Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site sdcrdcf.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sdcrdcf!jlilien From: jlilien@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Joel Lilienkamp) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Driving fast vs. Left Lane Bandits Message-ID: <808@sdcrdcf.UUCP> Date: Wed, 1-Feb-84 14:05:46 EST Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.808 Posted: Wed Feb 1 14:05:46 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 03:41:53 EST References: <279@hou2h.UUCP> Reply-To: jlilien@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Joel Lilienkamp) Organization: System Development Corporation, Santa Monica Lines: 37 The hostilities between those who wish to drive fast and those who are left lane bandits is getting hotter than ever. A few comments: To those who wish to drive fast: While I can relate to your desires to drive this way, you have several important responsibilities. First and foremost, you must not endanger the lives of other motorists on the road. This includes the left lane bandits. If he (or she) is truly a left lane bandit, then there is clear left lane in front of that car, and the cars in the right lane are moving faster. It is much safer to merge right, pass, and then claim the left lane for yourself when you pass the slow car on the right. If there are cars in the right lane moving slower than that car, it has a legitimate right to be there. Tailgaiting gains you little and risks a lot. So just slow down; you'll get your chance to pass. To those who are left lane bandits: I really don't understand you. Why do you want to drive in a passing lane when you are not passing? The law in most states is clear: "Keep Right EXCEPT to Pass." It couldn't be more clear. You don't have a "right" to drive anywhere you want to. You have a right to drive in the right lane and pass in the left lane. It doesn't say keep right except to pass or if you are going at least the speed limit. On multilane (more than two each way) freeways, the issue is a little more muddy, but a good general rule is that if cars are passing you on the right, you are too far left. As a driver, you have a serious responsibility to make the roads as safe as possible for all other drivers. You do not have a responsibility to enforce the speed limit; this job is for the police. Your slowing down when he flashes his lights just makes him mad, and forces him to move into the right lane, endangering other innocent drivers who are expecting the fast traffic to be in the left lane. It seems much safer for everyone for the slow car to move to the right and let the speeder go by. Then, your interaction with him is a few seconds instead of a few minutes. It just seems to me that if everyone were a little more cooperative, the roads would be a safer and more enjoyable place to be.