a people just plain DUMB ?

[R-N-R]

I'd like to see drivers training performed in standard transmission vehicles. There is the obvious of knowing at least the fundamentals of driving a stick, which can be useful in an emergency situation. More importantly, driving a stick makes the average driver more aware of their vehicle and what is going on around them. I certainly enjoy the convenience of my automatic, but I swear many people associate putting the trans in drive with sticking their head up their butt. I can handle the yahoos and heros on the road, at least they are somewhat predictable. It's the drivers with their heads imbedded in their tail pipe that concern me!

 

[J Shocik]

From Lizzyhermit:

why do people drive in the fast lane of the Interstate highways instead of:



KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS ?

Do what I do. If they're in the fast ( left) lane, pass on the right- it's the open lane. Everyone for some reason has to drive in the left lane. Oh, and gab on the cell phone while doing 45 too... #@$%! That's enough to tick off the Pope.

 

[lizzyhermit]

Ask my wife, this is my biggest peeve.

I sure hope you don't mean your wife is your biggest peeve !

I was on the divided highway again this weekend and yep, "they" aren't getting any kinder, sensitive and aware of others.

 

[terrywerm]

Me, me, me, me...

I've driven truck for more years than I care to think about, and yup, I agree: It's the ME thing that seems to be the biggest problem.



<RANT ON>



I believe that the following lines describe how many drivers think in this day and age:

~ When merging into traffic: You need to make room for ME!

~ When losing a lane for construction: I can use that lane till the last second, so I will. You people left it open just for ME!

~ The right lane is for other people. The left lane is just for ME!

~ I occupy this space on the highway and it belongs to ME! Everyone else can go around.

~ I am the fastest thing on the highway - until I get in front of everyone else - then I'll slow down to avoid getting a speeding ticket. I want to be first, but I don't want the cop to stop ME!

~ Turn signals are for losers - if I decide to change lanes, you'd better look out for ME!

~ Four lane, non-interstate divided highway with left turn lanes: I'm going to make a left turn 20 miles up the road so I'll get in the left lane now, but I want to get good fuel economy so I only drive 50 MPH. The rest of you have to go around, because this lane is just for ME!



Oh yeah... and don't forget the guy that stays in the left lane and paces the vehicle in the right lane instead of passing: He's afraid that if he goes one mile per hour over the speed limit he might get a nose bleed.





The close call that I remember the most: Extended hood Pete, loaded tanker, 7000 gallon tank with 4200 gallons in it - food grade (no baffles) grossed out at 80,000 lbs, so there was lots of room for fore and aft splash.



Dropping down hill on the interstate, about a 4% grade, strolling along at 65 to 70 MPH in the right lane with the Jake brake on, keeping my speed steady on the grade and traffic is heavy. In my mirror I see a couple of crotch rockets coming up fast. They cut off a car in the left lane to get out there, then pass me, cut right, and hit the brakes to make a short exit ramp. The second bike had a young guy driving and he had his girlfriend on the back. That bike disappeared beneath the end of the hood before I could get things in check, and I was just waiting for the tell tale noises of metal passing under the bumper and steer axle. Luckily, they managed to move off to the right without me hitting them, but it got awful damn close.



So, somewhere out there is a young guy and gal that maybe don't realize how close to death they really were. I hope they had to clean the s**t out of their drawers... #@$%!



<RANT OFF>



It's a wild world out there... you just gotta watch out for the crazies!

 

[richardcoxid]

What I don’t understand about the subject of the original question - Why doesn’t the Police enforce the “drive to the right except when passing rule”? Or could it be the “drive to the right except when passing” rule doesn’t exist anymore?



BTW- How do you know if you are driving in Salt Lake City? Answer- There are you and four others on the I-State, one in front of you, one in back of you, one on your right side and the other on your left side all driving 55 MPH.



Another response- You and three others are on the I-State, the three others are driving side by side in the three lanes directly in front of you at 55 MPH. LOL

 

[DjFire07]

You want to see dumb drivers? Try driving a fire engine just outside the Wash. D. C. line.

 

[SteveR1]

What I don’t understand about the subject of the original question - Why doesn’t the Police enforce the “drive to the right except when passing rule”? Or could it be the “drive to the right except when passing” rule doesn’t exist anymore?

They do in Colorado now. Our legislature passed a law last year that makes staying in the left lane of interstates a moving violation, and the state cops here have been giving tickets for it. They're expensive and you do lose points off your license.



I don't see many people who stay in the left lane here any more except on I-70 between here and Denver, and most of the offenders have CA plates on their vehicles.

 

[Nordby]

re a few back: outdoors has it exactly right.



I-25 between the springs and denver was a pleasant place to be for about 2 weeks after 9/11. My wife and I were betting how long it would take for the "me" left lane aggressive attitude to come back. Start of week 3 it was obviously deteriorating. By late October, it was all back to normal. Now its downright awful.



Despite the left lane law, around here it is still way mis-used, congested, and a big accordian regardless of the time of day. We drive through NE to SD a couple times a year. On the way back, on I-80 going west near North Platte, some Colorado driver will do something stupid or selfish (typically to an 18-wheeler, or often to us towing horses) to remind us we are heading back in to the gauntlet and to stay defensive/know your bailouts at all times.



later, jon.

