Seem I developed a knack for topics that put posters knocking each other out and have the moderator close the topic ASAP.Here is another one controversy, freeways protocols.And also because I'll be preparing for Canadians, Mid-west and East Coast trip next year.My backdrop is of course the West where we are used to 6-lane freeways. On two-lane ones, we already know that the right side or slow lane is for us RVers, trailer pullers together with the big rigs.In 3 lanes, we RVers can be in the middle as long as we are faster than the vehicles running on the right. And the left lane is reserved for overtaking. Although we sometimes get dagger looks and one-finger salute from the ignoramus on their rednecks trucks.My question, and please don't change the statement parameters above, are the practices the same in Canada, Midwest and East Coast. I've driven in these areas but not with a travel trailer.Thanks in advance.

Generalizations about all states and all provinces or most states and most provinces or the Midwest and East Coast are dangerous.

If there are 3 lanes and we are passing through an area with a lot of on ramps and exit ramps...we get in the middle lane to allow people to get on and off the freeway. Then when we clear the congested areas...we move back to the slow lane.

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:If there are 3 lanes and we are passing through an area with a lot of on ramps and exit ramps...we get in the middle lane to allow people to get on and off the freeway. Then when we clear the congested areas...we move back to the slow lane.Same with us. If we are driving where there is only one lane going in each direction, if there is a spot, we will pull off the road to let cars behind us get around. It's just kind and then we can "look" without worrying about someone driving into the back of us.Also, we try our best to avoid major highways during commuting times. (7 am - 9 am and then 4 pm - 6 pm) We will leave about 9 and then try to be where we are going before 4 pm. If that's not possible, we will try to find someplace to have a bite to eat so we aren't starved when we get there.

I have done a lot of driving in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Yes, same basic rules apply for Canada. One thing that is different out east from here is that there are expressways. On those, there is a regular looking freeway with multiple lanes in the center. Then there are two lane highways that run alongside the freeway. At specific intervals, there are off ramps that take you from the freeway to the highway and visa versa. The highways have exits to other roads.So, if you are going past a city, you stay on the freeway. If you are going to be exiting into the city, you move onto the highway first.The other thing that is different is that when an onramp merges onto a highway or two lanes merge into one, the white line between them continues until it's off the road. Here, the white line just disappears and the two lanes become one wide lane until shrinking to a single lane. There, the right lane is always identified but it runs off the road as the two become one.So, it gives a better visual clue that the right hand lane drivers need to merge into the left lane, rather than the left lane merging into the right.

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:If there are 3 lanes and we are passing through an area with a lot of on ramps and exit ramps...we get in the middle lane to allow people to get on and off the freeway. Then when we clear the congested areas...we move back to the slow lane.That's what I do.

Freeways ethics and rules | Good Sam Community

Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Oct 23, 2018
toedtoes wrote:
I do not care if someone gets in front of me. Traffic is not a line. That person moving in front of you doesn't stop you from getting to your destination. As long as do not have to stop, you will get there.

With that type of attitude, it's really easy. I make a three second space between me and the car in front of me. This allows another to easily move over when/if needed. At that time, I simply gradually slow down until that three second space is back. Often, I don't need to, because the vehicle that moved over in front of me just wanted the exit. By giving them the space to reach that exit, I prevented them from having to cut someone off and the resulting slam of brakes for 20+ cars back.

It's really easy once you remove the mindset that the road is a line and anyone in front of you will slow down your movement.

Your movement only stops when people have to cut into too small a gap between vehicles.

Nice attitude.
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Oct 22, 2018
ken56 wrote:
The biggest issue I find is people do not allow adequate following distance, like being on the bumper of the car in front of you will get you there faster. Lack of following distance is the biggest cause of slow downs and accidents.

Me thinks this is the top biggest insurance claims.

Most people I think are ignorant of this physics or over-rate the capability of their brakes.
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Oct 22, 2018
Crowe wrote:
Although we sometimes get dagger looks and one-finger salute from the ignoramus on their rednecks trucks.

