I moved from Nova Scotia to Ontario in a U-Haul Ford F350 based box truck with my Nissan Multi (Stanza Wagon in the US) in tow. That little truck, with that stuff behind it, didn't want to do much more than 55, maybe 60 tops, on the highway. Anyway, big truck drivers, and others, really appreciated it whenever I noticed a line up forming behind me and pulled over onto the shoulder to let them all pass.
Too many people don't realize that our roads are a game of give and take - rules and regulations are fine and all, but courtesy, consideration and a brain that's in gear go a long way, too. For example, generally cars on a multi-lane highway have the right of way over cars merging on on-ramps (thus the yield signs on the ramp) and have no particular responsibility to allow them to squeeze in. But the reality is that our highways are crowded and a little consideration to the mergers helps things move along better, and more safely. At the same time, when I'm the one merging, I assume that everyone on the highway is going to keep going as they are, and I adjust my speed and position to find a gap. Too many people won't even use the ramp to get up to the highway's speed before they merge.
You make really good sense. We all have to make allowances for other vehicles on the road, even if they're doing something we don't like or even if they're doing something really stupid.
It's how it is out there. Insisting on your right of way could easily lead to an accident where you and others are hurt. I will always yield the right of way if there's any danger in insisting on it. It just makes sense.
If someone is merging onto a freeway I'm on and there is the potential for a conflict, I will slow to make space for them to merge or, if practical, will speed up to give them space behind me. That's just the polite thing to do.
I stay right, except to pass. However, if there are three lanes of traffic, I drive the speed limit in the center lane with no apologies. I avoid mergers and anyone may pass me on the left. If there are more than three lanes, I will take the lane next to the right lane if it is moving at the speed limit. Otherwise, I will take the lane to the right of the left lane.
Always, however, I will move over a lane if someone is overtaking me and it is safe to do so.
So far, I've been driving for 45 years, with no accidents and just one ticket that I got in 1971. I've driven everything from a 16-wheeler to a motorcycle.
See, I coulda used you over the weekend.
I was on my way to my second job, and the final stretch is a two-lane back road that has a 70 limit on it. The bozo in front of me was going forty-freaking-give miles an hour, and every time someone tried to pass, he wove over into the center, taking up both lanes.
What a (expletive deleted).