kEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS

Yeah, I was going to get one of those, but then I realized that nobody looks in their rear-view mirror anway. It woudn't make any difference...

Dom

 

The source of this sticker, for anyone interested: http://www.leftlanedrivers.org/

C

 

All I could think about this whole weekend while driving the freeways was this THREAD...and how their actions reaffirm our posts!!

Interesting to note that most were either SUV's or older minivans.

 

Rant:
I'm on long uphill climb, and I come up on a Chevy Cavalier driving in the Passing lane of an otherwise 2-lane highway. Can't pass on the right, that's "wrong." The guy's underpowered car is not doing so well on this hill, 75 kph & slowing - that's 45 in American. If I don't pass on the right, I'm stuck behind this moron until he wakes up, but he could be in his coma for a while. Horn...no effect. Flash lights...no effect. Repeat...no effect. There are no other cars on the road, but perhaps he's fantasizing, that he's in a faster car and has just passed a whole string of slowpokes.

Horn, lights routine once again...and this time he actually looks up into his rear-view mirror, and does...absolutely nothing.

So instead of passing him on the right, I pass him on the left. Did I cross a double-solid yellow to do this? I won't say.

My wife tells me he had a stunned look on his face: surprised, stupefied, and a little bit upset, perhaps that someone would dare pass him on the left when he's already in the left lane. Maybe he was waiting for me to pull to the right, then he would do that old trick where he could cut me off - screw you bud, I've seen that trick many a time. Hope your car overheats & the buzzards get you.

My wife also gave him the finger.

 

Here I am on a Ferrari website. Some people are posting about howinhell can anyone drive over the speed limit--illegal you know! WTF? Some speed limits are set for income generation, some are actually where they should be, but for a competent driver, the vast majority are set low. However, if you are an incompetent driver, you might want to obey the stict letter of the law. I picture the median F car owner's driving ability to be radically above soccer mom's--what, am I wrong?

 

I agree with the comment on freeway conditions, I do know the section you speak of. But, I respectfully feel your comment about others passing on the right that are traveling fast is wrong. Number one, as the signs say, slower traffic keep right-I believe the law. Number two, many times, as I believe I said earlier, people not getting over to let faster cars by, whether they are going 55 or 75 can cause safety issues. Many times I find traffic backing up in the fast lane behind a car doing 70 mph, bumper to bumper. I always allow room, a lot if in a bigger car, but no one else really is. Then people pass on the right, wedge into the fast lane when encountering slow right hand lane traffic, causing everyone in the fast lane behind them to slam on their brakes. I've witnessed a few accidents happen due to this and many near misses. This could many times be avoided if people used the fast lane to pass and didn't "park" in the lane and allow the situation to build. This is the most dangerous condition in my opinion, much more so than someone traveling 80 mph with minimal or no traffic surrounding him/her. I don't see an argument at all not getting over, it doesn't benefit anyone.

That being said, nothing said here is going to change a thing but it's healthy to rant about I guess...

Jeff

 

For all the guys who say they rarely drive their Ferraris 10-15 mph over the limited American speed limits I say it's time you trade your showboat in for a Prius. Really, what kind of a wank drives a race bred Ferrari at or near the speed limit then whines about others who exceed it?

For the Wanker who says when he's going 10 mph over the limit he won't get out of the left lane, here's a news flash: You are breaking the law!

The California Vehicle Code makes doing just that illegal. Period! Driving in America sucks! Drive in Germany where drivers move out of the way in the left lane and you quickly realize that weaving in and out of traffic, American style, is actually slower there as they system of moving over truly works! Do folks not remember when side mirrors only came on the left side? Back then, it was assumed you didn't pass on the left. Now we have utter chaos on our highways due to ignorance and the, sorry, I'm going to say it, SUV--"I own this lane Attitutude" that makes Americans so beloved around the world.

Reality check: The lanes on the highway are for efficient flow of traffic and owned by no one individual.

The law says, irregardless of your speed, you do not drive in the left lane! Only if you are passing.

Next time I'm pulled over for speeding or weaving through traffic I'm going to grill the poor CHP officer for his failure to write tickets for left lane hogs!

By the way, Dave Barry wrote the funniest left lane editorial ever. He suggests nuclear missles to get rid of the Wankers clocking the left lanes! AMEN!

Vehicle Code Sec. 21659. Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes a vehicle
shall not be driven in the extreme left lane at any time, nor in the
center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where
the roadway ahead is clearly visible and the center lane is clear of
traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn, or
where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to
traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is
signposted to give notice of such allocation. This section does not
apply upon a one-way roadway.

