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Could Germany's 20-second rule be the solution to the global traffic flow issues? (get out of the fast lane)
essannews ^ | Jan 24, 2024 | BTB

Posted on 01/25/2024 3:46:33 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?

You're on a highway or an expressway, adhering to the maximum permitted speed (that's why you chose this route), then you encounter a noticeably slow vehicle that obstinately occupies the left lane. No indication suggests that the driver is attempting to overtake - they might be satisfying a selfish whim, lacking driving experience, or any other obscure reason. A driver like this forces others to brake, reducing traffic fluidity.

In these instances, impatient and discourteous drivers might flash their lights or even honk their horns, which is inappropriate. A desire to travel at the maximum permissible speed does not justify road aggression, not even possessing a car that can quickly attain such speeds. In some countries, overtaking on the right in such scenarios is permissible, but necessitates slowing down and ensuring the slower vehicle does not decide to change lanes.

Contrarily, in Germany, overtaking on the right is prohibited. But besides adhering to the fundamental rule of driving in the right-hand lane, a 20-second rule applies. Established over 30 years ago through a court verdict, this norm stipulates how long you can traverse the left or middle lane if you're not currently overtaking. Meaning, if it's feasible to stay in the right lane for over 20 seconds, you should utilise it.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: fastlane; leftlane; passing; slowdrivers
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To: I-ambush

Depends on the extent of the surgery.


21 posted on 01/25/2024 5:31:52 AM PST by Waverunner
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To: Clutch Martin

Many states have minimum speed limits for multi-lane roads usually in the 30-40 mph range. That is far faster than the average cyclist can attain. This dude deserved his ticket.


22 posted on 01/25/2024 5:47:53 AM PST by ByteMercenary (Cho Bi Dung and KamalHo are not my leaders.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

FR has had some very long threads on this and there were many freepers arguing for their right to get in the left lane and stay there as long as they did the speed limit.

Traffic flow, the accidents caused by the countless cars having to whip out to get around them, nothing could deter their right to create chaos and break up flow “” because as long as they are doing the speed limit””.

A previous thread from 2014.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3128191/posts


23 posted on 01/25/2024 5:55:10 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

My peeve is those who fly around me in the left lane pull in front and go slower than I was going.


24 posted on 01/25/2024 5:57:20 AM PST by pas
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I drove all over Italy this summer. While the stereotype of the crazy Italian drivers is certainly true in the cities and the back roads- I was amazed at the difference on the highways- it was like you were driving with Germans. The left lane was for passing and if you came up on a car and flashed your lights they got out of your way as soon as they safely could ( even if it meant speeding up or slowing down to do it). I felt much safer on the highways there than I do in the US.

Another thing I found absolutely hilarious is that they did have a lot of automated speed cameras- but by law (in Italy) they have to put up warning signs in advance that you are coming up on a speed camera- also their version of Google maps has them all mapped out.


25 posted on 01/25/2024 5:58:09 AM PST by rmichaelj (Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The Left lane is the “passing” lane.


26 posted on 01/25/2024 5:59:34 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: I-ambush
How long is it permissible to leave your turn signal on after changing lanes?

It depends, in Florida and NJ it's difficult to enforce, they don't have big enough jails.

27 posted on 01/25/2024 6:00:51 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Waverunner

??


28 posted on 01/25/2024 6:04:04 AM PST by I-ambush (From the brightest star comes the blackest hole. You had so much to offer, why didya offer your sou?)
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To: sonova
Worse is drivers in the slow lane who jam on brakes to allow others entering the roadway to merge in.

They don't understand that they have the right of way, and if they are driving at a generally constant speed it is up to the car entering the highway to judge the speed and merge when safe.

29 posted on 01/25/2024 6:04:15 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: silverleaf
Germans have been flashing their headlights at cars traveling too slowly in the left lane for decades.

I was TDY in Germany for a couple of months just after the Wall came down. A serious road hazard on the Autobahn was "easties" in their two-stroke Trabants, which were just barely capable of overtaking the big Turkish-registered long-haul trucks, which were then limited (I think) to 60 kilometers.

We'd be cruising at 150 in an Audi, and one of these things would suddenly swerve into the left lane. . . . needless to say it infuriated my driver, who would flash mercilessly while waiting until the last split second to brake. . . . . .

30 posted on 01/25/2024 6:27:27 AM PST by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Ride their tail, close up. Intimidate and frighten....... they’ll move


31 posted on 01/25/2024 6:29:29 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Hamascide is required in totality)
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To: 1Old Pro
The Left lane is the “passing” lane.

I have lived, driven and was licensed in places where that is not the case such as Thailand where the vehicle's steering wheel is on the right, and supposedly the passing lane is also on the right.
32 posted on 01/25/2024 6:38:51 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage? (Drain the Swamp. Build the Wall.)
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To: neverevergiveup

I see letting faster people pass me as having them clear out the road in front of me. It’s mutually beneficial.


33 posted on 01/25/2024 6:58:43 AM PST by glorgau
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

That isn’t true. Left exits are probably less common on the German autobahns than they are on US interstates.


34 posted on 01/25/2024 7:02:59 AM PST by brianl703
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To: ansel12

There’s also people who think it’s their right to get in the left lane and match speeds with the drivers in the right lane, creating a rolling roadblock so nobody gets around them.

It’s a small-dick problem.


35 posted on 01/25/2024 7:06:56 AM PST by brianl703
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To: brianl703

So is using crude language on a public forum.


36 posted on 01/25/2024 7:12:36 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: jeffc

Drivers are required to move to the right if there is someone behind. It works quite well.


37 posted on 01/25/2024 7:16:14 AM PST by the_Watchman
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To: brianl703

“....creating a rolling roadblock so nobody gets around them.”

I’ve encountered that BS from time to time from 18-wheelers and easily remedied that by going around them at an on ramp. Prolly illegal but so is intentionally impeding traffic with a rolling roadblock.


38 posted on 01/25/2024 7:37:23 AM PST by LastDayz (A blunt and brazen Texan. I will not be assimilated.)
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To: LastDayz

It’s great when one 18-wheeler decides to pass another 18-wheeler on a long uphill.

Gotta wonder why they even bother.


39 posted on 01/25/2024 7:47:02 AM PST by brianl703
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To: LastDayz

18-wheelers do that thing where they are on cruise control and want to pass another truck so they do it without speeding up, which can amount to a 10 or 15-mile roadblock because of their 1 or 2-mile difference in speed.


40 posted on 01/25/2024 7:47:13 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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