Posted on 01/27/2005 6:08:40 AM PST by devane617
Aggressive driving along Interstate-75 appears to be more problematic than ever.
"We're seeing the problem of road rage increasing," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Norman Parks, who has been patrolling the interstates for almost 15 years.
"It's scary to drive down here," said one driver.
"Weaving, tailgating, cutting people off," said another driver.
"When you get all of that, it can pose real problems," said Parks.
That's why Florida Senator Mike Bennett is pushing for the Road Rage Reduction Act to be made into law. It's designed to reduce the amount of people in the left lane.
"We have a lot of people in the state of Florida who unfortunately, drive in the left-hand lane and block traffic," said Bennett.
Signs in the median advising people to only use the left lane for passing don't seem to be working.
"We need a better tool to specifically deal with this issue," said Parks. If the bill gets passed, there will be more signs like these and bigger ones.
If the bill gets passed, you'll not only see more signs and billboards on the roadways warning drivers to stay out of the left lane, but greater enforcement of that.
"We're trying to figure out a way to increase traffic flow and prevent citizens from accidents and road rage," said Bennett.
Bennett says the Department of Highway Safety's involvement is key to the bill working. If the bill passes, the department will be required to work with the Florida Highway Patrol to educate the public about the new law through an awareness campaign.
It IS scary to drive on I-75 in Florida. Bigger signs are not the answer to the problem. Get the heck outta the left lane unless you are passing!
CHP ain't doing jack to stop it.
If people would just follow thta simple advice the world would be a better place!!
I recently drove from the Northeast down to Texas and came across many drivers tootling along obliviously in the left lane on the interstates.
I found myself wondering: what are these people thinking? Aren't they aware of how they're causing a problem? Don't they notice all the people weaving around them while shaking fists and making other gestures?
I get very unnerved by the way they drive down there, that's why I don't like being in those communities, because they drive slow, they sit low. That's their model. The state flag of Florida should be just a steering wheel with a hat and two knuckles on it. I mean, there is nobody in the car, sometimes! You just see cars going by, "There was nobody in that car! It was a completely empty car!"
...Always with the left turn signal on, from when they left the house that morning. That's a legal turn in Florida, it's known as an "eventual left."
What is the age that old people reach where they decide when they back out of the driveway, they're not looking anymore? Do you know how they do that, they just go, "Well, I'm old, and I'm coming back! I've survived, let's see if you can!"
My thoughts exactly? What are they thinking? I hope we have a few left-lane drivers here on FR so they can comment about the mind-set of these drivers. It seems to cross all ages also.
Another thing, what about those folks who like to do the speed limit? Everyone knows the cops will give you 10MPH over the limit, yet there are those who like to do 55 in the middle lane - during rush hour, no less. Pi$$es me off to no end!
Right. Make more signs. People will then follow them.
I cannot help but think of the joke where the guy lost his brakes going down a mountain and was not worried because there was a Stop sign at the bottom of the hill.
Or Bill "Here's your sign" Engvall
I live right off of 75 , I NEVER DRIVE ON 75,even in the "granny" lane if your not doing 80, your going much too slow.
That's the way to get serious about road rage, not this garbage of penalizing other drivers for legal actions on the highways.
NOTE: I'm more than half-serious about this. Maybe I'd be willing to compromise on the mandatory death penalty after three offenses. Reduce that to 20 years in prison or something.
Regardless, they sit in the left lane at barely highway speeds (70 mph is the posted limit on I75 in this area) and refuse to move over, even when some hot-head gets on their bumper, flashing their lights and hitting the horn. Considering many of the transplants down here are from the Northeast or Canada, you can imagine the impatience, and easily foresee the resulting road rage that accompanies it...
btttt
I agree signs and laws do little to help. A law was passed in Texas several years ago and thousands of signs were placed all over the state. I believe Texas is better than Florida with left-lane oblivions, but not by much.
There are LOTS of elderly people in Florida, and many of them aren't very good drivers, often absentmindedly hogging the left lane (sometimes with a turn signal blinking endlessly). The younger local people resent these multitudes of old, out-of staters, and take their revenge with aggressive driving, IMO.
I believe All states have the same problem actually.
Must be human nature. :)
I've always had the opinion that anyone driving faster than me is an idiot, and anyone driving slower, and in the left lane no less, should have their license revoked and spend some time in jail.
"There are LOTS of elderly people in Florida, and many of them aren't very good drivers, often absentmindedly hogging the left lane (sometimes with a turn signal blinking endlessly). The younger local people resent these multitudes of old, out-of staters, and take their revenge with aggressive driving, IMO."
I try to give the endlessly blinking turn signals the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes they dont automatically reset and sometimes the person driving does not here the clicking for whatever reason. It is a man made product and subject to failure. But I do agree with your point.
You want an answer, I have it. They drive in the left lane because there are no cars in front of them, They are frightened people who are afraid when cars are in front of them. They know in the left lane they are moving slow and faster moving cars pull away from them leaving a clear lane.They dont have the good sense to worry about whats behind them as long as there is no one close in front.
As for me I need to fine tune my grammar.....
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