The American Spectator : Left to Pass -- Please!

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Left to Pass — Please!

By Eric Peters on 10.19.11 @ 6:05AM

Left lanes are the high speed lanes — why is that so difficult to remember?

Lane courtesy — moving over to allow faster-moving traffic to get by — is a wonderful concept. But I’d take it a step farther: If you’re not passing, you should not be in the left lane at all.

That, at any rate, is the way it’s done in Germany - and for good reason. That reason being something called closing speed. If a Porsche turbo doing 140 comes up on a Fiat doing 80, the Porsche either better have excellent brakes (and its driver superior reflexes) or the Fiat driver had better notice the headlights getting much larger, much faster in his rearview — and get the hell out of the way in time.

To avoid such dangerous conflicts, German drivers are taught to use the passing lane only to pass — and not to set the cruise control and zone out, like so many American drivers unfortunately do.

That’s why the Germans can have unlimited speed Autobahns — and why we can’t.

Or rather, don’t.

We could have them. At least, from a technical point of view.

Our Interstate system was modeled on the German Autobahn and could safely support much higher speeds than are currently permitted. Even the national high of 80 MPH in a few areas of Texas is absurd when put into context. That context being, the designed-for speeds of the U.S. Interstate system — updated to reflect the advances in vehicle design over the past 60 years.

The starting point is 70 MPH. That is the average, routine speed of traffic envisioned by the Interstate system’s designers. Curves, lines-of-sight, merge areas and so on were laid out on that assumption. That most cars would be toodling along at about 70 MPH.

Implicit in this is that maximum safe speeds were higher.

Pre-PC, a “speed limit” was precisely that: The maximum safe speed for the typical driver in the typical car on a given stretch of road. A speed limit was not supposed to be synonymous with average, cruising along speeds — as they are today.

At any rate, the point is that 60 years ago — when the typical car was a plodding behemoth with balloon whitewalls, drum brakes, a farm tractor suspension and nothing in the way of electronic safety systems — the engineers who laid out the Interstate system deemed 70 MPH average speeds well within the design parameters of the road — and of the cars of the era.

We’ve only recently seen speed limits go back up to about what was recommended — and posted — 60 years ago.

When you factor in the galloping advances in everything from tire design to high-capacity four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and passenger cabins built to withstand impacts better than the race cars of the not-to-distant past — well, 70 (even 80) seems awfully slow.

If a 1960 Chrysler was deemed capable of safe operation at 70 then surely a 2012 Chrysler can handle 80 or 90 just as safely. Probably, in fact the 2012 Chrysler is a whole lot safer at 80 or 90 than the 1960 Chrysler was at 70. Anyone who has driven examples of both (as I have) knows this automatically. Just for some perspective, a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT-8 can haul itself down to a complete stop from 60 mph in 120 feet. I could not dig up a stat for the 1960 Chrysler, but depend on it, that car took many more feet (yards, actually) to stop. That’s if you didn’t lock up the brakes — and skid into a telephone pole.

Yet — again — cars of the mid-late '50s and '60s, which were crap compared with any modern car — including the lowliest 2012 model year economy car — were regarded as being capable of comfortably, routinely, handling 70. But we’re told modern cars can’t handle 80 or 90. And that even 70-ish is pushing it. (In fact, in many states, driving 80 MPH or faster is statutory “reckless driving.” Really.)

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About the Author

Eric Peters is an automotive columnist and author of Automotive Atrocities: The Cars You Love to Hate (Motor Books International) and a new book, Road Hogs.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (196) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Chef Schanuzer| 10.19.11 @ 6:19AM

I used to commute weekly from Charlotte to Palm Beach; 77, 26, 95. The stupidity of drivers is breathtaking. The brain-deads slip it into cruise control and park their a$$s in the passing lane and half sleep their way down Interstate 95. These morons need to be run off the road. Driving is a participatory activity, shut up, put the drink down, turn off the damn phone, slap the kid into silence and just freaking DRIVE THE CAR.

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 7:22AM

Especially on three lane systems. We call these the mid-lane morons. Move into the middle lane, turn on the cruise at 5 under the SL, and go brain dead and effectively make a three lane freeway into a two lane. Driving a two lane freeway requires attention and strategy on the part of drivers as the passing lane is supposed to be used AS A PASSING LANE not as a place to reside and take up residence. I do beleive many of these idiots know exactly what they are doing when blockading the passing or faster lanes. I sure hope so anyway because if they are just daydreaming it makes them even more dangerous.
Police on the autobahn make it there first priority to ticket those who obstruct, here you would have to drive 1930 Farmall at 18MPH on the Dan Ryan to even get a look at an obstruction ticket. Then finally we have the guy on a two lane freeway passing a truck that is doing 6OMPH who himself while passing is doing 60.001MPH and 29 cars behind him waiting to get by him.

PolishKnight| 10.19.11 @ 11:22AM

I'm volunteering for you guys to beat me up, but I'm one of the mid lane morons. I don't do "cruise control", but I largely stay in the middle lane because it's less disruptive for me and other traffic.

If I'm in the right lane, I wind up having to weave back and forth to the middle lane anyway to accommodate entering traffic and a lot of the times, the drivers in front don't slow down in order for me to get them in without moving and the speed demons in the middle decide they're too important to let me merge to prevent an accident. So instead of fighting to move back and forth, I just stay in the middle.

In addition, I rarely am there alone. I'm usually going the "traffic speed" behind other cars also in the middle lane. So for most of the time, it seems pretty smooth. The middle lane morons are in a convoy that goes about the same speed while traffic is entering on the right and the speed demons on the left (hopefully with a radar and laser detectors) are moving past on the left.

Now regarding bad rules of the road: I'll be going 70 in a 65mph zone along with nearly every other driver in the middle lane and I'll see a speed demon coming up behind me. They get impatient and decide think about passing on the left and then discover that there are other speed demons there too who are slowing things up as they try to find a place in the middle to move out of the way. But speed demon is in a hurry so he goes to that right line I should be in and finds...

That a semi-trailer truck is merging in from the right.

So speed demon hits his breaks and grumpily goes right back behind me. Then tries again on the left, and then on the right... eventually, I catch up to them at rest stops where they don't seem to have gone much faster than me.

Guys, can you just relax and enjoy the road? FYI, my commute is 10 minutes. A day. That's because I don't "save" on real estate or business travel by driving 2 hours a day. If more did this, then the roads would be a lot clearer. Just saying.

DavidThompson| 10.19.11 @ 7:33PM

Mr.Knight,
I agree with you. "Left lane for passing only" is sufficient in normal traffic conditions.
In heavy traffic, nothing works, even on the autobahns. That is, no rule/law will facilitate high speed driving in heavy traffic.

Skippy| 10.19.11 @ 7:51PM

Mr. Peters is again berating drivers who go too slow for him.
Must be in one big-ass hurry to get to the next accident first!
Grow. Up. Please.

Steve West| 10.19.11 @ 10:21PM

Skippy,
I think you are the one that needs to grow up. His article is about unsafe drivers like YOU.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 7:43AM

Not even close Steve. How can you ASSUME that Skippy is unsafe? You're an idiot. Drive the damn speed limit. If you find that you're inclined to road rage, I suggest you hit the gym more often. If you don't like the posted speed limit on the roads, talk/lobby the authorities. Your impatience isn't my concern.

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 7:24AM

Maddox| 10.19.11 @ 10:43AM

Yes, they're stupid.....and they vote.
This is a complete analysis of the reason America has the problems it does.
*No scientists we harmed in reaching this conclusion.

PolishKnight| 10.19.11 @ 11:45AM

As I've observed in other driving forums: When you create a country that worships the car and regards public transportation as for "losers" and don't fund it, then you're stuck with everyone who can possibly qualify driving.

It's a pleasure to go to Europe where most of the drivers are truck drivers, taxicabs, and families making special errands. The rest of the time, everyone is on a tram or bus.

Le Cracquere| 10.19.11 @ 12:19PM

Amen to your first paragraph. We try every tactic in the book to force the entire populace into cars, then wonder why the intelligence & competence of American drivers mimics the normal curve of HUMAN intelligence & competence.

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:30PM

PK,

Obviously, you have never brought a member of the opposite sex to a climax while SHE was driving. On the interstate. Doing max speeds.

Yes, public transportation is for losers.

rn| 10.19.11 @ 5:19PM

OT, that was....gross. And just a teenssy weenssy adolescent.

Adults come here to comment and share.

You get a little full of yourself in your posts.

Please think twice before you type (and tell us again about the babes you met in Alabama and that hot chic you dated in LA and how you've flirted with all the waitstaff at eateries (and didn't have to pay for it!)....ugh the list of your pompous false machismo is LONG)

You remind us here how often? that you are a dad with a very bright daughter. Do you want her reading about all this? Do you really? What kind of role model are you for her -- in reality?

PolishKnight| 10.20.11 @ 10:09AM

I think OC is joking.

John Daniel| 10.19.11 @ 6:36AM

If the law was concerned with efficiency of movement rather than speed control, then left lane lollygaging would draw a reckless driving ticket quicker that speeeding. But - we can readily observe - police departments are staffed and equipped by speeding fines. "Traffic" cop - as opposed to "real" cop - should be a term of disparagement.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:25AM

John Daniel,

Then there is the issue of judgement. All the policeman has to do to validate the radar or laser is conform to the testing protocol and then the word of the instrument is the word of God. If he is pulling someone over for lolly-gagging in the left lane the dispute of over whether he was passing too slowly, or if the car he was passing sped up or what the definition of lolly-gagging is. Much more efficient when extracting fines from the hoi polloi to dispense with judgement all together.

John Daniel| 10.19.11 @ 9:16AM

a/k/a Conviction by machine, avoiding neddlesome issues as to wheter the conduct rises to the level unsafe under the circumstances. But the revenue is good....

PolishKnight| 10.19.11 @ 11:59AM

Left lane lollygagging is NOT reckless driving. It's rude driving at worst.

Reckless driving includes someone passing on the right and then cutting off entering traffic. Or passing without signalling (or giving time to signal. Or weaving in and out of high speed traffic with a car length to spare (they then tailgate because they view any reasonable distance as an invitation for someone else to do the same.)

That's behavior that causes accidents and I've seen them.

Finally, keep in mind that if someone is in the far left lane and going the speed limit or even above, then you technically have no legal right to pass them unless there's an obstruction on the right. You're not breaking the law by speeding, are you?

