Who would vote for a traffic law that said STAY RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS?

Question

I live in Ohio. Last weekend, went thru 5 states (636 miles each way) to New York. Never a problem until I got back to Ohio. Then, just east of Columbus, found myself herking and jerking along at 50MPH because someone 14 cars ahead was in the left lane pacing a Semi and would not pass. This went on for at least 5 miles. I counted a minimum of 26 cars behind me, bobbing, weaving and tailgating.

I notice one state (New Jersey??) had signs saying-- KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS. Ohio has signs saying-- "slower traffic keep right" but some people think that if they're going the speed limit, they are not "slower traffic".

Answer 1

I actually got into a car with one of these people.  Once.  She said, "I'm going the speed limit, and I pay taxes on both sides."  I just rolled my eyes and covered my face.  These people get on my freakin' nerves.  It's no less than a complete lack of regard or consideration for other people on the highway.  Me, me, me, and I don't care who's inconvenienced.  I think these people are going to be ingnorant, and no amount of signs are going to stop them.  Their ignorance is beyond comprehension.  I drive a truck part-time, one day a week, and I have a big problem with this.  Here, we have four lanes in each direction, but trucks are restricted to the right two lanes.   What do these people do, but get in the second lane (the trucks' passing lane) and just ride like they don't have a care or concern in the world.  That four-lane highway for cars is like a two-lane highway for trucks.  It's illegal to pass them in the third lane, so you just have to sit there and suffer quietly.  OK, I'll stop ranting.

Answer 2

I live in New Hampshire and there is a law that the left lane of the  highway is passing only. But the out of staters, (Massholes) tend not to obey this law. In my state it is a 72 dollar ticket called left lane travel. I know how you feel, the blocking of traffic because of one person not knowing the law or just not being considerate really stinks. It is also illegal in my state to pass in the right lane another 72 dollar ticket......... (Which I do because some people just travel in the left lane with no traffic in the right and dont pull over when you get behind them) This is my biggest pet peeve while driving on the highway. During the week when I travel to work (53 miles highway) I never have a problem traffic flows perfectly because in-staters know the laws and are respectful. But the weekends are a different story, and then the stress levels rise and the road rage arises

I wish they troopers would enforce this law more often because every weekend I find myself stuck behind some out of stater in the left lane.

I would vote for it if I live in your state and I would vote for it to be strictly enforced

Answer 3

i don't think those signs will do a darn thing. i am from michigan and have the same problem. i can't drive on the freeways because i get so worked up. i do think that there needs to be a law and people need to pay more attention to driving and who is flying up behind them and flex some courtesy and get out the way. sigh.

BUT they did have those signs where i grew up and people just knew not to sit in the left hand lane and go the limit or below.

Answer 4

im right with you i hate those people doing the speed limit in the left lane and im from jersey so yeah i would vote for it

Answer 5

We have the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" signs on our highways here in Illinois. Yet we still have people chugging along at 55 and won't move over. A lot of people are just ignorant and think they are the only ones on the road, or just don't care. I actually saw a cop show years ago that gave a person a ticket for traveling in the fast lane.

Answer 6

There's not much you can do if there is a total jerk on the roads.  Anyone with an IQ over 6 knows to get the heck over if he's causing a logjam behind him.  Just how many blood vessels broke in your neck while you were behind this clod?  Personally, my head would have exploded.

Answer 7

Colorado has the right idea, they passed the law and they are enforcing it! I think the sign is not clear enough for some people to understand. It all comes down to their interpretation of passing. If the car in the left lane is going 55 and the car behind is going 56, they think that going into the passing lane 1 mph faster is actually passing! Now, I know that most of us are smart enough to know that this isn't the idea behind passing, but there are folks out there who think this way....look at some of the questions asked on Yahoo Answers!!! The same can be said of "slower traffic keep right signs" since the slow poke is going 1 mph faster, he thinks he is not the slower vehicle. Amazes me how some people think.

Answer 8

Pi**es me off too. Pennsylvania has a law that says you must drive in the right lane unless you're passing and once you complete the pass you'd better move over. Only place in Ohio I know that had a law about passing was the Ohio Turnpike....you weren't supposed to pass on the right on that road. I know this because I got a ticket for doing just that. However I think they rescinded that law since then. Not much you can do with a left lane bandit like you describe. Maybe a one finger salute when you finally get around them. It never accomplished anything for me but made me feel better. (people are shocked when a girl gives them the finger....LMAO!)