Why do you REFUSE to pass left/drive right?

[Anonymous]

SAM2 wrote:OK, I think I understand now why some people choose to squat in the left lane blocking traffic -- they consider it their responsibility and right to police the speed limit for others, and will refuse to get out of the left lane no matter how much traffic they are blocking. Thanks for the education; I had not realized people think like this.

Here's my plan: Next time I manage to get around one of these people refusing to leave the left lane, I will maneuver back into the left lane just in front of them. And then I will put on my flashers, and slow down (gradually and safely, of course) until they are forced to move over into the right lane where I think they belong. I consider myself completely justified in doing this, because I am promoting public safety for everyone.

Fair enough. Just to let you know though, it's illegal to drive in the left hand lane if there are folks trying to pass. Well, it's illegal if you're going below the speed limit at least. Something tells me safe and legal are both pretty much *way* down on you list of priorities when you get behind the wheel, though.

[Anonymous]

Isn't the left lane the "fast lane" on a highway?

[Anonymous]

SAM2 wrote:It's very similar to how some people get on the Metro and just stop right inside the doors, blocking everyone else behind them from getting onto the train. Just like you in the left lane of the highway, there's no law requiring those Metro riders to move to the center of the car, and I suppose they're within their legal rights to stop and stand wherever they want. But they're still being inconsiderate jerks when they do that.

Please don't be that person. Thank you.

I agree. Often, when I go to board a Metro train, I will rush past everyone else trying to board, yelling, "Out of my way, cocksuckers! I am trying to board this Metro train!"

And do you know what? I occasionally get the sense that these people are *intentionally* slowing down, or trying to inconvenience me in some way.

It really is the height of bad manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad does this. His reasoning is that if he's doing the speed limit, he doesn't have to let anyone pass him. I think it's really jerky behavior, myself.

I believe this is illegal in VA, because VA requires that traffic in the left lane yield to faster-moving traffic:

§ 46.2-842.1. Drivers to give way to certain overtaking vehicles on divided highways.

It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway. On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so. A violation of this section shall not be construed as negligence per se in any civil action.

No so. If the speed limit is 55 and you are driving 55, you do not have to move to the right in VA. If you are driving 45 mph, then, yes, you do have to move to right lane.

Based on what? That is not what the law, helpfully quoted above, actually says. You may want it to be the law, but you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad does this. His reasoning is that if he's doing the speed limit, he doesn't have to let anyone pass him. I think it's really jerky behavior, myself.

I believe this is illegal in VA, because VA requires that traffic in the left lane yield to faster-moving traffic:

§ 46.2-842.1. Drivers to give way to certain overtaking vehicles on divided highways.

It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway. On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so. A violation of this section shall not be construed as negligence per se in any civil action.

No so. If the speed limit is 55 and you are driving 55, you do not have to move to the right in VA. If you are driving 45 mph, then, yes, you do have to move to right lane.

Based on what? That is not what the law, helpfully quoted above, actually says. You may want it to be the law, but you are wrong.

Now, now. Don't get all excited. Let the police enforce that law. You just keep a five-second buffer between that car and yours, and wait for help to arrive. No reason to take the law into your own hands.

[SAM2]

Anonymous wrote:... And when you come up, roaring on their bumper, flashing your lights, of course I'm going to take my sweet time getting out of your impulse-control challenged tantrum-throwing way. You say it makes you incredibly angry? Well, that's not really a shock.

I'll let you in on a secret: usually that's the whole point.

Like I said, thanks for the education on how you think. Now I've got a plan for dealing with people like you next time I encounter one on the highway (see post from 11:53). Have a nice day.

[Anonymous]

SAM2 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... And when you come up, roaring on their bumper, flashing your lights, of course I'm going to take my sweet time getting out of your impulse-control challenged tantrum-throwing way. You say it makes you incredibly angry? Well, that's not really a shock.

I'll let you in on a secret: usually that's the whole point.

Like I said, thanks for the education on how you think. Now I've got a plan for dealing with people like you next time I encounter one on the highway. Have a nice day.

**shiver**

[Anonymous]

Check out the Facebook/Twitter profiles for DriveRightPassLeft.com (which is rumored to be back up soon as it's going through an overhaul).

Facebook.com/Driverightpassleft
Twitter: @Driverightpass

They're good about posting stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

SAM2 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I think it is a jackass move to go 20 mph over the speed limit.

Fair enough -- so do I. But where we conflict is when you (or someone like you) sits in the left lane and appoints yourself the queen of what the "appropriate" speed limit should be for everyone else to follow. Should it be the posted speed limit exactly? 5 miles over? 5 miles under? Why don't I get to decide what's the appropriate speed?

What should the upper limit of the speed of cars on the road be? Should it be the posted speed limit?

Um... Yes.

Jesus, have we really come to this point in society? It's no wonder we've got douchey assholes doing 15 mph faster than the posted limit in my residential neighborhood past the kids trying to walk to school in the morning. After all, who on Earth gets to decide these things?

Um, No. Do NOT compare residential speed limits with that of the freeway.

The speed limit on the freeway is not a suggestion. It is the minimum speed but not for the left/speed lane. I think it's understood that cops/troopers allow drivers to go 10 miles above the posted limit. At the same time, if you are going 10 miles over the speed limit in the left lane and you still have people on your bumper, please change lanes to the right.

[SAM2]

For the Virginians:

46.2-842.1. Drivers to give way to certain overtaking vehicles on divided highways.
It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway. On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so. A violation of this section shall not be construed as negligence per se in any civil action.
(1989, c. 708, § 46.1-211.1.)

