[gvc8]

everyone in a hurry to get to the next red light. I live in an area of the valley that has lots of 35 mph speed limit roads. I will only go a few mpg over 40 at most and no amount of tailgaiting will make me go faster & maybe even slower depending on my mood.

[MediocreButArrogant]

The way I drive is shaped by the following beliefs:

1) Speed doesn't kill, (large) differences in speed kills.
2) The roads are going to be occupied by drivers that want to drive at a wide range of speeds, anywhere from 60 to 100mph on the freeway
3) I should drive in such a way that I never increase danger, but reduce it if I can. That means not trying to be a traffic cop, and never assuming there is an speed sufficient such that I can just park my car in the left lane.

The only way #2 can exist in anything close to a safe manner is for people to drive in the proper lane, with faster drivers in the left lane and slower drivers in the right lane, and staying in the lane appropriate to your speed, except to pass. Otherwise you can get very high closing speeds which are accidents just waiting to happen.

I do break the above rule under one condition - when there are no cars behind me for a long distance, and the right lane is in much worse shape (noisier/rougher) than the left lane, I'll drive in the left lane. However, I regularly glance in the rear-view mirror, and move over to the right lane long before anyone gets close to me. Also, if I am in the left lane passing someone, and someone comes up at high speed behind me (usually would only happen if I was passing a long line of cars, otherwise I'd hopefully have seen the fast moving vehicle and delayed my pass), I'll put on my right turn signal to let the driver behind know that I see him and will move back to the right after I'm finished passing.

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

The way I drive is shaped by the following beliefs:

1) Speed doesn't kill, (large) differences in speed kills.
2) The roads are going to be occupied by drivers that want to drive at a wide range of speeds, anywhere from 60 to 100mph on the freeway
3) I should drive in such a way that I never increase danger, but reduce it if I can. That means not trying to be a traffic cop, and never assuming there is an speed sufficient such that I can just park my car in the left lane.

The only way #2 can exist in anything close to a safe manner is for people to drive in the proper lane, with faster drivers in the left lane and slower drivers in the right lane, and staying in the lane appropriate to your speed, except to pass. Otherwise you can get very high closing speeds which are accidents just waiting to happen.

I do break the above rule under one condition - when there are no cars behind me for a long distance, and the right lane is in much worse shape (noisier/rougher) than the left lane, I'll drive in the left lane. However, I regularly glance in the rear-view mirror, and move over to the right lane long before anyone gets close to me. Also, if I am in the left lane passing someone, and someone comes up at high speed behind me (usually would only happen if I was passing a long line of cars, otherwise I'd hopefully have seen the fast moving vehicle and delayed my pass), I'll put on my right turn signal to let the driver behind know that I see him and will move back to the right after I'm finished passing.

I could have written this.

What drives me crazy is when I am in the center lane on 215 with no cars on either side. I get some jackass driving 85mph in my lane and they pull up and tailgate me. There are two empty lanes moron. Use one of them to pass. Preferably the "fast" lane. Damn people are stupid.

[MacInTx]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

I could have written this.

What drives me crazy is when I am in the center lane on 215 with no cars on either side. I get some jackass driving 85mph in my lane and they pull up and tailgate me. There are two empty lanes moron. Use one of them to pass. Preferably the "fast" lane. Damn people are stupid.

Why aren't you driving in the right lane, if there's no car beside you?

Do you want to avoid having to slow down for someone either entering or exiting? Want to avoid having to change lanes to avoid the same?

[airics]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

I could have written this.

What drives me crazy is when I am in the center lane on 215 with no cars on either side. I get some jackass driving 85mph in my lane and they pull up and tailgate me. There are two empty lanes moron. Use one of them to pass. Preferably the "fast" lane. Damn people are stupid.

You should be in the right lane. In many states, you get a ticket for not being in the right lane

[Tek_Freek]

All I can say is, "Thank God I don't have to drive on a freeway with the two of you. What a circle jerk that would be".

Let's all drive in the right lane so no one can enter the freeway.

[delgadobb]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

The way I drive is shaped by the following beliefs:

1) Speed doesn't kill, (large) differences in speed kills.
2) The roads are going to be occupied by drivers that want to drive at a wide range of speeds, anywhere from 60 to 100mph on the freeway
3) I should drive in such a way that I never increase danger, but reduce it if I can. That means not trying to be a traffic cop, and never assuming there is an speed sufficient such that I can just park my car in the left lane.

The only way #2 can exist in anything close to a safe manner is for people to drive in the proper lane, with faster drivers in the left lane and slower drivers in the right lane, and staying in the lane appropriate to your speed, except to pass. Otherwise you can get very high closing speeds which are accidents just waiting to happen.

I do break the above rule under one condition - when there are no cars behind me for a long distance, and the right lane is in much worse shape (noisier/rougher) than the left lane, I'll drive in the left lane. However, I regularly glance in the rear-view mirror, and move over to the right lane long before anyone gets close to me. Also, if I am in the left lane passing someone, and someone comes up at high speed behind me (usually would only happen if I was passing a long line of cars, otherwise I'd hopefully have seen the fast moving vehicle and delayed my pass), I'll put on my right turn signal to let the driver behind know that I see him and will move back to the right after I'm finished passing.

+1

I could also have written this.

While tailgating is certainly dangerous, don't be that guy/gal that stubbornly clogs the left lane. I use it for passing or only if traffic dictates it.

I am consistently amazed at the people that scream by me in the right lane when I'm in the middle lane & the left lane is wide open. I don't care if they pass me (or how fast), just pass me on the left. This happens all the time on I15 on the way to LA where the right lane is marked 'slower traffic only'; it's like it's an invitation for sports cars & SUVs to floor it while bobbing & weaving through traffic.

I also sometimes wonder if I'm one of the three people in Las Vegas that turn into the first available lane, i.e. turning left I always take the left lane at least until in the flow of traffic. Almost everyone swings three lanes wide without looking.

Over time I've learned to treat driving here (and lots of other places) like a videogame where anything can happen at any time. Try to stay alert at all times & anticipate idiotic maneuvers; even if they're obviously at fault, I'd rather avoid the situation in the first place.

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by MacInTx

Why aren't you driving in the right lane, if there's no car beside you?

Do you want to avoid having to slow down for someone either entering or exiting? Want to avoid having to change lanes to avoid the same?

The right lane is generally used to merge or turn right. Left lane is generally used for passing, or turning left. Center lane is for just minding your own business and going along your merry way.

Because right on red is legal, it's considered kind of rude to be the guy holding up the right lane because you are going forward and the guy behind you wants to turn right.

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by Tek_Freek

All I can say is, "Thank God I don't have to drive on a freeway with the two of you. What a circle jerk that would be".

Let's all drive in the right lane so no one can enter the freeway.

And this ( not you, but some of the above ) are why I avoid the freeway like Ebola. They can't even mind their manners on 35 mph rated roads. Amazingly, I've seen worse drivers. Oakland takes the cake.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by NLVgal

The right lane is generally used to merge or turn right. Left lane is generally used for passing, or turning left. Center lane is for just minding your own business and going along your merry way.

Because right on red is legal, it's considered kind of rude to be the guy holding up the right lane because you are going forward and the guy behind you wants to turn right.

Also, at least on surface streets, the right lane is the domain of transit buses that stop every 35 yards.