ROTD: being too nice while driving

[hank8001]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I suppose there is center lane abuse going on also on your average 3 lane highway, but if the passing lane was open you could just pass and then settle back into the center lane. But I agree, there are as many center lane hogs as there are in the passing lane.

I wholeheartedly support the "get out of the passing lane if there's someone who wants to go faster" concept, but I have a hard time understanding the "center lane abuse" concept.

If A) I'm in the center lane and B) going at least the speed limit, which is hard not to do, and C) the lane to the left is clear, then I'm going to sit there all day if I please. If somebody else is going faster behind me in the same lane, they're free to use the lane to the left to pass me, as I would do in a heartbeat if I was in the center lane and coming up on them. If they want to make some kind of power game out of it where they're going to tailgate me until I get out of "their" lane, then let the games begin.

Incidentially, the grump I wrote about earlier (people come roaring up and then won't pass) most often happens when I'm driving in the rightmost lane, so that has nothing to do with being a passing lane (or even center lane) hog.

As far as the leftmost lane, like I say I completely support getting out of that lane to let somebody who wants to pass do so - when I can do so without screwing myself over. And when the person behind can maintain a respectful distance until that's possible it's a beautiful thing. More often than not, though, the person behind is a pushy A-hole who tries to intimidate you into getting out of the lane with tailgating. Again, turns into a power game at that point.

[Krispy]

To clear this up. Im not talking about moving out of the center lane to pass the car in front of you and moving back to the center lane. (unless you do it as Im coming up or you squeeze in when there is not enough room) Its the folks doing 75mph in left and sit there, thinking their Speedy McSpeed and wont move when I come up on them, because they are "already going fast".
The courteous thing to do is move into the center for those who are faster, and back into the left lane to pass.

Otherwise you could go from Boston to Miami in the left going a little faster than the center lane.
In traffic, alls fair..

[Krispy]

If I'm passing everything in sight and you glue yourself to my back bumper, who do you think you are? You think I'm gonna get stuck in the middle lane behind Ma and Pa Kettle just for you?

Who do think you are? I gotta get stuck behind you?
Thats why we love you Mass guys down here.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Over the course of say... 50 miles, the difference between going 75 MPH and 95 MPH is gonna be what... 10 or 15 minutes? With much shorter distances, significantly less. It is also unlikely that anyone is going to maintain the higher speed for the entire length of the trip. I suppose such a small difference in time is important if you're on your way to work, and you work at one o' those places with really strict attendance rules, or if you're trying to get to some store or something that's going to close if you don't get there on time.
You could always leave a little earlier.
And let's not forget those skyrocketing gas prices that we all b*tch about.

[Backbeach Jake]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Who do think you are? I gotta get stuck behind you?
Thats why we love you Mass guys down here.

Ya know I think that you'd fit right in with the Mass crowd. You've got the basic philosophy down pat.
Now this thread is a great example how the driving situation gets out of hand real fast. I'm hoping that you realize that I'm not advocating reckless behavior and just horsing around. A vehicle going 80 mph will eat your butt like a pride of lions if it gets out of control. No offense meant or taken..

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by hank8001

I wholeheartedly support the "get out of the passing lane if there's someone who wants to go faster" concept, but I have a hard time understanding the "center lane abuse" concept.

If A) I'm in the center lane and B) going at least the speed limit, which is hard not to do, and C) the lane to the left is clear, then I'm going to sit there all day if I please. If somebody else is going faster behind me in the same lane, they're free to use the lane to the left to pass me, as I would do in a heartbeat if I was in the center lane and coming up on them.

Doing what you're describing isn't the problem, people who crawl in the center lane create the problem. They are the reason a lot of people are unwilling to get out of the high speed, which is really the passing lane. Then that of course frustrates those who are traveling faster.

People seem afraid to pass these days. Or maybe they're just lazy, I don't know. I always try and travel in the center lane and then just pass as needed.

