American driving standards and using the left lane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The left lane isn't always meant to be a passing lane, OP.

If it's not a turning lane, slower traffic keeps right. Period.

+1

If you're cruising in the left lane and there's nobody behind you, fine. But if someone's coming up, you move over right. There's no excuse.

Unless the right lane is crowded and you are still going at a faster speed and therefore passing those in the right lane. I can't tell you how many times someone who wants to go 90MPH is up my butt when I am passing those in the right lane.

You should speed up to pass and then resume your cruising speed after you’re back in the right lane. Basic driving etiquette here.

Speeding up to accommodate the guy going 90 is not basic driving etiquette. He is engaging in illegal reckless driving.

Even if there isn’t someone approaching you shouldn’t linger in the left lane. You quickly pass and move over. Basic etiquette. Where did you learn how to drive?

As I said, the right lane is crowded and I'm consistently passing the cars in the right lane. I am not going to speed up to 90 so I can get in front of the cars and I'm not going to slow down until someone lets me in. I continue at my speed and when there is enough space to get into the right lane, I go in.

Going 60 mph in a 55? Sure...

Where did you learn to drive? When?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The left lane isn't always meant to be a passing lane, OP.

If it's not a turning lane, slower traffic keeps right. Period.

+1

If you're cruising in the left lane and there's nobody behind you, fine. But if someone's coming up, you move over right. There's no excuse.

Unless the right lane is crowded and you are still going at a faster speed and therefore passing those in the right lane. I can't tell you how many times someone who wants to go 90MPH is up my butt when I am passing those in the right lane.

You should speed up to pass and then resume your cruising speed after you’re back in the right lane. Basic driving etiquette here.

Speeding up to accommodate the guy going 90 is not basic driving etiquette. He is engaging in illegal reckless driving.

Even if there isn’t someone approaching you shouldn’t linger in the left lane. You quickly pass and move over. Basic etiquette. Where did you learn how to drive?

As I said, the right lane is crowded and I'm consistently passing the cars in the right lane. I am not going to speed up to 90 so I can get in front of the cars and I'm not going to slow down until someone lets me in. I continue at my speed and when there is enough space to get into the right lane, I go in.

Going 60 mph in a 55? Sure...

Where did you learn to drive? When?

I'm going 73 to 75 in a 65. I learned to drive in NY in 1976 and I haven't been in an accident for at least 25 years. No tickets either. This usually happens near an interstate exit when I am not getting off. There is congestion to get off the exit and I am going quite a bit faster than those in the right lane. I'm not speeding up to 90 or even 80 to accommodate the speed demons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I have discussed this multiple times before since he’s from Holland. There you aren’t allowed to drive until 18 and the driving test is very strict. If you make one error you fail. It’s also expensive to take lessons. You can’t learn from just anyone. Cars and gas is much more expensive than here. For all these reasons many fewer people drive there which works out because they have great public transportation so not just anyone is driving around there. If you drive slowly in the left you will be ticketed. There are also lots of cameras that send out tickets. So all of that means much better driving on the road.

I agree on many points. However, statistics prove that people driving slowly or speed limit in left lane causes more accidents. Imagine how many aggressive drivers would be tamed if people would just move over and stay out cruising in left lane - many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The left lane isn't always meant to be a passing lane, OP.

If it's not a turning lane, slower traffic keeps right. Period.

+1

If you're cruising in the left lane and there's nobody behind you, fine. But if someone's coming up, you move over right. There's no excuse.

Unless the right lane is crowded and you are still going at a faster speed and therefore passing those in the right lane. I can't tell you how many times someone who wants to go 90MPH is up my butt when I am passing those in the right lane.

You should speed up to pass and then resume your cruising speed after you’re back in the right lane. Basic driving etiquette here.

Speeding up to accommodate the guy going 90 is not basic driving etiquette. He is engaging in illegal reckless driving.

Even if there isn’t someone approaching you shouldn’t linger in the left lane. You quickly pass and move over. Basic etiquette. Where did you learn how to drive?

As I said, the right lane is crowded and I'm consistently passing the cars in the right lane. I am not going to speed up to 90 so I can get in front of the cars and I'm not going to slow down until someone lets me in. I continue at my speed and when there is enough space to get into the right lane, I go in.

Going 60 mph in a 55? Sure...

Where did you learn to drive? When?

I'm going 73 to 75 in a 65. I learned to drive in NY in 1976 and I haven't been in an accident for at least 25 years. No tickets either. This usually happens near an interstate exit when I am not getting off. There is congestion to get off the exit and I am going quite a bit faster than those in the right lane. I'm not speeding up to 90 or even 80 to accommodate the speed demons.

Mom, I have told you a million times, don't park in the left lane doing five miles over the speed limit. You're going to get run over or road-raged. Leave the speed demons to the police and stop trying to be the moral police of the interstate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The left lane isn't always meant to be a passing lane, OP.