 

[tschwab]

Most people don't know how to merge anymore. If I can't move over and there is room in front or back of me I will keep a steady speed. It's their decision to merge in front of me or behind. But no, they come up along side and when there is no road left for them they just start moving over anyway. MAKE A DECISION BEFORE YOU GET THERE!

Yeah, This is one of my biggest pet peeves.

 

[Beast2B]

So the answer is extra-large bumpers, smoke screen and a train horn? I have the smoke screen down, not too many folks can get around me if I don't want them to, and I'm waiting to sacrifice the stock bumpers on a cell-phone talking, mascara-applying, get-dressed-in-the-fast-lane Benz!

(and an air horn would be cool)

 

[GerryDrake]

let's not forget the guy that comes down the on ramp in his car, slides in front of you as you slowed, then proceeds to do 5 or more under what you were traveling, and then you finally pass him, only to have him 1/4 mile down the road find his 'traveling speed' at 5 or ten faster than you are going. Why can't he just match speed or move along in the first place without forcing you to slow way down and/or pass him before he gets up to speed. :{ :{

 

[McCRam]

And if you asked them, they would all say they are above average drivers.

 

[fox]

Here in Illinois, they passed the " stay out of the left lane" law. It was already a law, but we needed two .

Last saturday, I saw a retired state trooper plate and he drove 45-50 miles in the left lane, making all the traffic go around him!!! All while running 60 then 75 and repeating it. My pet peave is the idiots who get on the interstate riding the brake peddle at 40 mph. Merge means to match the flow.

How about running 70, coming up on traffic , waiting you turn to get around, then deciding to get away from them and running 75-80 for 2 miles. Guess what ? they all decide to do that. !! Some times I just tap and hold the brake to get the lights on and swerve a little, then slow to 50-55!! They won't pass, thinking you saw a cop!!

 

[milehigh.o.]

They do in Colorado now. Our legislature passed a law last year that makes staying in the left lane of interstates a moving violation, and the state cops here have been giving tickets for it. They're expensive and you do lose points off your license.



I don't see many people who stay in the left lane here any more except on I-70 between here and Denver, and most of the offenders have CA plates on their vehicles.

All I can say is it is about time they realized what causes road rage. I keep saying I am going to put a CB with P A system in my truck like the police have so I can talk to them and tell them how I feel :-{} . Anyone know the laws against this? Or anyone have this in there trucks? :-laf

 

[IC Smoke]

All I can say is it is about time they realized what causes road rage. I keep saying I am going to put a CB with P A system in my truck like the police have so I can talk to them and tell them how I feel . Anyone know the laws against this? Or anyone have this in there trucks?

Drew "Blue-Beast" Wentworth's brother has a PA under his hood, Im sure if you PM him or get him to post in this topic he will share some stories





How about the senior citizens (dont flame me) that go 50 on the highway, Just looking ahead you can see the cars swerve to the left lane and back to the right. Thats always a fun experience... . OR the city folk that have the nice high dollar SUV pulling the 10' trailer that think its a 38' gooseneck when they run thru traffic or turn places. That goes for the pretty boys and there fancy boats as well



I went north over the weekend to help move my brother and I took our 18' car haule, It was good seeing the SUV city kids point and "pull the horn" (arm action) as you pass... . THEN they are all shocked since you have a 26" grover :-laf espcially mom & dad in the front seat. THEN mash the pedal to hear your rig roar out the side pipe and echo off the SUV. WHEW that always feels good hahah



Ian

 

[DHorstman]

How about the senior citizens (dont flame me) that go 50 on the highway,

Ian

Don't have a problem with them, totally legal if in the RH lane.



I set the cruise ~73mph in the middle lane, technically a law breaking speeder(70mph limit). Don't like it, go around. I have the heavy *ss ranch hand bumpers and 7K plus truck too. If I can't run the speed limit I try to stay in the RH lane execpt for merging traffic issues.

 

[terrywerm]

Milehigh, I believe PA's are illegal in most states, but you will have to check with your local authorities to find out for sure. I don't know about Colorado, but I know that they are definitely illegal up here in Minnesota.



Of course, that doesn't necessarily stop a person.



Years back when I was younger I fiddled with one, had a 6" or 8" PA horn mounted under the hood and it worked ok, but the hood and fenders ended up blocking a lot of the sound volume. Put it next to the engine in a rattlin' ram and you probably will hardly hear it. Of course the worst part would be getting it loud enough to be heard over the ricers' stereos out there. :-laf



Minnesota also passed a new left lane law a few years back, but I've never seen it enforced. I wonder how many million dollars in tax money it cost to do all the research before they passed it, only to have everyone ignore it.



Some years back I bought one of those custom license plates at a truck stop in Illinois. It said: "When I get old, I'm going to move up north and drive slow in the left lane". You wouldn't believe the comments I got on that thing, and even caught a guy trying to steal it once!

 

[Ramtough]

The answer to this question is simple. For the most part, drivers hogging the left lane are actively being passive aggressive. Start a mental poll of the profile of these drivers - you will quickly come to the same conclusion. Sometimes, they are clueless individuals but for the most part, they all meet the same profile and I am convinced they are holding up traffic in the left lane BECAUSE THEY CAN.

 

[RJOL]

... I commute 42 miles across town...

You need to move to a smaller town...

 

[WVaughan]

12 Gauge

Thats why I have 2 sawed off 12 gauge semi-automatic shotguns mounted in my grill