For those who think their local jurisdiction is a universal standard:
https://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html
https://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html
Choice of Lane
- Thread starter Bounce
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cougar8000
Well-known member
Good find. If only people followed the law. Here in IL we constantly have people occupying left lane just to make sure you do not pass them.
What's funny is that Mass and New Jersey (2 of the few "green" states in that list) are 2 of the biggest offending states for people hanging in the left lane unnecisarily blocking traffic and then other drivers getting spun up and passing on the right.
Mr Bill
Old Dog
What you tryin to say? We be bad drivers in Mass? At least you know everyone drives consistent here, consistently badly that is
Nah, I'm not saying that, really. I think the drivers in almost any metro area are bad. The folks in Western Mass are much more reserved than the hooligans on the coast. You Worcester guys fall right in the middle...What you tryin to say? We be bad drivers in Mass? At least you know everyone drives consistent here, consistently badly that is
:blink:
What I was saying is that it's hypocritical that those two states in particular would have the "high brow" laws on the books when their (highly dense) population is so often in violation.
PS - I'm a MA native in exile.
Grumpy
Well-known member
I just took a mc course, NC BikeSafe, and asked the trooper how many tickets he had ever issued to folks who were "left lane pace cars"? He had never ticketed anyone for driving in the left lane and blocking traffic........apparently not a ticketable offense in NC? If the entire US were converted to "drive right, pass left" folks, we could significantly increase the freeway capacities. This approach works very well in Europe.
Jim
Jim
+1. I think the big difference is that the drivers in Europe are busy driving, while most drivers in the US are busy eating, drinking, phoning, configuring the GPS, watching DVDs, talking with the copilot, shaving or putting on their lipstick...
Many Europeans I have discussed this with do not understand the need to be fed and entertained while driving. They didn't understand why we felt BMWs needed to have cup holders. To them, there's a time for coffee and a time for driving. I must admit that I do enjoy my cup'a Java when on the road.
wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
Damn, I had this big ol' reply about the Florida act that was vetoed, how it was a good "keep right" law that was named wrong, marketed wrong, and misunderstood by the general public, but it turned all political and stuff, with no specific motorcycle interest.
Commentary withdrawn.
Commentary withdrawn.
steelhead
Active member
You have to love MI. Always a "grey" area so the can poke you in the rear at a moments notice.
If I'm coming up on a slower cager hogging the left lane, on go the Hellas. As I pass, they get the WTF sign, not to be confused with the "You're #1 to me" signal...
Grumpy
Well-known member
The only problem is that the typical driver of the left lane pace car doesn't have a clue that he's doing anything wrong. I recall riding with a friend of mine that exclaimed, " Gee, I'm driving 5 over, what's his problem?" when he got the finger from a guy that passed him on the right.
As Fred W correctly points out, the US drivers are busy doing everything except driving. Additionally, we don't require any kind of continuing education for the US drivers. Once a driver manages to get a license then they only have to pass a written test and maybe an eye exam to continue to drive. IMO, this needs to change.
jim
Many (most) states the only written test is signing the bottom of your renewal license. And you don't have to be able to see all that well either...
bandito
Active member
I just got back from Florida visiting family, that has to be the worst state ever. Cagers will turn right onto a four lane street, and go all the way over to the left lane to drive 5 under :blink:
they will sit in the left lane with two empty lanes to their left, and continue so for miles, being passed on the right all the while, totally clueless. In fact it seemed like driving in England, where the Right lane is the fast lane!!
they will sit in the left lane with two empty lanes to their left, and continue so for miles, being passed on the right all the while, totally clueless. In fact it seemed like driving in England, where the Right lane is the fast lane!!
This is timely.
Leftlanedrivers.org offers a very nice windshield decal for cages. I'm ordering one for the Jetta today!
....if only we could get them big enough to read....and stick on our windshields......
Leftlanedrivers.org offers a very nice windshield decal for cages. I'm ordering one for the Jetta today!
....if only we could get them big enough to read....and stick on our windshields......
This is timely.
Leftlanedrivers.org offers a very nice windshield decal for cages. I'm ordering one for the Jetta today!
....if only we could get them big enough to read....and stick on our windshields......
That would be really cool if you could get one that only lit up when you wanted it.
Hmmm... what's that number to the "Invention Submission Corporation"?
ionbeam
2 FUN
My LEO brother in CT says that in CT you might get pulled over for traveling in the left lane while not passing anything, but you are likely to get pulled over for passing while in the right lane(s).
My car club has kept me in the company of many Mass State Droopers. The Mass Droopers say that in MA a ‘right except to pass’ law is basically unenforceable. I pressed them about a large speed differential between lanes, and in particular when the speed of the left lane is way below traffic passing on the right they say they might flip their lights on to urge them to relinquish their hold on the left lane. Mostly, they say that they just try to ensure that the offending driver is not impaired or creating a safety hazard. Beginning ~4 years ago, there was some encouragement for LEOs to get traffic plugs out of the left lane but it kicked off with a fizzle and then diminished from there.
In NH our state motto is “Live Free or Die” (nice, eh?) and that is imprinted on every license plate in the state. Live Free or Die -- we tax that way, live that way and drive that way. (Oh the irony of incarcerated miscreants stamping that on the plates :lol: )
My car club has kept me in the company of many Mass State Droopers. The Mass Droopers say that in MA a ‘right except to pass’ law is basically unenforceable. I pressed them about a large speed differential between lanes, and in particular when the speed of the left lane is way below traffic passing on the right they say they might flip their lights on to urge them to relinquish their hold on the left lane. Mostly, they say that they just try to ensure that the offending driver is not impaired or creating a safety hazard. Beginning ~4 years ago, there was some encouragement for LEOs to get traffic plugs out of the left lane but it kicked off with a fizzle and then diminished from there.
In NH our state motto is “Live Free or Die” (nice, eh?) and that is imprinted on every license plate in the state. Live Free or Die -- we tax that way, live that way and drive that way. (Oh the irony of incarcerated miscreants stamping that on the plates :lol: )
Yeah, I know it sometimes seems our state motto is somewhat trite. And it certainly makes easy fodder for others to make fun of. But (strangely enough?) I actually believe in that motto and kind of wish that some others would have at least some similar sentiments.
It seems that most people I know today would prefer to "Live safe" or "Live secure" or even worse, "Live easy" rather than to "Live free". Freedom carries some excessively heavy baggage. There are responsibilities involved in ensuring and maintaining freedom. There are risks (along with rewards) for exercising your personal freedoms. It requires some non-trivial amount of effort...
The motto of the ship that I was on in the early 70's, the USS Canisteo AO99 was: "If freedom was easy, we wouldn't be here." I think that just about sums it up. I think about this as we celebrate Veterans day, and all of the young men around the world, guarding our freedom. Not "taking it easy".
Of course, context in prose is pretty much everything. And folks should realize that the original quotation from General John Stark continues: "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils"
Certainly that latter phrase has to be something that we can all agree upon? What truer words have ever been spoken? "Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils"
PS - sorry to have taken this on a different tangent...
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