Posted on 02/28/2014 6:12:43 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
One of my biggest pet peeves on the road is the left-lane highway cruiser. If you’re a compulsive reader of my articles (Why would you do that to yourself?), you may remember that I have written on this very issue before.
I don’t care how fast you are going. The leftmost lane on the highway is for passing. That is basic road etiquette, but, not surprisingly, few people here in Georgia follow it. And it is frustrating.
Well the Georgia State legislature is here to save the day. They are currently enacting a bill (dubbed the Slowpoke Bill) that would make lollygagging in the left lane a misdemeanor. That’s right. All those people with their left blinker still on … going 62 in a 65 … in the left lane … pacing the car on their right … with ten cars piled up behind them … Johnny Law is coming for you.
The reaction to the bill is hilarious. Some lady (armygirl1974), who probably has no idea how bad she is at driving, responded, “What if the speed limit is 65 and I am going 65, am I supposed to move over and let someone going 90 pass[?] Give me a ticket, I dare you.” Are you supposed to move over? Yeah. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. I mean, seriously? Is that a real question? Who made you the hall monitor of safe driving speeds? I’m looking forward to seeing you on the side of the road getting ticketed for just that.
The rules are there to allow everyone the maximum opportunity to drive the way he wants. The speed limit is an arbitrary suggestion, and that’s a fact. Depending on the police officer and the stretch of road you’re on, you can go as much as 15 over the speed limit (and maybe more in some cases) without having to worry at all about a police officer pulling you over. So the more likely scenario for the Slowpoke Bill is a person going the speed limit and someone else who wants to go even ten miles an hour faster pulling up behind them. Neither driver would be ticketed for speeding, but under the Slowpoke Bill, the person in front would be ticketed for blocking up traffic.
This is not just a hypothetical example. Here in Georgia, we have a loop around the city called 285. The posted speed limit on 285 is 55 miles per hour. No one, and I mean no one, goes 55 on 285. The average speed is a little under 70. If you went 55, you would be a danger to society. If armygirl1974 decided to go 55 in the left lane to keep everyone legal, she wouldn’t be doing a public service. She would be (and probably is) a public nuisance at best. The Slowpoke Bill would see her ticketed for those shenanigans.
So … Well done, Georgia legislature! This may be one of the only times I ever congratulate you. So savor it.
The guys I’m talking about could have an open lone and still get right up on your bumper just to push out of the way because its a power play. Makes you want to run up on them and do a state trooper bump...: )
The power play is in squatting in the fast lane to make the rules for thousands of people, no matter the dangers.
“”WILMINGTON, Del. — Calling them lane hogs, dawdlers or something worse, many a driver has cursed the slowpoke in the left lane holding up highway traffic.
“It’s frustrating,” said Lewes (Del.) Police Chief Jeffrey Horvath. “People get road rage. They get angry.”
A bill in the Delaware Legislature would crack down on left-lane crawlers who test the patience of drivers behind them by imposing a fine of up to $230.””
“”Louisiana State Police troopers are continuing a crackdown on drivers on the state highways who refuse to move from the left lane and allow other traffic to pass.
In a recent left-lane enforcement detail on Interstate 10 between Sulphur and the Texas state line in Calcasieu Parish, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop D issued a total of 42 citations in two hours.
Troopers used a mix of marked and unmarked vehicles to locate and cite offenders who would not. Of the 42 citations that were issued, 38 were issued for impeding the flow of traffic by not moving from the left lane, one was issued for speeding, one for following too close, one for an expired license plate, and one for driving under suspension.
Louisiana state law requires slower traffic to keep right and allow faster traffic to pass on multilane highways. Not doing so promotes road rage, encourages unsafe driving practices such as following too close, impedes the flow of traffic, and delays response by first responders to highway emergencies, according to the LSP.”’
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2012/01/06/230219.htm
If I am going the speed limit, and feel so inclined to travel in the left lane, I will. And I will do so with total, serene disregard for the assholes who think they are on the indy 500 trying to drive through my rear windshield.
You are not the boss of the world either. If you have to get somewhere, leave on time. Don't berate people trying to be safe by following the speed limit.
And the quote...Some cop disregarding the speed limit, harassing someone who is not disregarding the speed limit, and glorying in the fact that he was able to scare every other driver in the vicinity by doing so. And if past posting history is anything to go by, you don't even like cops. Unless they are addressing one of your pet peeves, I guess.
You are the reason we are having to legislate solutions to your dangerous driving and insistence to disrupt traffic flow because you are angry at the world, and want revenge by using your car, read post 63 for example.
You are the one denigrating cops on this thread, and disregarding them.
No one said that I speed, nor anything about “90 mph”, the law and traffic experts agree that blocking off the passing lane is dangerous and prevents a safe traffic flow.