[Backbeach Jake]

Pete G, i.ve noticed the afraid to pass trend myself . Especially if there is no one ahead of you for miles. They seem to want to be first but are afraid to lead and take responsibility as point man. Point man watches for Staties.

[Karl F]

I drive Highway at 75-85 depending on flow of traffic, truck just feels "right" at 80...I try to stay in center lane most of time. what really frosts my cookies is the guy who passes me, then pulls right in front of me... and dies down to 65.... OK.. left lane, go by, resume speed, return to center lane... here he comes again left lane, same chit, pulls in, cuts speed... WTF... is that his way of trying to slow me down?... Don't work, sorry... I play the game 2- 3 times, then it's left lane, Hi-Ho silver, away...blow the carbon out real good for a couple miles, than back to my usual pace. what really gets me, is dang if he don't show up again 40 miles down the road....
Staties.... last 6-7 days of the month, keep the eyes real wide, and the detectors on high... seems to be when they need to fill the quota, even though there "is no such thing"
Anybody sitting on my arse at 75-80 in the center lane... and the left, or right, lane is open and available... well, they get the Brake Test, Pronto.. not enuf to get them to hit me, just enuf to get their attention. I truly believe there is a special place in Hell for tailgaters.

[hank8001]

Originally Posted by Karl F

I play the game 2- 3 times, then it's left lane, Hi-Ho silver, away...blow the carbon out real good for a couple miles, than back to my usual pace.

I used to take this proactive approach to annoying drivers too, until I went though a speed trap while "blowing the carbon out". This happened on RT24 in Portsmouth/Tiverton, which has to be the most heavily patrolled stretch of highway in the United States. Now I just let it go....just too many out there to avoid them.

[Raven]

on my old ford van so at night driving across country i could flip a switch....complete the ground and make my brake lights go on without slowing down....this usually drives em crazy...

but to totally avoid road rage....i simply tune into classical music

the music that calms the savage beast within (for me)
hard rock and roll and i wanna crawl up their tailpipe..revenge mode
and then i think of the finer things in life and rise above
the whole....... getting bent out of shape experience.

[castn4bass]

I used to have a hose running to the back bumper on my 66 lesabre that would shoot windshield wiper fluid at anyone that tried to climb up my Arse!! Worked great!!

[Swimmer]

One more thing. What about the trucks. Any commercially registered vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs or more is always supposed to be in the inside, slowpoke lane, unless passing. Never are they supposed to be in the passing lane, unless exiting the highway from a high speed lane exit ramp. And when they are done passing in the travel lane the trucks are supposed to get back in the inside lane. You know how you are in the middle or travel lane and thier a tractor towing a 53' trailer and he is just staying even with other traffic, the truck driver is supposed to be staying even with traffic in the inside lane. In Mass. this includes trucks like F 350's or silverado 3500 that might be commercially registered.

[Karl F]

Thanks Mike ... no tickets (so far) mainly cause I'm always getting passed (!)... 495, 24, 93 north of Boston, and certain parts of 3, if you are Not doing 75 in the middle lane, they will push you off the road, as long as it is not rush hour, in that case it's a parking lot... yeah, it might be over the "limit", but if you travel mass roads, you realize that, that, is merely a suggestion.
RI... 95, well, from what I have seen, they have more of a "prescence" there, and I travel accordingly... and the few times I travel 95 thru CT, the state of my birth , well, I think that is where aholes, learn how to drive, or what passes for it , and I just pray that I make it thru the potholes alive, to get to the traffic jam in NY.

[justplugit]

Depending on the traffic flow, the safest lanes to drive are either the passing lane or slow lane. Center lane is suicide, as when a truck or car drifts from either side, you have no where to go. I'll take my chances getting a speeding ticket in the passing lane any day rather than getting the crushing squeeze.

[steelhead]

I've got an old Mercedes Turbo Diesel. 300 SD. When someone starts sniffing my tail pipe, I drop it a gear and floor it.... The black cloud that is produced is enough to scare the bejesus out of them! They always drop right back and give me plenty of room... :-) (Course, that means they have to be exceeding 85 to begin with....)