Why are people in this region left lane campers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in central Virginia and it's terrible here. We regularly drive west on 64 and someone will camp out in the left lane going the speed limit. I have no idea what they are thinking. I grew up in NJ where you do NOT stay in the left lane unless you're going so fast that no one can catch you.

Then this summer we drove in Italy and oh boy, they make New Jersey highways look like children driving go-carts. I constantly saw people get right up to the bumper of the car in front of them. At least the slower driver always got over.

I'm definitely a fan of driving cultures that emphasize getting over so people can pass. I think that hogging the left lane because maybe at some point you might pass a slow tractor or something is a terrible sin.

But can they get over? Normally what I see is that traffic is so thick that no one can get over. Plus, the person in the left wants to go faster, they just can't because of traffic.

The tailgater is irrational in thinking that if they tailgate that the person in front of them will go faster. Go faster where? There's a whole line of cars in front of them and all around.

Sometimes no, but oftentimes yes. I do this drive frequently to get to our second home and it's crazy-making how many people seem to believe that they're vigilantes keeping other people from speeding, which BTW I did not know was a thing until I read the responses to this thread!

It's not irrational in Italy, where everyone understands that if you are being tailgated, it is your responsibility to get over. It's only irrational here where some people understand what the left lane is for legally, and some people have constructed an entirely different reality that involves the left lane going at whatever speed (for however long) the vigilante feels like.

For my part, I set my cruise control at 9 miles over the speed limit. In 25 years of driving, I've never been pulled over. Since this is central Virginia and not NJ or Italy, going 9 miles over the speed limit makes me faster than most, though of course there are speedsters who come along going 90 from time to time.

+1

Flashing lights at someone is a reminder to move over, not a personal insult. Why are VA drivers so triggered by other drivers?

Aggressive tailgating and flashing lights is inherently reckless and dangerous. Speeding is always illegal, no ifs or buts. So I will continue to drive the posted speed limit, especially in the left lane. Thanks all!

Ok - so you're just trolling now. Got it.

Chill out and don't get anyone killed, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there is traffic in every lane, I'm staying in the fastest lane that is moving. I'm not sitting in slower traffic because you want to go faster and neither is the line of cars in front of me. We all want to move faster than we are, you aren't special

THIS! It's infuriating that I'm already going faster than the two left lanes and cannot go any faster (there are cars in front of me and traffic everywhere). If I move over, where do you think you're going? Plowing into the car in front of me?

We do not need to leave the left lane open and further clog up the right two lanes just as a person courtesy to you. You think we don't all want to go faster? Traffic is what it is.

Oh yeah, and stop tailgating while you're at it.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

OK, lessons learned from this thread:

Crazy reckless speeders: SLOW DOWN!! No needless road violence!

I will drive my soccer van in the left lane for as long as I want. Also, for every honk from a crazy tailgater I will set my cruise control 5 mph lower.

Not sure about those crazy videos from Alabama, but here in the DMV the roads are almost always clogged and the right lane is super slow. I'm not moving over so you can tailgate the car in front of me.

Signing off this thread. Thank you and goodnight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, lessons learned from this thread:

Crazy reckless speeders: SLOW DOWN!! No needless road violence!

I will drive my soccer van in the left lane for as long as I want. Also, for every honk from a crazy tailgater I will set my cruise control 5 mph lower.

Not sure about those crazy videos from Alabama, but here in the DMV the roads are almost always clogged and the right lane is super slow. I'm not moving over so you can tailgate the car in front of me.

Signing off this thread. Thank you and goodnight!

Ok, troll. You are a danger on the road.

[Anonymous]

I was always taught to move to the right once I'm done passing. If there are no cars in front of you and a line of cars behind you, you are a problem and should move over. I don't care if people pass me at this point. When I was younger I was the fastest car on the road. I really wish the slower traffic to the right rules were laws in this area. Many maryland highways have signs that say slower traffic to the right but its not enforceable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When there is traffic in every lane, I'm staying in the fastest lane that is moving. I'm not sitting in slower traffic because you want to go faster and neither is the line of cars in front of me. We all want to move faster than we are, you aren't special

THIS! It's infuriating that I'm already going faster than the two left lanes and cannot go any faster (there are cars in front of me and traffic everywhere). If I move over, where do you think you're going? Plowing into the car in front of me?

We do not need to leave the left lane open and further clog up the right two lanes just as a person courtesy to you. You think we don't all want to go faster? Traffic is what it is.

Oh yeah, and stop tailgating while you're at it.

+1,000

I don't think this is the situation the op is describing. I hate tailgaters. There are always drivers going too slow in the left lane. It is infuriating to see a clear road ahead and one person doing 60 in the left lane that won't move out of the way. These people cause accidents from all the cars that have to go right to pass them. Many states have laws against passing on the right or camping out in the left lane. Both Florida and Texas pull over drivers in the left who aren't passing.

[Anonymous]

I had a guy yesterday tailgate me from Tyson’s mall to Potomac Village. Literally 2-3 feet of bumper.

At one point I was going 75 in a 35 to shake him and he was glued on me. I slowed down he would not pass.

Was weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a guy yesterday tailgate me from Tyson’s mall to Potomac Village. Literally 2-3 feet of bumper.

At one point I was going 75 in a 35 to shake him and he was glued on me. I slowed down he would not pass.

Was weird

Did you change lanes? If not, get out of the way.

[Anonymous]

It’s simple. Drive right, pass left. The police should be authorized to ticket anyone who does not abide by this basic standard.

[Anonymous]

I have finally given in- I can usually move fastest in the far right lane. I have to change lanes to the middle often to avoid any slow cars or trucks, but it’s generally faster than the left lane.
I recognize it would be better and safer if people would stay to the left only to pass, but that would mean getting outside of their narcissistic heads.

[Anonymous]

It is not legal in Virginia to be in the left lane except for passing. You will get a ticket.

[Anonymous]

OP - sorry to chime in so late.

Southerners are passive aggressive and do not want to let you pass. In some states, this is cited as reckless.

Northerners generally use the left lane as passing only, and reasonably presume that all other shave common sense/street smarts. But not all do. Some use the left lane to "make a point" - hence the weavers and endangering others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not legal in Virginia to be in the left lane except for passing. You will get a ticket.

As in most states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - sorry to chime in so late.

Southerners are passive aggressive and do not want to let you pass. In some states, this is cited as reckless.

Northerners generally use the left lane as passing only, and reasonably presume that all other shave common sense/street smarts. But not all do. Some use the left lane to "make a point" - hence the weavers and endangering others.

*others have

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have finally given in- I can usually move fastest in the far right lane. I have to change lanes to the middle often to avoid any slow cars or trucks, but it’s generally faster than the left lane.
I recognize it would be better and safer if people would stay to the left only to pass, but that would mean getting outside of their narcissistic heads.

+1

THIS.