Slow pokes look out! Ouch

LeVautRien · 08-03-2004, 01:10 PM

People need to learn that the left lane should be for passing only...that would help congestions. Plenty of people figure that if they're going 70, that the left lane is theirs, but that's not the case. When I'm going 85, I merge back into the right lane, even if there's nothing ahead in the left.

I'd say about 90% of my slowing down on the interstate is as a result of people who think the left lane is the 'fast' lane and not the 'passing' lane.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 08-03-2004, 01:17 PM

I live a few miles South of Wisconsin. Around here, it's the "Cheese Lane". I'm not sure what it is, but as soon as Wisconsin cars cross into Illinois, they migrate to the left lane, regardless of speed, and sit there for miles, if not days.

IL enacted a law this year outlawing this behavior: if you are in the leftlane but not passing anyone, you are required to get over. But I've actually seen police cruisers riding the left lane in a group of other cars riding the left lane.

I know it's "illegal" to pass on the right, but I shouldn't HAVE to pass on the right.

jkash · 08-03-2004, 01:31 PM

I once got pulled over in Missouri on the way across country for driving in the left lane. I had no idea that is was just for passing. I fortunately was going the speed limit and only got a warning. I would guess that you would get a ticket going 85 no matter what lane you were driving in. Besides, going 85 has got to be really bad on your mpg.

Jeff

LeVautRien · 08-03-2004, 01:31 PM

Exactly...it's not passing on the right that should be illegal, it's staying in the left. Passing on the right is entirely variable. Is it illegal to pass in the right is someone's go 20 on the interstate? Getting over into the right lane is a much easier, standard act to police.

sparkymarvin · 08-03-2004, 02:13 PM

Once upon a time there were a bunch of ambitious individuals who went off to college and spent a ton of money getting an education so that they could become civil engineers.

They are highly qualified people (except maybe in certain parts of New York City) who have very extensive knowledge about transportation safety and function.

These educated people came up with this thing called a speed limit. If a vehicle is traveling faster than this speed it has a great probability of not being able to react in time to a hazardous situation. The result of such a scenario would most often result in great damage to people and property.
This is especially true at night where a driver's ability to see far enough down the road is greatly decreased.

Though chaos cannot be controlled, the rules set in place by professionals who understand roadways and their hazards are the next best thing we have. I highly recommend following them to the best of one's ability and constantly observing how to gain better situational awareness to the system.

**tag** · 08-03-2004, 02:29 PM

625 ILCS 5/11-704

(a) The driver of a vehicle with 3 or more wheels may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:

1. When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn.

2. Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being travelled by the overtaking vehicle.

3. Upon a one-way street, or upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and of sufficient width for 2 or more lines of moving vehicles.

pkjohna · 08-03-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sparkymarvin
Though chaos cannot be controlled, the rules set in place by professionals who understand roadways and their hazards are the next best thing we have. I highly recommend following them to the best of one's ability and constantly observing how to gain better situational awareness to the system.

Many of the nation's interstates (residential/urban areas are a different matter) were engineered for much higher speeds than the current posted limit -- in fact they were designed to be alternate landing strips for aircraft in case of war by Eisenhower. Those of you approaching geezer status like myself are old enough to remember when the national speed limit was set to 55 not for safety but for fuel economy. A speed limit of 70 was moderate for an interstate and many highways in the West/Midwest had no speed limits at all. I believe that the PA Turnpike was originally designed to be an American Autobahn and briefly had no speed limit.

jkash · 08-03-2004, 03:05 PM

Some of Highway 101 between San Francisco and L.A. has a posted top speed of 70 mph. Most of the signs are posted at 65, and a few 55, when you come closer to a congested area. The 70 mph speeds were in very rural, non-populated areas.

Jeff

LeVautRien · 08-03-2004, 03:14 PM

Don't forget that the German Autobahn has a better safety record than the American interstate system.

jkash · 08-03-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeVautRien
Don't forget that the German Autobahn has a better safety record than the American interstate system.

Could that be because of the amount of traffic on both systems?

Jeff

08-03-2004, 01:17 PM	#22
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,347 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	I live a few miles South of Wisconsin. Around here, it's the "Cheese Lane". I'm not sure what it is, but as soon as Wisconsin cars cross into Illinois, they migrate to the left lane, regardless of speed, and sit there for miles, if not days. IL enacted a law this year outlawing this behavior: if you are in the leftlane but not passing anyone, you are required to get over. But I've actually seen police cruisers riding the left lane in a group of other cars riding the left lane. I know it's "illegal" to pass on the right, but I shouldn't HAVE to pass on the right. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness >>Current Mileage<< Spreading information and passing gas in the Greater Chicagoland area

08-03-2004, 02:13 PM	#25
sparkymarvin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: At the airport. Posts: 137 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Once upon a time there were a bunch of ambitious individuals who went off to college and spent a ton of money getting an education so that they could become civil engineers. They are highly qualified people (except maybe in certain parts of New York City) who have very extensive knowledge about transportation safety and function. These educated people came up with this thing called a speed limit. If a vehicle is traveling faster than this speed it has a great probability of not being able to react in time to a hazardous situation. The result of such a scenario would most often result in great damage to people and property. This is especially true at night where a driver's ability to see far enough down the road is greatly decreased. Though chaos cannot be controlled, the rules set in place by professionals who understand roadways and their hazards are the next best thing we have. I highly recommend following them to the best of one's ability and constantly observing how to gain better situational awareness to the system. __________________ Seaside Pearl 67Kmiles Last Tank MPG: 47.9

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08-03-2004, 01:10 PM	#21
LeVautRien Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Claremont, California Posts: 367 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	People need to learn that the left lane should be for passing only...that would help congestions. Plenty of people figure that if they're going 70, that the left lane is theirs, but that's not the case. When I'm going 85, I merge back into the right lane, even if there's nothing ahead in the left. I'd say about 90% of my slowing down on the interstate is as a result of people who think the left lane is the 'fast' lane and not the 'passing' lane.

08-03-2004, 01:31 PM	#23
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 857 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I once got pulled over in Missouri on the way across country for driving in the left lane. I had no idea that is was just for passing. I fortunately was going the speed limit and only got a warning. I would guess that you would get a ticket going 85 no matter what lane you were driving in. Besides, going 85 has got to be really bad on your mpg. Jeff

08-03-2004, 02:29 PM	#26
tag Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,527 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	*625 ILCS 5/11-704* (a) The driver of a vehicle with 3 or more wheels may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: 1. When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn. 2. Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being travelled by the overtaking vehicle. 3. Upon a one-way street, or upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and of sufficient width for 2 or more lines of moving vehicles.

08-03-2004, 03:05 PM	#28
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 857 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Some of Highway 101 between San Francisco and L.A. has a posted top speed of 70 mph. Most of the signs are posted at 65, and a few 55, when you come closer to a congested area. The 70 mph speeds were in very rural, non-populated areas. Jeff

08-03-2004, 03:14 PM	#29
LeVautRien Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Claremont, California Posts: 367 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Don't forget that the German Autobahn has a better safety record than the American interstate system.