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New law might make the left a passing lane

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ New law might make the left a passing lane
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 10:44 AM
The reason our roadways work is because we function with the expectation that others are going to operate their vehicles in a certain manner. Following the legislated rules of the road is providing the most acurate actions of such expectation. It's a courteous to everyonewhen you follow the rules.
Feb 1, 2012 10:44am
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georgemc80

Senior Member

983 posts
Feb 1, 2012 11:18 AM
I am generally in a perpetual state of passing. I don't understand why anyone would pass only going 1-2 MPH faster than the car in front of them. Safety dictates to make the pass as safe as possible then assume your position in the right lane. Accelerate a few miles an hour more and make the pass. If it takes more than 30 seconds to pass a car, maybe you should stay behind them.
Feb 1, 2012 11:18am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Feb 1, 2012 11:23 AM
Con_Alma;1072028 wrote:The reason our roadways work is because we function with the expectation that others are going to operate their vehicles in a certain manner. Following the legislated rules of the road is providing the most acurate actions of such expectation. It's a courteous to everyonewhen you follow the rules.
I don't see how my speed has any impact on anyone else on the road. I will admit some people are jackasses when they are stuck behind someone going slower, but it's quite possible to drive above the speed limit and not be discourteous to other drivers. I think it's funny that most people pick a number that is ok to go over the speed limit and everyone who's number is higher is going to fast and everyone who's number is lower is going to slow.
Feb 1, 2012 11:23am
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 11:28 AM
FatHobbit;1072070 wrote:I don't see how my speed has any impact on anyone else on the road....
It's everyone's speed that has an impact on the safety of the roads.

Defensive driving is carried out based on what you expect others to do. Adding to that which is predictable makes the roads more safe. Speed is just one component.

The rule is x mph. It doesn't matter what "x" is. Going faster than "x" isn't what's expected. You expect me to stay to the right if not passing. It doesn't matter that it's the right but rather it's just a defined side. If I stay to the left it isn't what you expect.
Feb 1, 2012 11:28am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Feb 1, 2012 11:31 AM
FatHobbit;1072070 wrote:I don't see how my speed has any impact on anyone else on the road.
I agree with you. Unfortunately, this law is not to raise the speed limit, it is to help speeders maximize the benefit of their rule breaking.

Focus on raising the speed limit, not punishing those who follow the law.
Feb 1, 2012 11:31am
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 11:35 AM
sleeper;1072086 wrote:...

Focus on raising the speed limit, not punishing those who follow the law.
Couldn't agree more.
Feb 1, 2012 11:35am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:04 PM
When I get a ticket for going single digits over whatever the speed limit is, Ill start to belive the expectation is the speed limit posted. Until then, like 75% of other drivers, ill continue to think its ok and expected to go over the limit so long as it doesnt exceed 10 MPH.

Going the speed limit is more dangerous then speeding, simply because you are in the LARGE minority of those who do it.
Feb 1, 2012 12:04pm
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:20 PM
Laley23;1072142 wrote:When I get a ticket for going single digits over whatever the speed limit is, Ill start to belive the expectation is the speed limit posted. Until then, like 75% of other drivers, ill continue to think its ok and expected to go over the limit so long as it doesnt exceed 10 MPH.

Going the speed limit is more dangerous then speeding, simply because you are in the LARGE minority of those who do it.
It's a courtesy to act according to the rules. Because the majority don't doesn't mean we should just forget about it. It's not just speed on it's own merit but rather the collective of all the things that should be done while sharing the roads such as lights on at night, adjusting speed to merge, alternating progression at a four-way stop, using turn signals, etc.

Expecting those things from others when you don't provide them is amusing to me. Speed is one of them. There's no defined agreement that speed control can be left out if most people don't do it. Making that a claim of frustration since most people are not doing it it is part of that amusement to me as I watch someone fly up on traffic in the left lane and flash their brights for a care to move over.

It's all part of life's rich tapestry.:)
Feb 1, 2012 12:20pm
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queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:36 PM
Con_Alma;1072168 wrote:It's a courtesy to act according to the rules.
Not necessarily. Taking the extreme example, if every single person on a freeway is driving at a given speed, and you are driving 10 MPH slower, you are the driver creating the most dangerous situation. Whether everyone save you is driving at or above the posted limit doesn't change that fact.
Feb 1, 2012 12:36pm
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:39 PM
queencitybuckeye;1072200 wrote:Not necessarily. Taking the extreme example, if every single person on a freeway is driving at a given speed, and you are driving 10 MPH slower, you are the driver creating the most dangerous situation. Whether everyone save you is driving at or above the posted limit doesn't change that fact.
That's a specific case that requires adjustment for safety purposes but to suggest that in general it isn't courteous to drive in accordance with the laws just isn't true in my opinion.

I see it very courteous to function according to the laws of society.
Feb 1, 2012 12:39pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:43 PM
Con_Alma;1072205 wrote:I see it very courteous to function according to the laws of society.
IMHO acting according to the laws of society and being courteous are mutually exclusive acts. It's very easy to be rude and obey the law. Just easy to be courteous and break the law.
Feb 1, 2012 12:43pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:44 PM
sleeper;1072086 wrote:I agree with you. Unfortunately, this law is not to raise the speed limit, it is to help speeders maximize the benefit of their rule breaking.

