Why do people sit in the congested right lane and miss the light when they are going straight?

[Anonymous]

OP - you probably know that intersection or road better than the people you're talking about. I know my local roads pretty well but get me out of my area and I will have no clue whether there are a lot of right-turners at an intersection or not.

I've been driving for 25 years, most of that in this area. The driving portion of my commute is only 2.5 miles and 8-12 minutes long (on pretty busy roads), so if I get stuck at one light it's generally not the end of the world- and much better than making a sudden lane change and getting hit by someone I didn't see. Also, I'd rather not get stuck behind a left-turner, as there aren't left turn lanes, lights or arrows at most of the intersections on some of my local roads, so on certain roads, I'm more likely to be on the right.

If I know the area well, I am conscious of being the one straight-driver in a right turn lane and I will try to avoid being "that guy" when possible. And I've definitely been annoyed by "that guy" a few times.

[Anonymous]

No left turn possible at the intersection I am particularly thinking of, the road only goes straight or right. It is east bound Loughboro/Nebraska at the Foxhall intersection. The reason the right lane gets backed up is BECAUSE of these drivers, PP. They can not move during the red lights because they are going straight.

It is usually Virginia drivers who have just crossed over Chain Bridge and come up Arizona but sometimes it is DC and MD folks too. It is just so obnoxious when folks do this, especially in the morning. I am betting the posters calling out the phone talkers is probably right!

[Anonymous]

I have done this when I am in a place that is not familiar so I can buy time to figure out where I'm going. Like when the GPS says you've arrived at your destination on the right....and you haven't. It could be worse, I could be in the left lane! If you know the neighborhood then you should know when to stay in the left lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have done this when I am in a place that is not familiar so I can buy time to figure out where I'm going. Like when the GPS says you've arrived at your destination on the right....and you haven't. It could be worse, I could be in the left lane! If you know the neighborhood then you should know when to stay in the left lane.

Well don't. It is selfish and obnoxious. If you can not follow your GPS in real time, pull over on a side street and figure it out. Don't inconvenience those of us who live nearby are trying to get kids to school and get to the office on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are so right, OP. What we need is more Type As in this city. It will absolutely increase the quality of life here if EVERYONE is super hyper and drives full-bore as fast as they can. Right on.

BINGO!! Here is the PROBLEM person! If you can not hack it in Washington, get the hell out. If you want to stay, learn how to drive correctly, efficiently and without causing everyone else on the road to miss lights and take ages longer to get where they need to be.

[Anonymous]

You know what I hate? It's the asshole that will dart out behind you just to cut you off when you BOTH have been stopped by a standing vehicle in your lane. Makes me automatically think that this a guy with a small dick.