e-Scapes

I was recently driving from Dallas to Houston and noticed alot of drivers moving over to the left lane and slowing down. When I passed them on the right they were all on their phones. I guess the left lane has replaced the phone booth as the place to make calls away from home!!

"...immediately slide two lanes to the left, and settle into a pokey with the speedometer right on the legal limit. "
And your problem with observing the legal speed limit is what?

right... lets encourage everyone to break the law just like you do...

L LaRuye......I guess you missed the part about the left lane being called the "passing lane" not the speed limit lane.

I used to drive an old lifted 4x4 truck that had a huge front bumper. Pulling to an inch from the rearend of slowpoke drivers worked well for me. I wish I still had that truck and knew where LaRue lives.

I wonder why are so many people in such a damn hurry? Don't enough people die on our highways? Some 40,000 people die on the roads on a yearly basis. If its not women putting on their make-up, its agreesive males who are living out their chauvinistic fantasy life. Excuse me, you are so important, the world revolves around you and your greatness. You share the world with other people, you self-centered,
self-absorbed, SOB's.

I would just like to encourage people across the board to slow down regardless of what lane you're in. Cars burn fuel less efficiently above 55-60 mph so you're playing into the entire gasoline mess by speeding. I agree that people shouldn't stay in the left lane for longer than is necessary; but where I live, the left lane is apparently the lane for people who just want to drive absurdly fast and not slow down. Could we all just chill?

Well slow down youself you bunch of gas sucking zipper heads and slow down yourselfs.

Americans are poor drivers for one simple reason. They are stupid. They are incapable of functionally processing the rules of the road. This is not the case in Europe or Asia. The advantage Americans do have is that their natural resources easily over compensate for their inherent stupidity. Why do you think the Mexicans keep coming? Your answer is to build a fence? Brilliant.

If I don't stake my claim to the left lane about a mile before I need to get in the left-hand turn lane to get home, some drivers will not allow me over in time to make my turn. Turn signals are just ignored. If they ride my bumper, I just slow down and teach them a lesson. I enjoy watching men throw their hands up in the air in my rear view mirror, and I feel sorry for their wives. Who wants to live with a hot head who gets all bothered over something like that? hehehe

To All Speed Demons:

Come on up to Connecticut, the land of the left-hand exit, non-existent YIELD signs, and tailgating idiots. Alas, they also flash their lights, hit the horn, and make all kinds of obscene gestures as they swerve around and roar past on the right and then squeeze in, in front, where there was a little room, as I don't tailgate. Some of them even slow down at this point, and then speed up, as though this is supposed to teach something. Of course, I have had my left-hand signal on and they can see the big sign that says LEFT-HAND EXIT, but it makes no difference to these self-inflated egos, who are generally driving much bigger vehicles than I am.

A number of years ago, something similar happened to me as I was coming up I-95 from Florida, with my son, who was about 20 at the time. We were about half-way up North Carolina, around 10 PM, when I started to pass one of two 18-wheelers. They were the only other vehicles on the highway and I wasn't really speeding, but they started moving faster, not letting me pass. Finally, I, in my little VW Rabbit, did make it past both of them, but it took a while. I waited until I could pull in front safely, and before I knew what was happening, one of them swerved out and went flying past me and swerved right back immediately in front of me. Then his buddy came right up on my bumper, flashing his lights and blowing his air horn, while the truck in front slammed on his brakes and slowed down to around 40. I was trapped like this for a few miles, but finally the truck in back swerved past me and they both disappeared from sight in a flash. Both my son and I were shaking, when within minutes I saw two or three NC State police cars along the shoulder with their lights flashing. Without hesitating, I pulled over and still shaking described to a trooper what had just happened to us. The trooper was very polite, asked for a description of the trucks, which I gave him, plus part of a name that was on the back of the last truck. The trooper apologized profusely on behalf of North Carolina and told me to not worry, that they would take care of everything.

