Why do you drive in the left lane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally only use the left lane to pass and never go under the speed limit unless that is the speed of traffic.

However, when you are asking about people going 15 MPH under the speed limit in the left, are you sure you aren't talking about people traveling close to the speed limit and not 15 MPH over? I regularly travel a stretch of highway with a left exit and get annoyed with those who think that there is no speed limit whatsoever in the left lane. Sorry, if I'm going 60-65 and approaching a place where I have to exit from the left, you need to slow down and stop riding my bumper.

I'm talking people driving 15+ under the speed limit in the left lane.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean 15+ below the actual speed limit or the going rate of traffic? Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who habitually do it, especially at 15+ mph under the speed limit, why? Lack of awareness? Just your basic rudeness? I'm so curious!

There are zero people driving below the speed limit in the left lane. There are a small number of people who drive 55, but that is rare. There are others who will drive 65 and they will get tailgated and people swerving in front of them because they are slowing down the flow of traffic, even up to 70 MPH this will happen.

[Anonymous]

“The speed of traffic” does not make speeding ok. In congested areas, for example driving from DCA to Court House, there is a quick left-right-left change to stay in the correct lane. If I start in the right line, inevitably I get stopped by traffic that is approaching the 395 on ramp. In that case, I drive the speed limit in the left lane. I’m not going to speed to make others happy. If I get a ticket for driving the speed limit in the left lane for a short distance, so be it. I have a clean driving record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean 15+ below the actual speed limit or the going rate of traffic? Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

15+ below the actual speed limit with a line of cars behind them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who habitually do it, especially at 15+ mph under the speed limit, why? Lack of awareness? Just your basic rudeness? I'm so curious!

There are zero people driving below the speed limit in the left lane. There are a small number of people who drive 55, but that is rare. There are others who will drive 65 and they will get tailgated and people swerving in front of them because they are slowing down the flow of traffic, even up to 70 MPH this will happen.

Factually incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Question: does the left lane rule apply on roads that are not highways? I travel every day on east-west highway in Chevy Chase and assume that the left lane there is not a passing lane. Other people seem to feel otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question: does the left lane rule apply on roads that are not highways? I travel every day on east-west highway in Chevy Chase and assume that the left lane there is not a passing lane. Other people seem to feel otherwise.

I like that you give East-West Highway as an example of "not a highway."

[Anonymous]

I’m from PA and did not need an in person or behind the wheel training. I showed up and took the driving test. I know to drive in the left lane only to actively pass cars in the right lanes(s). No one should pass on the right, but if drivers a hanging out in the left lane(s), there is little choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who habitually do it, especially at 15+ mph under the speed limit, why? Lack of awareness? Just your basic rudeness? I'm so curious

Because I'm from Virginia?

THIS

I'm a military brat who's not from anywhere, so help me out. What does this mean?

95 through Virginia is notorious for people hanging out in the passing lane.

95 from Maine to Florida is notorious for people with Virginia plates hanging out in the passing lane.
- someone who drives from DC to Jersey every other weekend.

[Anonymous]

What about a road where there is 2 lanes each way and the speed limit is 35. So I am to stay in the right lane so people can go 60?

[Anonymous]

I'm fine with people in the left lane as long as they're going 5-10 over. There are some people who think that the left lane is a sacred lane and should be kept 100% clear at all times except for one passing car that immediately gets over.

Nope, it's not a highway.

[Anonymous]

Definitely Virginia drivers. They'd all be late in MD if they did that.
As in, he/ she is now LATE, in the ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who habitually do it, especially at 15+ mph under the speed limit, why? Lack of awareness? Just your basic rudeness? I'm so curious!

Because I'm from Virginia?

I did a road trip all the way from Virginia beach to McLean last week and there was only one driver keeping me from going over 75mph in the left lane the entire stretch, and it was a black guy with a Maryland plate in an Audi Q5. As I finally was able to get around him I beeped at him numerous times as I passed, and he had the nerve to beep back at me and flick me off, and he just stayed in the left lane. He was blocking up traffic for like 5 miles!

This is so stupid, and the fact that you wrote it out without being embarrassed is worse. In ~4 hours driving, you had to pass a single driver on the right and it gave you road rage? Take a pill. I say that as someone who reflexively assumes that Maryland drivers are terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who habitually do it, especially at 15+ mph under the speed limit, why? Lack of awareness? Just your basic rudeness? I'm so curious!

Because the speed limit is loo low on US highway and I don't want to be pulled over and get a ticket.
Give me the autobahn and I'll go faster.