If it's not a turning lane, slower traffic keeps right. Period.

+1

If you're cruising in the left lane and there's nobody behind you, fine. But if someone's coming up, you move over right. There's no excuse.

Unless the right lane is crowded and you are still going at a faster speed and therefore passing those in the right lane. I can't tell you how many times someone who wants to go 90MPH is up my butt when I am passing those in the right lane.

You should speed up to pass and then resume your cruising speed after you’re back in the right lane. Basic driving etiquette here.

Speeding up to accommodate the guy going 90 is not basic driving etiquette. He is engaging in illegal reckless driving.

Even if there isn’t someone approaching you shouldn’t linger in the left lane. You quickly pass and move over. Basic etiquette. Where did you learn how to drive?

As I said, the right lane is crowded and I'm consistently passing the cars in the right lane. I am not going to speed up to 90 so I can get in front of the cars and I'm not going to slow down until someone lets me in. I continue at my speed and when there is enough space to get into the right lane, I go in.

Going 60 mph in a 55? Sure...

Where did you learn to drive? When?

I'm going 73 to 75 in a 65. I learned to drive in NY in 1976 and I haven't been in an accident for at least 25 years. No tickets either. This usually happens near an interstate exit when I am not getting off. There is congestion to get off the exit and I am going quite a bit faster than those in the right lane. I'm not speeding up to 90 or even 80 to accommodate the speed demons.

You move to the left lane every time you pass by an exit? If it's happening a lot to you then the issue really is you.

[Anonymous]

The reason is most of the time traffic here is a mess, so the left lane is used as a driving lane, not a passing lane. Then people get used to it and treat it that way all the time, even if there isn't traffic.

It's different when you leave congested areas. For example I drove to Western PA and Ohio last week, and on the interstates _in rural areas_ people did follow the left for passing only. But that all goes out the window once you hit congestion like Cleveland or Columbus.

Then there's the complication around here of so many left-lane exits, and the HOV lane being the left-most lane too. For example in 270 near Rockville, and US-50 near 495, the left-most lane is HOV-3 or HOV-2, so I'll be there in our minivan going about 60 full of kids, and people will be riding up to me.. but what am I supposed to do? I'm in HOV, even though it's the left-most lane. In some cases it's even a double-white between HOV and regular lanes, so I can't legally move over anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason is most of the time traffic here is a mess, so the left lane is used as a driving lane, not a passing lane. Then people get used to it and treat it that way all the time, even if there isn't traffic.

It's different when you leave congested areas. For example I drove to Western PA and Ohio last week, and on the interstates _in rural areas_ people did follow the left for passing only. But that all goes out the window once you hit congestion like Cleveland or Columbus.

Then there's the complication around here of so many left-lane exits, and the HOV lane being the left-most lane too. For example in 270 near Rockville, and US-50 near 495, the left-most lane is HOV-3 or HOV-2, so I'll be there in our minivan going about 60 full of kids, and people will be riding up to me.. but what am I supposed to do? I'm in HOV, even though it's the left-most lane. In some cases it's even a double-white between HOV and regular lanes, so I can't legally move over anyway.

Except for the people with VA plates. They were still oblivious in the left-lane.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Fine, then they should do away with all left exits then, as well as left turns for that matter. I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended but apparently I don't have the right to be there at all if someone is doing 75 in a 55 behind me, usually 2 feet from my bumper. Even if I'm turning left in a tenth of a mile. Yet somehow I'm the inconsiderate, entitled one with an American attitude problem? Okay.

How many left turns are you making on the highway?

Left exit to get to 267 from 495, left exit to get to Braddock Rd from the 495 HOV, any left turn on the Fairfax County Parkway... you've never seen left exits from highways or left turns on 55 mph roads before? ??

A left exit isn’t a “left turn”. You struggle to drive 65 mph on the highway? Where did you learn to drive? How old are you?

Who said anything about struggling? VA doesn't mess around with speeding tickets and I'm not willing to get that ticket on your behalf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, then they should do away with all left exits then, as well as left turns for that matter. I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended but apparently I don't have the right to be there at all if someone is doing 75 in a 55 behind me, usually 2 feet from my bumper. Even if I'm turning left in a tenth of a mile. Yet somehow I'm the inconsiderate, entitled one with an American attitude problem? Okay.

How many left turns are you making on the highway?

Left exit to get to 267 from 495, left exit to get to Braddock Rd from the 495 HOV, any left turn on the Fairfax County Parkway... you've never seen left exits from highways or left turns on 55 mph roads before? ??

A left exit isn’t a “left turn”. You struggle to drive 65 mph on the highway? Where did you learn to drive? How old are you?

Who said anything about struggling? VA doesn't mess around with speeding tickets and I'm not willing to get that ticket on your behalf.

