How do you deal with people driving slow in the left hand lane on the highway or freeway?

Question

For me, this has to be the most infuriating practice that moron drivers do. If they want to go slow, or slower than the pace of traffic, why don't they stay in the right hand lane? I believe this is one of the biggest factors in road rage. Does anybody agree? Any solutions besides just honking horns or flashing lights? Love to hear them.

Answer 1

This is one thing that gets me more irritated than almost anything else I have to deal with on the road.  (I drive 55 mi each way every day)  I had to dodge a pickup truck that crossed my lane of traffic going the other way a few months ago!  I think passing on the right, though probably illegal, is probably the best solution and then just keep moving.

Retaliating just perpetuates the condition, IMHO.  They are not going to get any message you attempt to convey by retaliating.  (Too thick!)  I think drivers ed should teach "Keep Right Except to Pass" and the signs on climbing lanes should read that way too, instead of reading "slower traffic keep right".  

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Answer 2

I  Get in front of them and motion for them to move to the right.  Then I move to the right.  Best thing, I suppose is to do what we can to encourage the authorities to put up signs that say "Keep right except to pass".  I wish all of the "Left laners" could drive in Europe (especially Germany) to see how well it works when you always drive in the right lane except to pass.

Answer 3

I do agree with you when it comes to drivers that drive slower than the traffic on the left lane on the highway, but there is nothing much you can do about it.  tailgating and most certainly flashing lights and honking the horn will not get those drivers to speed up or change lanes; you will just make the situation worse.  

When i encounter these kinds of drivers, i usually just let it go, and wait patiently for a chance to pass them, or maybe on rare cases, that driver will actually change lanes and let me pass.  it is not worth my time(and should not be worth your time) to be starting a road rage just because that driver is driving too slow on the highway.

Answer 4

yep it's terrible

move to europe

they give hefty fines for it and 99% of the ppl move over.

when was younger I had a front wheel drive audi 5000T

that you could jerk the wheel back and back and forth and the rear end would kick out.

if people thought that you were totally crazy they moved over

a bit faster than if you just flashed your lights at them

Answer 5

Either ignore them or pull round in front of them and drive even more slowly.

Answer 6

Hehehe.....I get my revenge by purposely cutting directly in front of them, within 12" - 15" of hitting them.  99% of the time, it scares them enough to immediately change lanes and stay where they belong.  Those people are not worth even a frown, least of all get angry about.  They need to pass a law for Colorado that mandates slow pokes to stay in the right lanes.

Answer 7

Maybe they are old.

Answer 8

Why do you let it bother you? Why do you let it define who you are? Why do you let it dictate the rest of your day? There are people on the road who will do things that are contrary to the established rules and guidelines, but you don't have to bring them home with you so that your wife and coworkers need to fight them too. Let it go. Life is too short to be mad at everyone who you think did you wrong. If you are having this much trouble dealing with other drivers, take the bus. Otherwise, obey the rules, get you, your vehicle, and your passeners to the destination undamaged, and stop whining. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Answer 9

Oh you said it, my biggest pet peeve on the road.  It is really disgusting when they are driving right next to a person in the right lane going the same speed and you cannot get around either one of them.  I cuss, yell, honk, carry on something fierce.  My husband doesn't even like to ride with me.  I don't think there is anything we can do about it besides throw a fit.

Answer 10

You have just posted on my biggest pet peeve on the road. Normally, I don't mind if someone id in the left lane going slow and there isn't much traffic... I just pass them on the right. It's when there's heavier traffic and you can't get around that it becomes a problem.

If flashing my lights doesn't get them to get over, I tend to like to get in front of them (when I FINALLY get around) and slow down to force them into the right lane. Hopefully they get the message and don't annoy the next 50 people that get behind them.

BTW... passing slow drivers on the right isn't so bad. If there's a cop out with radar, the left land driver will be the one he thinks is speeding, not you. That could be another lesson for those "slower" drivers,

Answer 11

Just Chill Out.  They are driving safely.  Studies have shown that driving aggressively doesn't get you to your destination significantly faster than driving normally.  The couple of minutes you would save by driving aggressively is not worth the increased risk.

Answer 12

Here in CA, it is the law they are to be on the right. CHP officers will actually pull up the moron going like 50 and make them move over. Most of us just stay right on their butt until they figure it out. The ones I usually encounter aren't even aware they are causing a problem-completely oblivious to the LINE of cars behind them and the WIDE OPEN space in front of them. Pretty sad too!! Good question!!

Answer 13

Anyone in the left lane better be actively engaged in passing.  Otherwise move over.  To those that don't, I flash my lights but do not tailgate.  If they do not move over after many flashes of my headlight, I will pass on the right.  These people cannot use the excuse "Well I was doing the speed limit". You were not actively engaged in passing.  That is the law in Illinois and many other states.  Plus it increases the risks of accidents.