Left lane hogs - BEWARE!!!!!!!!

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Virginia has TWO laws which apply in this situation.

§ 46.2-804. Special regulations applicable on highways laned for traffic.

Whenever any roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following:

1. Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or where right lanes are reserved for slow-moving traffic as permitted in this section;

(remainder snipped because it talks about two-lane and three-lane highways)

(Code 1950, § 46-222; 1952, c. 671; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-206; 1962, c. 87; 1979, c. 25; 1985, c. 481; 1989, c. 727.)

§ 46.2-842.1. Drivers to give way to certain overtaking vehicles on divided highways.

It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway. On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so. A violation of this section shall not be construed as negligence per se in any civil action.
(1989, c. 708, § 46.1-211.1.)
 
quote:
Originally posted by Palut:
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If one is going too slow for the fast lane, and too fast for the other lanes, then they need to change their speed. They must either slow down and get in the right lane, or speed up for the fast lane. Only go the speed you want when its not obstructing traffic!
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The more crowded it gets, the more we must compromise on our speed. I see no reason why it should always be the faster drivers. Say you are doing about the speed limit in the right lane with a steady stream of cars going by in the left lane. Then you slowly come up behind somebody going only a little slower. Is it right for you to lurch over into the left lane risking rear enders back for miles, leave it on cruise control for the 20-30 minutes it takes for ooze by them? Is it unreasonable to ask you to speed up enough to quickly get by them, or just stay behind them and slow down a little more yourself? Many people are quick to force others to slow down, but seem to feel they have the right not to them selves. If you are not comfortable keeping up with traffic, maybe you should even consider staying out of congested places at peak travel times.

Another point, merging into a crowded left lane because there is a car coming down the ramp does not contribute to safety or the smooth flow of traffic. Most people are capable of merging into a line of traffic even in heavy traffic. Pick your gap, and match speeds. If you lack such skills, maybe again, choose a less congested route or time. A big truck is another matter. They can't fit in as well. If you must move over, like on a ramp, pick your gap, and match speeds.

Too much of the advice about driving is written assuming lower traffic levels. In general, consideration for the other guy, is less important when he isn't around.

I am not sure ticketing is the answer to people that pull over into a line of traffic moving much faster than them, or drive along for miles beside the same car, and then speed up when they finally get around it. Could we authorize the cops to shoot them on sight?
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As someone who learned driving abroad, it took me a long time to get used to people blocking left highway lanes and others passing on the right lanes -- and it still irritates me.

As for merging into traffic on US highways, the ramp lenght varies from criminally short to adequate. But people don't leave gaps and don't yield! If I take an on-ramp onto the Autobahn, people will generally move one lane over and let me have the right lane. According to the law, they have to let me merge in: I'm to their RIGHT and I have the RIGHT of way. Here I often have to force my way in. Not enough distance between vehicles is my biggest complaint regarding US traffic. And I'm guilty of it, too, because I also don't want other cars to squeeze in right in front of me all the time. It comes down to undisciplined and poorly trained drivers wo don't care. In the end, everybody pays for this with an increased accident risk, increased stress, and an inefficient flow of traffic.
 
The main problem is not people who drive too slow in the fast lane. It is the jerks who feel that people in the fast lane should get out of their way cause they want to speed. I get angry when I am cruising along in the fast lane at about 75 and there are 3-4 cars in front of me going the same speed. We are passing cars in the slower lane and some jerk comes up behind me and starts riding my *** . Where does he want to go? There are three cars in front of me!

Or, I am cruising down hwy 5 at about 82mph (that the speed I like to go) and I am in the fast lane because I pass a car about every minute and don't like to change lanes a lot. So, again this guy rides up my *** . Meanwhile I see a truck in the slow lane going about 65. But I pull over, and so now he has lost his nerve and sloooowwwwly starts to pass. Meanwhile I have caught up to the truck and have to slow down. Now when I get back behind the jerk in the fast lane he has slowed down to 75.

Its not the slow people in the fast lane that are the problem, its the speeders that can't see past the one car in front of them.
 
Some of the 4-lane highways are so bad here in Saskatchewan, Canada, that the only way to drive at the speed limit is to drive in the left lane.

I have very little sympathy for anyone who tries to pass me when I am already doing the speed limit. Speed limit signs are there to obey, not as DMV make-work projects.
 
Winston, you are describing the typical Bay Area highway traffic. It's like a war zone out there. No wonder we joke about putting up Prozac dispensers along 580..
 
quote:
Originally posted by labman:


I am not sure ticketing is the answer to people that pull over into a line of traffic moving much faster than them, or drive along for miles beside the same car, and then speed up when they finally get around it. Could we authorize the cops to shoot them on sight?
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I like the idea. Then hang their bodies from overpasses or light poles with a big sign on them listing their trangresssion. I suspect it greatly reduce eliminate lane hogging.
 