21650. Upon all highways, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right
half of the roadway, except as follows:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the
same direction under the rules governing that movement.

 

Well then, if the police won't enforce the laws, then is it time for good old fashioned Western Justice? Hmmmm. We don't want road rage? Some $#$!@#$! pulls that crap on the wrong guy and would it really be surprising if he gets shot? I think people should think twice before doing something that might trigger such violence. It's interesting to see what people become when behind the wheel. Can we imagine some bloak not moving out of the way if someone was trying to quickly walk past on the sidewalk? Not so likely.

 

+1

 

That's nonsense. Most German autobahns are just two lanes wide and there's a high population density there as well yet the driving conditions are far superior. American highway engineers? There's an oxymoron! Our roads are poorly engineered, down to the materials themselves, when compared to, e.g., Germany.

 

If that Guy did that in the left lane, sooner or later, someone will pull in front of him and SLAM on their brakes (or shoot him). He takes his chances for his hiding-in-his-car boldness.

 

+1

 

You are breaking the law. You are part of the problem.

21659. Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes a vehicle
shall not be driven in the extreme left lane at any time, nor in the
center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where
the roadway ahead is clearly visible and the center lane is clear of
traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn, or
where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to
traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is
signposted to give notice of such allocation. This section does not
apply upon a one-way roadway.


21650. Upon all highways, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right
half of the roadway, except as follows:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the
same direction under the rules governing that movement.

 

OK great points. Also does the Ca. law tell you at what speeds it is legal to pass with. Next time I'm out there I just want to make sure I'm going with the flow. Enjoy the ride

 

Hence the double fines here in Brevard on 95. Of course, like most of our laws, they never seem to enforce it, but, it looks nice on paper.

 

Hasn't happened yet and more than likely will not. (At least not here the SE)

I guess you Cali guys are just a bit more high strung!

 

Hey, my first RANT:

Curious, did I miss something? You are giving the dude hell for not speeding in his Ferrari and then giving him hell for breaking the law by not moving over to right lane to let others pass? I think that even Cali it is considered breaking the law to use excessive speed isn't it? Both are wrong, plain and simple. And the majority of the morons speeding (I mean 25+ over the limit crowd) do the same thing on the city streets as well! Those same city streets where there are kids on bikes (who also don't know any rules of the road anymore), schools buses, little old ladies with push carts, etc.

I do think most of the interstate speeds are too low, but really, not that low. And even in Germany there are speed limits on the highways in most places. And those limits are, in most cases if I remember, lower than our limits here. PLUS, the GERMANS ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO DRIVE! And the Austrians, Swiss, etc. You want to drive like M Schumacher, get the Feds to put in a mandatory driver training and raise the minimum age to drive and remove it as a RIGHT for every American. Of course that would require parents to drive their kids around more (won't happen, they already want free baby-sitting) and for the US to get a decent public transportation system. Oh, and ACLU would ***** as usual.

If you want to drive like a moron do it on a very deserted road in the middle of no-where. I don't have a problem with people killing themselves out on long deserted sections of roads as long they leave me out of it.

And the gent who said most Ferrari drivers are above average drivers, uh, don't think so. A rather large selection of said drivers (like the Porsche, Lambo, etc guys) get the cars because of the badge on the front. They could care less that it is a fantastic car with a long rich history. Remember, the people on this board really LIKE the marque, you won't find most Ferrari owners on a board like this.

 

I had to change my plugs to BP5ES's so I wouldn't foul them up on my way to the drug store to get a box of depends. I was fouling the PB7ES's doin 30mph in 5th. Enjoy the ride

 

First of all "irregardless" is not a word. Irrespective is a word. I think you mean "regardless"

Second: 21659 vc does not apply to the freeway (one way roadway) and 21650 vc generally applies to driving on the wrong side of the road.

Third: If you are weaving and speeding through traffic you probably will get cited for 22107 vc Unsafe Lane Change

22107. No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move
right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with
reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate
signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other
vehicle may be affected by the movement.

Fourth: You showed style and panache in your use of the word "Wanker"

Fifth: As you are "grilling" the CHP officer make sure to put your hands behind you back and interlace your finders. (click click).

Regards,

Stew

 

PhilNotHill does not condone or encourage any illegal behavior. Please see "New Fchat Policy" thread in this forum for details.
Thank you.