Or better yet, if there's room to your right and the lane to your right isn't the right-most lane, move right. It doesn't matter if someone is behind you or if you're one lane from the left, move right if you're not passing someone.
Far too many people camp in the left most lane when there's plenty of room to the right. This forces traffic that you're probably not actually noticing to pass on the right, which is unsafe and, in some areas, illegal.
As it should be. I wish it was in my state, because so often we have a line of people in the left lane, nobody in the next two lanes, then trucks and grannies in the right two lanes.
I drive all over the country. In states where it is illegal to slow camp the left lane it is NEVER enforced by police. Same problem everywhere no matter the law.
Personally I always keep an eye out for this type of driver and make sure to get out the way. The longer they are around me the more likely I am to be collateral in their firey death.
Unsafe driving is anything that's surprising. Having a car go faster than your to your right is surprising, thus unsafe. The #1 rule in any kind of dangerous activity where a lot of independent actors are involved is to be predictable.
Here's a clear scenario:
Driver A is cruising in the left lane
Driver B comes up behind driver A
Driver A notices B, checks to the right (looks over shoulder), and decides to merge right
Driver B gets impatient and starts to overtake A on the right
Driver A, assuming moving to the right is safe (mirrors look good), moves right and collides with B, who is in their blind spot
It's reasonable to assume someone isn't going to jump into your blind spot on the right. That's less reasonable to your left, so you should be extra careful when merging left.
Merging right should always be safer because you may need to move over if an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.
So Driver B made a conscious decision to make an illegal and dangerous pass. That's not Driver A's fault. You guys want to drive like it's NASCAR and blame everyone around you but it's just not true. If you're coming up behind someone you have more situational awareness not less. It's on you to make a safe move, like applying your brakes. That's a safe predictable response to a slower car in front of you. Nobody is forcing you to drive in an unsafe manner.
My point is it's unsafe to pass on the right. If you can't pass on the left and there's available room to the right, the driver in front should be ticketed, because doing that encourages unsafe passing from those behind them. If the driver behind gets impatient, they should be ticketed for reckless driving by passing on the right.
So don't pass on the right. If there's a driver in front of you that's holding up traffic with room on the right to move over, call traffic enforcement if it's illegal in your area (and if it's not, campaign for it to become illegal).
Yeah if there's no one in front of you and someone can undertake you, you fucked up. I'm glad to see this thread full of so many sensible takes on how to drive safely and maintain efficient flows of traffic. Normally these threads online get flooded with brain dead takes like "I'm going fast enough, why should I move?".
No, it's your job to follow the rules and etiquette of the road. In some states, it's illegal to camp in the left lane, though it's unfortunately rarely enforced. I've heard it actually enforced in Germany though, so perhaps outside the US it's more of a thing.
My state has "keep right except to pass" posted on most roads, and I've seen it in many other states as well. So do that.
When did I say that? I'm quite considerate if I do say so myself. And I practice what I preach, I'm rarely in the leftmost lane, I'm as far right as I can while traveling the speed I want (usually within 5mph of the speed limit), and I help a healthy amount of space in front and behind me.
I suggest you do the same, if you're not already. That's proper etiquette, and in many areas it's the law.
You obviously haven't driven on the madmax style roads in the u.s. There's no etiquette, it's every man for himself out there and you have to drive defensively. If you get over just to let one of those drivers pass you, they'll just cut you off so they can weave between lanes or cut across 5 lanes to take an exit. There's no winning in these situations. If you're passing other cars, then there's no reason to get back over to let faster cars pass you unless the road is wide open.
Ok buddy. I've been driving for decades and haven't had any real issues. Yeah, some drivers are overly aggressive, and some are overly passive aggressive.
If we all follow people the rules and proper etiquette, we'll all get where we're going.
If you’re in the left lane, and there’s someone behind you but no one in front of you, move over and let them pass. Simple.
Or better yet, if there's room to your right and the lane to your right isn't the right-most lane, move right. It doesn't matter if someone is behind you or if you're one lane from the left, move right if you're not passing someone.
Far too many people camp in the left most lane when there's plenty of room to the right. This forces traffic that you're probably not actually noticing to pass on the right, which is unsafe and, in some areas, illegal.
