How many left-lane slowpokes have been fined under new Va. law?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: I like to stay at 60, tops, and never drive in the left lane. But I have to exit the Beltway onto the Dulles Toll Road (coming from Tysons), and it's on the left. I can't wait until the last minute to move into the left lane, since the left laners are the most aggressive and block up the spot, so I have to get in at least 3/4 mile ahead. I then have the left laners on my tail, even at 60, for the 40 seconds I'm in the lane.

Surely they won't ticket if there is a left exit up ahead, and "slower" drivers (meaning those who drive within 5 miles OVER the speed LIMIT) won't get tickets. In fact, I'd rather see them ticket the impatient left laners who tailgate because the want to go 70.

Put on your left turn signal so they know that you're exiting.

Yes, I definitely do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a rant on DCUM a few months ago about some poster who got a ticket for this -- she was sitting in the left lane on the 495 Express Lanes (2 lanes wide)

I vaguely remember that, but I don't understand it. The left lane of the 495 HOT lanes is the entrance and exit lane, so shouldn't be the fast lane.

Bullshit, stay right except to pass or exit. It's really not that hard.

^^^ This, forever and ever, amen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: I like to stay at 60, tops, and never drive in the left lane. But I have to exit the Beltway onto the Dulles Toll Road (coming from Tysons), and it's on the left. I can't wait until the last minute to move into the left lane, since the left laners are the most aggressive and block up the spot, so I have to get in at least 3/4 mile ahead. I then have the left laners on my tail, even at 60, for the 40 seconds I'm in the lane.

Surely they won't ticket if there is a left exit up ahead, and "slower" drivers (meaning those who drive within 5 miles OVER the speed LIMIT) won't get tickets. In fact, I'd rather see them ticket the impatient left laners who tailgate because the want to go 70.

Put on your left turn signal so they know that you're exiting.

Yes, I definitely do that.

Right when you get in the left lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: I like to stay at 60, tops, and never drive in the left lane. But I have to exit the Beltway onto the Dulles Toll Road (coming from Tysons), and it's on the left. I can't wait until the last minute to move into the left lane, since the left laners are the most aggressive and block up the spot, so I have to get in at least 3/4 mile ahead. I then have the left laners on my tail, even at 60, for the 40 seconds I'm in the lane.

Surely they won't ticket if there is a left exit up ahead, and "slower" drivers (meaning those who drive within 5 miles OVER the speed LIMIT) won't get tickets. In fact, I'd rather see them ticket the impatient left laners who tailgate because the want to go 70.

Put on your left turn signal so they know that you're exiting.

Yes, I definitely do that.

Right when you get in the left lane.

Yes, I do....I have my signal on as I move into the lane and then leave it on to let them know I will exit left. They still tail me. Annoying (and dangerous).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: I like to stay at 60, tops, and never drive in the left lane. But I have to exit the Beltway onto the Dulles Toll Road (coming from Tysons), and it's on the left. I can't wait until the last minute to move into the left lane, since the left laners are the most aggressive and block up the spot, so I have to get in at least 3/4 mile ahead. I then have the left laners on my tail, even at 60, for the 40 seconds I'm in the lane.

Surely they won't ticket if there is a left exit up ahead, and "slower" drivers (meaning those who drive within 5 miles OVER the speed LIMIT) won't get tickets. In fact, I'd rather see them ticket the impatient left laners who tailgate because the want to go 70.

Put on your left turn signal so they know that you're exiting.

Yes, I definitely do that.

Right when you get in the left lane.

Yes, I do....I have my signal on as I move into the lane and then leave it on to let them know I will exit left. They still tail me. Annoying (and dangerous).

Might be safer for you to drive a little closer to the speed of traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the problem: I like to stay at 60, tops, and never drive in the left lane. But I have to exit the Beltway onto the Dulles Toll Road (coming from Tysons), and it's on the left. I can't wait until the last minute to move into the left lane, since the left laners are the most aggressive and block up the spot, so I have to get in at least 3/4 mile ahead. I then have the left laners on my tail, even at 60, for the 40 seconds I'm in the lane.

