Why do you REFUSE to pass left/drive right?

[Anonymous]

I see this every morning on 66. A car in the left lane, doing maybe 60. Cars stacked up behind it. Waiting to pass. A long stretch of empty right lane opens up.... nonetheless, the lead vehicle in the left lane does not get over. The cars tailgating him/her all have to pass on the right.

Not saying tailgating/speeding is OK either. But I see this stack up as a terrible accident waiting to happen.

Why the hell can't people just pass left and drive on the right?????

[Anonymous]

My dad does this. His reasoning is that if he's doing the speed limit, he doesn't have to let anyone pass him. I think it's really jerky behavior, myself.

[Anonymous]

I noticed on a recent trip to NC, drivers did use the left lane for passing and move to the right if you came up behind them. When I drive north thru Jersey and NY, drivers tend to park themselves in the left lane at 60 mph. Maybe southern drivers are more polite and mindful of this, but around here, forget it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed on a recent trip to NC, drivers did use the left lane for passing and move to the right if you came up behind them. When I drive north thru Jersey and NY, drivers tend to park themselves in the left lane at 60 mph. Maybe southern drivers are more polite and mindful of this, but around here, forget it.

OP here, where my mom lives in upstate NY, people move for other drivers, too.

I wish VA would post signs along the left lane - "slower traffic move right"

[Anonymous]

Drives me crazy. It is jerky behavior, as if to prove a point. I'm going 55 (or whatever) and I set the rules.

[Anonymous]

Do this in Europe, and there will be a big fat 7 series breathing down your neck. They are militant about keeping the left lane for passing only.

[Anonymous]

If you are going SL+5 to SL+10, and **passing cars in the right lane**, then why should you have to move over to accommodate some maniac going SL+20?

[Anonymous]

For the safety of yourself and other drivers.

[Anonymous]

Because youre holding up traffic being a rules lawyer. If you'd just move aside to the right and let the speed demons pass, you can hop right back over and continue to put-put down the road in peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed on a recent trip to NC, drivers did use the left lane for passing and move to the right if you came up behind them. When I drive north thru Jersey and NY, drivers tend to park themselves in the left lane at 60 mph. Maybe southern drivers are more polite and mindful of this, but around here, forget it.

Where in NJ did you see drivers going 60mph in the left lane (or right lane for that matter)? Having lived all along the East Coast I'd say the "parking in the left lane" happens more when you get further south or in rural areas.

Around here people are so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they don't pay attention to other drivers. I know two people who coincidentally grew up around here who do this all of the time. So freakin annoying to drive with them (or behind them).

If I'm ever filthy rich I'm going to buy "stay right, pass left" signs for the whole DC area.

Clearly this is one of my biggest per peeves.

[Anonymous]

It's the law to pass on the left, pass on the right and I will give you a ticket

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do this in Europe, and there will be a big fat 7 series breathing down your neck. They are militant about keeping the left lane for passing only.

Ditto this - we had the same experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because youre holding up traffic being a rules lawyer. If you'd just move aside to the right and let the speed demons pass, you can hop right back over and continue to put-put down the road in peace.

I am using the left lane for passing. Isn't that what the left lane is for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the law to pass on the left, pass on the right and I will give you a ticket

Not in Maryland. Don't know about VA.

[Anonymous]

People are good about passing on the left and staying right in Michigan, where I grew up. Hey, it's the auto state.