Yeah but instead of recognizing this entire system of transit has failed I am just going to drive fast and externalize my nebulous frustration into the driver always ahead of me going too slow or hesitating in an annoying way.
The slow drivers ahead of you are idiots.
The fast drivers passing you are maniacs.
Also, it’s important to remember: your car is everyone else’s traffic.
If I’m the driver ahead of you going too slow (sorted limit) how much faster do I need to go before you won’t be frustrated?
Since I’ve been the speeder, I know there is no limit, because if you were to be pulled, you’d just say you were driving with traffic. Realistically it’s the first one to be pulled, not the second.
So no, not taking your speeding ticket. I’ll let you pass though. I’ll flash brights and slow when it’s safe to overtake.
According to the speeders that I argue with online, you should not be in the left lane if somebody wants to drive faster than you, even if you’re actually passing slower vehicles in the right lane. Speed differentials are dangerous, they say, not speeding. Thus, played out to its logical end, everybody should drive as fast as the fastest driver is willing to go. That’s “keeping up with the flow of traffic.” I call this the Greater Maniac Theory of Traffic Speed.
Regarding passing in the passing lane when someone wants to pass. Firstly, if you wait for the guy behind you to pass you and the slow driver in front of you, when does it end? Pass them and get it over with. Secondly, I drive like truckers do. I set my cruise control at or near the speed limit to conserve fuel (acceleration uses more, cruising uses less, over time it does matter) and pass anyone going slower than me to maintain my speed. But, I’ve found that setting it 1-3 below means most people will push past me. It’s fine if they go around. My ego is not a factor when I drive, nor is my pride, only the safety of me and mine (and you and yours if I can help it). That way, I’m less likely to have to pass someone, and again, people going around me don’t bother me.
Even 10 years ago, it was so nice to just set the cruise control for 69-70MPH (the speed limit), and just… cruise. The gap between my vehicle and the one in front of me was always growing larger, which afforded me plenty of room to see situations developing, avoid slamming on the brakes, and not getting into crashes. (This habit saved me from a multi-car pileup once.)
But now, most semi trucks are speed-governed to 65MPH. It wouldn’t be so bad to cruise along at 65MPH, but now so many cars have adaptive cruise control. The semi truck is going 65, the vehicle with adaptive cruise approaching it from behind has to slow to ~60, and I have to slow to 55 to maintain a safe following distance. And then some asshole decides that I’m driving too slow in the right lane, and rides my bumper.
Driving is the worst.
Keep with the flow of traffic, that means the general traffic, not the fastest or slowest car.
No, as those people say, it’s not your job to enforce speeds for other drivers, and your estimation of the general traffic speed may differ from somebody else’s. Stay out of the left lane if there’s anybody who feels that the general flow of traffic is actually faster. Let the greater maniac decide the pace.
(Yes, it’s an uber-stupid argument.)
Ooo, I’m a fast driver, I still won’t get in the way of someone going 20+ over the main speed.
What do you do when you’re in the left (in the US) lane, passing a semi in the right lane, and one of these greater maniacs comes racing up behind you? (Bonus points if they’re the kind of lead-foot moron who can’t wait for you to safely merge back to the right lane, and tries to pass on the right at the earliest possible moment, disregarding your blinking directional signal.)
Great get out of my way! I am late and seeing cars ahead of me in the left lane makes me anxious so I need to speed up.
Oh, that’s different then. I mostly drive one-lane (per direction) back roads. On a road with more lanes, I do not drive in the passing lane. I only pass in the passing lane.
Off the freeway there isn’t such a thing as a “passing” lane because people need to turn left and right constantly. Neither side is functional for passing.
Backroads don’t have passing lanes, they have passing zones where you go into the oncoming traffic lane while it’s empty to pass someone.
Riding this to work would be pretty awesome:
