Why Does Maryland Have Such Weak Passing Lane Laws? (camping, dangerous)

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by ay jayy

Also MD is pretty big on speed enforcement and has pretty low speed limits compared to other states. Most of the left lane laws ive seen are in places that are rural, had high speed limits, and less enforcement. Also these laws work better on highways with 2 lanes in each direction.

MD is not big on speed enforcement anymore, if they ever were. I drive a lot throughout this state and rarely ever see the cops anymore. If they're big on it, it must be in places I don't go to often, like the Eastern shore, or Western MD.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by dkf747

MD is not big on speed enforcement anymore, if they ever were. I drive a lot throughout this state and rarely ever see the cops anymore. If they're big on it, it must be in places I don't go to often, like the Eastern shore, or Western MD.

These are the only places I've been pulled over in recent years.

[ay jayy]

Well the camera's may have replaced troopers in the more congested areas. But I do see lots of troopers in Western MD.

[Calvin C]

Originally Posted by ay jayy

This doesn't make any sense. A Highway has a certain capacity to move traffic. Backups are caused when either the capacity is reduced because of an accident or weather conditions, or the number of cars exceed the capacity.

I do not believe the capacity of a highway is affected by passing lane rules. In fact it should increase by allowing faster through-put on the left lane.

[SunnyTXsmile]

Originally Posted by dkf747

MD is not big on speed enforcement anymore, if they ever were. I drive a lot throughout this state and rarely ever see the cops anymore. If they're big on it, it must be in places I don't go to often, like the Eastern shore, or Western MD.

I've lived in both Western MD and the Eastern Shore, among other parts of MD. That is precisely where they are, in droves.

On the Eastern Shore, I've very literally seen them even up in the trees (one guy in a utility truck with the bucket up by the power cords / tree tops -- not sure what that is called -- holding a radar gun and another cop in a car on the street ready to fly after you when the guy with the radar gun snags you going too fast).

In Western MD, they love hiding in tree-lined ditches and on on-ramps aiming their radar towards the highway.

[ay jayy]

Originally Posted by Calvin C

I do not believe the capacity of a highway is affected by passing lane rules. In fact it should increase by allowing faster through-put on the left lane.

again, this doesn't make any sense in rush hour traffic when the road is being used above it's capacity, all the lanes are full and traffic is crawling in all of them and the law cannot be enforced.

When the road is not being used at capacity, passing lane laws will have no effect on total throughput since there are potentially 3 other lanes for drivers to use.

I think some "Slower Traffic Keep Right" signs would be better than any more laws.

[Calvin C]

Originally Posted by ay jayy

When the road is not being used at capacity, passing lane laws will have no effect on total throughput since there are potentially 3 other lanes for drivers to use.

I disagree. Having faster throughput on the left lane will mean more cars handled for the same density of traffic. In other words the capacity of the road will be increased before it maxes out.

Originally Posted by ay jayy

I think some "Slower Traffic Keep Right" signs would be better than any more laws.

Totally agree with you. However a law will probably be required in order for signs to come up.

[molukai]

Keep in mind that going slow is relative. If going the speed limit on the left lane is considered a nuisance, then you might have to re-evaluate yourself just a little bit.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by molukai

If going the speed limit in the left lane is considered a nuisance,
then you might have to re-evaluate yourself just a little bit.

When traffic is light on I-95 (like most eastern highways) the left lane can be running at 10-20mph above posted.
The other 20 hours of each day it's closer to 10-20mh below posted.

[Calvin C]

that is true. On some clear summer days there are times when all the traffic I am in on the I-95 is driving above the speed limit.