[Rant] Why is it that no one in this state seems to understand how to use a multi-lane highway?

**Volanova** · 07-30-2012, 04:20 PM

It seems as though no matter what road I'm driving down that has more than four total lanes, no one understands the simple commandment of "Keep right". It's a standard rule of the road that, can, assuming the officer who witnesses it cares, can get you a ticket. It's taught in every driver education class. It's posted on signs on most multiple lane roads. But people just don't seem to understand this most basic of rules. It keeps traffic moving smoothly, prevents accidents, and allows higher speeds for everyone.

This, and other normal rules and techniques, like merging on a highway, using turning lanes, and proper usage of on and off ramps, seems to escape most Pennsylvanians (and Americans, for that matter).

There are some days that I wish that getting a driver's license in the United States was as rigorous as getting one in Germany...

**Eastcoast** · 07-30-2012, 04:55 PM

In my experience Rhode Island drivers are the absolute worst.

As penance for all of their highway sins committed against me they should be forced to ride horses from this time forward.

**johnnie** · 07-30-2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Volanova

It seems as though no matter what road I'm driving down that has more than four total lanes, no one understands the simple commandment of "Keep right". It's a standard rule of the road that, can, assuming the officer who witnesses it cares, can get you a ticket. It's taught in every driver education class. It's posted on signs on most multiple lane roads. But people just don't seem to understand this most basic of rules. It keeps traffic moving smoothly, prevents accidents, and allows higher speeds for everyone.

This, and other normal rules and techniques, like merging on a highway, using turning lanes, and proper usage of on and off ramps, seems to escape most Pennsylvanians (and Americans, for that matter).

There are some days that I wish that getting a driver's license in the United States was as rigorous as getting one in Germany...

People don't even realize this is the law. i explained it once to a woman who was driving, holding up traffic in the left lane on 95, and she looked at me dumbfounded.

Another annoying driving habit is not getting completely in the turning lane. On Broad St this weekend I noticed it multiple times. People get in the left (center) turning lane but are only half in, blocking a lane of traffic.

**billy ross** · 07-30-2012, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Volanova

It seems as though no matter what road I'm driving down that has more than four total lanes, no one understands the simple commandment of "Keep right". It's a standard rule of the road that, can, assuming the officer who witnesses it cares, can get you a ticket. It's taught in every driver education class. It's posted on signs on most multiple lane roads. But people just don't seem to understand this most basic of rules. It keeps traffic moving smoothly, prevents accidents, and allows higher speeds for everyone.

This, and other normal rules and techniques, like merging on a highway, using turning lanes, and proper usage of on and off ramps, seems to escape most Pennsylvanians (and Americans, for that matter).

There are some days that I wish that getting a driver's license in the United States was as rigorous as getting one in Germany...

If the speed limit is 35mph, as on Henry Avenue or Kelly Drive, I have zero problem with a person cruising in the left lane at 40 or 45 and allowing traffic to build up behind them. At what level of breaking the speed limit does a person need to give up the left lane to facilitate speed demons? The right lane on Kelly Drive has many dips and also a spring wetting it down, and I prefer not to drive in it. The Schuylkill Expressway has a speed limit of 50 mph. If a person wants to cruise in the left lane at 60 or 65 I'm fine with that, especially if they're coming up to a left exit, as I do at the Lincoln Drive exit. Lincoln Drive itself has a speed limit of 25mph. I have zero problem driving at 25 or 30 or 35mph on Lincoln Drive and not ceding the left lane.

When I'm driving on rural roads I drive right and pass left. However, when I'm in a congested environment as long as I'm doing a reasonable speed which is above the speed limit I don't feel a need to cede the left lane. I don't want a million maniacs passing me on a windy, dangerous road - they can wait and drive a safe speed, behind me.

When I drove on the Autobahn in Germany, which is designed to be safe at any speed above about 80kph (when used properly), I absolutely adhered to the drive right pass left rule. It would be insane to do otherwise.

**darthsinatra** · 07-30-2012, 05:42 PM

The left lane is the passing lane, not the "fast" lane. Everyone's idea of "fast" is subjective. Just move the f over.