First you go after the traffic cops, now you are going after traffic law regarding maintaining the passing lane, why is it so important for you to block the passing lane?
A man who is determined to squat in the passing lane to disrupt and endanger thousands of drivers, is hardly the kind of guy who is freedom oriented and a good humble Christian, but he is the type to use cuss words on a public forum while attacking people over keeping the passing lane open and safe, and not using it for neurotic acting out.
If you feel that someone is front of you going the speed limit isn't going fast enough and has to get out of your way, you're speeding.
"the law and traffic experts"
LOL. "studies have shown..."
"A man who is determined to squat in the passing lane to disrupt and endanger thousands of drivers, is hardly the kind of guy who is freedom oriented and a good humble Christian, but he is the type to use cuss words on a public forum while attacking people over keeping the passing lane open and safe, and not using it for neurotic acting out."
There is more danger and disruption from people speeding, and weaving like looms to get around people actually obeying the speed limit. Its less Christian and humble to feel the need to pass anyone going the speed limit. Freedom-oriented...Coming from the guy who says 'you are reason we need to legislate solutions." Keep on legislating solutions pal. It will eventually make more us free no doubt, if only we legislate enough "solutions!"
And the "cuss word" bit...Now I'm really laughing. A quick googling of "ansel12 +freerepublic +shit" reveals that even you, mr. purity, have indulged in the use of said word, and defended its use when making an emphatic point.
That isn't true, and it is why the legislation is being passed in so many states to deal with poor drivers like you who break up natural traffic flow and cause people to weave and lane change to pass you, using the lanes that you are supposed to be in.
And the "cuss word" bit...Now I'm really laughing. A quick googling of "ansel12 +freerepublic +shit" reveals that even you, mr. purity, have indulged in the use of said word, and defended its use when making an emphatic point.
Where?
You just described the danger that you are creating as you interfere with thousands of drivers, the traffic experts attribute those dangers to you, it is why they are looking for ways to force you to stop creating dangerous traffic situations by educating you to drive in the correct lane rather than acting out emotional issues.
Don't berate people trying to be safe by following the speed limit.
So, you'll follow one law, but not another?
If you go the speed limit because it is the law and contributes to traffic safety, then you should also move your stubborn butt out of the passing lane because it also is the law and also contributes to traffic safety.
The psychology is all important in this situation, these are just single individuals striving to affect thousands.
“I” will do this, they aren’t merely driving somewhere, something is going on inside their heads.
“...that indicates someone who might need to be retested since they are losing track of conditions around them.”
Great point. And what about the guy that passes you, then slows down!?
I will say that as I have gotten older, I drive the speed limit on the roads in town - maybe 37 at most in a 35; the cops seem everywhere now. And things are more crowded, etc. I REALLY hate it when someone is on my tail then. My kids (learning to drive) said their instructor(!?) told them to slow down below the limit. I told them NOT to do that - you might just piss off the wrong guy. Just keep it at 35 to 37, and make sure you leave a lot MORE room in front of you so you won’t have to slam on your brakes, and risk getting rear-ended.
“But Dad!!! It would be the other guy’s fault.” And then they get reminded AGAIN that I don’t care who’s fault it is - I don’t want them getting in an accident!
We all make mistakes, and occasionally I am that guy who has a car running up on him.
In my case it embarrasses me that I had lost track of my driving and that somebody came up on me while I was just dreamily cruising along in the fast lane.
You are teaching your children the same lesson you always teach, don’t go out of your way to just make life worse, especially when driving at 70 mph on the freeway.
Driving is an activity that involves us all, flow and freeway effectiveness is everything, it is not the time to be compensating or expressing personal issues.
I always thought the speed limit for Atlanta sections was set by the highway number. So obviously i-20 at 20mph, I-75 at 75mph, I-85 at 85mph, and for I-285 and GA-400 - purely hypothetical as far as concerns most street-legal vehicles.
Get out of his way dumba$$.
Gotta pass this pic on to our wimpy state senate and house......even tho it’s too late for this year.....
But then, will never happen with the Dems in control......
I like the comparisons to driving in Germany, as this is a really a stupid comparison. First off, many highways don’t have a speed limit in Germany. Its not uncommon to see someone driving well over 100 on the autobahn.
Second, until they can show me a law where it states that its legal to exceed the posted speed limit in order to “maintain the flow of traffic” I will then only drive in the right hand lane.
Third, they need to stop these idiots that pass on the shoulder, pass on the on/off ramp, and weave in and out of traffic.
Boy this thread has revealed who the bumper riders are...lol
I usually stay out of the passing lane and always get out of the wy of soneone who’s driving 20 - 30 miles above the speed limit and secretly wish for there to be a state trooper just ahead...: )
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