I have a RANT .

[dave1949]

SOP in Mass. on a three lane is enter and go directly to the center lane, doesn't matter if they are doing 40 mph less then the center lane traffic, they have to get there NOW! They exit from the center lane too.

The good news is you better be going 80 to use the left lane. I-495 looks like NASCAR tryouts late in the evening. If you are willing to run with the pack, you can put away some miles in a hurry.

 

[bcp]

Virginia:
https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-804

Whenever any roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following:

1. Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or where right lanes are reserved for slow-moving traffic as permitted in this section;

In addition to the left lane residents, we also have a problem here with people clogging up the rightmost lane on a 3- or 4-lane highway. The way I was taught, that rightmost lane is supposed to be for people exiting or entering the highway. Well, around here, people use it as a travel lane, often going way under the speed limit. ....

 

[dave1949]

Virginia:
https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-804

Whenever any roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following:

1. Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or where right lanes are reserved for slow-moving traffic as permitted in this section;

You ever hear of anyone getting cited for not following that rule? Most states have such rules but I don't see them enforced.

 

[Pixguy]

... I-495 looks like NASCAR tryouts late in the evening. If you are willing to run with the pack, you can put away some miles in a hurry.

Been there, done that.

 

[Jstpssng]

I haven't done a lot of driving in Mass. One thing it seems though is that if you put on your blinker, they will let you change lanes. Unlike here, where the driver will speed up to block you... or travel for miles in the left lane just in your blind spot, only speeding up when you overtake a slower vehicle.

 

[dave1949]

I haven't done a lot of driving in Mass. One thing it seems though is that if you put on your blinker, they will let you change lanes. Unlike here, where the driver will speed up to block you... or travel for miles in the left lane just in your blind spot, only speeding up when you overtake a slower vehicle.

I experience that a lot on the road about everywhere. In heavy traffic people are going to be all around and there are few escape paths, but on the open road they are needlessly taking away a defensive driving escape path, which I hate. A lot of drivers do not hold consistent speeds and there is no logic to when they will speed up or slow down. Running on cruise control, I have passed and been passed by the same driver several times in a 10 mile stretch.

It's very difficult for traffic to flow smoothly with those people on the road. They get next to a truck and slow down for several miles with traffic building behind them, then they speed up and pull into the right lane and keep going faster than they have been for the past 10 miles. By then the truck needs to pass someone and whips into an already full lane of traffic that had high hopes of actually getting somewhere. :laughing:

Anyone who runs next to a semi for miles, probably not in one the trucks better visual areas either, is not thinking clearly. If anything goes wrong you know who's going to get the Darwin Award.

 

[Baby Grand]

I had a driver's ed teacher who told us something that has proven remarkably true. He said that many drivers "hitch" themselves to the car in front of them and then switch their brain off, letting the driver in front do all the thinking for them as they essentially go to sleep with their eyes open. He warned us to separate the attachment, if possible, or sufferer the consequences.

 

[Bird]

Running on cruise control, I have passed and been passed by the same driver several times in a 10 mile stretch.

That does not happen in this part of the country.:laughing: I probably use the cruise control more than anyone you know, and if I set the cruise control on the speed limit, they all pass me; I'm unlikely to pass anyone.:laughing:

 

[dave1949]

That does not happen in this part of the country.:laughing: I probably use the cruise control more than anyone you know, and if I set the cruise control on the speed limit, they all pass me; I'm unlikely to pass anyone.:laughing:

Who said anything about speed limits? I'm pretty sure I my average speed is below the speed limit. :laughing:

You are correct though, the least stressful and safest driving is done at 2-3 mph below a highway's speed limit.

 

[aczlan]

You are correct though, the least stressful and safest driving is done at 2-3 mph below a highway's speed limit.

Thats a good way to get run over around here... Its worse if you get down near NYC/NJ (where traffic does 75-90MPH on the Long Island Expressway which is posted at 55MPH, but if you do less than 70 in the left lane, you will get run off the road)


Aaron Z