Is it common practice?

[funinaz]

In my town, we have a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane for 2+ people. In essence a car pool lane on the leftmost side of the road. What really pisses me off are the people who drive in this lane at a slower pace than the other lanes. Some eighty year old couple barely doing 55, clogging up the lane, making the rest of us move around.

Here in the US we have two problems with drivers: (1) they think they own the road, (2) have no manners.

[jmillheiser]

AZ is a pretty bad place to drive too. Used to live there. Most drivers were "O Ring" holes. Huge problem with drunks. Saw my fair share of fatal accidents there.

Wyoming isn't bad at all. we still have a few "O Ring" hole drivers, but the cops here are aggressive about stopping drunks.

Colorado is another story. Loads of aggressive drivers at high speeds.

[sickchilly]

cb360, how long have you lived here? I'm going on 8 years and after moving up from Dallas, TX, the way people drive here absolutely drives me bonkers. They actually slow down to merge onto the highway! To make matters worse, we have entrance ramps on the left side of the highway followed by a highway interchange less than one mile down the road on the right side!!! Grrrr... And people have no concept of "fast lanes" or "slower traffic stay right".

And it's freakin' Seattle, people. It rains some here, doesn't it?! Yet, when it rains, I swear people lose 20 points of IQ!!!

OK, rant done.

But anyway, on the subject... "Flash to pass" as it's called is much more common in Europe than here. Most poeple here (in the US) have no idea what it means let alone that most all cars have the feature built-in.

[jfeaz]

i thought i'd offer a different "perspective" on this. some people might think i'm a jerk, but i'm really just an advocate of safe driving.

when i'm driving on the interstate in the left lane, and someone wants to pass me, i take regard of how respectfully they ask to pass.

basically, if somoene comes up doing 20mph more than me and rides my bumper (drivers who don't tailgate are almost nonexistant), i punish them by not moving over.

If they approach and keep a safe distance (which happens about once a year), i move over and let them pass. it may not be the safest way to do things, but my pride won't allow me to concede the road to an "O Ring", and frankly most drivers are "Donut Holes".

ok, i admit, i slam on the brakes when someone tailgates me. then they go into the shoulder and flip me off as they pass, as though they did nothing wrong.

tailgating is DANGEROUS!!! and most people seem not to understand why. and by the way, tailgating isn't just following so close you can't see the tires of the car ahead. it's following at any distance less than what it would take to react if the leading car stopped suddenly.

[scan]

....Flashing your brights is common, would you prefer he ride up next to you and tap on your window?

I've done that. It works great. Works better with a little gasket hammer in your hand.

Why someone would get in the left lane and not get on with act of moving past the vehicles in the right is beyond me. Why can't people hover in the right - like they do in Germany when I was there. You never see someone driving slower or passing slowly in the passing lane.

Hanging around when someone wants to get past is simple arogants. So what if someone wants to break the law and speed? Everyone wants to play law enforcement, or rudeness controler.

There are so many rolling road-block dudes around me that I have learned to just let it go. I pass when safe and back way off when they start the blocking routine. Usually it will open up when they don't feel you are a passing threat anymore. Silly really.

[Sev]

I agree with Scan, if you're going to pass it should happen as quickly as possible. And if they aren't going to let you pass, then don't force the issue, wait for a bit and they'll open up, drop a gear rev like nuts and dump the clutch. You'll be past them before they realize they opened up a spot for you.

I think some people block unintentionally though, they just subconciously need to be beside another vehicle. Personally I'm happiest when I'm on an empty road.

[BuzZz]

ok, i admit, i slam on the brakes when someone tailgates me. then they go into the shoulder and flip me off as they pass, as though they did nothing wrong.

And you have the unmitigated balls to call other drivers azzholes???

If you ever see a silver Dodge 3/4 ton in your mirror and try that, I guaranty to will be the loser and walking home.... if you are able to walk.....

[Sev]

I tap my back brake so it lights up and they hopefully think that I'm slowing down. I usually get a little space that way.

[jfeaz]

I tap my back brake so it lights up and they hopefully think that I'm slowing down. I usually get a little space that way.

that's what i meant when i say i slam on the brakes. i just turn the lights on so they think i'm slamming on the brakes. however, i usually don't get more space that way.

just because the guy in front of you doesn't want to go as fast as you doesn't make him an "O Ring", and it doesn't give you some kind of magical right-of-way. i would much rather see someone flash their lights from a respectable distance than just zoom up and ride my bumper until they get their way.

[BuzZz]

I tap my back brake so it lights up and they hopefully think that I'm slowing down. I usually get a little space that way.

that's what i meant when i say i slam on the brakes. i just turn the lights on so they think I'm slamming on the brakes. however, i usually don't get more space that way.

That is a different story alright. Someone doing that in front of me will probably survive.

I do agree with the rest of what you said, traffic is a roadrage incident waiting to happen, no need to aggravate the possibility.