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Old 02-26-2014, 03:33 PM   #1713
jammies
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Originally Posted by DuffMan View Post
then why don't you just say so instead of asking
That's what is known as a rhetorical question, and it's one that you should be asking yourself. "Why am I in this left lane when I'm not passing anyone? Hmm, maybe I should get into the right lane and make a habit of always driving consistently and correctly."

That you don't understand why the guy behind you, in your example, shouldn't have to pass you on the right proves you are treating driving as some kind of mutually negotiable activity, involving other drivers, where the rules are fuzzy, mutable, and situational. They are not. Yes, it's arbitrary that you should always pass on the left, and stay on the right, but it's only arbitrary in the sense that there are alternative paths of consensus which are equally optimal, and not in the sense that there shouldn't be any consensus at all.

Lacking a loudspeaker on the top of your car, or vehement hand gestures, your only tools for indicating to other drivers as to your intentions are signal lights and visible behaviour. Driving in the left lane when you are not passing is a visible behaviour that indicates "I am either apathetic or incompetent, take your pick." Neither proclaims a good driver.
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