Boy, I better watch my rear view mirror. I have a feeling these guys are going to be mad at me!

Superman everytime| 10.19.11 @ 1:11PM

Polish Knight - for people like you I have installed a power takeoff unit on my driveline to run a generator in the trunk to power a laser mounted at bumper level that melts tires in a heartbeat - watch out for sure - dolt, thy name is thee

PolishKnight| 10.19.11 @ 1:33PM

Hello Auric Goldfinger! You'll have to get close to melt the tires with a real laser (it doesn't work like on James Bond). In addition, you don't want to melt the tires from the back (then the car will stop right in front of you). Always from the side.

PaulyD| 10.19.11 @ 8:40PM

California is the only state that regularly enforces the passing lane rules. In Drivers Ed class, we were told that if we were driving in the far left lane and we saw a police car coming up from behind, to get out of the lane immediately. This was because you were always "in the wrong" when in the left lane. If you weren't passing you were obstructing, but if you WERE passing you would almost always be speeding. They had you either way.

Pecos Pete| 10.19.11 @ 6:50AM

Last night, while in the middle lane of a 3-lane interstate, I was passed on the right by a car doing about 90. The left lane was open, the passing car could easily have been in the left lane.

You can have all the speed you want out there on the interstate highway, but in the end it all comes down to a common sense driver. As Mr. Peters says above, driver training, driver training, driver training.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:28AM

Pecos Pete,

I've got to give the right-lane passer some sympathy. I stay out of the left lane for two very good reasons; (1) it's the de facto "slow lane" and (2) the police generally fish in that lane.

If I were doing 90 in Houston (I generally do 76), I would most certainly NOT be in the left lane.

Roscoe| 10.19.11 @ 8:32AM

So Pete, why were you driving in the center lane, if there was so much clear space in the right lane?

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:53AM

Roscoe,

If the road was clear, the advantage to the middle lane is that it doesn't interfere with entries and exits.

It's back to judgement. If everyone took the position (noted by Peters) that everyone was advantaged by improved traffic flow and did their best to let passing traffic pass, average speeds would improve and all would arrive at their destination sooner than they otherwise would have.

BUT... A friend's father-in-law, a real law-and-order type, would revel in tales of how long he could back traffic up when driving from Dallas to Houston. This was during the 55 MPH days - It's the Law! - when CBs were common. If he had a two mile long "rolling roadblock" he felt the real patriot.

That was in the past, but the sentiment lives on in too many drivers.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 8:36AM

It lives on in me too! hahahahaha I LOVE too low speed limits! I'll drive the speed limit all day long. The author makes a GREAT point in that our vehicles can safely go faster, and I agree. But my last two speeding tickets were over a hundred bones each. "The Man" taught me to drive the speed limit. And......if I have to, then so do you! hahahaha

Pecos Pete| 10.19.11 @ 12:00PM

Roscoe:

The road width had just widened from 2 lanes to 3 lanes for a long uphill stretch. The right lane was filling up with trucks slowing down and moving to the right. My speed was greater than the trucks and I would be passing them as I moved up the hill. The idiot doing 90 passed me on the right then had to move to the center lane to avoid the trucks, then to the left lane to pass several cars in the center lane, then the idiot was back to the center lane. I lost sight of the idiot as the road made a curve way up the hill.

In other words, the driver was an idiot. The left lane had no cars all the way to the top of the hill.

Brian Mc| 10.19.11 @ 6:56AM

I'm starting to believe that these smug morons believe it to be their civic duty to arrest the normal flow to compel others to be as safe as they are. Even in the city, with gas prices a ridiculously bloated three plus dollars per, people coast rather than accelerate up to the posted speed, if they get there at all causing massive congestion issues, irritation and resentment that creates further accidents down the road.

Maybe if we had permanent paint ball markers installed in our grills in order to 'mark' vehicles that break these simple, yet sacred laws of consideration, they might finally move the hell over. A guy can dream.

JimH| 10.19.11 @ 9:34AM

If you can coast up to a speed you must be going downhill.

Brian Mc| 10.19.11 @ 5:30PM

If it takes you longer than three city blocks to achieve 45mph, I call that 'coasting'.

William L. Gen sert| 10.19.11 @ 7:13AM

I agree 100%; stay right except to pass. It is always the slower traffic, obliviously failing to yield, that create the danger.

Doctor_X| 10.19.11 @ 7:15AM

The only time I parked myself in the left lane was when I was in Canada. I would do that because at 140 mph (MPH not KPH) I was always passing someone. Even then I'd end up flying up behind some hooser only doing 100mph.
(1998 Audi S4)

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 7:17AM

Links Uberholen, Rechts fahren...
But even the Autobahns not what it used to be, I've got the 100 Euro Strafzettel to prove it..
Got "Blitzed" on the A8 east of Stuttgart, nice thing is you can pay on the spot.
And unlike the US, where you can pass on the right, don't try it on the Reichsautobahnen.
Passed a Fiat in the right lane with Polish plates, doin maybe 70kph..
Everyone backed away, like I was OJ in the Bronco...

Frank

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 7:20AM

The Fiat was in the left lane...
and the cool thang about Germany is Women actually drive Motorcycles.
I mean really drive them, not just pose on them.
Real Madchen-Next-Door Frauleins, on real "Crotch-Raketen" with those skin tight leather outfits.....
Sieg Heil Baby.....
No Nazi, that was an U2 Album.
They had to change the name for the German version...

Frank

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:21AM

You need to get laid.

JimH| 10.19.11 @ 9:36AM

I bet he likes that race car driving fraulein on Top Gear.

Johnny H| 10.19.11 @ 11:11AM

It was "Achtung, Baby"

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 1:23PM

it was originally "Sieg Heil Baby" till the Edge learned about Germany's draconian bans on any thing N-word related...
seriously, on German re-runs of "Hogans Heroes" the N-Words say "The Corn Growns this High in Bavaria" instead of "Heil You-Know-Who"...

Frank

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:33PM

Dear Frank:

Another reason Germany has a birthrate of 1.3.

Crotch-Raketen are NOT cars.

But you are a good guy. Good luck and G-d speed, pal.

Stilton A. Cheese| 10.19.11 @ 7:35AM

Typing this from Rhein-Main area. While there are some sections of the Autobahn where you can drive at any speed you feel capable of, most sections have a posted speed of about 70mph/120kph; and sections of 60mph are not uncommon. We regularly drive our 911 at speeds of over 100mph (the wife holds the family record of 147mph) but that takes quite a bit of concentration and anticipation and becomes tiring rather quickly. You are no longer allowed to drive up at high speeds behind that pokey FIAT and flash your lights, hoping they'll get out of the way, no, doing so will get you a nice fine and points in Flensburg. And Germans (in general) are not as good drivers today as they were just 20 years ago... They've become quite the Americans, no signals to indicate lane changes, no using the mirror and actually looking in the other lane before changing lanes, and camping in the left lane is on the rise, and then there are the dolts on their telephones though it is illegal. So if you're making like a bakery truck and hauling buns you had better be on your toes, eyes open, looking way up the road and figuring what you're going to do if the FIAT driver decides to pull into the left hand lane.

A Southerner in Germany (own an American Spectator beer mug which sees regular service).

Rennstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 9:23AM

It is also now just too congested on the Deutsche Autobahns. Everywhere. Far more cars on the road now than just 12-14 years ago. One big reason: All the traffic now coming from and thru Poland into Germany. Same in and out of Czech, and the Austrian/Hungarian corner. Germany is the true crossroads now for auto, rail, and air.

So roads are slower. You can only really rip it on the Autobahn's left lane (if you're lucky) in good weather from 2 - 5 o'clock in the morning. Or on a Sunday morning.

Otherwise there really is very little purpose for that high horsepower and exceptional race aerodynamic edge.

Plus what is Bleifrei Benzin going for per litre there now? Rather expensive to say the least.

Stilton A. Cheese| 10.19.11 @ 9:33AM

Benzin, 95 octane, 5% ethanol, lead-free, is €1.52/liter around the corner at the Aral station.

If the German national soccer team is playing and the game is televised, there is noticeably less traffic

Renstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 5:36PM

Danke, Stilton Kase. That makes for about just over $8 (US dollar) per gallon, ja? Ach Mensch! Still very expensive. Always makes me wonder what that guy who's flyin' by on the left (links) in his 7 series BMW (gettin' 16/17 mpg) has for a job & salary.

And you're stating just the Benzin 95 price. Super unleaded?

On another subject: Have they expanded the Fraport runways again?

Oh, and those Deutsche National 11 matches are always televised live -- as you know. If somehow they weren't on the Tube there'd be riots in the street. Rule/Regel 1 in Germany: Ja, you can sometimes criticize the government or things occuring in Berlin. But no foreigner on German soil can utter a disparaging syllable about Poldi, Klose, Schweini, Neuer, Lahm, Gomez, Mueller und the overall love affair with the boys in black and white.

Bill S| 10.19.11 @ 7:45AM

People need to learn to obey the speed limit. It's there for a reason. Even if most people are too foolish to obey it.

Moe Blotz| 10.19.11 @ 8:24AM

Most drivers exceed the speed limit by 10 mph, even on secondary roads. Why? Such speed limits are usually set arbitrarily and in some cases to set the stage for a speed trap. Proper engineering studies consider the speed of 85% of vehicles travelling on a highway and set speed limits accordingly. Learn more from National Motorists Association.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:31AM

Bill S,

It's there for a reason, all right. Politics, not engineering dominates. Blacks to the back of the bus was there for a reason, too. The 55 MPH National Speed Limits was there for a reason. Prohibition was there for a reason. All laws have a reason, but not all laws are reasonable.

Rennstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 9:29AM

Gentlemen, please. I think that we've seen the correctives since the "55 saves lives" MPH speed limits of 30 years ago. Most all states have significantly upped their posted speed limits for the highways.

The issue for me -- the very clear issue: The quality of the road. The construction of it. You can say what you want, but I see the cracks (feel 'em!), the holes, the potholes, the clackity clack as one rides over a piece not even with what came before or after.

Let's not fool ourselves. Sure, the amount of vehiclular and trucking traffic + weather gives these roads a beating over time.

But they are no where near up to safely propelling your (overall) small car at speeds upwards of 80 mph -- in most of the interstates I've encountered.

