Little road rage

You all should drive in MN. Then you will feel better about your situations at home.:smt101 All stated above happens daily here.

My favorite(sarcasm) is towing my boat on the Hwy in the slow lane - coming up to an on-ramp and then ding-dongs merge slower than the traffic - so I break - then they realize I'm there and they speed up.

or - the guy who doesn't know how to use cruise control, passes you, gets in the slow lane and then slows down - so you pass him and you return to the slow lane - rinse and repeat.

or - the ones who sit in the fast lane with their cruise on, at your rear quarter. You come up on slower traffic and they box you in.

"My job requires a lot of road time"

Somewhere, on some other thread, they are bitching about how you guys drive:smt043

OllieC said:

You all should drive in MN.

Click to expand...

At the risk of being overly-competitive, I see your MN and I raise you one OH. :grin:

Don't get me started about the D.a$$ that will come up on you in the passing lane but don't pass you and then stay on your back corner right in your blind spot.

Aw come, come now RollerCoastr, on interstate 71 north & south, if you're not doing 70. you'll get run over LOL. You are correct though, there are some interesting drivers in OH. My wife is from Kalamazoo MI, so I get the fun of driving the I80 turnpike into MI, so we would get a double whammy of interesting drivers. (we relocated to the west coast 3 yrs ago from the Cleveland, OH area) It must be nationwide, another issue I get warm under the collar is when you're merging on to the highway and some goober in the left lane won't move over to the middle lane to let you in. it really torques you when you're pulling a trailer/boat. it seems as though people are afraid of the middle lane- its worse when there is no traffic in the middle lane they have to worry about, but they still won't move over.

ziekman@cox.net said:

You have touched a nerve here, my #1 pet peeve. It's hard to tell if it's ignorance or intentionally offensive, but who the heck doesn't know the left lane is for passing?

Click to expand...

The left lane is not constructed for the sole purpose of passing!! The left lanes are the for the additional volume of traffic the roadway may carry. This is why large congested cities have sometimes 4 or 5 lanes. Would this mean that the 2nd lane is for passing and the 3rd lane is for passing him and the 4th lane is for passing all of them? The left lanes are a function of VOLUME of traffic. Granted that common courtesy dictates slower traffic should stay in the right lanes (and occasionally you will see road signs dictating this) but the left lanes are not the German Autobon! They are not there so you can have a place to go exceed the speedlimit. If I'm traveling in the left lane at 5 or 10 mph over the posted speedlimit and you pull up on my rear bumper expecting me to move over so you can go like the wind you may as well back off and enjoy the ride. I have no obligation to get out of your way. I usually do when I can get clearance in the right lane, but I don't have to. One of my pet peeves is when I get into the left lane on the Interstate to allow merging traffic to enter the right lane from the on ramp and I'm pulling my heavy 5th wheel rv or my boat and nobody will allow me to move back over into the right lane. They all hit the gas and pass me on the right and sometimes I get the international one finger salute from drivers who pass me on the right. Why do they act in this manner, I would get back over into the right lane if they would give me an opening. Pulling trailers on steep grades makes this even worse. I don't believe I should have to do 80 mph simply because I'm in the left lane. Why are so many drivers so rude and impatient.

The left lane is not there for you enjoyment and experimentation........

God, this ^^^^ literally makes me want to vomit!

Perfect example of a self righteous, self indulgent population that's going to teach the rest of us a lesson to only exceed the speed limit as much as they do. If you not passing get the hell out of the lane. It's not difficult. You just gently pull up on the little lever to the left of your steering column and get the hell out of the way. Enjoy your trip at your speed and don't begrudge those who prefer a faster pace than yours.

If you go to Europe you'll find everyone will move to the right as a matter of habit. That's even if there is no one behind them. You have to drive there to comprehend how much better it would be here if we taught our drivers better and held them accountable if they didn't yield to faster track. And yes, that even means if that traffic is exceeding the limit. It helps minimize the actions of idiots such as tailgating and risky right lane passes that endanger all those around the left-lane bandit, not just the passer.

