher on my car. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/25 "2010-05-11T14:31:18Z")
I just had the same expeirience as the OP a week ago. I didn’t get upset though. I just drove around the offender, smiled at him as I went by and continued on with my right turn, hoping he would feel like an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/26 "2010-05-11T14:44:37Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > While we’re on the subject; > > As a candidate World Emperor, I fully endorse the use of space based weapons platforms against two left turners coming from opposite directions who, rather than simply turning and going about their day, sit there opposite each other refusing to move until the other car moves. I’ve often been in one of the two vehicles in that situation. But I’ll be driving a sedan, and the left-turner coming at me is driving some elephantine vehicle that blocks my view of the oncoming traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/27 "2010-05-11T15:02:56Z")
In my experience the signage has been perfectly adequate. After watching the program “Canada’s Worst Driver,” I’m pretty sure the problem is that the drivers don’t know what those signs mean. I wish to hell I was kidding. Course, that still doesn’t explain the ones who do it every day. What explains them is that you don’t have to be trained or competent to get a driver’s license in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/28 "2010-05-11T15:42:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > You’re only saying that because you’re in Boston\*,… Not entirely. When I lived in Seattle, I lived on a major thoroughfare, just where it intersected with a side street. I’d parked and was about to get out of the car when another car turned from the side street onto the main road. Then I heard squealing brakes, honking, and a major collision. Two cars ended up on the sidewalk in front of the house, and almost hit a friend of mine. It’s not quite the same as what the OP is describing. The car that was turning onto the main road didn’t have its own lane, but that driver must have expected the other car to stay in the lane he was in. Unfortunately, the other driver chose that moment to move over to the right. He may have even been checking his blind spot and not seen the guy pull out in front of him. Before everybody piles on me for being one of those idiots that stops, I’m not. At an instersection like in the OP, I’ll look to my left and see if anyone looks like they’re heading for my lane. Then I try to line up the turn so I’m not going to be exactly side-by-side with someone. I don’t hold up traffic, but I don’t trust the magic white line to be my only defense, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/29 "2010-05-11T16:17:56Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Hey [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.173117,-106.640752&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172975,-106.640777&panoid=5a_EjJ4vm2JTEC-DcVPItg&cbp=12,220.24,,0,30.55)! Yes [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172966,-106.640779&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172882,-106.640814&panoid=2351gaY0S8i4pFbr6FEnPg&cbp=12,240.28,,0,29.36), in the shitty little [Sante Fe](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)! Can’t you see that your [holding up traffic](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)? Can’t you see that your little right turn exit thingy [HAS ITS OWN FUCKING LANE?!?](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17264,-106.640913&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172532,-106.64095&panoid=nia36cmZ8CgcRY5lqfejHA&cbp=12,342.5,,0,19.85) What the fuck is [wrong with you??](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17252,-106.640956&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172414,-106.641007&panoid=bQUA7UXHs105NGljYfqX7A&cbp=12,348.81,,0,16.98) You don’t even have to [merge!](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172311,-106.641066&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172182,-106.641168&panoid=kUXVn5cM3bwkvs3FM41DNQ&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) Maybe it’s for the best, though, since a half mile later this [Ram](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172173,-106.641178&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.17198,-106.64142&panoid=DTeRTQh4iKAYhukTpeMPZA&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) might have cut you off if you’d have just gone. In fairness, if you continue down the road in Streetview, the guy was trying to get into the left lane immediately after the right turn. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/30 "2010-05-11T16:18:59Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > \ > Before everybody piles on me for being one of those idiots that stops, I’m not. At an instersection like in the OP, I’ll look to my left and see if anyone looks like they’re heading for my lane. Then I try to line up the turn so I’m not going to be exactly side-by-side with someone. I don’t hold up traffic, but I don’t trust the magic white line to be my only defense, either. What you’re describing is proper defensive driving (not blindly expecting everything to go perfectly, but being aware and pro-active); just stopping when you have a lane is not defensive driving - it’s unpredictable, dangerous driving. ---
