One problem I have seen many times is that, as soon as the first sign appears announcing a exit (around here its typically 2 miles ahead), drivers merge into the right lane and slow down to well below the prevailing speed and often well below the speed limit. This is dangerous and unnecessary and it causes a traffic jam in the right lane that can lead to the problem you describe. In most cases, exit ramps are designed to give drivers plenty of room to safely decelerate, without causing problems to the main flow of traffic.
I should have said “the author described” instead of “you describe”. Sorry.
One problem I have seen many times is that, as soon as the first sign appears announcing a exit (around here its typically 2 miles ahead), drivers merge into the right lane and slow down to well below the prevailing speed and often well below the speed limit. This is dangerous and unnecessary and it causes a traffic jam in the right lane that can lead to the problem you describe.
If I’m exiting the highway, I don’t slow down until I am off the highway.
On another note - the driver is disappointed that more drivers don’t merge left when passing an emergency vehicle in the right shoulder. Two things I’ve noticed in my driving in 43 of our 50 states:
1. It is a legal requirement in some states, but not others.
2. People doing it often create a dangerous situation, whether they pull over or slow down. Both create changes in the traffic flow that can cause accidents, especially with people texting and other distractions. The safe thing to do is not change what you are doing but just be more aware while you pass them, regardless of what the short sighted laws say.
“... drivers merge into the right lane and slow down to well below the prevailing speed and often well below the speed limit.”
It’s not these folks I worry about. At least they’re thinking ahead and being respectful of other drivers.
It’s the idiots in the next lane to the left of the exiting lane that are trying to zip to the head of the line and perform a dangerous, suicidal lane change into the exiting lane at the last possible moment. That causes an already tightly packed exit lane to become a real ground zero of taillights and tailgating.
Don’t even get me started on dual-lane exit ramps.
And yes, I’m usually in the slowed down, far right lane well in advance ..although I’m very good at the “last minute” thingee too.
:*)