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.

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.

> are most drivers just imbeciles?

I think the answer from a growing majority is YES.

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.