Seattle Area Remedial Left Lane Slow Driver School. (Edmonds, Issaquah: how much, homes)

[homesinseattle]

Never ceases to amaze me how much people in this area camp slowly in the left hand lane even when traffic is flowing well. I try to help teach people. I pass them on the right, pull back in front of them, motion my hand to show them how to come over one lane, then model my behavior to show them how. The reactions are mixed: some come over immediately, some aggressively speed up and some just continue ambling along obliviously. Please people. When traffic is flowing, left lane is for passing. When you have passed, move to the right. Be aware of who you may be impeding when you are in the left lane. Seriously.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Never ceases to amaze me how much people in this area camp slowly in the left hand lane when traffic is flowing well. I try to help teach people. I pass them on the right, pull back in front of them, motion my hand to show them how to come over one lane, then model my behavior to show them how. The reactions are mixed: some come over immediately, some aggressively speed up and some just continue ambling along obliviously. Please people. When traffic is flowing, left lane is for passing. When you have passed, move to the right lane. Be aware of who you may be impeding when you are in the left lane. Seriously.

It's the law, but I haven't seen it enforced. The worst is I90 once you get east of Issaquah and it goes to 70.




RCW 46.61.100


Keep right except when passing, etc.


(1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;
(b) When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided, any person so doing shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;
(c) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes and providing for two-way movement traffic under the rules applicable thereon;
(d) Upon a street or highway restricted to one-way traffic; or
(e) Upon a highway having three lanes or less, when approaching the following vehicles in the manner described under RCW 46.61.212(1)(d)(ii): (i) A stationary authorized emergency vehicle; (ii) a tow truck or other vehicle providing roadside assistance while operating warning lights with three hundred sixty degree visibility; (iii) a police vehicle; or (iv) a stationary or slow moving highway construction vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, solid waste vehicle, or utility service vehicle that meets the lighting requirements identified in RCW 46.61.212(1).
(2) Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, except (a) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b) when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, (c) when moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in the right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through (d) of this subsection.
(3) No vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds may be driven in the left-hand lane of a limited access roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving in one direction except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when a left turn is legally permitted. This subsection does not apply to a vehicle using a high occupancy vehicle lane. A high occupancy vehicle lane is not considered the left-hand lane of a roadway. The department of transportation, in consultation with the Washington state patrol, shall adopt rules specifying (a) those circumstances where it is permissible for other vehicles to use the left lane in case of emergency or to facilitate the orderly flow of traffic, and (b) those segments of limited access roadway to be exempt from this subsection due to the operational characteristics of the roadway.
(4) It is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of other traffic.
(5) Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven to the left of the center line of the roadway except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except as permitted under subsection (1)(b) of this section. However, this subsection shall not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the center line in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road or driveway.

[Diana Holbrook]

How slow is too slow though? I feel like as long as you are going faster than the traffic to the right... and/or over the speed limit, we don't need to pull over just because someone else wants to go even faster. There's no 'right' to go 80 on the freeway.

[Blondebaerde]

Homes, I'm not a nanny here...my gosh, quite the opposite! But the whole "Left lane campers" thing is banned in Automotive section as a topic.

Why: turns into a shouting match, I've been on one of those threads.

Camper: I will go the speed limit in the left lane, that's the law. You can't pass me, you criminal. I'm right, you're wrong.
Free-flower: You need to get out of the way, Left lane is no place to camp. My behavior is irrelevant to you, you're not the Fast Lane police. Get...out....of....the....lane.

Then the name calling starts. I'm dropping it now, hope it works out in this part of C-D. My "strong" opinions about (one of) the above will help solve nothing in this case, it's been-there/done-that.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

Homes, I'm not a nanny here...my gosh, quite the opposite! But the whole "Left lane campers" thing is banned in Automotive section as a topic.

Why: turns into a shouting match, I've been on one of those threads.

Camper: I will go the speed limit in the left lane, that's the law. You can't pass me, you criminal. I'm right, you're wrong.
Free-flower: You need to get out of the way, Left lane is no place to camp. My behavior is irrelevant to you, you're not the Fast Lane police. Get...out....of....the....lane.

Then the name calling starts. I'm dropping it now, hope it works out in this part of C-D. My "strong" opinions about (one of) the above will help solve nothing in this case, it's been-there/done-that.

I hear you brother, just hope I'll reach a few people .

[CrazyDonkey]

In Seattle, every lane is the slow lane. Some (but not all) of the ire is from those who are frustrated because they can't blast through in the fast lane at 10-15 mph over the speed limit, a good number of whom aren't passing anyone, but just tailgating anyone who gets in their way.

[homesinseattle]

To be clear, I'm talking about people who camp in the left lane at about 50mph. I see them, everyday.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

To be clear, I'm talking about people who camp in the left lane at about 50mph. I see them, everyday.

Right but if the whole freeway is heavy traffic, 50 mph may just be what you get.

I'm with CrazyDonkey I think... In Seattle, I'd be surprised if it's ever WIDE OPEN except for one lone guy slow camping in the left lane. We hardly ever see it that wide open even way down in our parts.

People just need to realize that when traffic is heavy, there's no right to keep driving fast in the left lane. It's dangerous.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

In Seattle, every lane is the slow lane. Some (but not all) of the ire is from those who are frustrated because they can't blast through in the fast lane at 10-15 mph over the speed limit, a good number of whom aren't passing anyone, but just tailgating anyone who gets in their way.

Tailgaters are an even bigger problem. If traffic isn't moving in any lane, tailgating is not going to push the car in front of you any faster. It causes accidents. Patience is required to drive in Seattle.

[homesinseattle]

No guys. I'm talking about when traffic is flowing well, like one hour ago when I was driving from Edmonds toward Seattle on I-5. There were 2 people (at various times) going about 50 mph in the left lane. Please don't try to justify that or tell me that's normal. It's not.