Drivers (Pittsburgh: transport, car, parking)

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by wyoh

We drove around eastern Canada quite a bit a few years ago and were both shocked at the behavior of drivers. They would approach a car from behind in the right lane, switch to the left lane as they got close, and then switch back to the right lane after they passed. This is with no other cars within a few hundred feet. I think that people were just taught to respect other drivers there as they learned to drive.

That's exactly how I was taught to drive, and I've never lived in Canada. I know lots of other people were taught this way to, because the complaints on this forum, and on multiple other forums are unbelievable. I think a lot has to do with the apparent fact that drivers ed is no longer required.

It doesn't even seem natural to be in the far left lane. And I know for a fact that the passing law is clearly stated in the PA drivers manual and it's emblazoned on signs along the turnpike and often on the digital boards on the other interstates.

I think people were taught, but that doesn't mean they learned or paid attention. I always look back at people when they are doing this, and most are clueless. So apparently it's a lack of attention and/or lack of desire to let other traffic move along. The incident I mentioned on Route 28, I seriously have no idea how you could not notice you have that many cars behind you.

[redvelvet709]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

This isn't a Pittsburgh thing. It is a US thing. It also isn't the fault of the population. It is the fault of education. People in the US are not educated like they are in Northern Europe. We are not trained to keep right unless passing. We don't have rules of the road other than those signs that say stop or yield. Of course yield is a gray area. Some actually feel that is go no matter how much room in-between cars that are already on the main road. Anyway, it isn't about Pittsburgh. It is that people in ALL of the US are not educated on proper driving. That is where the failure lies.

I think it's 2 things-laziness and a general apathetic stance towards everything. These people who watch others pass them over and over without moving, simply don't care. It's not that they don't actually know better. They do.

For you folks who do this, let's hear from you!

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Of course this is true. People in the US were not educated to drive correctly. It has nothing to do with Pittsburgh. Those of us that have travelled extensively in the US and abroad know this. It can't be argued.

True, dat, but. . . every city has its own bad driving habits. Pittsburgh's are not Denver's, and vice versa. Makes for interesting cross-country driving.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by Katiana

True, dat, but. . . every city has its own bad driving habits. Pittsburgh's are not Denver's, and vice versa. Makes for interesting cross-country driving.

I think that's very accurate.

I do question the people who say that the issue we are discussing here happens in other cities this size or larger.

Someone chimed in from DC and said they have the same issue.....what I've seen in DC is the left lane clogged, BUT, all other lanes were clogged too. That I can tolerate and understand. But I really question how many times you see four lane roads and highways in DC with cars lined up in the left lane and no vehicles at all in the right. The traffic volume there is much higher and I don't believe that at all.

[wyoh]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I think that's very accurate.

I do question the people who say that the issue we are discussing here happens in other cities this size or larger.

Someone chimed in from DC and said they have the same issue.....what I've seen in DC is the left lane clogged, BUT, all other lanes were clogged too. That I can tolerate and understand. But I really question how many times you see four lane roads and highways in DC with cars lined up in the left lane and no vehicles at all in the right. The traffic volume there is much higher and I don't believe that at all.

Does that happen a lot in Pittsburgh (left lane full, right lane empty)? I've seen it happen occasionally here in D.C. but it seems like it would be a fluke, not a common occurrence.

I pass on the right a LOT on I-66. People aren't often stuck in the left lane, they just don't bother moving over.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by wyoh

Does that happen a lot in Pittsburgh (left lane full, right lane empty)?

It is truly the norm, not an exception.

[safak]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

It is truly the norm, not an exception.

true its rampant here. but its the same way everywhere i have ever been. try driving the 95 from fredericksburg to d.c. every morning.

not only that, other illegal activities are almost as rampant..speeding, tailgating, aggressive driving. of course ..just for an example, if someones in the left lane in front of scott its a terrible crime. but when hes tailgating, speeding, driving wrecklessly, getting in front of other cars and slamming his brakes...its all warranted.
the old case of 'what you do is 100% wrong and you're an idiot, what i do is fine because its me'

[tranceFusion]

It's really a PITA to be a right lane driver in pittsburgh. There's no exit lanes or merge lanes so every 10 seconds you are getting over to let someone on or because someone in front of you is slamming breaks to pull off an upcoming exit.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

It's really a PITA to be a right lane driver in pittsburgh. There's no exit lanes or merge lanes so every 10 seconds you are getting over to let someone on or because someone in front of you is slamming breaks to pull off an upcoming exit.

In that case, just keep passing people instead of clogging the left lane and nobody will complain.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by safak

true its rampant here. but its the same way everywhere i have ever been. try driving the 95 from fredericksburg to d.c. every morning.

not only that, other illegal activities are almost as rampant..speeding, tailgating, aggressive driving. of course ..just for an example, if someones in the left lane in front of scott its a terrible crime. but when hes tailgating, speeding, driving wrecklessly, getting in front of other cars and slamming his brakes...its all warranted.
the old case of 'what you do is 100% wrong and you're an idiot, what i do is fine because its me'

Actually it's a case of "if people would follow simple traffic rules and etiquitte, there would never be an issue".