**LUCas** · 07-30-2012, 05:48 PM

Every state has different rules about the left lane in multi-lane highways. In some, you must stay right at all times except when passing. In others, you can cruise in the left all day as long as you yield to those coming up behind you, no matter how they're going. Others, you only have to yield if they're going the speed limit or below. In PA, the law is that you're supposed to stay right except when "travelling faster than the traffic flow", when preparing to turn left, or when traffic is merging from the right.

State "keep right" laws

The Uniform Vehicle Code states:
drivers to keep right if they are going slower than the normal speed of traffic (regardless of the speed limit)

**darthsinatra** · 07-30-2012, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by LUCas

Every state has different rules about the left lane in multi-lane highways. In some, you must stay right at all times except when passing. In others, you can cruise in the left all day as long as you yield to those coming up behind you, no matter how they're going. Others, you only have to yield if they're going the speed limit or below. In PA, the law is that you're supposed to stay right except when "travelling faster than the traffic flow", when preparing to turn left, or when traffic is merging from the right.

State "keep right" laws

The Uniform Vehicle Code states:
drivers to keep right if they are going slower than the normal speed of traffic (regardless of the speed limit)

There's the law, and there's courtesy. More importantly, it's not my job, nor is it anyone's who's not duly sworn into law enforcement, to arbitrarily and subjectively guard the left lane. Just move over. It's really quite simple. We can call 911 if we really feel someone is driving inappropriately.

**LUCas** · 07-30-2012, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by darthsinatra

There's the law, and there's courtesy. More importantly, it's not my job, nor is it anyone's who's not duly sworn into law enforcement, to arbitrarily and subjectively guard the left lane. Just move over. It's really quite simple. We can call 911 if we really feel someone is driving inappropriately.

Not my job to get out of your way, either. Slow down if someone is in front of you. Why freakin' cares? You know what I do when someone is hogging the left lane in front of me? I wait until I have an opportunity to pass. Then I move on with my day.

What a silly thing to care about. Everyone's idea of fast is subjective, just slow the F down.

**darthsinatra** · 07-30-2012, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by LUCas

Not my job to get out of your way, either. Slow down if someone is in front of you. Why freakin' cares? You know what I do when someone is hogging the left lane in front of me? I wait until I have an opportunity to pass. Then I move on with my day.

What a silly thing to care about. Everyone's idea of fast is subjective, just slow the F down.

It's so silly you decided to post a few times and include citations? You drive your way I'll drive my way but I think we agree that more courtesy is needed.

**2happy4u** · 07-30-2012, 07:07 PM

What the heck, here goes. One thing I'll never understand, why people making a left turn in the turn lane swing back out like they have a 40ft. tractor trailer. Hey numb nuts, it's a tiny SUV you're sitting in.

**enyo** · 07-30-2012, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Volanova

It seems as though no matter what road I'm driving down that has more than four total lanes, no one understands the simple commandment of "Keep right". It's a standard rule of the road that, can, assuming the officer who witnesses it cares, can get you a ticket. It's taught in every driver education class. It's posted on signs on most multiple lane roads. But people just don't seem to understand this most basic of rules. It keeps traffic moving smoothly, prevents accidents, and allows higher speeds for everyone.

This, and other normal rules and techniques, like merging on a highway, using turning lanes, and proper usage of on and off ramps, seems to escape most Pennsylvanians (and Americans, for that matter).

There are some days that I wish that getting a driver's license in the United States was as rigorous as getting one in Germany...

Keep right works in theory, but does it really work that well? I try to always stay in the right lane and stay within 10 mph of the speed limit 15 - 20 if passing, but on the turnpike you end up with one lane doing 55 - 60 mph and another doing 95 - 100 mph and even if you try to pass a string of traffic you end up with someone behind you riding your tail cause your not going 85 mph +.

This scenario is similar on Ridge Ave. where the right lane is constant breaking for people making right turns every block or store and the left lane is cruising along at 45 - 50 mph when the limit is already 35 mph. Is everyone supposed to cater to the dude that wants to go 55 down Ridge? I have no problem moving over to the right lane but it can't always be done immediately.

I was in a fatal car accident years ago and the 5 minutes you usually save isn't worth it. When people drive like complete asses it puts everyone in danger. A few months ago a kid must've been doing 60 on ridge and tried to use the turning lane as a passing lane. Only he couldn't stop in time and swerved into un-coming traffic. It would've been a head on collision had he not tried to cut into a store parking lot. He did get t-boned. Supposedly all it takes is for two cars going 30 mph in a head on to result in a fatality.