But it's wasted breathe. Lazy, self-righteous a-holes will forever occupy the right lane while not passing as long as no enforcement is in place to enforce lane discipline.

Last Dollar said:

The left lane is not constructed for the sole purpose of passing!! The left lanes are the for the additional volume of traffic the roadway may carry. This is why large congested cities have sometimes 4 or 5 lanes. Would this mean that the 2nd lane is for passing and the 3rd lane is for passing him and the 4th lane is for passing all of them? The left lanes are a function of VOLUME of traffic. Granted that common courtesy dictates slower traffic should stay in the right lanes (and occasionally you will see road signs dictating this) but the left lanes are not the German Autobon! They are not there so you can have a place to go exceed the speedlimit. If I'm traveling in the left lane at 5 or 10 mph over the posted speedlimit and you pull up on my rear bumper expecting me to move over so you can go like the wind you may as well back off and enjoy the ride. I have no obligation to get out of your way. I usually do when I can get clearance in the right lane, but I don't have to. One of my pet peeves is when I get into the left lane on the Interstate to allow merging traffic to enter the right lane from the on ramp and I'm pulling my heavy 5th wheel rv or my boat and nobody will allow me to move back over into the right lane. They all hit the gas and pass me on the right and sometimes I get the international one finger salute from drivers who pass me on the right. Why do they act in this manner, I would get back over into the right lane if they would give me an opening. Pulling trailers on steep grades makes this even worse. I don't believe I should have to do 80 mph simply because I'm in the left lane. Why are so many drivers so rude and impatient.

The left lane is not there for you enjoyment and experimentation........

Click to expand...

Wrong. Under your state's law the left is for passing. WV Code 17C-7-1(b).

Don't worry, it doesn't matter if your on a scotter (sorry Wayne I hate those things) a bike, or in a nice Pierce Arrow with all the lights, sirens, and air horns blowing they crawl in the passing lane at 10 to 15 under the speed limit. Bikes get the right of way with me, until the want to act like a fool passing on the shoulder or splitting the middle. I think folks, most folks, have the me first attitude. Hell we have scotters using 55/65mph roads with no lights, no tags, nothing then riding in the passing lane! Those folks have a death wish!

Haha, so when I post on another thread that I don't see a problem with wakeboarding at night if certain precautions are taken, I get blasted because "it's illegal, and it could be dangerous." When someone posts here about staying in the left lane at the speed limit, you all say, "how dare you keep me from speeding! Don't impose your safety/legal views on me!" Double standards...It's okay for you to break the law, but if you see someone breaking a different law that you don't break, then it's time to call the cops. Hilarious.

lawndoctor said:

Wrong. Under your state's law the left is for passing. WV Code 17C-7-1(b).

Click to expand...

Re think what you are saying here. "The left lane is for passing", meaning that it is much safer to pass on the left. Passing on the right like one earlier poster stated makes you feel like they may come back over to the right on you....a driver has more of a blind spot on this right. So as the law states, you should always try to pass on the left. I do not take this to mean that I must keep the left lane open for those wanting to break the law and exceed the speed limit. I'll state it agian, the left lane is not the German Autobon. By you whizzing around me at 80+ puts everyone in danger.

Like I stated before, common courtesy dictates that people should travel in the right lane if they are driving slower or close to the speed limit. As volume of traffic fills up the right lane more cars will begin to move into the left lane to gain seperation or prevent tailgating. This is why in large metropolitin areas we see more than just two lanes. The left lane is not there just for passing!! Again, while I'm trapped in the left lane pulling my boat or rv, allowing merging traffic from on ramps, I don't appreciate inconsiderate jerks to start passing me on the right simply because they are hell bent on exceeding the speed limit.

