Left Lane
Life, web, and caffeine. By Pat Collins.
The Left Lane Manifesto
Published May 19th, 2006The fact is, I have a lot of time to think to myself during trips (read: long trips) from Pittsburgh to New England. I also have a lot of chances to become agitated by bad drivers. It is during these trips that the Left Lane Principle became blindingly clear to me; not just as a blueprint for vehicular behavior while driving, but as a metaphor for life.
Basic Driving Etiquette 101
When there are two or more lanes going in one direction on any given highway, a driver who wishes to pass a car in the right lane should (1) merge slowly and safely into the left lane (2) accelerate a safe distance past the car they wish to pass, and finally, (3) merge back into the lane from which they came. If you have spent more than ten minutes in a car on a road, you know a lot of folks graced with the privilege of a driver’s license have trouble following this pact (read: law) amongst drivers that the left lane is for passing and that the right lane is for traveling. Some mindless idiots are blatantly unaware of the entire process. These idiots are what this is all about.
The Metaphor
Stupidity is abundant in this world. As I thought my Principle out, I came to realize that the same people who are bad drivers on the road tend to be bad drivers in life. Some don’t play well with others. Some operate too aggressively. Still others don’t have common sense, or simply don’t make sense.
It is hard to avoid these folks, but you can choose the way you deal with them. You have a choice in the method by which you can pull ahead of them in life, and realize that the best revenge is living well, not road rage.
I choose blogging.
I also had the same epiphany a few years ago and have found that it does indeed hold water. It’s not just mean, thoughtless drivers, either. Poorly skilled drivers tend to be uncoordinated and flighty in life as well.
On a side note, in California, it’s not illegal to pass on the right—although it is encouraged. Also, the left lane isn’t only reserved for passing. It’s fair game for traveling, provided that you are doing at least 85 MPH. We call it the fast lane. I drive 65 in the slow lane almost exclusively.
I think that means I’m square.
My wife drives the left lane on Banksville at the speed limit. It makes me want to hide when I’m in the passenger seat.
Generally speaking I haven’t had many issues driving the interstates between here and Connecticut other than overzealous Jersey cops on I287 eager to hand citations for going 68 in a 65 mph zone. Rather, it’s the local traffic that drives me crazy.
People like my wife.
I’ve lived and driven in Boston, New York and Mexico City, all of which are known for aggressive drivers. Still, driving in Pittsburgh gives me caution. It’s as if nobody has actual driving skills.
Rich: For me it’s the state cops on route 80 in PA. It may seem like they’re not around, but when they wake up they’re out to get you.
There are many stereotypes when it comes to bad drivers, and Pittsburgh has them all in abundance.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels this way. The funny thing is, I don’t think they’re teaching this in drivers education. When my girlfriend was driving too slow in the fast lane the other day, I asked her why she didn’t move to the right. She said she didn’t even know about the “rules of the fast lane”. Isn’t it important for new drivers to understand this? If it’s not taught in drivers ed. and not common sense, shouldn’t people see it as one cause for traffic congestion?
In California (and perhaps other states as well)they go a step further: The law states that a driver MUST move to the right lane if there is a car behind wanting to pass, REGARDLESS, (and here’s the important part) of the speed limit OR how fast you are going. If the speed limit is 70 and you’re going 90, you must pull over if some one comes up at 95.
You see, there are drivers who feel that if they are driving at the speed limit in the left lane, another driver has no right to pass. They might even feel they’re doing a public service by slowing down the other driver. Well, as the state realized, in the real world this is very dangerous (I would add “arrogant” too). And, as any highway patrolman will tell you, “It’s dangerous and you’re NOT a cop.”
I agree with some of the other postings: I don’t think this concept is taught in driver’s education classes.
Having said that, however, shouldn’t most of this be common sense, or are most drivers just imbeciles? How many times have you come up behind two cars, one in each lane, driving in tandem, making it impossible to pass either one of them. Are these people totaly unaware of what’s going on around them? ARRGGHH!!! Of course, these are almost always the same drivers who can go 20 miles without ever looking in a rear-view mirror.
I think most of this is a fine combination of ignorance, lack of awareness, and just plain inconsideration.
I never thought about the “public service” angle. Those people are my arch-enemies on the road.
> are most drivers just imbeciles?
I think the answer from a growing majority is YES.
Let’s see, there are these people that just have to be in the right lane. Its the middle of nowhere, it’s 2 lanes going in one direction.There is one car coming up on me, I can see no other cars in sight. The car switches to the left to pass me, and as soon as it gets about 20 feet in front of me, it merges back into my lane. Now I’ve got cruise on doing 70–its not safe to be following a car 20 feet back doing 103 feet per second. So I then switch to the left lane, rather than brake, since there is no other cars in sight, and I stay in the left lane, because in my experience, half the cars that pass merge back too closely, now they don’t have to switch lanes, and get me in a bad spot.
It will never change! This weekend was so peaceful visiting my parents out of town and then the trip back changed the whole weekend. “I” for the life of me cannot understand the mystery of staying the Hell out of the left lane unless passing. It’s not just about me… it’s about common sense and being aware of other people.
Believe this! After tail gating this out of state self centered left lane A– Hole for 5 minutes he decides to really show how mentally incompitent he can be by slamming on his brakes with passengers in his car. My SUV could have destroyed this car if I wasn’t the aware driver that I am. I decided to pass the moron on the right, keep in mind there is at least 8 to 10 cars piled up in the left lane behind this person. After passing him and getting up the highway about 3/4 miles away I looked back and guess who was still in the left lane and guess how many cars were piled up behind him.
How about the morons that truly believe that thier position in the left lane belongs to them for the duration of thier trip, regardless of the clear ability to get over in the right lane. Morons be aware! The major reason for road rage, is IDIOTS that think they are entitled to do as they wish.
You will neve encounter a intelligent or responsible driver, aggressive or not aggresive driving In the left lane like the morons this forum is about. Mark my words! I have just about had enough of this ignorant behavior on the Highway. Hopefully somewhere out there a left laner is getting what they deserve.
Thanks for having a place to vent real and reasonable frustrations.
First thanks to everyone including our kind host for the valid attention to an epidemic problem in this country. unfortunately lack of knowlege and respect for driving is creating significant safety issues on our highways, ruining the designed efficiency of most major roadways, and costing a lot of time and money for all of us.
Those who are suspicious of current driver’s ed programs are on target.
Two items:
1) My son reported that his “instructor” stood in front of a room full of 15 and 16 year olds and told them that if you are getting on the highway and traveling some distance (unspecified) just get in the left lane and go. (!)
2) As I entered a local freeway I was behind a “Student Driver” car from a local driver’s school. The driver maintained 45 MPH on the ramp and proceeded to enter the highway at this speed. Then as if to compound the horror the car moved immediately to the left lane where it casually sped up and parked at 55 mph in front of traffic.(Oh No!) For my personal sanity I have learned to write these type of actions off as incompetance and assumed it was just a nervous student. As I passed on the right it amazed me to see a well dressed gentleman driving the car alone. This may give us a clue why we are in trouble. If this is the type of instructor that has been training us to drive for the last 40 years no wonder we have left lane issues.
Finally, note that most of our commuters spent more attention to toasting their bagel for breakfast than they will on their entire trip to work. Driving well and with attention must be a priority at least for our students. Until we have the intelligent lanes driving cars for us (which many commuters would prefer) attention and courtesy must be the watch words. Thanks to everyone for being part of the solution.