No way.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 10:05AM

Rennstrecke Rudi,

Head out west from Houston on I-10. It's a pretty clean road. The biggest problem going east is Louisiana maintenance and the number of towns.

James Solbakken | 10.19.11 @ 5:12PM

Renstrecke Rudi: Living in the SF Bayarrhea I've noticed that the freeways seem to be deliberately sabotaged such that if you try to go "too fast" you can't because the potholes are too deep and the road itself seems to be "waved" so that you go up and down to the limits of my Lincoln Town Car suspension. Am I reading too much into it or do you think maybe it's another part of their "traffic calming" evil?

Rennstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 5:47PM

James, hmmm...I really don't know. Perhaps. But I'd say more likely: Shoddy materials (cheapest), poor workmanship, poor oversight/construction management, AND, most important: It's the plan. Why build a road that needs zero repairs for a full decade? That's self-defeating for a construction company.

Sometimes you just don't get the contracts for a new 15-20 mile road, widening, or complete 30-mile road overhaul.

In lean economic times, you can still keep the business lucrative and your own personal bank account happy by going back and fixing repairs on what you paved (new) just 5 years ago. (plus you build this into the orginal construction contract)

Guaranteed work/profits/income.

By the way -- your Norwegian namesake is making a big name for himself in one very tough German sporting market right now as head coach in Cologne. You should pop over and see how he's doing.

WARBUX| 10.20.11 @ 7:54AM

I drive over 40k miles as a sales manager. seems to me a minimun speed/time requirement for the left lane enforced by aircraft could be a solution. The real problem lies in speeding enforcement is a money raiser. The machine said you did it. Certain areas can be monitored for traffic flow, electric signs can set the speed (or max speed) by traffic density. The Ohio turnpike could drop speed limits, the IL Toll way is way too bumpy. BIG fines for blocking will solve the flow problem in less than 90 days if enforced, and most states already have them, but the money is in speed. (drive a preowned Benz, the rich live better than we do)

C. S. P. Schofield| 10.19.11 @ 7:49AM

This is all fine and lovely, and I agree....with exceptions. The densely populated areas (I know Boston-Arlington, and expect there are others) don't have the room on the roads to leave one lane clear except for passing, and widening the roads would be a spectacular mess involving environmental protests, NIMBY protests, and dancing chickens in every corner.

And, of course, highway policy is set by people who have to commute through DC traffic. I lived in DC for several years. I gave up my drivers license. Yikes!

Mike 3/505| 10.19.11 @ 8:03AM

"spectacular mess involving environmental protests, NIMBY protests, and dancing chickens in every corner."

Cats living with dogs...together.

Regards,

Mike

SC Mike| 10.19.11 @ 7:50AM

Agree 100%. German drivers are generally excellent drivers, at least the ones who venture onto the autobahns, and thanks to comprehensive vehicle inspections, their cars are invariably in good shape and can manage the rigors of high-speed driving with ease.

The issue here in Vespucciland is primarily poor driver education. Widely variable vehicle condition does play a role, but one sees so many drivers doing the durdest thangs at speed that it’s a surprise that the death rate is not ten times what it is. Every few weeks I drive between SC and northern VA and am amazed at the hijinks afoot, especially with the drivers with NY and MD plates. I especially enjoy the far-left-lane cruisers who dash to the right just in time to make their exit. It brings a special thrill up my spine. (I am careful to follow the posted speed limit in VA because of the seemingly constant vigilance of the local and state gendarmerie.)

The one factor unique to the US are the self-appointed speed enforcers, the followers of John Nestor, who plant themselves in the left lane and set the cruise control at the speed limit; I see others here have encountered them. These members of the Anti-Destination League view travel on the interstates as an end in itself rather than the means by which one reaches point B quickly…

Ivan Ivanovich| 10.19.11 @ 7:54AM

Having driven in Italy and Germany many times I was delighted to find that slow drivers stay out of the left lanes, but the unbroken rule is that you NEVER pass on the right. Here in NY people drive anyway they like and they are never chastised for it. A little balance to your article would be to mention the idiots who pass on the right and even in the exit lanes. I don't move over when someone comes up fast behind me because I know that 80% of the time the fool will not wait a milisecond, but will zoom around on the right. BTW the fast Italian drivers have thier left turn signal on, they flash the headlights back 300M, and they start honking the horn at 100M. If you don't move over they ride your tail until you do. I've even heard about people being bumped at 130 KPM.

RT| 10.19.11 @ 8:14AM

Ivan, why should the right be open in the first place? If you're not passing that's where you should be.

Roscoe| 10.19.11 @ 8:39AM

Exactly.

Ivan Ivanovich| 11.9.11 @ 8:19AM

RT; Maybe you didn't hear me! I did not say I cruised in the left lane. I said impatient drivers who pass on the right share the blame, cause accidents, and discourage drivers in the left lane from pulling over. My dad taught me gun safety by saying “Rule #1 is never point a gun at something you don’t want to kill”. I’ll say Rule #1 for driving is Never pass on the right! If someone is hogging the left lane, flash your lights then honk your horn, and if you are late then get your ass out of bed sooner.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:18AM

You are the problem. Get out of the damn fast lane when you're not passing.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 12:58PM

And just because you are passing someone who's passing some slower slug, does NOT mean I might not be behind you trying to pass you all on the fly, does it? Heads up! There's always someone a little faster. Such is life...

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 4:54PM

Pass him on the high side!!

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 8:23AM

another cool thang bout' deutschland.
People actually do some of there own auto maintenance.
Was in a Tankstelle with my Frau when she asked what the Maedchen in front of us was buying.
"Zundkerzen" I replied, and even though my wife can tell a Picasso from a Hemmingway, she gave me that blank look that still turns me on.
"Sparkplugs" I said to my Mono-lingual Frau.
and the Maedchen was actually changing the plugs in her VW, right there next to the Supere 93 Bleifrei at close to $9 American per gallon...

Frank

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:18AM

I could barely read this.

Do you think no americans do their own maintenance because you don't?

Why do you think the AutoZones exist?

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 9:30AM

Umm to buy car wax?
Candy Bars, Wiper Blades?
cause thats all the people I see there buying.
Except for the redneck in the 72 Maverick browbeating the clerk cause they don't have a PCV valve in his size.
Oh, that was YOU, sorry.
and I know "PCV valve" is like "ATM Machine" blow me.
Seriously, you change your own Spark Plugs?
OK, you've got the longer Penis.
Can you change mine?
Not my Penis, the plugs on my 95 Z28.
That #8's a @#$%&*( Bee-Otch.

Frank

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:37PM

Dear Frank,

my brother in law worked as a foreman for Caterpillar repair facilities for decades. My father-in-law is a farmer raising cattle. Lots of Americans do their own auto work.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:22AM

Once again, you need to get laid. A woman changing spark plugs turns you on? What's next? A woman pumping her gas? Wait, you just mentioned that.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 9:33AM

at least I don't get turned on by the Woman Pumping Gas's Kids.
and in my experience, the people playing the "Need to get laid" card need to get laid.
Seriously, if your wife is under 200lbs I'll eat her.
I mean eat my Hat.

Frank

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 12:30PM

Damn! This exchange was really funny! But lets get serious.... Who doesn't need to get laid? !

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 4:55PM

LMAO!!

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:02PM

I am reminded of the bus driver from the old Gable movie "It Happened One Night." The bus driver kept up his end of an argument with Gable by repeatedly responding, "Oh, yeah!!!" Which eventually ended with the bus driver victoroius.

Morale: Don't spend time arguing with a pig, it wastes time and irritates the pig.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:03PM

Oops, danged fingers. It was meant to be:

"Moral:"

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:45PM

Phil, Frank: come on guys, this is about cars. Let's be nice to each other. Frank, Phil is a really nice guy.

You're discussions about helpless Americans, Frank, is interesting, and certainly would apply to city kid me. My wife, however, is a farm girl from 'Bama, and, in addition to having her degree in accounting summa cum laude from The Capstone, she can do her own electrical work when necessary, her own plumbing work, put down hardwood floors, homeschool her own kids, do routine auto work when necessary, and cook well. She also is an excellent writer, sings sacred harp superbly, and what's more, had two concurrent full ride academic scholarships going when she was at 'Bama (I, myself, simply had 1 full tuition one going on when I was at Texas Christian).

Lots of rural Americans, and many city folk in the USA, can do many things. If you recall, it was the Americans who had the best technical skills (I am NOT talking about fighting skills---I'm talking about the ability to DO things mechanically) at the infantryman level in WWII.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 4:56PM

Now THAT is a WOMAN!!!

Thats what we in Kentucky call a "Mountain Woh-man" lol

Frank Drackman| 10.20.11 @ 8:35AM

28-27 Bee-Otch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chuck| 10.19.11 @ 8:24AM

America drivers are just rude, and inconsiderate. I drive a pickup, and most of the time I haul a 16ft. trailer with me. I go to change lanes, put my blinker on, and invariably some asshole has to speed up to keep me from changing lanes. I swear some day some stupid MFer is going to wear my $900 trailer on his $60,000 BMW!

Solo| 10.19.11 @ 8:50AM

Yep! Happens all the time!
The largest problem, I think, is that American drivers regard driving as some sort of competition. They tend to believe that, if someone else gets what they want, then they lose points or something. Thus...the inherent desire to impede the progress of others.

In short...they're childish, self-absorbed, inconsiderate a$$holes!

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:59AM

Solo,

True, but trained that way. Try to get a license in Europe! No one is expected to pass the first time. There the rules test and then a driving test - it's serious business. The license in the U.S. is a birthright.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 9:37AM

Who needs a license in Europe??
at least thats what they told us when my squadron deployed to Italy.
"As long as your in a NATO country, your military ID is good enough" the hot little number at the Eurocar desk said..
and everything was cool till I got pulled over by the Gendarme' in Austria.
See, Austria wasn't in NATO...:(

Frank

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 9:41AM

Frank Drackman,

Etwas nicht in ordnung? Bummer!

Jill James| 10.19.11 @ 5:44PM

Duh! He is speeding up to pass you because if he lets you change lanes, he will have to slow down. My rule is that no one should ever make someone else slow down.

chuck| 10.19.11 @ 10:54PM

Duh, not if they are behind me, and I'm going the same speed. The truck and trailer are 35 ft. long, BMW at the 34ft. spot, speed up, put blinker on and start to move over, then here the bastard comes! Speeds up just to keep you from pulling in front of him. Swear to God, some day someone, probably like you, is going to wear my trailer!