**Author:** ![ThePylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ThePylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePylon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/31 "2010-05-11T16:30:12Z")
ROTFLMAO Same for this one - look at all the effing brake lights - but in their defence, some rocket scientist put that yield to pedestrians sign right where it is repeatedly misinterpreted… [Pincrest/Richmond in Ottawa](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=pinecrest,&safe=images&ie=UTF8&radius=0.05&sll=45.358141,-75.794326&sspn=0.000846,0.001719&split=1&rq=1&ev=p&hq=pinecrest,&hnear=&t=h&layer=c&cbll=45.357763,-75.794295&panoid=zcyiWtMkqCj3_7ACAHtFKQ&cbp=12,335.85,,0,8.93&ll=45.357917,-75.794291&spn=0,0.001719&z=19) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/32 "2010-05-11T16:34:30Z")
Whenever I take a right [here](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.596947,-81.307143&spn=0,0.00825&z=17&layer=c&cbll=28.596855,-81.307144&panoid=YQzl22jbNtF5cqv_LbC3WQ&cbp=12,8.36,,0,-1.79) and I don’t have a green light, I stop before continuing. Even though the left hand lane turning in only has two lanes and the right hand turn turns into a “new” lane, more than 10% of the people turning left onto University are going to the McDonalds or Ale House to the right and so will immediately turn into the new lane. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/33 "2010-05-11T16:36:00Z")
Nice, well-document rant, but that’s clearly a Tucson, not a Santa Fe. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/34 "2010-05-11T16:44:35Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In fairness, if you continue down the road in Streetview, the guy was trying to get into the left lane immediately after the right turn. It’s a quarter mile before the left turn. He doesn’t need to be in the left lane immediately. And you’ll note I mentioned his lane change in the OP. 😛 Tucson? I wasn’t even aware of the existence of a non-Santa Fe SUV from Hyundai. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/35 "2010-05-11T16:49:04Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In fairness, if you continue down the road in Streetview, the guy was trying to get into the left lane immediately after the right turn. GAH! That makes it worse! There was no need to immediately get into the left lane, since there was no immediate opportunity to turn left. If he had used his ramp lane to get up to speed, as is proper, he’d have had a much easier time fading into the left lane well before he needed to. ---
**Author:** ![ThePylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ThePylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePylon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/36 "2010-05-11T16:50:23Z")
> [@Yossarian](#): > > Nice, well-document rant, but that’s clearly a Tucson, not a Santa Fe. Disagree … it is a neither [Little](http://hyundaicanada.com/Pages/showroom/Specifications.aspx?model=Santa%20Fe)nor Shitty (Consumer reports top-pick for Midsize SUV) Santa Fe… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/37 "2010-05-11T17:03:05Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > While we’re on the subject; > > As a candidate World Emperor, I fully endorse the use of space based weapons platforms against two left turners coming from opposite directions who, rather than simply turning and going about their day, sit there opposite each other refusing to move until the other car moves. Speaking for myself, I blame this on people who drive SUVs, minivans or other assorted land yachts. I drive a compact car, and I can’t see through the giant vehicle on the other side, so I can’t see what’s coming. If he’d hurry the fuck up and move, I could go, but he needs 400 yards of clear road to turn in because his stupid Land Cruiser takes six weeks to hit sixty miles per hour. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Whenever I take a right [here](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=28.596947,-81.307143&spn=0,0.00825&z=17&layer=c&cbll=28.596855,-81.307144&panoid=YQzl22jbNtF5cqv_LbC3WQ&cbp=12,8.36,,0,-1.79) and I don’t have a green light, I stop before continuing. Even though the left hand lane turning in only has two lanes and the right hand turn turns into a “new” lane, more than 10% of the people turning left onto University are going to the McDonalds or Ale House to the right and so will immediately turn into the new lane. Ha! I was just thinking of that intersection - and most of the other ones around here seem to be the same way (ie., cross- or turning traffic is all trying to get to somewhere in “your” lane). ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/38 "2010-05-11T17:29:50Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Hey [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.173117,-106.640752&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172975,-106.640777&panoid=5a_EjJ4vm2JTEC-DcVPItg&cbp=12,220.24,,0,30.55)! Yes [you](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172966,-106.640779&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172882,-106.640814&panoid=2351gaY0S8i4pFbr6FEnPg&cbp=12,240.28,,0,29.36), in the shitty little [Sante Fe](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)! Can’t you see that your [holding up traffic](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172871,-106.640819&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172768,-106.640861&panoid=nQkk94GJ2nNTYUOhJ-9nuA&cbp=12,284.44,,0,26.16)? Can’t you see that your little right turn exit thingy [HAS ITS OWN FUCKING LANE?!?](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17264,-106.640913&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172532,-106.64095&panoid=nia36cmZ8CgcRY5lqfejHA&cbp=12,342.5,,0,19.85) What the fuck is [wrong with you??](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.17252,-106.640956&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172414,-106.641007&panoid=bQUA7UXHs105NGljYfqX7A&cbp=12,348.81,,0,16.98) You don’t even have to [merge!](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172311,-106.641066&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.172182,-106.641168&panoid=kUXVn5cM3bwkvs3FM41DNQ&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) Maybe it’s for the best, though, since a half mile later this [Ram](http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=52.172173,-106.641178&spn=0,0.003023&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.17198,-106.64142&panoid=DTeRTQh4iKAYhukTpeMPZA&cbp=12,11.01,,0,19.13) might have cut you off if you’d have just gone. Well, except that you would have been ahead of the Ram if you’d just gone. > > Every. Fucking. Day. there’s some drooling imbecile sitting there backing traffic up halfway down 51st St because there’s scaaaaaaary through-traffic in the next lane that’s just waiting to _pounce_ on you if you pull out **in your own fucking lane**. Oh wait. No, they just stay in their own lane. We need to petition city council to install a life-size version of that toy car racetrack with spinning wheels in the walls of the track that accelerated the cars. Zoom! Or maybe just a robot with a laser that shoots cars that stop. > > So imagine my surprise when I go to Google Street View to illustrate my rant and there’s some fucking moron exhibiting exactly that behaviour. Fuckhead. True to form, if you continue south he immediately cuts over two lanes to the left, and tailgates the guy in front of him. Does anyone know if I can get TOW missile launchers as an option for my Fit? > > Yes this is one my route home from work, why do you ask? I could be wrong, but it seems to me that what is pictured in the photo is a Santa Fe being driven by a female. Yes, in other words, a woman driving an SUV. If that is the case, well, then your question’s pretty much answered right there. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/39 "2010-05-11T18:16:43Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > It’s a quarter mile before the left turn. He doesn’t need to be in the left lane immediately. And you’ll note I mentioned his lane change in the OP. 😛 There was an OP? Where? (I’m just trying to slow this rant down as much as possible before sloooooooowly pulling out into the Pit) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006/40 "2010-05-11T18:22:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Agree. > > Around Pittsburgh we have a bunch of tunnels. Some people (for some reason) slow down for tunnels. Traffic nightmares result. So, PennDot places **Maintain Speed Through Tunnel** signage. Which the slowpokes ignore. Same thing in the Tidewater area of Virginia. People brake going into the tunnel even though there is no reason to do so. As a consequence of the brake-light cascade there will sometimes be this huge 4-mile backup going into the tunnel on I-64, but by the time you’re in the tunnel things start to speed up. When you’re leaving the tunnel you’re going 55 MPH again. Anyway, back to the OP, I know what you mean. But if there are driveways coming off the merged-onto lane, there will be drivers trying to come into that right lane that you have to watch. Just beacause you have the “right of way” doesn’t mean someone won’t merge into the side of your vehicle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-lane-use-it-already/539006.md?page=3)