I believe the thing that set me off on this rant about road rage was an experience I had earlier in the day yesterday while traveling through a construction zone on the Interstate. This section of road between two major exit ramps into downtown has conceret barriers on each side, signs that say "No lane changes" and reduced speed from 65 to 50. This goes on for about 3 miles. There is a solid white line all the way through this area. Does anyone know what a solid line means? Does anyone know what the colors of white or yellow mean for center lines? I think most do not or don't care. At any rate, some young woman in a sports car was right on my bumper as I came up the on ramp and merged into the right lane. She apparently apparently got upset with me because I merged from the acceleration lane into the right lane.....I had to ....concrete barrier and orange cones coming up fast!!! Since I had to "cut her off " from passing me, she got mad apparently because now she had to ride behind me for the next 3 miles. Oh did she tailgate me all the way, flashing the finger and being a jerk. She was so close I could see the label on her radiator. I did 55.......5 over the posted limit. When I took the first exit ramp to enter downtown she tried to pass me on the decleration ramp leading to the exit. Boy was she pissed. I was traveling at 5 over the posted limit and I'm in her way.....give me a break. As she passed me when we did get off the exit ramp i got the finger. Really? What is your problem? Did I get in your way simply because I was traveling only 5 mph over the posted limit?? Gee maybe I shoud have pulled onto the shoulder and let you have set your own pace, the nerve of the highway department in setting speed limits!!

The left lane is not there for just passing, get over it!!

Last Dollar said:

I did 55.......5 over the posted limit.

Click to expand...

Thank you for determining how much the rest of us should speed. I prefer the person who's in the left lane doing the speed limit to the person in the left lane exceeding the limit to their own personal comfort level. At least the first person has some moral ground to stand on.

In our state we have signs that state "Left lane for passing ONLY", not "Left lane for passing"

Last Dollar, your emotional tirade is entertaining, but a waste of time. The West Virginia statute specifically states that you must stay out of the left lane except (a) when passing or (b) in anticipation of making a left turn. If you don't like the law, you can try to get it changed.

Our nation is so divided right now it's no wonder we have just a diversity of oppinion on how to drive safely.
I stand behind my original thought and believe drivers who form the jerk mentality of "How dare you get in front of me while I'm trying to exceed the speed limit." Again, common courtesy dictates you travel in the right lane but the left lane is not supposed to stay empty so you can set your own speed limit. Enough said, lets concentrate on boating.

qflyer said:

Haha, so when I post on another thread that I don't see a problem with wakeboarding at night if certain precautions are taken, I get blasted because "it's illegal, and it could be dangerous." When someone posts here about staying in the left lane at the speed limit, you all say, "how dare you keep me from speeding! Don't impose your safety/legal views on me!" Double standards...It's okay for you to break the law, but if you see someone breaking a different law that you don't break, then it's time to call the cops. Hilarious.

Click to expand...

I don't see that as a contradiction. Our highways are designed for passing in the left lane. It's safer that way. IMO, speed isn't dangerous. Chaos and inattention on the road however, can both be deadly. If Americans could understand to pass on the left, we'd all be safer.

Last Dollar said:

"How dare you get in front of me while I'm trying to exceed the speed limit MORE THAN YOU'RE EXCEEDING THE LIMIT." A

Click to expand...

Fixed this for you ^^^^^

Last Dollar said:

we have just a diversity of oppinion on how to drive safely.

Click to expand...

Agreed, and it's great that we can voice our different opinions on all sorts of things. In this case though, regardless of whatever opinion a driver holds, failure to keep in proper lane is a three-point violation of WV state law. Perhaps you'll change your mind about this if you are ticketed and get points on your license. I know that photo enforcement has made me stop earlier than I normally would for yellow lights, even though in my opinion it is often safer to keep going than to slam on the brakes. Safe and happy boating.