All American American| 10.19.11 @ 8:35AM

While I agree that generally speaking Europeans are far better at using the left autobahn/autostrade lanes for passing only, the author fails to mention the driving these morons do on city streets and rural two-lanes. They take the same autobahn attitude to these other areas and that's where you get a lot of spectacular and deadly crashes. Flashing and beeping for a slow driver to get out of the left highway lane is one thing---flashing and beeping on a rural two-lane when I'm going 10 mph over the limit, am the 4th car in a line, and there are 6 cars coming in the opposite direction? Pure and utter stupidity. However it was a daily occurance for the 3 years I spent in Italy.

RR| 10.19.11 @ 9:57AM

Agreed. Italian drivers on those two lane roads were the worst. And they were senseless fools when it came to winding roads with grades and tunnels.

Sharp curves, right on your tail, edging to jump out and do an absolute reckless overtake.

There was many a time I'd search feverishly to find a place to pull over to the right (often -- for long stretches due to the roads/terrain just not possible), flip on my right turn signal, and break right, hoping to do it safely just to get that Italian Kamakazee pilot in front of me and away from me.

That was all any sane person could do.

I disliked the Autostrada (Italian highways) with its overpriced tolls, but there were times that was the only somewhat comfortable travel in busy, congested times.

All American American| 10.19.11 @ 10:55AM

You must be talking about the A1 through Florence, huh?

One of my most memorable Italian-driver experiences happened on the Autostrade going up to Austria. It was two lanes and there were literally dozens and dozens of 18-wheelers in the right lane, all traveling around 60 mph. All the regular cars were in the left lane, passing the trucks at around 80-85. I'm the last in a line of about 6 cars when this dude in a sports car comes up on me, starts with the flashing, the "Italian swerve" as we called it, tailgating, etc. I mean you would have had to have been blind not to see the endless line of 18-wheelers in the right lane, we were passing them at a good clip, yet here was this Italian moron who couldn't help himself from being a d***. Sometimes over there you just had to laugh and shake your head.

LarryK| 10.19.11 @ 8:43AM

PA. drivers are the worst offenders of the left hand lane "ownership" issue.

Moe Blotz| 10.19.11 @ 8:54AM

Drive the big road near any large metropolitan area and you will find that the left lane bandit becomes more ubiquitous the closer you are to the city. New York and Boston are the worst in my experience.

Solo| 10.19.11 @ 9:03AM

Heck, here in ChicagoLand, the morons use the exit lanes as passing lanes.
If traffic backs up (and it always is backed-up), these lunatics jump into the exit lanes, race up and then cut back in at the last second.

If you happen to be unfortunate enough to be exiting there, you find yourself plodding along at a crawl behind this a$$hole while he hunts for a spot to cut back in.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 8:50AM

and according to Jill James, you are supposed to let this idiot back in the normal lane! Otherwise, you are slowing him down right? sarcasm. I LOVE to block/impede self-absorbed jerks like this by not giving them space in front of me to cut back in. Kinda like cutting in line....Our American sense of fair play is offended by these types.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 8:51AM

All American American| 10.19.11 @ 8:56AM

I dunno man...I live in SE Virginia and if you drive I-64 east from Richmond down to the Hampton Roads area, you're much better off staying in the RIGHT lane---it moves faster than the left. I think its a law here in VA that someone has to go in the left lane and drive 5 mph under the limit and have a line of about 15 cars behind them. :)

Bob in PA| 10.19.11 @ 9:48AM

Larry, I respectfully disagree. I see some drivers cruising in the left lane in PA, but go south of the Mason-Dixon Line and it increases 10-fold. Southern drivers are the worst at sleeping in the left lane.

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 11:26AM

You are absolutely correct Bob. This from a transplanted New Yorker now in Maryland. It's remarkable! And they would tell you, "I'm going the speed limit and I have as much right to be in the left lane as you". Na Na Na Na..... sigh

chuck| 10.19.11 @ 10:56PM

Try Houston, TX. Guy in the left lane doing 50, people in the seven lanes to the right doing 85, weaving back and forth like the damned Kentucky Derby!

Carmudgeon| 10.19.11 @ 8:48AM

The left lane bandit has been on our highways long before I ever began driving in 1964. As roadways expanded to three lanes and more traffic began filling them up, we have been blessed with the fools who occupy the centre lane thinking it is the "travel" lane. As for Mr. Peter's criticism of the 1960 Chrysler behemoth, they were high technology in their day and with a few tweaks raced on a 2.5 mile oval in Daytona Beach. Ask any driver how he would rate himself and the answer will be "very good" or "excellent".

Solo| 10.19.11 @ 8:56AM

The other aspect of the "left-lane rule" is the problem with the a$$hole who comes racing up on your butt, you move over for him and then he parks himself right next to you so that you can't move back to pass slower traffic.
You see....now that Mr. A$$hole is alone in the left lane himself (without you to cover him), he's afraid that he'll get ticketed for speeding, so, NOW he's no longer in such a hurry.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:13AM

ugghhhh... thank you for writing this, Eric.

I agree whole-heartedly, but I can't help but wonder if some of the mind-numb driving patterns on American Interstates are precisely because people have to drive much further under their limits that get the blood flowing. I'm guilty of setting my cruise control and such, but that's because I don't want a ticket. At the same time, driving at 70-80 is so boring on long drives that I need heavy doses of caffiene to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.

Next time you're feeling froggy, and you're on a long-drive and getting tired, try this: Find out whether or not your car has a governor. If you can hit 140 without the engine cutting out intermittently then you probably don't.

This of course should only be done on a stretch of highway where you can see far ahead of you, very little traffic, and no places for the 5-0 to hide!

P.S. They might throw you in jail, don't call me to bailed! lol

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 9:14AM

Oh, the reason to try that, is because adrenaline will wake you up much better than any coffee or sugary drink!

RR| 10.19.11 @ 9:42AM

At PTCP: Then, please let me kindly suggest: Get yourself educated to fly with a private pilot's license. Get trained and fly in your own plane. If 80 mph is so booooorring for you. And you've just gotta get there sooner.

Or maybe take someone along and try......try verbal conversation.

I guess listening to a good CD book won't do it for you either?

One of those instructional CDs? (Alas, with you, probably not, no?)

Either way: Get off the roads, please. You seem the type that hyperventilates and will do something erratic/wild leading to accidents and fatalities.

You are the guy sitting just three feet off my bumper on the interstate at about 74 mph, then, I guess. Doin' that Richard Petty thing.

May I suggest: Dude, just simply chill. Just sit there and enjoy it. Ride along. Enjoy being alive. Listen to a song or two on the radio, a good talk radio station.

Ain't that possible for you?

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:11PM

Be careful with the CD book. You would be surprised to find out how much of your attention gets diverted from the boring slug speed driving task. Conversations on the cell phone can be divert your attention, too. I remember losing an entire hour on a midwest interstate because I was handling a cell phone call to a client with a tricky situation. I almost missed my exit because the hour had absolutely disappeared. I had not a single recollection of the 60+ miles I'd driven.

Maybe the slugster in front of you is listening to a CD book or an intense cell call on Bluetooth...

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 4:59PM

Live a little. Nothing wrong with hitting some high speeds and feeling adrenaline when no cars are around.

I listen to plenty of music and talk radio.

Fortunately, My car can hit 135 pretty damn quickly with twin turbos. So if I see a wide open stretch, then sometimes I like to have some fun.

But I really shouldn't be explaining myself to you. Sounds like you live a very boring life. Take some risks, life isn't promised.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 8:53AM

hear hear! x100

Denver Todd| 10.19.11 @ 9:24AM

The right lane of a three lane highway really is more of a half a lane, since it usually is not a through lane; if you stay in it, you will probably find yourself exiting at some point. Things like this push drivers more and more to the left. Designers would do well to fix this issue.

Dmac| 10.19.11 @ 9:30AM

There are three things that should be addressed about the left lane:
1. safety
2. gas economy
3. time management

Law enforcement should do their job evenly, fine if you want to write a ticket to me for speeding, but even it up by writing a ticket to the jerk that parks in the left lane. It's unsafe, it causes incidents of raod rage, and causes traffic jams that in turn decreases the mileage of all the cars on the road. How many millions of gallons of gasoline could be saved in this country if the left lane were for passing only?
If we took the average hourly wage in the U.S. and figured out how mach time was wasted on our roadways due to slow drivers, just how many billions of dollars if time are left sitting on the freeway because our law enforcement people don't do a damn thing about drivers that slow down all traffic by driving slow in the left lane.
Don't even get me started about how a freeway can be closed for hours in a major metropolitan area due to the investigation of an accident.

JustJim| 10.19.11 @ 9:46AM

I35 between Austin and Waco is the worst example of this moronic behavior that I have ever experienced.

Mark30339| 10.19.11 @ 9:47AM

This topic is a perfect metaphor for Americans' tendency to crave rights and reject responsibilities. Americans used to see the highway as a utility shared cooperatively and with courtesy. Now it's a personal comfort zone that excludes and disregards all others. Is there a public advocacy group we can support that promotes "Drive on the Right, Pass on the Left?"

RR| 10.19.11 @ 10:11AM

Mark, just thinkin' well, sort of, out loud here --

If those "community safety ads" on the radio or TV that we always see about "Click-it or Tick-et" (in other words: If you don't wear the seat belt, we will ticket you) could be replaced by just what you advocate: "Drive on the right, pass only on the left."

Those airing these public service announcements should switch.

I've always thought: If a person is so foolish as to drive without a seatbelt, well, what can you do for them? Those ads are wasted airtime and effort.

Surely there are creative folk who could produce fine, catchy "Drive right/pass left" ads - infomercials.

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 11:20AM

Excellent Mark. I couldn't agree more. BTW- The other issue is yielding when entering traffic. So many drivers feel that it is your duty to move or, even worse, brake to allow them onto a highway from a on-ramp. I have seen many an accident because of this. It is they who are required to yield to the highway traffic.

PolishKnight| 10.19.11 @ 12:18PM

Agreed, DonDuke, and I keep that in mind. Still, if they have traffic BEHIND them on the ramp or merge and the right lane is congested what are they supposed to do? Hovercraft onto the freeway? Hit their brakes with traffic behind them and then wait a half hour for traffic to free up? I do see that quite a bit on the freeway and what happens is that all traffic slows as the right lane merge comes to a halt as traffic siphons in and the slowdown moves on out to the center lanes. Happy?

