Are rules of the road I think in the past?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you were driving in the wrong lane. If that many cars are passing you, you need to move to the right.

+1

But since there are so many oblivious slow drivers like OP the right right lane is usually clear so I drive there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 37 and honestly, have no clue what you are talking about. What “rule” is this? I just can’t comprehend it honestly.

Please read this. PLEASE.
https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Virginia-law-targets-slow-left-lane-drivers-479440683.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drive in western Europe, especially in Germany, and you'll want to stab yourself in the eye with a rusty fork after driving in the US again.

+1. If we could even just have the trucks in the far right lane that would be a significant improvement.

But remember this is an older homogeneous culture. BTW: in Germany driving up on someone and flashing lights (if they were slower) was an informal (albeit rude) custom. It was never legal but once tolerated. Not anymore. That behavior will get you a significant fine today. The only similar custom that’s illegal but allowed is for motorbikes to drive in between cars in a traffic jam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive in western Europe, especially in Germany, and you'll want to stab yourself in the eye with a rusty fork after driving in the US again.

+1. If we could even just have the trucks in the far right lane that would be a significant improvement.

But remember this is an older homogeneous culture. BTW: in Germany driving up on someone and flashing lights (if they were slower) was an informal (albeit rude) custom. It was never legal but once tolerated. Not anymore. That behavior will get you a significant fine today. The only similar custom that’s illegal but allowed is for motorbikes to drive in between cars in a traffic jam.

Flashing your lights to slowpokes in the left lane is illegal?

WTAF?

[Anonymous]

The idea that people on a multi-lane (more than two) roadway are “passing” is ridiculous. I’m all for the slower people keeping generally to the right lane(s), but the current trend toward even having laws that insist people be swerving all over the place to prevent “cruising” is stupid and dangerous.

On a related note, I don’t get where people think I should move (unsafely) to a crowded right lane when there’s a free one to the left of them.

Not to mention people flashing their lights and even honking in the right lane at vehicles already above the speed limit.

[Anonymous]

The other actual rule is that you're supposed to move over one lane to the left to allow people to merge onto the highway. No one does that here ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 37 and honestly, have no clue what you are talking about. What “rule” is this? I just can’t comprehend it honestly.

Then you’re part of the problem. How do you not know slower traffic keeps right?

I am aware of that. I am not aware of you not being able to pass someone though. I mean, if you are going too slow, I am supposed to keep going slow too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other actual rule is that you're supposed to move over one lane to the left to allow people to merge onto the highway. No one does that here ever.

I still do that whenever I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea that people on a multi-lane (more than two) roadway are “passing” is ridiculous. I’m all for the slower people keeping generally to the right lane(s), but the current trend toward even having laws that insist people be swerving all over the place to prevent “cruising” is stupid and dangerous.

On a related note, I don’t get where people think I should move (unsafely) to a crowded right lane when there’s a free one to the left of them.

Not to mention people flashing their lights and even honking in the right lane at vehicles already above the speed limit.

You too. Please read this. And calmly changing lanes when you’re finished passing is not “swerving all over the place.”
https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Virginia-law-targets-slow-left-lane-drivers-479440683.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that people on a multi-lane (more than two) roadway are “passing” is ridiculous. I’m all for the slower people keeping generally to the right lane(s), but the current trend toward even having laws that insist people be swerving all over the place to prevent “cruising” is stupid and dangerous.

On a related note, I don’t get where people think I should move (unsafely) to a crowded right lane when there’s a free one to the left of them.

Not to mention people flashing their lights and even honking in the right lane at vehicles already above the speed limit.

You too. Please read this. And calmly changing lanes when you’re finished passing is not “swerving all over the place.”
https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Virginia-law-targets-slow-left-lane-drivers-479440683.html

I was thinking more of the preposterous “move over” laws, but I guess you do most of your driving on pretty country lanes. Because the places I drive, the likelihood of me being able to “calmly change lanes when I’m finished passing” without risking my life is pretty much zero most of the time.

Think about it: the beltway has 4 lanes. The right one is supposed to be bumper to bumper for miles regardless whether traffic is already above the speed limit so that people in a hurry to get nowhere can weave back and forth across the other three?

Significant speed differentials between lanes are incredibly dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty typical of 95 - thru-traffic (that's you) doesn't want to be in the right lane because of merging traffic and the periodic slow trailer or camper. But, people who want to pass you (that's me) may feel that the left lane is too fast or congested, or I may have an exit coming up and not want to merge back across the tight middle lane when it's time.

The most correct answer is that you need to move right because you're too slow, and I need to suck it up and pass on the left if I'm going to pass. But 95 is such a mess that honestly whatever seems safest and smoothest is the best choice.

Nailed it. I drive from Tysons going to Alexandria. The right lane is full of cars with exits coming up and their own rules. The one next to it is thru trucks or somebody whose exit is a bit further away. There are three other lanes and you’ll find me in the one next to the fastest lane till I get close to my exit. Seems pretty safe to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea that people on a multi-lane (more than two) roadway are “passing” is ridiculous. I’m all for the slower people keeping generally to the right lane(s), but the current trend toward even having laws that insist people be swerving all over the place to prevent “cruising” is stupid and dangerous.

On a related note, I don’t get where people think I should move (unsafely) to a crowded right lane when there’s a free one to the left of them.

Not to mention people flashing their lights and even honking in the right lane at vehicles already above the speed limit.

I am the 495 poster and this is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that people on a multi-lane (more than two) roadway are “passing” is ridiculous. I’m all for the slower people keeping generally to the right lane(s), but the current trend toward even having laws that insist people be swerving all over the place to prevent “cruising” is stupid and dangerous.

On a related note, I don’t get where people think I should move (unsafely) to a crowded right lane when there’s a free one to the left of them.

Not to mention people flashing their lights and even honking in the right lane at vehicles already above the speed limit.

You too. Please read this. And calmly changing lanes when you’re finished passing is not “swerving all over the place.”
https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Virginia-law-targets-slow-left-lane-drivers-479440683.html

I was thinking more of the preposterous “move over” laws, but I guess you do most of your driving on pretty country lanes. Because the places I drive, the likelihood of me being able to “calmly change lanes when I’m finished passing” without risking my life is pretty much zero most of the time.

Think about it: the beltway has 4 lanes. The right one is supposed to be bumper to bumper for miles regardless whether traffic is already above the speed limit so that people in a hurry to get nowhere can weave back and forth across the other three?

Significant speed differentials between lanes are incredibly dangerous.

Perhaps you’re not equipped to drive on 495 if changing lanes is life threatening for you. Stay home Grandma

[Anonymous]

OP here- I don’t stay in the far left lane. I pass and move over. I was in the middle lane, usually passing people but when I looked to move right to move over again there was a consistent line of cars passing in that lane. Then swerving to get around a slow car and going back to the right lane to sped up again.

I am happy to move over, again lived in Germany for years and take nothing personal about someone wanting to pass. It was difficult to move over to the right lane because of all of the people passing from that lane agree with PP who said the right is the new left lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I don’t stay in the far left lane. I pass and move over. I was in the middle lane, usually passing people but when I looked to move right to move over again there was a consistent line of cars passing in that lane. Then swerving to get around a slow car and going back to the right lane to sped up again.

I am happy to move over, again lived in Germany for years and take nothing personal about someone wanting to pass. It was difficult to move over to the right lane because of all of the people passing from that lane agree with PP who said the right is the new left lane.

Clearly you were still going too slow. Speed up or people will pass however they can