Last Dollar said:

The left lane is not constructed for the sole purpose of passing!! The left lanes are the for the additional volume of traffic the roadway may carry. This is why large congested cities have sometimes 4 or 5 lanes. Would this mean that the 2nd lane is for passing and the 3rd lane is for passing him and the 4th lane is for passing all of them? The left lanes are a function of VOLUME of traffic. Granted that common courtesy dictates slower traffic should stay in the right lanes (and occasionally you will see road signs dictating this) but the left lanes are not the German Autobon! They are not there so you can have a place to go exceed the speedlimit. If I'm traveling in the left lane at 5 or 10 mph over the posted speedlimit and you pull up on my rear bumper expecting me to move over so you can go like the wind you may as well back off and enjoy the ride. I have no obligation to get out of your way. I usually do when I can get clearance in the right lane, but I don't have to. One of my pet peeves is when I get into the left lane on the Interstate to allow merging traffic to enter the right lane from the on ramp and I'm pulling my heavy 5th wheel rv or my boat and nobody will allow me to move back over into the right lane. They all hit the gas and pass me on the right and sometimes I get the international one finger salute from drivers who pass me on the right. Why do they act in this manner, I would get back over into the right lane if they would give me an opening. Pulling trailers on steep grades makes this even worse. I don't believe I should have to do 80 mph simply because I'm in the left lane. Why are so many drivers so rude and impatient.

The left lane is not there for you enjoyment and experimentation........

Click to expand...

LastDollar, you are absolutely and totally wrong about your comments. There is a thing called the Uniform Model Traffic Ordinance (UMTO) that is a nationwide law/guide from which all other states adopt their traffic laws so there can be uniformity from state to state. The situation you addressed is specifically covered in the UMTO. Here is the language that applies to vehicle speed, and the pertinent section is shown in bold. (This is from WA's traffic laws which are adopted directly from the UMTO) ...

"RCW 46.61.100
Keep right except when passing, etc.
(1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:

(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;

(b) When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided, any person so doing shall yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

(c) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes and providing for two-way movement traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or

(d) Upon a street or highway restricted to one-way traffic.

(2) Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, except (a) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b) when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, (c) when moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in the right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through (d) of this subsection.

(3) No vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds may be driven in the left-hand lane of a limited access roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving in one direction except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when a left turn is legally permitted. This subsection does not apply to a vehicle using a high-occupancy vehicle lane. A high-occupancy vehicle lane is not considered the left-hand lane of a roadway. The department of transportation, in consultation with the Washington state patrol, shall adopt rules specifying (a) those circumstances where it is permissible for other vehicles to use the left lane in case of emergency or to facilitate the orderly flow of traffic, and (b) those segments of limited access roadway to be exempt from this subsection due to the operational characteristics of the roadway.

(4) It is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of other traffic."

Note that this section does not talk about how fast you're driving or how fast the car behind you wants to drive. It simply states that it's against the law to drive in the left lane when it impedes the flow of other traffic. Period. End of story.

If you are such a self-righteous azz that you believe you deserve to hog the left lane when others want to pass you are absolutely wrong and I hope someday a representative of the state of WV sees you doing that and gives you one of his "stupid driver" coupons.

We're not talking more then 2 lane hi ways or heavy volume traffic or driving at a excessive speed . Restating you are driving on a two lane road at a reasonable speed that is posted you come up on some one in the slow lane doing 5 to 10 mph under but you can't pass him because there is some knuckle head in the passing lane matching his speed or just doing the speed limit . We all know that you can usually do 5 mph over the posted speed limit taking into all other factors and some common sense. I think that if you went to do 120 mph in flip flops and shorts ,no shirt glasses or helmet in rush hour traffic that is a whole different thread.

I returned from a trip to Houston TX in April. Possibly they don't know to stay in the right lane all the time because we were 4 lanes abreast, door handle to door handle for miles. We were not doing the speed limit, traffic was heavy so the "left lanes" were carrying traffic.

Possibly some are misinterpreting my comments on left lane driving. I'm not saying I travel exclusively in the left lane. As I stated multiple times, common courtesy dictates we stay in the right lane but if you see me caught out in the left lane due to congestion at an on ramp or even if I have passed a concrete mixer on his way to a job I do not have to run someone into the guard rail to get back over into the right lane for you to have unobstructed lanes to speed in.

What is more apparent from this conversation than anything is how our society has become so intolerant of others. Rude behavior runs rampet in our country. Our nation is so divided today, we can't seem to agree on any solution to any problem. No wonder congress is dead locked and the president is so inept at problem solving.