That said, I NEVER assume that a driver will brake out of courtesy since they could either be rude or simply unaware or unattentive.

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 7:20PM

ROFL PK.... "I NEVER assume that a driver will brake out of courtesy since they could either be rude or simply unaware or unattentive." That's exactly the attitude that this article was written about! "Better look out for me" LOL.... BTW much better to brake on the ramp going 35 than the highway going 65 doh!

PolishKnight| 10.20.11 @ 10:12AM

Er, I just agreed with you. I don't assume they're braking and I will brake on the ramp to let the car in traffic go ahead.

The problem is when there's a steady flow of traffic in the right hand lane that makes a steady merge impossible. Then the ramp has to stop and back up and then do an fast accelerate to get into traffic and then that will be disruptive as cars in the right lane and around it brake out of caution.

When I see a car entering the ramp and I'm in the right hand lane, I either speed up or brake to help ensure they have a spot to get into or carefully signal and move over if prudent. I also move over (cautiously) if I see a policeman stopped on the right hand side of the road. It's courtesy.

Bob in PA| 10.19.11 @ 9:54AM

I believe the problem in the US is driver education. Drivers can pass an exam at 16 years old and are never tested again. I feel every US driver should be retested when they renew their photo/license. In PA that is every 4 years.

RR| 10.19.11 @ 10:16AM

Bob, this is the first I have heard of this. Essentially very frequent testing in Pennsylvania, if I understand you correctly. Is the retesting both signs and the questions as separate parts of the exam? Is a road test part three?

So are you saying that a driver at 16 will mandatory test again at 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44....?

Or, maybe I misunderstand. Thanks for the info.; I haven't heard of a stricter state in terms of testing.

Le Cracquere| 10.19.11 @ 12:30PM

As noted above, though, American transportation policy is centered around auto drivers. And to hear TAS tell it, only a leftist freak would willingly commute any other way than by car, and no one at all ought to by rights.

In America, to be without a car is often to be wholly S.O.L. Not being a driver isn't designed to be an option for a working adult, so the states don't feel they can AFFORD to be discriminating when testing drivers. If American drivers were suddenly held to reasonable competency standards, half 0ne's co-workers/employees wouldn't be at the office in the morning.

Appleby| 10.20.11 @ 2:32PM

Amen! I am unable to drive due to sight restrictions, and thus am pretty much restricted to large cities where the unionized public transit spends 80% of its budget on salaries and benefits, and "We apologize for the Inconvenience" is their national anthem. I had to give up attending sports car races when they turned to natural road courses, as these are out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a car, and 99% of Americans consider it a home invasion to give a non-driving friend a ride. I have even had guys tell me that their WIVES WILL NOT ALLOW THEM to give anybody a ride in their cars.

P.S. Europe is much smaller than America, so public transit and bicycling makes more sense.

N.B. You have totally missed discussing the guy going 90 mph while his eyes are fixed on the two-inch screen that occupies his thumbs (or his concentration on shouting "Megadittoes Rush!" into his cell phone. People twiddling their binkies habitually walk very slowly, weave from side to side, and are totally unaware of the fact that other people also exist. Multiply that by 90 mph and guess what you get.

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 9:59AM

The primary law as regards driving in the US is "Stay to the right, except to pass". Period! All the idiots who are in the left lane doint the speed limit or less should be ticketed just as one would be ticket for changing lanes without signaling, reckless driving etc. Only now, all you get is dirty looks when you pass them on the right..... which, BTW- I was taught was illegal too!

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 8:58AM

what's wrong with doing the speed limit?....in ANY lane? Do I get to hit you up for the money to pay the speeding ticket? Or tell the judge that the left lane is unlimited speed? grow up.

Thomas| 10.19.11 @ 10:17AM

Is this stupid debate back again? The left lane argument is merely a wish of people who do not want to drive at the posted speed limit.

I drive interstates, both urban and country, on a regular basis. Now the posted speed limit governs the maximum speed in all the lanes, not just the right lane. Yet, when traveling at the posted speed limit, easily 50% of the drivers are passing me. And, they are passing at roughly 15-25 mph greater than the posted speed limit. ONly about 20-25% of the traffic is traveling slower than the posted speed limit. And, though most interstate roadways are engineered for speeds of up to 100 mph, that is simply not practical due to traffic density. Most urban and suburban section of the interstate system are operating significantly above their design capacity and, on rural sections, driver capabilities make a speed differential of more than 15 mph a distinct hazard.

While it may be annoying to have to slow for a vehicle traveling 10mph slower than I am, a little patience and I can either pass the slower vehicle or it will change lanes.

Every industrialized nation on the planet has speed limits. Canada is an exception, but unlimited speeds are allowed only out on the tundra, there. There is a reason for speed limits. They are there to reduce the number of accidents. And, while slower traffic should keep to the right, that doesn't help very much when you are being overtaken by some golem who thinks he is starring in "The Fast And The Furious" or "The French Connection" and is weaving in and out of traffic at 20 mph over the posted speed limit.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 10:38AM

Thomas,

Guess where the police like to fish. Where the fishing is good, of course. So when you are out of town on an empty road and the posted limit is 65 MPH and the next town is 40 miles away, that's where you will get dinged for 80 in a 65. The speed is reasonable and prudent and the law is not.

DonDuke| 10.19.11 @ 12:35PM

Thomas, you're just another tight-ass who cruises the left lane and tells himself that it's his "right" since he's doing the speed limit. You'll sure show all those who think they're driving in a action flic won't you! Yeah, and make sure we're all not eating too much fat Michelle.... er I mean Thomas.

George S| 10.19.11 @ 10:18AM

Every driver admires the patience of the driver behind him but not the one in front of him.

jim sweeney| 10.19.11 @ 10:22AM

You people are nuts. The speeds you talk about belong on a race track not a general use freeway. Aside from the fact that in many places traffic levels will stop you at almost any speed, driving over 75 on such roads, in any car, is simply dangerous for the general public on those roads. Please do not tell me about driver training: look at the driver population and see what constitutes it.

Again: your kind of driving is for race tracks.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:15PM

And you should stay in the stands.

Skippy| 10.19.11 @ 7:54PM

Jim's right, teenager.
He doesn't belong in the stands; you do, watching pro drivers entertain you.
The roads are for our Moms and kids, not graying teens who still can't get it up without a car/sex fantasy.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 9:03PM

Skippy,

The roads are for everyone. The reason we have licenses is to insure those who use them are qualified to do so. If Granny wants to do thirty-five, the surface roads are just fine and won't slow her down a bit.

A few months ago, I came up on two cars driving nose-to-tail in the left lane of a crowded freeway doing 35 (yes, that's right) MPH. That's one of several I could recount. Should they be there? Why not?

Gallifet| 10.19.11 @ 8:34PM

Testosterone much? I've talked to too many guys like this. Next, they'll tell you they get better mileage at 120mph than at 55mph. Go ahead, I know one of you guys will say it. I know some physicists that would like to talk to you .

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 9:06PM

Gallifet,

I get 12 MPG at 180 MPH in my 3/4 ton pick-up airplane! If I'm buying the gas, don't worry about it.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 9:02AM

totally missed the point here Nav :(

Berl Goetz| 10.19.11 @ 10:22AM

Freie Strassen fuer freie Buerger! The driving style is just different here in the states; not worse. Because we do have speed limits we pass more slowly, and unlike the Germans, we don't change lanes with only inches to spare. I think our expressways are much more safe, and when there is a bad crash traffic doesn't back up for 30 miles like in Germany. So if you come bearing down on someone in the left lane, just gracefully swoop around on the right and they will understand: we're Americans and nobody can tell us where to drive.

MikeBee| 10.19.11 @ 10:30AM

In the Detroit area where I live, there are two distinct "sides" of the metro area, the West side and the East side. The line of demarcation, though it depends on whom you talk with, generally is found somewhere around M-1 (Woodward Ave.), which heads generally North from downtown Detroit to downtown Pontiac.

If you approach an East-side driver in the passing lane going slower than you, he/she will move over to the Right, allow you to pass, then move back into the passing lane. But on the West side of town, it's not called the passing lane. I swear, the title of the lane is "MY LANE." Every West sider sits in the passing lane, and will not move, except to find their exit. The worst offenders are those liberal Ann Arbor types who sit in the passing lane in their electric cars, doing 60.

All that said, you still have to watch your speed on the older freeways in this area. (The first freeway built in the world was built in the city of Detroit; still is there, called the Davison freeway.) About once every other year or so, a tanker truck driver loses his life as his rig is engulfed in flames, as he took a freeway offramp on an older freeway too fast, and crashed.

rendite| 10.19.11 @ 10:34AM

I am in agreement with the points Thomas makes above.

Gents, shouldn't we all just be prudent?
1. Budget for more time on the road than you think you'll need. Err on the side of 25-30 minutes more, depending on distances.
2. Our world is a congested place. Just like your workplace's parking lot and the street you live on. Unless you have a jetpack on your back and can do it like a Superhero, we're all down in the slow lanes. There's no real getting 'round it.
3. Is life better always in a rush? Always pushing to get there AS fast AS possible?
4. Punctuality is teutonic. But is it better? If you are 12-15 minutes late due to traffic, will the world come to a halt?

Better to just average 55-58 mph and get there in one piece.

And this left lane issue is piddly insignificance compared to people on the road texting while driving, adjusting their GPSs, web surfing, and probably now playing video games or viewing what's on the DVD.

Now those are issues to get incensed about.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 10:40AM

rendite,

Where do you live? I'm betting it's not in Texas.

This, by the way, is why I have an airplane. Too damned stressful driving on I-10, looking for cops.

State Trooper| 10.19.11 @ 11:01AM

As one of my states officials overseeing speeding and highway safety, the above comments have given me reason to propose at our very next meeting in November to set up stings by driving 10 mph over the limit in the left lane in a plain wrapper and waiting for the next high speed driving award recepient to appear in my rearview. This will raise the number of speeding tickets by a huge percentage, thanks to all above commentors, I will be sure to make worthy mention of all contributors. The whole enforcement will have a good laugh. My job is going to be a whole lot easier now! Ohh, you ain't in Germany no more Mr. Cheese!

