Highway Driving

FYI Otter Lake is Poconos

If the locals that do not know how to look for the open space but instead aim for my door handles are constantly 'pushing' me over to the middle lane that is where I will run. I will generally be a slower moving vehicle that should be on the right but I just give up. I am still going to drive my own speed regardless of traffic. I am generally OK letting people drive into the weeds if they cannot merge but DW has a panic attack every time.

And yes I have had one try to merge between the truck and trailer. Their insurance paid dearly. Very clear on the police report that the vehicle entering traffic must yield.

In Georgia passing on the right is against the law. There is also a law that says if you are approached from behind (regardless of your speed or theirs) you are required to move to the right if safe to do so. I've seen people being stopped for disobeying both of these.

I'm in the right lane when towing. When I'm not towing I'm usually in the left lane with the faster traffic. But, with an extra 3.5 tons behind me I behave a little better!

In Texas, at least, slower traffic is supposed to move to the right. When you have people passing you on both sides it's time to move over. :)

deltabravo wrote:
Center lane in busy areas.

That's what the truckers do, and they do it for the same reason, to avoid dealing with people who forgot the on ramp is for speeding up to match the speed of people on the freeway, and who also forgot how to merge.

Yeah, truckers USED to be very courteous drivers, not so much anymore. I've seen them hog all but the fast lane on a 3lane highway, stick to the middle lane when there are no exits for miles, tailgate, even witnessed an 18 wheeler brake check another 18 wheeler. Just because they are "professionals" doesn't mean they drive in a professional manner.

Driving would be a lot better, easier and safer if people were courteous of the people around them. Too many people (some represented in this thread) that seem to enjoy driving against the norms, just to irritate those people around them. They insist on driving slow in the left lane, just because they think they can. They enjoy seeing people behind them that are irritated with their selfish decision.

When I tow I stick to the middle or right lanes on the highway, as I tow at about 67 mph. There is no raeson for me to be to the left of the highway at those speeds, and it causes issues behind me if I were to try. I will never understand the willful disregard for other people.

Bottom line... if you aren't going faster than the vehicle to the right of you then you should move over one lane to the right. If you still aren't going faster than the vehicle to the right of you, keep moving one lane to the right until you have found the appropriate lane.

Cars driving slowly in the left lane are an obstruction. Most states have, and enforce, laws for cars driving either below the speed limit OR below the reasonable flow of traffic. The reasonable flow of traffic can be faster than the speed limit.

Center lane in busy areas.

That's what the truckers do, and they do it for the same reason, to avoid dealing with people who forgot the on ramp is for speeding up to match the speed of people on the freeway, and who also forgot how to merge.

rhagfo wrote:
Greater Portland area, seems like many drive 55 on surface streets and 45 on the highways! :S

So true! I've also followed people on a rural 2-lane road going 45-50 in a 55 who never hit their brakes as they fly into a 35 zone. I call them mono-speed drivers.

proxim2020 wrote:

wnjj wrote:

If you read the Oregon law I linked above, it says if you are traveling ”less than the normal speed.” Even 5 mph less than normal meets that definition, just like 5 mph over the limit is speeding.

I highly doubt people are being cited and convicted under this statue for going 5 mph under the speed of traffic. 5 mph under is still a fairly reasonable attempt to keep pace with traffic. The way this, and similar laws around the country, are worded you can be cited for driving the speed limit while everyone else is doing 15 mph over. However in the real world things are little bit more reasonable. Laws like these were intended to target actual slow moving vehicles creating dangerous situations. For example, driving 20 mph under while everyone is at the limit.

Greater Portland area, seems like many drive 55 on surface streets and 45 on the highways! :S

troubledwaters wrote:
There is no Yield Sign, just a Merge Sign at the bottom between the ramp and the mainline.

And that sign is there to notify those entering the highway that they are responsible for blending in to the traffic.