Well, to shorten a long story, neither my son, nor I, thought they would ever catch them and we drove for a few more hours to the NC/VA border, where we were going to stay in a motel. As we approached the exit for the motel, we passed a truck stop, and there, to our very great surprise, were the two trucks, surrounded by North Carolina state trooper cars. I was never so happy, but we spent a nervous night in the motel, for I think the truckers, after being ticketed for a number of serious violations, probably spent the rest of the night right next door, and my little yellow Rabbit in the half-empty parking lot was a highly visible car, which they knew only too well. Needless to say, the next morning we waited until we were sure they had gone, and then we continued, but we were on the lookout all the way back to Connecticut.

Why this story? Well, people are people, whether in Connecticut or North Carolina. At home, at work, at the theater, walking around, or out eating dinner, they mostly all appear sane and normal, but let one get into a big SUV, a Hummer, or even a smaller vehicle, and generally they turn into aggressive, maniacal, almost homicidal, sociopaths. Not all, of course, but more than enough to make it a life-threatening experience to try to drive on I-84, especially through the “big” cities, like Hartford, or Waterbury, which is generally where I have to go. To sum up, I have no problem with high gas prices, as I have pretty much stopped driving, except out of necessity. In fact, I look forward to the day when it becomes cost-prohibitive to even drive, or to the day people have to get on lines again, and they have to obey the 55 mph speed limit signs, which are still up, at least here in Connecticut. Maybe they will even have to learn to take mass transit. And that’ll lern ‘em, durn ‘em. When that day arrives, I, and perhaps many others, will be able to breathe easier, especially with the resultant, cleaner air.

I live just outside of Atlanta, where the interstate indentification signs (I-75, I-85, I-285, etc.) are often confused with the speed limit signs. Every day there are MULTIPLE accidents on these interstates which are often caused by people passing on the right due to some self absorbed idiot maintaining the passing lanes. No people don't NEED to drive this fast, but they do. So why not give them (us) the passing lanes? That is what they are doing when they (we) are driving fast. They (we) are PASSING YOU! As soon as commuters get out of the perimeter they (we) slow down. Why make the driving conditions even worse by doing 50 mph on an interstate with a 65 mph limit in the passing lane? Just move over. Is that so hard? Just like everyone else, I'm paying these gas prices too; and yes, it has made me keep my foot from digging in on the gas petal. However, it still hasn't moved you idiots into the damn travel lane!

Speed kills. At 55 mph, you may drive a car, but at any speed over that, you aim it, and at that point it becomes, when coupled with "road rage", Leann, a weapon. That's why there is a crime known as Vehicular Homicide, so be advised. And, no, you do not OWN the road, so get off your high horse or "Monster Truck".

Believe it or not, normal people do have rights, and some of us, but not me, have cell phones and can call the state police. I can't, so I just copy down license plate numbers and report them at the nearest state trooper barracks; they take it from there.

I live in a small town in a relatively small state. Downtown, they have invested in a portable video camera speed control device. It shows you your speed and if it over the limit, it takes a picture of the front of your car, license plate included. Right now, it is just being used to alert the public, but it does have the ability to enforce by mailing tickets to speeders. I really hope the state does the same thing with cameras on the overpasses on the Interstate. It's way overdue. There are just too many undisciplined drivers on our roads, or loose nuts behind the wheel, however you want to look at it.

If you admit to breaking the law, I suggest you not whine about it. This is a national news site, not a sympathy party for people who think the rules don't apply to them.

Don't like the fact that someone won't change the way they drive to enable your illegal behavior?

Too bad.

I like how a lot of people are complaining about people wanting to speed and not even acknowledging that- like previously noted- the left lane is for PASSING. As in, you learned this in driving school just like you stop when you see a stop sign. If you want to go the speed limit, or below, that's fine, just dont inconvinence everyone else becaues you want to drive the slower speed in the left lane. YOU people are the ones who cause traffic jams where there really shouldn't be any traffic.

Somewhat related, there is no reason that a person in the left lane should be going the same speed as a person in the right lane. No one can pass and traffic occurs. The person in the left lane needs to speed up or move over.

I'm glad this article was written. Alabama has a ton of drivers that are slow in the left lane!

