Interstate Driving 101...

[Lone Sailor]

99% of drivers out there can't judge closing distance for shit, let alone comprehending proper driving etiquette. That's why smaller, faster, nimbler cars are better. I've been known to pass people on improved and semi-improved shoulders before.

Friend of mine in high school paid the ultimate price for that, and to this day I still don't get what is so GD important that you would risk your life and others' just to get to your destination 1-2 minutes quicker. Fortunately, the owners of the car he plowed into on the shoulder had already started walking to find help and were not in the vehicle when he hit it.

[helosailor]

People are horrible about that at the Northeast Loop 820 split going East by the mall.

And at the 121/820 split south of there, near the Hwy 10 exit.

[TonyMCev]

Ah there are certain sections of interstate where trucks must use left lane. The one in particular is about a 10 mile stretch of I-70 east of Effingham,Il.

i have noticed some of these stretches of late. i am thinking the last one i saw was in meridian, ms.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

you forgot some

dont drink and drive

dont drink and drive in the rain

if you spin in the rain and hit the wall dont get out your vehicle in the fast lane, to recover the front clip of your car 100feet behind you

[03trubluGT]

here is a list of helpful ways to make everyone's commute a little better...

1) SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT: if you choose to drive the speed limit or under, that is your prerogative. however, please do it in the right lane only! and if, God forbid, you come upon an even slower driver that is in front of you in said lane, feel free to accelerate slightly when passing. passing while on cruise control at 70 mph is not the answer.

...

See avatar.

[JC316]

I agree with all points. I am guilty of number 5, primarily because there is always some do good prick that lets EVERYONE who does this over. Might as well be me taking advantage of said do good prick. I have seen one guy let 6 or 7 guys over, getting on I-30 from I-45N is a prime example of this.

The slower traffic in the left lane just pisses me off. It's always some asshole in a bright red sports car doing it too.

[03trubluGT]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that about 90% of the people that are driving slow in the fast lane are now talking on the phone or texting?

[clevelandkid]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that about 90% of the people that are driving slow in the fast lane are now talking on the phone or texting?

Every day to and from work there is some ass causing problems because their phone call / text message is just oh so important. They bring out the tourettes in me.

[mikeb]

I've been guilty of passing some asshole by using the median LOL...... was it fun? hell yes, but it was a bad idea.

If someone is in some god danged hurry i always let them by.... they become good fodder for the police, and serve as an early warning for me, keeping me ticket free.

[EW]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that about 90% of the people that are driving slow in the fast lane are now talking on the phone or texting?

Virtually everyone is texting or on the phone. Just watch other "drivers" and you will be amazed. I don't get it.

[TonyMCev]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that about 90% of the people that are driving slow in the fast lane are now talking on the phone or texting?

yes sir!!!

i have noticed this a lot lately. and it just makes the experience that much worse when you finally get past them and they are laughing and just carrying on a conversation like nothing else matters...

[Raskal]

I only have had a 3.5 mile commute to work the last six months or so.. but before that I drove from NRH all the way out to Burleson for 3 years. Down 35w all times of day.. I never have really experienced the frustration you guys are talking about?? When I was in the left lane which a lot of the times I was being that it was a stretch.... I was only going about 70 most of the time... Nobody ever really came up on me... and by came up on me i'm talking less than about 6 car lengths.... If i noticed someone coming in the rear view quicker or closer than that I got over to the right.. Does that make me the asshole in the situation?

[TENGRAM]

Last week I'm doing right at 10 over and passing traffic at a good clip as well as catching up to the traffic in front of me. Some Saturn comes flying up on my ass. Well, I'm sure as hell not going to slow down to under the speed limit in order to get over behind slow traffic just to let him by. Still, he rode my ass as if he had some God-given right to that lane.

I get over to let faster traffic by whenever possible, but I'm not going to drastically inconvenience myself in order to do so. Wait patiently and it'll happen when there is a good opportunity. Ride my ass and you may be waiting awhile.

[jakesford]

i used to hate that 18 wheelers had to stay out of the left lane in states such as California, but the more driving I do around the metroplex the more these 18 wheelers in the far left lane doing 60 mph is pissing me off- get the fuck over.

both I20 and I30 have this rule, and it is a good one...

[TonyMCev]

Last week I'm doing right at 10 over and passing traffic at a good clip as well as catching up to the traffic in front of me. Some Saturn comes flying up on my ass. Well, I'm sure as hell not going to slow down to under the speed limit in order to get over behind slow traffic just to let him by. Still, he rode my ass as if he had some God-given right to that lane.

I get over to let faster traffic by whenever possible, but I'm not going to drastically inconvenience myself in order to do so. Wait patiently and it'll happen when there is a good opportunity. Ride my ass and you may be waiting awhile.

so...

if you are driving at 10 over in the left lane, no one behind or in front of you, do you get back into the right lane after you have passed the slower moving vehicles?

i am pretty sure that no one said anything about the people who are NOT the slower traffic being in the left lane. the main point is that the left lane is there for the drivers who want to go faster than the slower drivers...

if you are doing your "good clip" in the left lane and a car is closing fast behind you, yet there is plenty of room in the right lane to get over and then get back into the left lane behind said faster vehicle, do you do that?

or would getting out of the way be "drastically inconveniencing" you?