MikeBee| 10.19.11 @ 11:42AM

Fine with me, ST. By the way, PLEASE give as much attention to the people traveling at least 10 mph below your speed in the same lane, and who refuse to move for your plain wrapper car. Give them "obstructing traffic" tickets. THEN, you'll get no argument from me.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 11:43AM

WOW, a State Trooper, nice Hat.
And I haven't seen a Georgia State Trooper this millenium...
I know, they're camo-flogged.
and I'd tell you bout how I outran the whole (Redacted) County Sherriff's dept on my (Redacted)GSXR, but the Statue of Limitations hasn't run out yet...
Frank...

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 11:48AM

State Trooper,

But you WOULDN'T exceed the posted speed limit, would you??? I'm aghast! After all, it's for your OWN SAFETY, don't you know!

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:33PM

IT'S CALLED ENTRAPMENT.

It is illegal, but so much easier than actually doing the work, it has become a standard law enforcement practice.

My favorite non-enforcement enforcement law: in my old state, on a cold winter morning I left my car running while I ran into a shop for a minute. My car was locked, as the wealthy (wealthy suburb not cop) suburban cop was discovering when I returned. He asked me if that was my car, which I stipulated. Then he did me a BIG favor, in his words; 'you know there's a law that if you leave your car running, I can write you a ticket.' I looked at him puzzled. He continued, "yea, the insurance companies got it passed because it makes cars too easy to steal." When I reminded him that the car was locked, he said it didn't matter. "We have to protect these kids."

So there you have it. Somebody steals your car, you better have keys handy or they arrest you: car theft solved, insurance company off the hook because YOU were the ticketed violator.

Neat, hunh?

And another thing, there was a time when we all rode horses and got to hang anybody who messed with our transportation.

Now we have to get the state to grant us the 'privilege' of driving the car we paid for on the road we pay for to let us get on with our own private citizen business. To me this is a huge infringement of our rights! A DUI is a huge threat to one's liberty.

PS I don't risk the DUI because the draconian consequences of the MADD men and women. It's just another form of taxing to cover the overpaid pensions. The legal consequences of drunken accidents should be sufficient to inhibit drunk driving.

Sheesh. Don't tread on me!

RR| 10.19.11 @ 6:20PM

DTOM, although not my choice of tone or preferred word choice, I was not against what you were writing until we got to the DUI portion at the end.

Rethink that - now. You drive with alcohol in you, then I want your head swinging in that hangman's noose you refer to. Yep, that's good old fashioned western values.

Please go to a medical/physical rehab center where they spend months on little victories in the lives of DUI victims. Little victories like when the person can again breathe on his or her own without tubes and machines. Or use a spoon to feed themselves.

A DUI should be a huge threat to one's liberty. (add 'texting' to this)

DTOM| 10.20.11 @ 1:55AM

RR;

Why don't you take a breath and read what I wrote:
"PS I don't risk the DUI because the draconian consequences of the MADD men and women."

Get it? I DON'T risk it! Or are you suggesting that I should risk it?

I know English is tricky - especially if you don't bother to read it.

Dolt!

Save your brilliant (sarcastic font) wisdom for someone who might need it.

Do you have monsters under your bed? In the closet?

Man up-you're overdoing the estrogen thing.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 1:18PM

You were probably the guy who let Moe-Hammed Atta go with a warning...

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:50PM

See, Frank---I knew you were a good guy...

Solo| 10.19.11 @ 5:50PM

All's fair, Trooper!
Just do me a personal favor: ticket the bastard for tailgating as well!

Because THAT is truly unsafe!

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 6:41PM

If you didn't know already what was being discussed "above" by now your no state speeding official, or you live behind a desk all day, or your just plain stupid, Zippy.

Rennstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 7:26PM

Okay, I'll bite, Mr. State Trooper. I'll believe for the sake of discussion here that you really are one. You are?

One never knows. This is just anonymous blogland.

As a relatively new resident (just now 4 years here) but with a lot of states already travelled, I have come to the conclusions

1. That there is no easier ticketing or revenue earning job than highway and major road patrolling for law enforcement.
2. Americans speed. All the time. While quite evident in morning rush hours (in certain spots), it is all the more evident in the fading rush hour time slots in the late afternoons and evenings. It is reckless and so obvious to spot.

As law enforcement, you need not resort to trickery to stop, ticket, and fine the speed perpetrators. It is as easy as, what is your expression? Shooting fish in the barrel.

Easily 8-12% of those on the bigger roads speeding all the time in the East Coast driving I routinely view. I do not mean just 5 - 7 miles over the limit.

You joke, "My job is going to be a whole lot easier now!" No, it already is. Be fair, consistent, and dilligent about it. Additionally apply the ethic of what you enforce on others, you FIRST enforce on yourself.

Worse than the speeders is those who drive recklessly. Changing three different lanes in less than 1.2 seconds while moving 81mph+ to hit the off ramps. Tailgating. No yield at all when merging with speed from the right off an on ramp.

I could cover the I-95 corridor at any place in the NE and never have a breather if I were a highway patrolman. I-81 no different. I-66 doing east or west from the capitol. Another successful ticket every 35 minutes. Like clockwork. Any time of day. Any day of the week.

Please: You need to reread some of these reader comments. Many are not advocating speed or carelessness or laughing these issues off. Most of us would probably quietly admit we are lucky to be still alive with limbs in place.

At least half the commenters are at odds with Mr. Peter's points.

I am not for regulations, I would prefer people to behave as mindful adults -- always. I would prefer that you did not have to "police" our roads. But I see a willful craziness even on a sunny, dry Saturday afternoon on a I-95 or when drivers in SUVs with bad tires are careening like madmen to make it to that next sporting event in the city 45 miles up the road.

Tell me: If we are as concerned about safety as we should be, why are you guys holding back on the texters and those holding the cell phone in hand up to their ears while moving in excess of 68mph? They are doing it in what you call broad daylight. Easy to see.

All American American| 10.20.11 @ 8:13AM

Your job just got easier? What, sitting on your fat a** eating donuts while holding a radar detector is hard?

This is a perfect example of why regular folks are less and less sympathetic to law enforcement officials. See? You guys aren't "policemen" anymore, you're simply "law enforcement officials." There's a difference. Police work is hard. "Law enforcement" is easy. Especially with all the absurd and mind-numbingly stupid laws on the books in this country.

But even the title of Law Enforcement Offical is a misnomer. We should just start calling you State Revenue Collectors. Its not about safety, its about $$$$$.

Not to mention but if you were driving 10 mph over the limit in the left lane, wouldn't YOU be breaking the law? D***.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 9:05AM

Go get 'em ST!!!!! I have paid a few hundred in fines over the years for breaking the law (speeding) til the pain in my wallet taught me to get my speed fix on elsewhere (skydiving).

Erik | 10.19.11 @ 11:30AM

Californians are the worst. I have been responding to a colision moving along with lights and siren with a fully marked patrol car and a car with California plates will not move out of the left lane. Eventualy they will dive into the median. That is why we have speed limits; the cars can take it, the roads can take it, but the people are just way too stupid.

nathan| 10.19.11 @ 11:54AM

My wife and I average 400 miles of driving on weekends and have been known to do four day 2,000 mile trips, a lot of it on the interstates. We live in the mid Atlantic area and in the past year went from the national capital region to New England then to North Carolina and back. Based on that an observation or two.

1. For those of you who have GPS's look at the time difference for each five mile an hour increment over the limit. 10 miles an hour on a 400 mile trip can make a bit of a difference, but adding five more miles and risking a reckless driving ticket isn't worth it. See for yourself. So in a 70 mile an hour zone, going 80 might be worth it, going 85 isn't worth the risk/stress/aggravation.

2. I've been driving for over 40 years. I'm seeing a growing trend the past two years I never saw hardly at all as a teenager, drivers racing up and getting up on my rear bumper or someone elses to "bully" me or the other guy out of their way. Horribly reckless and often times rediculous in heavy traffic since if I move out the way there's another car in front of me where he proceeds to get on the bumper of that car. We see this several times a weekend now.

What worries us about this behavior is sooner or later people like this are going to encounter folks who as a matter of ego won't allow themselves to be bullied and then what? Road rage? An accident with because the idiot following too close makes a mistake? Someone getting killed because the bully wants to save 10 minutes?

I broadly agree with Mr. Peters but let's face it folks, there are drivers who are going to park in the left lane. Deal with it. The situation will resolve itself in a few miles. drop back to a safe distance and chill. The people I want off the road are the bullies who want to act "tough", who want to show the rest of us how big and bad they are. I want their licenses suspended for a year.

And don't even get me started about the total morons on motorcycles like the ones I saw two weeks ago doing at least 100 in a 65 MPH zone. Take their bikes and their licenses away for two years.

I've been a speeder all my life under the right conditions but I'm seeing more bad driving today than I ever did when I was a kid.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 12:08PM

Motorcyclists doing 100 in a 65???
Must be those pretenders on Harleys...
Oh wait, most Harleys won't do 90, much less 100.

Frank "Banzai" Drackman

Stammon| 10.19.11 @ 2:13PM

Any new big Harley will do 120+.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 5:05PM

I mean MPH, not Decibles.
Stock Harly doin 120???documentation please.
and not your buddy Bubba-Bob at jiffy lube, I wanta see indisputable video evidence...

Frank

Tim the Enchanter| 10.19.11 @ 1:57PM

That's insane; an example of "it can't happen to me" thinking. When I get on my bike and am doing Interstate speeds (50-70 mph), I'm always thinking in the back of my mind: "if I drop it at this speed, I'm dead. Period."

Franco| 10.19.11 @ 12:45PM

The left lane is the hyperdrive lane. I generally stick to the right and avoid the left and center lanes because that's usually where the exit is and unless I'm wasting away behind a caravan of trucks and school buses, I stay there and let whatever idiots there are hurtle past me. Give the crazies plenty of space.

Best driving advice: "Always assume everyone around you is an idiot."

Second best driving advice: "The brake is your best friend."

Bill A | 10.19.11 @ 12:57PM

Thank you Mr. Peters for this article. I am driving thirty seven years and the failure to keep left has always been my biggest gripe. Having grown up in NYC where people routinely get in the left lane and stay there, even if there are only three cars on the road. A few years ago, I drove cross country. America is quite impressive.
I always knew when I was approaching a city. The left lane would be full and the middle lane less and almost nobody in the right. The only city I drove through where people kept right was Amarillo, Texas. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and there was almost no empty space in the right and middle lanes. When anyone pulled into the left, they passed and then immediately got out of the left lane. Needless to say I was impressed.