Surely they won't ticket if there is a left exit up ahead, and "slower" drivers (meaning those who drive within 5 miles OVER the speed LIMIT) won't get tickets. In fact, I'd rather see them ticket the impatient left laners who tailgate because the want to go 70.

Put on your left turn signal so they know that you're exiting.

Yes, I definitely do that.

Right when you get in the left lane.

Yes, I do....I have my signal on as I move into the lane and then leave it on to let them know I will exit left. They still tail me. Annoying (and dangerous).

Might be safer for you to drive a little closer to the speed of traffic.

Agreed. I hate it when people expect me to slow down so they can merge in front of me. Nope. Merge behind me if you want to go slower or speed up.

[Anonymous]

I agree with this rule 90% of the time but when I'm doing 70mph in a 55 mph zone and some ya hoo comes flying up fast doing 80mph I don't move over immediately because they often cut around me as I'm safely moving to the left. I am 100% behind this rule but don't think people doing 20+ mph over the speed limit should treat it as an excuse to be an a$$hole about getting over

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with this rule 90% of the time but when I'm doing 70mph in a 55 mph zone and some ya hoo comes flying up fast doing 80mph I don't move over immediately because they often cut around me as I'm safely moving to the left. I am 100% behind this rule but don't think people doing 20+ mph over the speed limit should treat it as an excuse to be an a$$hole about getting over

^ meant right

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many more speeding tickets have been issued since this law was entered.

With slower drivers getting out of the way the people with lead feet can go faster which = more opportunity for a speeding ticket.

Seems like a win win for the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with this rule 90% of the time but when I'm doing 70mph in a 55 mph zone and some ya hoo comes flying up fast doing 80mph I don't move over immediately because they often cut around me as I'm safely moving to the left. I am 100% behind this rule but don't think people doing 20+ mph over the speed limit should treat it as an excuse to be an a$$hole about getting over

^ meant right

So just stay right, pass left. It's not too hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with this rule 90% of the time but when I'm doing 70mph in a 55 mph zone and some ya hoo comes flying up fast doing 80mph I don't move over immediately because they often cut around me as I'm safely moving to the left. I am 100% behind this rule but don't think people doing 20+ mph over the speed limit should treat it as an excuse to be an a$$hole about getting over

Just to clarify: this is a VA-specific thread.

20+ in VA = reckless driving / felony.

[Anonymous]

The thing I don't get about the rule is that we aren't supposed to go over the speed limit. So, I don't understand how someone driving 55 can get a ticket for being in the left lane and going too slowly. Because the alternative is speeding which is also against the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing I don't get about the rule is that we aren't supposed to go over the speed limit. So, I don't understand how someone driving 55 can get a ticket for being in the left lane and going too slowly. Because the alternative is speeding which is also against the law.

I don’t quite understand this other. “Speed of traffic” and “speed limit” are often in confliction. Which are we supposed to be observing again?

[Anonymous]

16:56 - that's why I hate left exits from highways. It puts people into the left lane that would really rather not be there. (and some folks who really shouldn't be there.) I imagine they're not trying to target these drivers, and I'd hope that other drivers would be a little considerate, given that it's obvious there's a left exit up ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing I don't get about the rule is that we aren't supposed to go over the speed limit. So, I don't understand how someone driving 55 can get a ticket for being in the left lane and going too slowly. Because the alternative is speeding which is also against the law.

What leads you to believe you are actually travelling 55 mph? your car's speedometer??

You do realize every car experiences "speedometer error," right? (check any road test in Car & Driver magazine; its right there in the specifications). And the error gets worse with tire wear/old age. You were probably crawling along at 50, thinking you were going 55mph - and simultaneously pissing off all those cars lined up behind you.

It isn't up to you to decide for others what speed you think they should drive. Stay out of the left lane!