Focus on raising the speed limit, not punishing those who follow the law.
This bill will also raise the speed limit to 70. I'm curious to see if the people who now drive 5-10 over the limit will continue to do so. (I assume they will)
Feb 1, 2012 12:44pm
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queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:45 PM
Con_Alma;1072205 wrote:That's a specific case that requires adjustment for safety purposes but to suggest that in general it isn't courteous to drive in accordance with the laws just isn't true in my opinion.

I see it very courteous to function according to the laws of society.
If all laws were created solely for our benefit, and not skewed for political and financial purposes, I might agree.
Feb 1, 2012 12:45pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:46 PM
FatHobbit;1072218 wrote:This bill will also raise the speed limit to 70. I'm curious to see if the people who now drive 5-10 over the limit will continue to do so. (I assume they will)
I still think 70 is too low. Make it 85 and I'll agree with this bill.
Feb 1, 2012 12:46pm
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:50 PM
queencitybuckeye;1072220 wrote:If all laws were created solely for our benefit, and not skewed for political and financial purposes, I might agree.
I am certainly not suggesting that you agree but rather stating why I have such an opinion.

No matter the motivating force of laws if we reduce ourselves to only abiding those that have honorable motivation behind them we inject subjectivity into what we should and should not do to others.

Tere are many laws I don't agree with and believe we put into place because of selfish, powerful reasons. If I were to not abide by them based on that bsis alone people could get hurt and it would be as selfish of me as those who selfishly created the law.
Feb 1, 2012 12:50pm
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queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:55 PM
Con_Alma;1072241 wrote:
No matter the motivating force of laws if we reduce ourselves to only abiding those that have honorable motivation behind them we inject subjectivity into what we should and should not do to others.
Or we make decisions on who is more qualified to make decisions on what we should do or not do to others, the lawmakers or me.
Feb 1, 2012 12:55pm
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 12:58 PM
queencitybuckeye;1072249 wrote:Or we make decisions on who is more qualified to make decisions on what we should do or not do to others, the lawmakers or me.
Yeah, I wish that were more of the case. We are on the same page there but until such time as there isn't a law dictating a certain action I am going to take the lawful route...for now.
Feb 1, 2012 12:58pm
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

Senior Member

9,206 posts
Feb 1, 2012 1:35 PM
It's always amusing to me that people expect the consideration of others staying out of the left lane but yet don't extend the consideration of following the speed limit.
this also applies to the people who drive above the speed limit and expect you to move out of the way when you have no legal obligation to do so(as long as you drive the posted speed limit).
It most certainly goes both ways, but that is not the issue or my point. A driver should not be running up on a slower drivers bumper "expecting them to move over"...that would be inconsiderate as well. But equally inconsiderate is the guy who won't move over when he knows someone wants to get by. Being legal and considerate are not necessarily the same.

Happens on a gol;f course every day...slower players let faster player thru as a matter of consideration not as a matter of 'legality'.
Feb 1, 2012 1:35pm
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 1, 2012 1:36 PM
HitsRus;1072287 wrote:... Being legal and considerate are not necessarily the same.

...
No doubt. No disagreement there.
Feb 1, 2012 1:36pm
ManO'War's avatar

ManO'War

Senior Member

1,420 posts
Feb 1, 2012 3:33 PM
I'm always in the left lane because I'm always passing everyone.

It would be much more dangerous if I have to keep switching back and forth from the left lane to the right lane and vise versa.
Feb 1, 2012 3:33pm
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WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Feb 1, 2012 4:20 PM
sleeper;1072225 wrote:I still think 70 is too low. Make it 85 and I'll agree with this bill.
I don't think either will make a damn difference except to make sure you die when do crash. The only reason it's an issue at all is because people don't follow the speed limit to begin with. If you raise it to 70, they'll go 80-85. If you raise it to 85, they'll go 95-100. And you'll still have people going 65-70 in the left lane pissing people off.
Feb 1, 2012 4:20pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Feb 1, 2012 4:25 PM
WebFire;1072503 wrote:I don't think either will make a damn difference except to make sure you die when do crash. The only reason it's an issue at all is because people don't follow the speed limit to begin with. If you raise it to 70, they'll go 80-85. If you raise it to 85, they'll go 95-100. And you'll still have people going 65-70 in the left lane pissing people off.
You'll die just as easily going 70 as you will going 85. I don't have the evidence(and neither do you) but the threshold for crashing and death is probably already surpassed at 70 anyway.
Feb 1, 2012 4:25pm
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Sonofanump

Feb 1, 2012 5:12 PM
sleeper;1072515 wrote:You'll die just as easily going 70 as you will going 85. I don't have the evidence(and neither do you) but the threshold for crashing and death is probably already surpassed at 70 anyway.
If you do crash yes, but the reaction time given a decreased speed is greater therefore the possibility of avoiding an accident is increased.

I will drive 8-10 mph over on highways no matter what the speed limit is.
Feb 1, 2012 5:12pm
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friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Feb 1, 2012 7:24 PM
People that sit in the left lane driving at or below the speed limit are the worst. I bet they go home or and beat their kids and pets, too.
Feb 1, 2012 7:24pm
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WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Feb 1, 2012 8:15 PM
sleeper;1072515 wrote:You'll die just as easily going 70 as you will going 85. I don't have the evidence(and neither do you) but the threshold for crashing and death is probably already surpassed at 70 anyway.
The current speed limit is 65. 20 mph makes a big difference.
Feb 1, 2012 8:15pm