The left turn issue pisses me off. Too many people completely asleep at the wheel. I used to think like you about merging, but I have had to stop once or twice merging cause people refuse to let you in. Spring garden entrance to schuylkill is one area I think is really bad in this respect.

I think the real problem is people go way too fast or just refuse to be courteous/ defensive.

**Volanova** · 07-31-2012, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by enyo

Keep right works in theory, but does it really work that well? I try to always stay in the right lane and stay within 10 mph of the speed limit 15 - 20 if passing, but on the turnpike you end up with one lane doing 55 - 60 mph and another doing 95 - 100 mph and even if you try to pass a string of traffic you end up with someone behind you riding your tail cause your not going 85 mph +.

This scenario is similar on Ridge Ave. where the right lane is constant breaking for people making right turns every block or store and the left lane is cruising along at 45 - 50 mph when the limit is already 35 mph. Is everyone supposed to cater to the dude that wants to go 55 down Ridge? I have no problem moving over to the right lane but it can't always be done immediately.

I was in a fatal car accident years ago and the 5 minutes you usually save isn't worth it. When people drive like complete asses it puts everyone in danger. A few months ago a kid must've been doing 60 on ridge and tried to use the turning lane as a passing lane. Only he couldn't stop in time and swerved into un-coming traffic. It would've been a head on collision had he not tried to cut into a store parking lot. He did get t-boned. Supposedly all it takes is for two cars going 30 mph in a head on to result in a fatality.

The left turn issue pisses me off. Too many people completely asleep at the wheel. I used to think like you about merging, but I have had to stop once or twice merging cause people refuse to let you in. Spring garden entrance to schuylkill is one area I think is really bad in this respect.

I think the real problem is people go way too fast or just refuse to be courteous/ defensive.

Defensive driving includes, when it's feasible, keeping right except to pass or to allow traffic to turn or merge.

There are a lot of idiots out there that pull crap like going 15 or 20 miles per hour over the speed limit or using the turning lane as a passing lane, but I'm talking about the person who is cruising below the speed limit in the left hand lane. Go drive down West Chester Pike in the 55mph zone outside of Newtown Square and you'll see every third car doing 45 in the left lane.

And for what it's worth, people that tailgate are just as bad as those that do not follow the keep right rule, if not worse. There are some impatient asses out there that freak out if you don't get out of their way ASAP, even if all you're doing is passing someone (and going over the speed limit yourself already).

I'm all for strict enforcement of tailgating rules AND lane courtesy.

**Outlaw Star** · 07-31-2012, 08:53 AM

Gah, yes. No driving issue pisses me off more than the left lane thing. And it's not just people being ignorant of the rules--it's people who refuse to obey them even when other drivers try to get them to move over via flashing headlights or the horn. Don't look at me like I'm some inconsiderate ass because your stupidity is screwing up traffic even more than it already is.

It's not for me or anyone else to "dictate" what the speed should be in the passing lane. That causes far more problems than it solves. Just get the @#$% over and we can all go on with our day.

@Volanova, I know that stretch of West Chester Pike, and you're absolutely right. The amount of times I need to pass right is ridiculous.

**JBL** · 07-31-2012, 11:09 AM

I love the people who think it's their job to police the highways with the whole, "I'll stay in the left lane as long as I want" schtick.

You're creating more problems than you're solving and potentially harming more people by acting this way. You have one driver behind you who wants to pass, but you insist on "teaching them a lesson". So they get mad, they get closer, brake, get close, brake, and now, the effect of them coming close to you and then braking is sending a ripple effect through the rest of traffic. On top of that, you now have created a road raging lunatic. I agree that it's unnecesaary to do 85 on a 55, but it's not your position to police the roads. Get out of the way. If you see that you're eading a parade down the left lane of 95, move over.

Shore traffic is the absolute worst. As people love to claim a particular state is worse than others, I've noticed that offenders live everywhere. It's typically that more rural and rural-suburban drivers (or at least, people in an around that area) tend to abide by the Stay Right Pass Left law, likely because their travels dictate they get onto a highway to reach the nearest Walmart, 2 towns over. City drivers however, who rarely experience long stretches of highway are by far the worst offenders.