Be prepared for this sign of love from people in their BMWs and Audis up here, especially if you are driving during rush hour. Ignorance does not care what vehicle it is in.

Absolutely.

Our consolation is that they are paying for our road maintenance with their traffic violation citation penalties.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Oct 22, 2018
I do not care if someone gets in front of me. Traffic is not a line. That person moving in front of you doesn't stop you from getting to your destination. As long as do not have to stop, you will get there.

With that type of attitude, it's really easy. I make a three second space between me and the car in front of me. This allows another to easily move over when/if needed. At that time, I simply gradually slow down until that three second space is back. Often, I don't need to, because the vehicle that moved over in front of me just wanted the exit. By giving them the space to reach that exit, I prevented them from having to cut someone off and the resulting slam of brakes for 20+ cars back.

It's really easy once you remove the mindset that the road is a line and anyone in front of you will slow down your movement.

Your movement only stops when people have to cut into too small a gap between vehicles.
jplante4
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2018
I try not to create what I call the MSG - Most Significant Gap. If the space between you and the vehicle in front of you is the biggest in the line of traffic, someone will see it as enough even if it's not.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2018
“Once people are inside their cars, they feel really empowered, just like a keyboard warrior behind a keyboard when they’re typing bad messages on social media — when you contact them directly, they become a lot nicer."
--Ed Troyer, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman
Crowe
Explorer
Oct 22, 2018
Although we sometimes get dagger looks and one-finger salute from the ignoramus on their rednecks trucks.

Be prepared for this sign of love from people in their BMWs and Audis up here, especially if you are driving during rush hour. Ignorance does not care what vehicle it is in.

The middle lane strategy is fine unless you are being constantly passed on the right. If that is the case, you need to move over. Traveling at the speed of the traffic is what you should be doing in congested situations.

Absolutely.
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2018
toedtoes wrote:
ken56 wrote:
for the most part in all my towing time I have found people to be fairly courteous to me. There have been a few times when I have come across the aggressive idiot but that has been the exception rather than the rule.

When I tow I try to be courteous and signal my intentions well in advance and try to help time people merging onto the highway if I can't change lanes and I drive defensively. I tow at 65mph on the highway no matter what the flow of traffic is. The biggest issue I find is people do not allow adequate following distance, like being on the bumper of the car in front of you will get you there faster. Lack of following distance is the biggest cause of slow downs and accidents.

X2

Are you always on the happy highway or the road to Shanga-La LOL?
Following distance? I have never been able to maintain what I consider a good following distance while towing, where some moron did not squeeze into the hole I created for myself on a busy Interstate Highway. I find it hard to believe its much better in TN or CA, especially TN. I seem to remember going through Knoxville 40/75 at rush hour to be a little brutal.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2018
ken56 wrote:
for the most part in all my towing time I have found people to be fairly courteous to me. There have been a few times when I have come across the aggressive idiot but that has been the exception rather than the rule.

When I tow I try to be courteous and signal my intentions well in advance and try to help time people merging onto the highway if I can't change lanes and I drive defensively. I tow at 65mph on the highway no matter what the flow of traffic is. The biggest issue I find is people do not allow adequate following distance, like being on the bumper of the car in front of you will get you there faster. Lack of following distance is the biggest cause of slow downs and accidents.

X2
ken56
Explorer
Oct 21, 2018
for the most part in all my towing time I have found people to be fairly courteous to me. There have been a few times when I have come across the aggressive idiot but that has been the exception rather than the rule.

When I tow I try to be courteous and signal my intentions well in advance and try to help time people merging onto the highway if I can't change lanes and I drive defensively. I tow at 65mph on the highway no matter what the flow of traffic is. The biggest issue I find is people do not allow adequate following distance, like being on the bumper of the car in front of you will get you there faster. Lack of following distance is the biggest cause of slow downs and accidents.

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