Left lane use on city street

[TheMan419]

So I drive through town to get from our farm to my day job. The main street I am on (not a highway, a city street) is 2 lanes each direction, with a turn lane in the center. It dead ends into another street and I turn left at that intersection. Most folks turn right at that intersection and there are two lanes for doing so.

Today I am in the left lane as we are approaching the intersection. I am doing my usual 5 mph or so OVER the posted limit. There is traffic in the right lane as well.

Some lady comes roaring around all of us using the center turn lane as a passing lane. We both then have to stop at the light, where i am turning left and she is turning right. She rolls down her window and starts to berate me for "going slow in the fast lane".

Is that a thing in city driving? I have driven this exact same route to work for 20 years. Never heard of this.

Yes on a highway left lane is for passing and right lane is for driving.... but on a 4 lane city street? Am I wrong here?

 

[seville009]

You are correct; she was wrong.

 

[old and tired]

You were correct; she is a *****...

 

[TheMan419]

Ok glad to know I am not crazy. OAT I may have used a similar word but it starts with a C.....

 

[Diggin It]

The correct answer is .....

It depends. We have roads with four lanes and a center turn lane and there are signs 'Slower Traffic Keep Right" or similar. Check your state laws regarding lane usage. You may be surprised at laws about 'Improper lane usage'.

In general, you cannot cruise the left lane unless traffic conditions are heavy enough to require it, you're passing a slower vehicle, or you're getting ready to turn left (you don't say how far you traveled in the left lane approaching the turn).

As for passing in the center lane and yelling ... well ....

 

[kthompson]

My wife told me last week you should be a judge so you could fine the drivers that bug me. Driving etiquette has about totally died, well not yet but dying.

 

[ruffdog]

That is the new trend now...when you are in the wrong, yell at everyone else.

 

[oldnslo]

That is the new trend now...when you are in the wrong, yell at everyone else.

Sure do like the I am stupid and it is your fault mentality invading society today.

 

[Torvy]

She was definitely wrong, but you may have been wrong, too, depending on other traffic. We are supposed to pay attention in all directions and if someone is coming up faster, you are supposed to move right, just like on a highway. Of course, in cities it is often too crowded to move over. In many places, this is codified law. In others, you could get charged with something vague like obstructing traffic. It is, at the very least, just proper driving etiquette. Besides, if someone is driving overly fast, I would want to let them get by so they are well past when they lose control, cause an accident or get pulled over. All that being said, it really depends on if you could move over or not. No excuses for her.

 

[K5lwq]

You were right. She needs to have her DL revoked.

When I lived in Florida I was pulling a trailer on a 4 lane highway with no turning lane. I needed To turn left onto the road I lived on so I was in the left lane. A FHP was passing me on the right before I was close enough to put my blinker on and start slowing down. The Officer decided to be smart and got on the loud speaker and told me to move to the right lane. So I hit my brakes and fell in behind him then put my left blinker on and started my turn but had to stop for an opening to cross the highway. So now I had both lanes blocked with the trailer waiting to turn.

He noticed in his mirror and turned around. That created an opening so I went. He turns in behind me and pulls me over. Being smart he walks up to my truck and says what was that? I said that was me following FL state law. I am to obey a police officer even if it breaks another law. Then I said I still don’t know why you wanted me to make a left hand turn from the right lane but that was your call not mine.

He did not say anything else and got in his car and drove away.