"I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, then they should do away with all left exits then, as well as left turns for that matter. I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended but apparently I don't have the right to be there at all if someone is doing 75 in a 55 behind me, usually 2 feet from my bumper. Even if I'm turning left in a tenth of a mile. Yet somehow I'm the inconsiderate, entitled one with an American attitude problem? Okay.

How many left turns are you making on the highway?

Left exit to get to 267 from 495, left exit to get to Braddock Rd from the 495 HOV, any left turn on the Fairfax County Parkway... you've never seen left exits from highways or left turns on 55 mph roads before? ??

A left exit isn’t a “left turn”. You struggle to drive 65 mph on the highway? Where did you learn to drive? How old are you?

Who said anything about struggling? VA doesn't mess around with speeding tickets and I'm not willing to get that ticket on your behalf.

Because 15 mph over the limit = bad. Not that my car can't go that fast. If the limit were higher, I'd go faster. Blame it on those pesky speed limits.


"I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, then they should do away with all left exits then, as well as left turns for that matter. I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended but apparently I don't have the right to be there at all if someone is doing 75 in a 55 behind me, usually 2 feet from my bumper. Even if I'm turning left in a tenth of a mile. Yet somehow I'm the inconsiderate, entitled one with an American attitude problem? Okay.

How many left turns are you making on the highway?

Left exit to get to 267 from 495, left exit to get to Braddock Rd from the 495 HOV, any left turn on the Fairfax County Parkway... you've never seen left exits from highways or left turns on 55 mph roads before? ??

A left exit isn’t a “left turn”. You struggle to drive 65 mph on the highway? Where did you learn to drive? How old are you?

Who said anything about struggling? VA doesn't mess around with speeding tickets and I'm not willing to get that ticket on your behalf.

Because 15 mph over the limit = bad. Not that my car can't go that fast. If the limit were higher, I'd go faster. Blame it on those pesky speed limits.


"I'll go 10-12 mph over the limit for a few minutes if I absolutely have to so I don't get rear-ended"

You said you don’t even want to go 10-12 mph over the limit. “For a few minutes if I absolutely have to”

So how fast do you drive in a 55 zone? 60 mph? And you don’t even speed up when you use the left lane to pass someone? Yikes. You’re an accident waiting to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sick of these posts about how superior Europe is. You have terrible drivers, too. When traffic is bad somewhere, people use the left as a regular driving lane.

OMG yes. Europeans treat our roads like they are the autobahn.

[Anonymous]

NP, but I gotta say, everyone on this thread is exactly why everyone claims the DMV is full of terrible drivers...

I'm a nervous driver, so I strongly prefer to hug the right lane and just suck it up if I get stuck behind someone slow (especially with y'all crazy people who think speed limits mean 15mph greater than the speed limit!) but given how many stupid left exits there are in this city, I am sometimes forced to move over to left lane just so I can get where I'm going. And because I'm a nervous driver, I am NOT going to be able to safely dive across four lanes of traffic to get to my exit at the last minute. So the left lane will have to live with me doing only 5-10mph over the speed limit for a few miles before my exit.

To answer the OP's original question: I had a shoddy American driving education, which definitely contributes to my not-great driving, but the only reason I EVER end up in the left lane is left exits which seem to be a specifically DC-area perversion. Or at least they're rare in the other parts of the US I've been to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP, but I gotta say, everyone on this thread is exactly why everyone claims the DMV is full of terrible drivers...

I'm a nervous driver, so I strongly prefer to hug the right lane and just suck it up if I get stuck behind someone slow (especially with y'all crazy people who think speed limits mean 15mph greater than the speed limit!) but given how many stupid left exits there are in this city, I am sometimes forced to move over to left lane just so I can get where I'm going. And because I'm a nervous driver, I am NOT going to be able to safely dive across four lanes of traffic to get to my exit at the last minute. So the left lane will have to live with me doing only 5-10mph over the speed limit for a few miles before my exit.

To answer the OP's original question: I had a shoddy American driving education, which definitely contributes to my not-great driving, but the only reason I EVER end up in the left lane is left exits which seem to be a specifically DC-area perversion. Or at least they're rare in the other parts of the US I've been to.

Try Uber. Or a driving school. You are a risk to everyone in your car (kids?) and around you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drives me crazy every trip to visit family. People hanging out in the left lane, many not even doing the speed limit. PA at least will give you a ticket, I don't think MD or VA does...

Yup, my roommate got a ticket in PA for using the left lane when not passing. And to the confused PP:

Pennsylvania Law: Driving In Left Lane Prohibited Unless You Are:

Overtaking and passing another vehicle
Traveling faster than traffic flow
Moving left to allow traffic to merge
Preparing for a left turn
Steering clear of emergency responders on the right
In bumper to bumper traffic