Article from Fredericksburg.com (http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/022006/02092006/166829):

The law's clear: You must let drivers pass
Before sharing readers' responses on Sunday, a look at the laws applying to left-lane hoggers
Date published: 2/9/2006
By ROB HEDELT

JUDGING BY responses to my recent column on the topic, there's precious little middle ground on the subject of left-lane huggers. Readers on one side share contempt for drivers who hang in the left lane of divided highways. On the other side are those who say some local roads are so crowded that the only way to make left turns is to get to the left and stay there--for miles ....

But first, it's informative to get some clarification on the issue from the agency that enforces traffic law, the Virginia State Police. Sgt. F.L. Tyler, a public information officer with the state police office in Culpeper, said the following section of state code applies to left-lane hangers: "It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway." It continues: "On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so."

In other words, said Tyler, if you're in the left lane of a divided highway and going down the road, even with a vehicle to your right, the law requires that you give way and let a vehicle behind you pass. Specifically, he said, if you're in that situation and a vehicle behind you signals its intention to pass, by either honking a horn or flashing its lights, you are required to move to the right as soon as it's safe, and allow the signaling vehicle to pass.

Failure to do so is a violation of the law, he said. Tyler said that applies even if the vehicle trying to pass is speeding, following too closely or operating in any other reckless manner. "Leave it up to police officers to deal with any violations they might be committing. We'll handle that," he said. "But the law still requires you to move to the right and let them pass."

He noted that the law and common sense both are served by getting out of the way of a driver who's anxious and intent on passing. "To ride along in that left lane and keep an agitated driver blocked in behind you isn't in anyone's best interest," Tyler said. He noted that failing to allow a blocked-in vehicle to pass could cause danger another way. "A frustrated driver who can't get by on the left is likely to try to squeeze through to the right," said Tyler, whether there's enough room or not. "Because of that, a third vehicle could be put at risk." In addition to the legal requirements and the dangers posed by problem passing situations, the state police spokesman said safe driving techniques make clear it's a bad idea for vehicles to travel alongside each other any longer than necessary. "Instead, if you're the car in that left lane, you want to get back to the right and give yourself a safety zone," he said--an open lane to escape any dangers on the highway. "If someone pulls out of a side road into your path, and you're side by side with another vehicle, where are you going?" he asked. An empty lane beside you provides an escape ....

[Anonymous]

Responding to SAM2: I just called the VA State Police and Fairfax County police. This is what both told me: If it is non rush hour and and you can drive the speed limit the you should drive in the right lane and leave left for passing.

However, if it rush hour or heavy traffic, for whatever reason, driving in the left lane is permissible.

If some idiot behind you is going way over the speed limit, flashing lights, honking horn, then switch to right lane as soon as you can safely do so. Then, get the other driver's tag no and call the state police.

I think they know the current law better than you.

To the PP complaining about the GW parkway, here's a tip. The speed limits vary from 25 up to 50. Try honking your horn and flashing your lights and you may be pulled over and get a $500.00 ticket for reckless driving and come close to losing your driver's license; he's an attorney and tried arguing and spouting all sorts of legal claptrap and the ticket went from $100.00 to $500.00. That was his b'day and Christmas present.

When the center of the universe is finally found some of you will be dumbfunded to find that you are not there and this includes my lawyer husband.

[SAM2]

Anonymous wrote:Responding to SAM2: I just called the VA State Police and Fairfax County police. This is what both told me: If it is non rush hour and and you can drive the speed limit the you should drive in the right lane and leave left for passing.

However, if it rush hour or heavy traffic, for whatever reason, driving in the left lane is permissible.

If some idiot behind you is going way over the speed limit, flashing lights, honking horn, then switch to right lane as soon as you can safely do so. Then, get the other driver's tag no and call the state police.

I think they know the current law better than you.

I certainly hope they know the law better than I do. I'm impressed that you actually picked up the phone to call -- that's good initiative.

It seems like your first paragraph is consistent with what I posted above, and with what the Virginia statutes say, so I'm glad we at least can agree people need to yield to left-lane passing in normal traffic conditions. I hope that will encourage some left-lane squatters reading this thread to keep to the right, and allow faster traffic to move on the left.

Did the police really tell you that if it's rush hour, you can sit in the left lane for as long as you want, even if you're blocking cars that are signaling for you to move right? That's what your second paragraph suggests.

[Anonymous]

Everyone wants to be a police officer, OP. Maybe it's a small penis (or female equivalent) thing?

If someone lacks control in their own lives, they try to act out behind the wheel. It is very prevalent here. Just look around. The "refuse to pass left laners" cause so many accidents and many states hold them accountable for passive aggressive driving. What the states/Commonwealth here are too stupid (much like the drivers) to realize is how much money they could make off of those who refuse to allow others to pass in the passing lane.

The passing lane is the left lane, like it or not. Your refusing to let drivers pass in the left lane does not change that. I'm sorry your life is so miserable that you have to act out in the left lane, by refusing to let others pass, of all things.

Why are you so hell bent on feigning ignorance? Why are you so hell bent on such inconsiderate behavior? Is that all you have to hold onto? Proving how desperate you are? Really? How sad.

I'm still waiting to find out the grand prize for the rude contest. Is it killing someone by failing to allow them to pass? Would that make the "refuse to pass left laners" happy? Unless they are a policeman, it is NOT up to the passive aggressive "refuse to pass left laners" to enforce the law.

Wait until the "refuse to let pass left laners" get rear ended by the wrong person. Don't say I didn't tell you so.

[Anonymous]

Maryland drivers are the worst at this, especially on the BW Parkway.

[Anonymous]

I'm just going to go out on a limb and tell you the problem with DC drivers... Most of them come from somewhere else and not everyone was taught the same rules of the road. Also, according to one of my police officer friends, there are a lot of people illegally driving without a license in the DC area.