CalMark| 10.19.11 @ 1:05PM

What a silly, nasty diatribe.

AMSPEC, shame on you for publishing this.

As for the author: Mr. Speed, most people aren't really capable or comfortable driving at sustained speeds much greater than 70. Belittling states for making 80 a reckless driving speed is childish: that's VERY fast, and an accident at 80 is very dangerous.

You want to go super-fast? Get a crash helmet and go on a track. Grow up, Mr. Peters.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 1:36PM

Scaredy cat!

CalMark| 10.19.11 @ 3:19PM

Darn right!

I live in California, and typically drive in the 3rd or 4th lanes from the left, moving with traffic, on a 4- or 5-lane freeway. One would think I'd be left alone there by the Peterses of the world. Wrong!

It's becoming increasingly common for speed demons to zoom up and tailgate. In a RIGHT LANE. There is nowhere for me to go, forward or right. The lanes to the left are reasonably clear. Yet the jerk behind me keeps crowding me until I move left. He promptly piles it on to 90 or so, stomps on the brakes to tailgate the car car I was just behind. When the speed demon bullies everyone out of the way, he puts his foot down to 90 or 100 and starts weaving like a madman.

This is becoming increasingly common. I wish the cops would arrest these people and impound their cars until they can explain to a judge why they're acting that way. (Good luck.)

That's why the Peters article annoys me so much.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 3:52PM

He was, I believe just calling for people to treat the left hand lane as a passing lane as it was traditionally described. Nowhere did I see him suggest that tailgating at speed and high speed weaving was a good idea.

That was the rest of us...you remain scaredy cat.

If you choose to wear that as a badge of honor, I won't complain.

CalMark| 10.19.11 @ 7:54PM

Boy, you're nasty.

'Nuff said.

Skippy| 10.19.11 @ 7:58PM

All these speedfreaks are rushing towards tickets, injuries and death.
If one ever injures my family, he had better die in the crash.
It will save him a lot of pain...at my loving hands.
Children with cars. Disgusting.

Mike D.| 10.20.11 @ 8:20AM

Well its real simple. MOVE THE FUCK OVER and let them drive by. Simple!

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 9:22AM

No.

Think on that for a minute Mike D. I just told you no. The most powerful word in the english language. I don't have to do what you say, nor move over for some idiot that can't understand what LIMIT means. Is that simple enough for you? Moron.

DTOM| 10.20.11 @ 2:07AM

CalMark:

Nasty? Because I named you "scaredy cat?!"

Wow, a frail, sensitive thing like you should get the heck outta here. Because people in here listen to what people say and respond, straight and to the point.

I didn't disagree with you, I simply characterized your attitude as over-active fear using a name that would almost pass muster in our "modern" educational establishment. And tried to nudge you into a more realistic attitude about the risks you actually face driving down the road.

Face it, when you die, it'll probably be one of the statistical heavyweights that gets you, cancer, cardiovascular issues, the usual suspects.

Too many people in this country are too damn afraid of every damn thing. The government is repossessing our freedoms using fear as the trick to get us to surrender them.

So, man up! Live a little.

Sheesh...

Occam's Tool| 10.19.11 @ 3:53PM

I am so lucky to live in rural Minnesota. The time it takes me to get to my hospital from my home, driving the legal limit, is 13 minutes. I love it.

DTOM| 10.20.11 @ 2:10AM

Me, too. Not Minnesota, though. Four miles to the nearest stop and go light. Six miles and two stop signs to the interstate. I cannot see how people can live in those city-jungles.

Give me land, lotsa land, don't fence me in!

Dave F| 10.19.11 @ 1:09PM

OK Guys, I've lived in Germany for over 7 years, driving a late model Volvo. When I'm in the left lane cars see the Volvo logo (or Mercedes, or BMW or or) and get out of the way. How Neat. You gotta love it. But....
Most of the autobahn does indeed now have speed limits.
Even on parts of the autobahn with no posted speed limit, get in an accident and skid marks indicate you are over 80 mph and you do get a ticket for reckless driving, which does impact finding of fault and insurance rates.
It is now illegal to flash slugs to get them out of the way.
Traffic everywhere in Germany, except a few parts of the old Peoples Republic, is I-95 New Jersey heavy. Maybe you can drive 120 mph, but believe me, it is hard hard work, lots of concentration, and after 2 hours you are tired.
But IS neat seeing people get out of your way so you can drive at clearly insane speeds. I miss it.
On the other hand the expressways in France are 65 mph all the way, lots of empty landscape, and it is not much different from driving 65 across Iowa (Sorry Iowa!)

Renstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 6:32PM

Dave F. you should also deflate the myths perpetrated in the article by Mr. Peters by sharing all the light and weather conditions that MANDATE that German drivers drop speed on the Autobahns/highways.

Simple things like rain. (And it rains all the time in Germany) Yes, raindrops on your window and you're on the highway, down 10 mph, right Dave F.?

Plus, you need to share with Mr. Peters and the others here who have myths about all the "Baustelle(s)" -- all the ongoing construction zones that go on for kilometer after kilometer. Those highway construction zones are 6, 9, 15, 22 months in the same stretches of Autobahn, clogging things up, slowing all taffic down.

Gentlemen, if you want speed, do just as CalMark suggested: Hit a track near you. The little ones are all struggling now with funds and financing. They've dropped their rates. So head over, put down your cash, and do your thing -- there on the race circuit.

Noteworthy -- a good post from nathan -- above.

Frank Drackman| 10.19.11 @ 1:17PM

bout 20 years ago, was ferrying my cars up the east coast to my new duty station.
See, I was a bachelor, but had 6 cars, like any Real man..
Caught a ride from Quantico to Jacksonville Florida with a Marine JAG Officer..
MoFo drove the whole way 60 mph in the left lane...
I gave up keepin track of how many middle fingers we got flipped at us at about 50...

Frank

Jim Haupt| 10.19.11 @ 1:35PM

Not to beat this subject to death, but...this may be my MOST personal pet peeve. I wish someone would do a study to attempt to understand the mindset of the "left-lane junkie."

My solution: a real drivers test. I know Detroit and all of her attendant companions in the automotive manufacturing world would hemorige, but please make people take real test to determine if they are capable of captaining the most deadly vehicle in the history of mankind.

Tiddly| 10.19.11 @ 1:54PM

You can't gripe about not being able to go as fast as you want when our whole demographic is out there in cars, thanks to a dearth of public transportation.

You've got Grandma trying to see through her trifocals to get to the grocery store. You've got the scared, timid 16 year old girl with her brand new license just trying to figure out what's going on around her.

Illegal Mexicans who don't have licenses and can't read the road signs.

And everything in between.

Not to mention all the people on phones or trying to do text messaging.

In this environment, it's unrealistic for you to complain that you can't go as fast as you want to and enjoy your highly tuned sports car, because someone is always in your way.

Like somebody else said, put on a helmet and go find a track and get it out of your system safely.

Rennstrecke Rudi| 10.19.11 @ 7:49PM

Maybe Mr. Highway Patrol Officer (State Trooper) is still reading this far down in the blog?

Please note Tiddly's concerns for the illegal Latin behind the wheel. The one with no license at all. In my short time here, how many times do I hear in the news of a Mexican, Honduran, Salvadoran, or Guatemalan pulled over -- again 4th time! - with no valid registration or driver's license. A weekly occurence in the MD, VA, DC zone.

Don't need to ask the man what language he took the tests in. He never took the tests.

And the Chinese bus drivers for the drive-thru-the-night casino trips to Atlantic City and NY City?

Strange country.

Law enforcement?

Stammon| 10.19.11 @ 2:22PM

I used to drive a 1968 MBZ 300 6.3. Cruises at 140 MPH. Now I drive a 2000 Volvo XC70. Cruises at 140 MPH. You wanna race, get on a track! I used to race motorradden (BOTT class). Don't like it; vote. Good luck though. I have children driving on our public roads and I would like all you speed devils to lose your licenses. Dangerous idiots; endanger yourselves. Go rock climbing or something.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 9:27AM

well said! Took me a while to NOT treat the road as my personal racetrack. Yup, I was one of those young idiots :( But I eventually grew up. The fines helped.

Pat| 10.19.11 @ 2:54PM

Amusing, Eric Peters, the self-proclaimed “car guy”, went straight from Disney movies and the Brothers Grimm to the commonly held belief that: “these mythic Teutonic drivers can easily handle speeds over 130 mph”. Right on, Mario Peterdretti. But, on July 20, 2009, we learn there was a 259 car crash, 66 injured on the - wait for it - Autobahn. Just an encore performance to July 4, 2009 where headlines announce 8 Dead in horrible car and truck accident on Der Autobahn. But those were long ago accidents from 2 years past – so, April 8, 2011, 10 dead in 50 car pileup on the I-75 near 7 mile road in Detroit, Michigan - no wait, that’s not correct, it was actually on the Autobahn.

And does Herr Petershinkelstein mention a German driver’s license cost $2,000 in American smackers? And you can legally pass on the right on the Autobahn - sorry Eric, but the Greatest Car & Driver Fairy Tales Ever Told didn’t mention that, right? When the traffic is moving under 35 mph on the Autobahn, you can legally pass on the right – apparently, when caught in a Verkehrsstauss (translation: “oh sh*t, another traffic jam), a fairly common Autobahn experience, those obedient Germans dutifully pass on the right.

Then there’s the famous “Toof” sticker on your windshield – better make sure you have one if you want to “fly me” on the Autobahn. What’s a Toof? Certificate of mechanical soundness – those modern inheritors to the Gestapo, the TUV agents, have disqualified cars for having a minor rust spot – every German knows rust spots can be dangerous when driving at 110 mph, right?

And German Drivers’ Ed requires 25 to 45 hours of road driving instruction with a certified professional, plus another 14 hours of book learning – what do their illegal immigrants do in Germany we don’t do here in California? Now if only those Germans would re-educate California drivers the world would be safe from Golden State golden boys playing air guitar and texting their boyfriends on I-80 while doing 90 mph.