Thank you! I didn't think my behavior bothered anyone. Well, honestly I don't look back anyway to tell. I drive AT the legal speed limit maximum in any lane I choose, usually the left, since its smoother. And I figure, NO ONE needs to get by me since that would mean that they are speeding above the posted maximum limit. If I see flashing lights, I don't move over because they shouldn't be exceeding the maximum legal limit either. Remember folks, the speed limiti is a MAXIMUM! Not a minimum. Get that through your ignorant skulls!

Those who sit in the left lane and won't move often find themselves being shot at or run off the road. It's especially fun to slam on the brakes in front of people like madmax since, in the state of Georgia it is ALWAYS the driver who rear-ends the other who is at fault. If I were you, I would adjust my thinking on this issue before you find yourself in the hospital or the morgue from someone who takes your 'vigilante' speed copping too seriously.

I drive 65 in the far left lane because that is the speed limit in california. The way I see it, the far left lane is 65 the max speed limit, the one to the right of it is say 60 the one to the right of that is 55 and the one to the far right is say 50. That seems about right.

Traveling alot every week to and from my work and home...I have seen it all! To me it is only considerate for the people who insist on staying to the left while being passed on the right to get the message when they see that person passing them on the left. I, when passing on the left always return tot he right when mission is accomplished. If not get out of the left lane then at least get over then you can get back into the left lane because it is usually smoother. Just keep a visual and let us by, and dont think that you are a cop you're not...read the signs, "Slower traffic keep to the right" this includes you big mothertruckers, get off of the cell phones!

Ok, I heard what this guy says about people who wont speed while in the passing lane but what about the idiots who do five or ten under the speed limit, in the passing lane, on their cell phones while people are trying to get to work in the morning. Let the excuses begin....

^^^^^^^
Madmax sounds like an idiot. You are not above road rage. It will be hilarious when somebody pulls you out of your car and gives you an ass whooping. And ignorance is defined as "uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication; "an ignorant man"; "nescient of contemporary literature"; "an unlearned group". Sounds just like you.

My heartfealt commendation for putting in print what I have steamed about for 35 years. Last year I drove about 50,000 miles for work related purposes. I've seen this phenomenon everywhere. These "slow in the fast lane" drivers are a scourge, and should have their driving privlidges revoked. Many actually seem to enjoy backing up traffic, presumably getting a warm, fuzzy feeling by enforcing their own private speed limit. I've noticed a number of times that when one is successful in negotiating around them, they honk or give the middle finger salute, as if it is somehow an affront to some personal internal code or standard of decency that I do not wish to let them set the pace. I've had quite a few speed up, in order to prevent my passage around, but I am pleased to say, I always find a way to get by : ))

To all those who feel people who travel at the speed limit should leave the "passing lanes" open to their desire to break the law (as has been noted other times in this blog), I can't speak for all states; I do know that the law in Maryland is that you are not allowed to exceed the speed limit even to pass. If that's a problem for you, just get off the road. You're endangering the rest of us.

Show me any state law that states drivers can continually speed 20 mph above the posted speed limit in the so called passing lane and I will gladly stay in the right lane. I did'nt know it was a crime to drive the posted speed limit in a passing lane. If you are in such a hurry allow yourself more travel time. Hint If you don't like my driving dial *HP on your cell phone and report me. Highway patrol officer will laugh at you.

The HOV LANE, left lane, whatever you want to call it here in South Florida, should have the speed limit upped to 80 MPH... Everyone knows that if you go into this lane you better be going at least that or you will be passed on the right!!! The regular flow of traffic in this lane is consistently 80+ mph...
If you are the loser that wants to play cop in front of me.. I simply pass you... then flick my cigarette butt out the window and it lands on your windshield!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH>>> BEEEITCHES!!!
:P
:)

A passing lane is a passing lane is a passing lane. What do you morons not get!! Get the hell over to the right or off the road You cause the road rage, you cause accidents. It should be legal to blow your asses off the road. I'm tired of idiot fools clogging the highway. Oh by the way, think i'm all that because i'm in a big truck,i'll be happy to get out and kick your ass!