In some countries it's illegal to drive on the left lane, when there is place on the right one
As it should be. I wish it was in my state, because so often we have a line of people in the left lane, nobody in the next two lanes, then trucks and grannies in the right two lanes.
I drive all over the country. In states where it is illegal to slow camp the left lane it is NEVER enforced by police. Same problem everywhere no matter the law.
I really wish they'd enforce that instead of speeding, surely that's a bigger cause if road rage than pretty much anything else...
It doesn't force them to drive unsafely. That's a decision they make on their own.
Personally I always keep an eye out for this type of driver and make sure to get out the way. The longer they are around me the more likely I am to be collateral in their firey death.
Oh certainly. Always drive defensively. But that's different than blaming someone else for their offensive driving.
Unsafe driving is anything that's surprising. Having a car go faster than your to your right is surprising, thus unsafe. The #1 rule in any kind of dangerous activity where a lot of independent actors are involved is to be predictable.
Here's a clear scenario:
It's reasonable to assume someone isn't going to jump into your blind spot on the right. That's less reasonable to your left, so you should be extra careful when merging left.
Merging right should always be safer because you may need to move over if an emergency vehicle approaches from behind.
So Driver B made a conscious decision to make an illegal and dangerous pass. That's not Driver A's fault. You guys want to drive like it's NASCAR and blame everyone around you but it's just not true. If you're coming up behind someone you have more situational awareness not less. It's on you to make a safe move, like applying your brakes. That's a safe predictable response to a slower car in front of you. Nobody is forcing you to drive in an unsafe manner.
That's... exactly what I'm saying.
My point is it's unsafe to pass on the right. If you can't pass on the left and there's available room to the right, the driver in front should be ticketed, because doing that encourages unsafe passing from those behind them. If the driver behind gets impatient, they should be ticketed for reckless driving by passing on the right.
So don't pass on the right. If there's a driver in front of you that's holding up traffic with room on the right to move over, call traffic enforcement if it's illegal in your area (and if it's not, campaign for it to become illegal).
Yeah if there's no one in front of you and someone can undertake you, you fucked up. I'm glad to see this thread full of so many sensible takes on how to drive safely and maintain efficient flows of traffic. Normally these threads online get flooded with brain dead takes like "I'm going fast enough, why should I move?".
"Move over so I can drive recklessly"
Your argument sucks.
It's not your job to prevent others from speeding, it's your job to stay to the right except to pass. It's on the police to enforce speed limits.
It's my job to drive and not worry about some dickhead behind me. If you can't be patient, then don't drive.
No, it's your job to follow the rules and etiquette of the road. In some states, it's illegal to camp in the left lane, though it's unfortunately rarely enforced. I've heard it actually enforced in Germany though, so perhaps outside the US it's more of a thing.
My state has "keep right except to pass" posted on most roads, and I've seen it in many other states as well. So do that.
You tailgate, speed, and cut people off and that's fine, ok.
When did I say that? I'm quite considerate if I do say so myself. And I practice what I preach, I'm rarely in the leftmost lane, I'm as far right as I can while traveling the speed I want (usually within 5mph of the speed limit), and I help a healthy amount of space in front and behind me.
I suggest you do the same, if you're not already. That's proper etiquette, and in many areas it's the law.
You obviously haven't driven on the madmax style roads in the u.s. There's no etiquette, it's every man for himself out there and you have to drive defensively. If you get over just to let one of those drivers pass you, they'll just cut you off so they can weave between lanes or cut across 5 lanes to take an exit. There's no winning in these situations. If you're passing other cars, then there's no reason to get back over to let faster cars pass you unless the road is wide open.
Ok buddy. I've been driving for decades and haven't had any real issues. Yeah, some drivers are overly aggressive, and some are overly passive aggressive.
If we all follow people the rules and proper etiquette, we'll all get where we're going.
Then what makes it a "dangerous situation?" Oh yeah, the reckless dickhead in the back.
You're the dickhead in the back in this situation. So why is it dangerous? You didn't answer my question. Dickhead.
I think you should stop sniffing glue.
So you move over and crash into the car to the right of you that you wanted to pass.
I always do unless you have those crazy fucking headlights...then not a chance
You won't see their headlights anymore if you let them pass
We don't negotiate with terrorists!
Yes I will