Joe D.| 10.19.11 @ 3:32PM

I like most of your articles. However, this time you are off base. If we wanted to live in Germany and drive there we would. If you want to, then go there. However, I am not going to move over and slow up for people who which to past me going over the speed limit more than I am on the highway. I may not be passing people at that moment but I like the lane I may be in and do not feel the need to help someone brake the law. So life is ruff.

LD| 10.19.11 @ 3:47PM

What about the sign backed by a law that says Speed Limit? It doesn't say Suggested Speed, or Bottom Speed, or Choose Your Own Speed, Or Get Out of My Way So I Can Kill Someone Speed. It is Speed Limit and while it might not please you, if you are a law abiding citizen you will obey it. If not then you are no different than any other criminal and I have the right to defend myself. Don't try to assault me with your vehicle. You might wish you hadn't.

Skippy| 10.19.11 @ 8:00PM

Right on!
Legalize guns; restrict speeding jerks!

wolflen| 10.19.11 @ 3:58PM

if we were serious about cars/driving in the US..we would have a real driving education program and drivers test..as it is now you can be legally blind and get your licensed renewed (true story ) as for logic used in the process...well...if you drive a 1960 VW bug or a 2011 all out corvette..you get the same drivers test..which is not far away from just being able to fog up a mirror..

Joe D.| 10.19.11 @ 4:12PM

The funny thing, and the thing, you have not address is the driver. Cars are better but drivers are worse. I drive with them every day in what we DC drivers lovingly refer to as rush hour. It is not rush nor an hour for only 41 miles.

BobCousy| 10.19.11 @ 5:09PM

I sometimes cruise in the left lane, some 5MPH above the limit. I do so because the right lane is often like a rumble strip, while the left lane is relatively smooth. I do try to move over for faster drivers; but if the right lane were better maintained, I could stay out of their way.

Davy Jones-Locker| 10.19.11 @ 5:14PM

Um, here's a clue: not all interstates are wide open concrete in Wyoming. Try your wacko idea on I-5 in SoCal some time. Most places in the US need all the lanes they can get.

Pat| 10.19.11 @ 6:19PM

Davy: Not all California roads are 5 lanes wide either. In my rear view mirror, I once watched some fool hurrying to meet his Maker while going north on Highway 1 from the Golden Gate bridge - a vintage Porsche trying to pass every car on this very windy, 1 lane in each direction section of the coast highway. As he passed my car on a blind curve, I slowed down and eased to the right just in case a Gray Lines’ tour bus or Coors’ beer truck was coming in the opposite direction. He survived this blind curve to pass again but I had fully expected to ease my car over onto the dirt cutout adjacent to the right lane, switch my engine off, stroll across the road to the shattered guard rail to see if the Porsche landed on the rocks far below or had managed a clean plunge directly into the Pacific.

If you have a death wish or want the wife to cash in on your $2 million life insurance policy, I’d recommend those blind curves on the Pacific Coast highway north of San Francisco for always passing on the left – hey, do you think maybe it was Eric Peters in that vintage Porsche courteously passing me on the left?

Ken| 10.19.11 @ 6:20PM

The traffic law in the commonwealth of VA compels a driver to exit the left lane as soon as it can be safely accomplished to allow another drivers to pass, regardless of speed, when the overtaking driver gives either a visible (flash to pass) or audible (horn) signal of intent.
So you're driving the speed limit? Good! You're probably not robbing a bank or burglarizing a house at that moment either, but compliance with other laws does not grant an exemption from the one that requires you to move over.
Notwithstanding, drivers appear as ignorant of the law as they are oblivious to their contribution to the overall flow (or hindrance) of traffic.

Jones | 10.19.11 @ 6:50PM

I've been driving a long time, and it's my personal opinion that the average skill level of the American driver is very low. The concepts you mention in the article are beyond the comprehension of most of the drones on our highways.

Studs Dupa| 10.19.11 @ 7:05PM

Hi Eric,

I remember being stuck in traffic on the left lane on a highway in New Joisey during rush hour. There was a large electronic sign (used for Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts) that stated: “KEEP RIGHT PASS LEFT.” Yea Right!!

Love,

Studs

papabear | 10.19.11 @ 7:20PM

half the people on the road these days dont have any business behind the wheel of a car much less behind the wheel of a car in the left lane.
just sayin.

IX-XI| 10.19.11 @ 7:58PM

Lane discipline is all well and good, and if I'm in the left lane doing 5 mph over the speed limit, it's for one reason and one reason only: Because I'm stuck behind one of those arrogant "keeper of the speed" jerks who won't let anyone pass. In light traffic, I'm usually tooling along at about 10 to 14 mph over the posted limit. At that speed, I will swing out to the left lane to pass a slower vehicle even if there's a speed demon coming up on my tail who will have to slam on his brakes.

I'm already doing 14 over the posted limit. He can wait his turn to pass the slowpoke I'm passing, because soon I'll be back in the right lane and he can blow on by.

IMHO, he is just as much of a hazard as the guy going too slow in the left lane, because we have legal limits and I'm already exceeding them by a good amount. I'm perfectly happy to wait my turn if somebody going 66 wants to swing out and pass the guy doing 64 rather than disengage his cruise control. Because I'm the one going faster than the posted limit, so I'm not going to be put out by letting him pass.

But if he then parks his butt in the passing lane and forces me to pass on the right, I'm not going to be very happy about it.

As for the speed freaks who blast by me like I'm standing still? When I've completed my pass of slower moving traffic and there's an opening in the right lane, I'm more than happy to move over and let them by. I'm not "clogging up traffic" by merely poking along at 78 in a 65.

John Navratil| 10.19.11 @ 8:55PM

IX-XI,

I don't care if I'm doing 100 (as in Germany), if someone if coming up on me, I let him by (once, anyway). My maxim is that if anyone hits his brakes because of my driving, under any circumstances, I have done that person a disservice. I didn't say hit his brakes to avoid me.

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 9:35AM

why only 10-14mph over? why not 20 over? Live a little IX-XI!!!! I wonder what other laws you feel its ok to break? Please let the rest of us know!!! I may have been missing out on some "free" perks all this time. Idiot.

oldfart| 10.19.11 @ 9:05PM

I truly believe that most of the idiots that drive all move to the Washington, DC area. Does not make any difference if they live in VA or MD.
1. Females - putting on makeup. One woman came into work on day saying she had to go to the eye doctor. She was putting on her mascara and had to brake suddenly - the mascara brush pushed pieces of the mascara into the white of her eye. The eye doctor had to use what she said looked like a drimmel tool to drill the pieces out.
2. Reading AND using the Blackberry while driving.
3. Eating - hot cup of coffee balanced on the steering wheel.
4. Engaged in conversation with others in the car and not keeping hands on the wheel.
5. Taking notes on a yellow note pad.

These are all things I have seen on the intersates around DC, while driving at 60+, with about 15 feet between cars.

Part of the problem most of these people are not native to the area - they are ones that come and go with the election cycles. Most are out to make a 'change' - yea - we would like to change them back to where they came from!!

POST American| 10.20.11 @ 3:53AM

-------------------FINAL WORD-------------------------

Sorry, but '90's Show' DIS--tractions
just don't cut it in RED China TREASON OP 2011.

CUT TO THE CHASE:

--ALAN WATT'S got the background.

--ALEX JONES has got the coverage
and the nerve.

--FOX News is Murdoch's Oxford-Fabian
FAKE OP. His outfit is involved with
'perception management' for the most
awesomely genocidal, utterly unrepentant
regime mankind's EVER seen.

----------HUAC meets NUREMBERG 2012----------
----------------You KNOW it is coming-----------------

TomD77| 10.20.11 @ 8:07AM

A question about a situation that I often run into: When passing a more or less solid line of vehicles (usually trucks) and you are at the absolute top speed that you judge will keep you from getting a ticket on a heavily patrolled stretch (80 + a little in a posted 70) and a high-speed vehicle appears behind, what then? Assume that the vehicle spacing in the right lane precludes safe merger.

MikeBee| 10.20.11 @ 2:09PM

Tom,
Most states have laws on the books addressing this situation. Most say to move to the right for a faster car (without stating speeds traveled; only that the other car is moving faster than yours), if there is no lane on the Left for that car to pass you. But, they usually say to move Right, once you have finished passing others on the Right slower than you, and can do so safely. That guy may have to wait a minute behind you, until it makes sense for you to move Right again. In Michigan, the law says to move Right when you are impeding traffic (usually more than one car).

Canine| 10.20.11 @ 12:03PM

Quite frankly, in Germany the fundamental rule is "If there's room to the right, signal and MOVE to the right." In other words, you have no PROPRIETARY relationship with the lane in which you're driving and are expected to press to the right. Likewise, you can be ticketed there for "Failure to yield to overtaking traffic," which essentially means refusing to move to the right when conditions and space allow. Many drivers in America seem reluctant to or incapable of safely and efficiently changing lanes (i.e. moving to open spaces on the right) at highway speeds.

Systems-Analyst| 10.20.11 @ 8:37PM

A very good article however what most people do not know is that decades ago the government realized that they were loosing over one trillion dollars in taxable revenue due to time wasted just during "rush hour traffic". This discovery resulted in having the "national speed limit" raised from about 50MPH to 65MPH. States and local municipalities responded to the resulting loss in revenue generated by the profiteering of their "police powers" by creating "Safe Zones" and "Double Fine Zones" to name a few.
It is a well established fact that when taxes and the costs of living go up so does the average maximum speed traveled by what is know as the 85th percentile. This is the number that is supposed to determine the maximum speed on our highways.
The national government needs you to work more and travel less while local government wants to profit from your needing to "get to work on time" to make enough money to offset the costs incurred by the numerous visible and hidden taxes.
"If you do not know the words you can never ask the questions. If you can not ask the questions you will never find the answers!"

John Brody| 11.23.11 @ 7:38AM

This article misses a very important, very AMERICAN concept of......FAIRNESS. Quite simply, why should I move out of the left lane when I am doing the posted speed limit? Just because you are in a hurry? Tough. Shoulda left earlier so you wouldn't be "running late". Your lack of planning isn't my problem.

I actually called my local police department on this very topic a few years back. My question was, "do I HAVE to move out of the left lane when I am doing the speed limit?" His answer was, "of course not! the word "LIMIT" is specific and that other driver is breaking the law by exceeding that limit."

Guys like me that "park" in the left lane get A LOT of enjoyment out of your frustration riding our bumper....at the speed limit. Grow up and obey the law.
-Brody

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