Also, when being passed on the left, please do not speed up to try and match speed. Nine times out of ten (I'm sorry, it's true), it's a woman in the right lane who doesn't want to be passed or perhaps thinks, "OK...I can go faster then too". Not always, but mostly. In 12 years of driving an average of 45-50,000 miles a year on our local roads and highways, this is the case as I see it.

Lastly, CRUISE CONTROL IS OVER 60 YEARS OLD! Why do more people not use it? It couldn't be any easier to find or operate and it makes a dramatic difference in MPG and driving efficiency. Every single day, I watch people come up to an overpass at 65, get to the grade and peak the overpass at 60mph, slowing the traffic behind them, and again, creating that ripple effect. YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL ENOUGH TO REGULATE YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS CRUISE CONTROL. You're talking on the phone, thinking about work, playing with the radio, yealling at your kids, etc. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, just go one speed. It would prevent countless traffic jams.

People need to realize how awful they are as drivers....every one of us. We're distracted and more interested in another sip of our 640oz soda than watching our mirrors, which are almost always woefully pointed at door handles and backseats, providing ZERO visibility of your surroundings. As drivers, the majority of us have TERRIBLE situational awareness, and thus, create things like the ripple effect, where someone in front of you slows down 2mph, you don't see it right away, panic and slow down harder, leading the person behind you to do the same and so on.

It's why you'll see a traffic jam for no apparent reason on the Schuylkill. It's just residual reactions from people in front of you overreacting due to not paying attention in the first place.

Just get a bicycle already.

**johnnie** · 07-31-2012, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by JBL

Also, when being passed on the left, please do not speed up to try and match speed. Nine times out of ten (I'm sorry, it's true), it's a woman in the right lane who doesn't want to be passed or perhaps thinks, "OK...I can go faster then too". Not always, but mostly. In 12 years of driving an average of 45-50,000 miles a year on our local roads and highways, this is the case as I see it.

As much as I would want to agree with the woman rip since my wife is a terrible driver, men are worse at this type of behavior IMO. Apparently if a man gets passed it is an insult to their manhood. I see it all the time on the Schuylkill or on 76 driving to Pittsburgh.

**JBL** · 07-31-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by johnnie

As much as I would want to agree with the woman rip since my wife is a terrible driver, men are worse at this type of behavior IMO. Apparently if a man gets passed it is an insult to their manhood. I see it all the time on the Schuylkill or on 76 driving to Pittsburgh.

I can agree with that. While--in my mind--a woman is saying, "it's ok for me to go that speed now too", I agree that when it's a guy, it's usually a douchebro trying to swing big. Regardless, if you wanted to do that speed to begin with, do it behind me. You're welcome to ride behind me at a reasonable length for as long as you want.

I've seriously considered an LED board that states to drivers behind me what I've set my cruise control at. I've held up the backs of legal pads with it.

**johnnie** · 07-31-2012, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by JBL

I've seriously considered an LED board that states to drivers behind me what I've set my cruise control at. I've held up the backs of legal pads with it.

Top Gear had an LED board on the back of an RV a few years back, though it was passing on James May's cell phone number to everyone. It got me to thinking of having a few presets such as, stay right, pass left......back the F up........etc...

**Politburo** · 07-31-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by JBL

You're creating more problems than you're solving and potentially harming more people by acting this way... On top of that, you now have created a road raging lunatic.

While I share the annoyance with 'left lane police', there is only one party that holds all responsibility for the effects of aggressive driving: the aggressive driver.

**JBL** · 07-31-2012, 12:18 PM

True, but when you fail to alleviate the pressure by just moving, how do you not become part of the problem as well? Not trying to justify it, just saying, its out there, so why make it worse for yourself and the others all because of one jackass?

**PhillyTex** · 07-31-2012, 02:55 PM

The problem is that you can do whatever you want in Philadelphia all day, every day, up to and including shooting people, and there's a pretty good chance you'll get away with it. I'm not in favor of rule with an iron fist, but when every driver gets to do whatever they want regardless of the law, this is what you end up with. You just let the EMTs and insurance companies do the cleanup, and the taxpayers and insured drivers pick up the bloated tab.