'Slow-poke’ bill aims to stop left lane lingerers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | Aaron Gould Sheinin

[Kennesaw]

Those who lollygag in the left lane of highways and interstates could be ticketed under legislation approved in the state House on Wednesday. House Bill 459, by Rep. Bill Hitchens, R-Rincon, was approved 162-9.

The bill makes it a misdemeanor for any driver on a divided highway who does not move to the right when a car going faster approaches from behind.

[from occupied ga]

Why are there speed limits and cops with radar guns?

To raise money for the government.

[from occupied ga]

The current speed limits are valid, even if they are not enforced.

Sez who?

[from occupied ga]

....whatever it is you are looking for by driving too fast.

Right there is the crux of the problem. YOU'VE decided that someone is driving "too fast." Who are you to make that determination? And don't start braying about the speed limits. Everyone knows they're set at least 10 mph too low for revenue collection reasons.

[from occupied ga]

pictures

You know for a fact that speed was the factor that caused these wrecks? I'm guessing not.

[EVO X]

But there are others worse.

There are a lot of nut jobs out there. The worst are the ones that try to stay glued to your bumper. You can speed up on hyper-milers and they will switch hosts. But for some of those morons, you have to take evasive maneuvers to get them off your bumper. What is up with that?

[cva66snipe]

Start tapping your brakes just enough to make the lights come on. Keep doing it. Make tailgater nervous LOL.

[EVO X]

That doesn’t work with those people. Normal tailgaters will usually back off.

[dennisw]

I can’t drive 55!! Get out of the fast lane!

[Atlas Sneezed]

So you’re saying careful drivers are borderline fascists. Nice.

The “I can break the law whenever I feel like it” attitude is what separates civilized people from psychopaths.

---

You’re equating care with slowness. I disagree.
And there’s nothing fascist about driving slow on the proper road or the proper lane.

We’re not talking about breaking “any law.” We’re talking about a numerical (arbitrary) regulation that is violated by the majority of the people when given the opportunity.

And you make the case that unjustified speed limits and their enforcement creates a disregard for the rule of law where it does make a difference. (I would add that the excessive enforcement focus on speed has neglected other more safety-affecting violations, causing them to be higher than they would be, to the detriment of public safety).

[Atlas Sneezed]

But if the speed limit was only 40-50 mph and strictly enforced, the accidents and fatalities would go down.

---

Flying pigs aside, setting speed limits ridiculously low is scientifically proven not to lower actual speeds, and creates more speed differentials that worsen safety. You can’t afford the kind of police state it would take to create compliance with low limits.

[Atlas Sneezed]

And everybody knows about the dangers of speed and alcohol.

---

Just like “everybody knows about global warming”, right?

Those two issues have a wide disparity between what the public, politicians, and media “know” and what the scientific research proves.

[from occupied ga]

On my commute in to work this morning my typical expressway speed was in the 65 - 75 range on nominally 55 roads. I passed some people and in turn was passed by others. There was a cop on one stretch who slowed everyone down to the speed he was going (70), but when he turned off things got back to normal. Those who were going 55 (only a few) were causing the traffic to bunch up and people to pass even though they weren't in the left lane.

If someone wants to go faster than I am go for it. I'll get out of your way. OTO if you're going slower than I am get out of my way.

[bert]

amen...... those who persist in blocking can be urged to move

[jjotto]

hehe

My preferred speed is a few mph slower than the fastest guy in sight!

[from occupied ga]

George Carlin had a routine where all other drivers were classified as either a$$holes or maniacs. as “get out of the way you a$$hole.” and “Did you see that maniac pass me?”

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

"When I was in France and Belgium I noticed the drivers always got into the right lane and never used the left lane for cruising"

The highways in France and Belgium are not full of big rig trucks stacked up in the right lane like they are here.

[thackney]

Thanks for post that. The safest speed for the individual driver is the average speed of traffic at that time and conditions.

[thackney]

So you’re saying careful drivers are borderline fascists.

A careful driver is not going to be intentionally impeding other drivers. That is a unsafe driver trying to impose their will on others.

[from occupied ga]

than the fastest guy in sight!

I refer to those guys as "radar pickets"

[jjotto]

radar pickets

LOL! I'm going to use that.