Everyone get a 3 series BMW ..lane changing is fun and simple. Loafers in other lanes? No problem. Just zip ---zip ---zip ..they're behind you. Got a lame dude hogging the left ONLY passing at .000002 mph over the right lane traffic ..and doesn't take that oportunity to pull over when possible? No problem ..downshift and use that limited space to show him your tail pipe.

See ..easy enough. You can even do it without an attitude. It becomes second nature and is no more stressful than navigating the door going into work.

The bottom line in any and all driving situations.

LEAD, FOLLOW, or GET OUT OF THE WAY.
 
Gary assumes that people drive well enough in general to make zippy lane changes. I can tell that 95% don't even know how to use a directional signal properly. Blinking one tenth of a second after starting a lane change in the opposite direction of indicated is not proper. Neither is using the flasher, which I see people do on highways here all the time. "Hey, I'm blinking left and right, I can go wherever I please. Watch me!"
 
quote:
Gary assumes that people drive well enough in general to make zippy lane changes. I can tell that 95% don't even know how to use a directional signal properly.
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No ..I look at these people as the reason for zippy lane changes.
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Consider them the cones on an otherwise boring course.
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btw- I haven't owned a "zippy" car in about 25+ years (yes, it was a 3 series Bimmer 1978) ..so I don't bother attempting the lane changes and mildly entertaining sprints that were second nature in that type of car. Now I plod along with the herd and typically limit my use of the BIG ROAD to "FOLLOW" and "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!".
 
How would a traffic cop effectively enforce a left-lane-road-hog law? The minute he appears on the freeway, all traffic will slow to the speed-limit. All vehicles in the left lane will merge to the right if they can.

It seems like a very tough law to attempt to enforce.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Jay:
...All vehicles in the left lane will merge to the right if they can...
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If only that were the case! I've seen on many occasion left lane hogs sitting in the left lane with a cop cruiser right on their rear bumper. These fools never use their rear view mirror so they never know that there's someone waiting to pass, whether it's a cop or a civilian.
 
quote:
Originally posted by moribundman:
As someone who learned driving abroad, it took me a long time to get used to people blocking left highway lanes and others passing on the right lanes -- and it still irritates me.
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In Maine, passing on the right is completely legal..

quote:


According to the law, they have to let me merge in: I'm to their RIGHT and I have the RIGHT of way. Here I often have to force my way in.
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not here they don't... you happen to miss the big triangular Yield sign on the ramp? it means the person on the ramp must yield to traffic, not the other way around.

-Bret
 
quote:
Originally posted by moribundman:
As for merging into traffic on US highways, the ramp lenght varies from criminally short to adequate.
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I've found that most of the ramps in Virginia are long enough to get my car up beyond the 65MPH speed limit in 5th gear.

Even an 88HP Ford Escort has enough juice to get up to speed on these on-ramps.

Therefore, I can't understand why the people driving what I know are more powerful cars still can't manage it. I once merged onto I95 behind some dingleberry driving a Porsche who was still going about 40MPH at the end of the ramp. I'm not 100% sure how fast he was going at the end of the ramp because I was already in front of him going 70MPH. (Traffic was very light and I punched it and headed for the middle lane when it became obvious that he wasn't going to merge properly).
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bret Chase:
not here they don't... you happen to miss the big triangular Yield sign on the ramp?
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Inconsistent application of the yield sign really gets in my nerves. VA only puts yield signs ip when there is no or limited merge area. In the case of no merge are, there is a sign under the yield sign saying "NO MERGE AREA".

PA likes to put yield signs everywhere, whether or not there is sufficient merge area. (A lot of PA on-ramps have very limited merge area..what DOES PA spend all that federal highway money on anyway??).
 
TomH: The situation I was talking about is when I'm passing a person who is in the right lane. I'll be moving along at a good speed above that person and get into the left lane early enought to keep my 2 second buffer. Sometimes this preperation goes rewarded by a 3rd party trying to cut between us. That is when I speed up just a touch more.
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If they can't take it and go nuts so be it.
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Cheers, Steve
 
The left lane is for passing and faster moveing trafic! Like another poster stated if you are passing people stay put until it is convient to yield to the faster trafic. If you are not passing slower traffic in right lane get out of the left lane! While I wish our road system was set up like Germany's it is not! It is not imparitive to get out of someones way right away! Their are not a lot of people closeing on you in the left lane with their left hand turn signal on in the USA!

You always have two or more choices! You can either speed up and stay in the left lane, speed up and merg into the right lane or slow down and merge right.

I am glad to see they are enforceing this rule! I wish they would also enforce head light aiming and idiots that fail to turn their high beams off within 200 feet of another driver or what ever the number is!I also wish they would nail people really hard for not signaling!!!
 
In WA state on a 4 lane divided hyw, the right lane is refered to as the "drive lane", the left lane = "pass lane". The left lane hog law could be but is seldom used around here. Cruise control is another big contributer to left lane hogging IMO.
I live in a really weird county, never been anywhere like it. If the speed is posted 60, 90% of the cars go 55mph. Drives you nuts sometimes.
 
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