Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - The Left Lane/Right Lane Thunderdome Thread

united · 09-06-2016, 11:28 AM

Having driven just over 2,000 km this past long weekend, with this thread in mind, my thoughts.

First I'll disclose that in rural areas I'm typically in the 30-35 km/h over the posted speed limit camp, when other traffic (and weather, obviously) allows.
Some argue that the speed limit is the maximum one should go to remain safe, because it's the law and there are no bad laws, right? however I disagree for a two reasons.

Speed limits are outdated - as technology improves, they should increase, which they haven't. Also, in some areas they are clearly set artificially low and also happen to have frequent speed traps. Gotta get that $.
The limits must be set to cover all vehicles on the road. To use an extreme example, I have far more trust in a new Ferrari whose driver has taken multiple advanced driving courses going 50 km/h over than I do the new driver who is nervous and unpredictable in a rusting, old, poorly-maintained vehicle going the speed limit. It isn't possible to set speed limits by vehicle/driver, so they must cover all. Nothing can change that, but using arbitrary numbers to declare some dangerous and others not, with no other context, is ridiculous.

With that in mind, regardless of speed the biggest thing I saw was tailgating. It is absolutely ridiculous how close many people follow those in front of them. As above, I am a serial speeder, but I always maintain a large gap - I want to be able to take evasive action if need be and improve my range of vision...why wouldn't anyone regardless of speed? Yet multiple times on single-lane highways, in the middle of a pack of tens of cars all stuck behind a semi or motorhome going 95 km/h, where nobody can do anything but wait for a passing lane, I had people cruising within 5 m of my bumper. Why?! I can't pass, you can't pass, I can't speed up...nobody can. If anything happens to me, you are now ####ed also and for no reason.

The other one was when a two-lane road expands into a three-lane road, with large signs saying for everyone to move right, yet nobody does. Again, why? However these have become my favourite stretches of highway because of that fact the middle lane will remain at 90-105 km/h, the left lane will be a mix of 115-125 km/h, while the right lane is wide open for us 140ers to bomb up. Awesome! You do get the odd competent driver who moves to the right, but then the middle is free in their place so it works out for all. It's just so bizarre when some of these third lanes are kilometres long, and you are flying past everyone in the far right lane while they look puzzled.

Others:

Don't tailgate regardless of speed. It does nothing but put you in danger and irritate, or worse frighten, those ahead of you. The worst is when there is giant speed differential e.g., someone passing at 115 while someone at 130 flies up to them and camps 10 feet from their bumper. There is no reason to, assuming the 115 vehicle is competent enough to move over shortly (not always the case).
Stay in the right-most lane unless necessary to be in another lane. If you can be in the right lane, but aren't in the right lane, why aren't you? Move over. Even at 30 over, it's a smooth organic process: cruise in the right lane, change to the left to pass, as soon as safely possible return to the right lane. Repeat.
Others will argue that if they are doing the limit in the left lane, they aren't doing anything wrong. While technically true, the only reason to do so is to intentionally inconvenience other people. If you get a kick out of inconveniencing other people, you have other issues too.

Lastly, none of this applies during times of extreme congestion, such as yesterday (a holiday Monday).
Just set your cruise control with the flow of traffic and relax. When a passing lane comes, bomb up it, then resume the casual flow. The worst people in these times, on single-lane highways, are the people who accelerate past a car or two, only to squeeze into a small gap and slam on their brakes.
On double-lane highways there is going to be strugglers who camp in the left lane because they are afraid of getting "stuck" in the right lane (otherwise known as not being competent enough to merge back into the left lane) but there is nothing you can do about it. If there is a big enough gap you can pass on the right but there isn't many chances.

In summary, speed limits are outdated and low (the 120 zones in B.C. are great), and everyone should use common sense by letting faster-travelling vehicles pass. Easy, right?

09-06-2016, 11:28 AM	#325
united #1 Goaltender Join Date: Mar 2007 Exp:	Having driven just over 2,000 km this past long weekend, with this thread in mind, my thoughts. First I'll disclose that in rural areas I'm typically in the 30-35 km/h over the posted speed limit camp, when other traffic (and weather, obviously) allows. Some argue that the speed limit is the maximum one should go to remain safe, because it's the law and there are no bad laws, right? however I disagree for a two reasons. Speed limits are outdated - as technology improves, they should increase, which they haven't. Also, in some areas they are clearly set artificially low and also happen to have frequent speed traps. Gotta get that $. The limits must be set to cover all vehicles on the road. To use an extreme example, I have far more trust in a new Ferrari whose driver has taken multiple advanced driving courses going 50 km/h over than I do the new driver who is nervous and unpredictable in a rusting, old, poorly-maintained vehicle going the speed limit. It isn't possible to set speed limits by vehicle/driver, so they must cover all. Nothing can change that, but using arbitrary numbers to declare some dangerous and others not, with no other context, is ridiculous. With that in mind, regardless of speed the biggest thing I saw was tailgating. It is absolutely ridiculous how close many people follow those in front of them. As above, I am a serial speeder, but I always maintain a large gap - I want to be able to take evasive action if need be and improve my range of vision...why wouldn't anyone regardless of speed? Yet multiple times on single-lane highways, in the middle of a pack of tens of cars all stuck behind a semi or motorhome going 95 km/h, where nobody can do anything but wait for a passing lane, I had people cruising within 5 m of my bumper. Why?! I can't pass, you can't pass, I can't speed up...nobody can. If anything happens to me, you are now ####ed also and for no reason. The other one was when a two-lane road expands into a three-lane road, with large signs saying for everyone to move right, yet nobody does. Again, why? However these have become my favourite stretches of highway because of that fact the middle lane will remain at 90-105 km/h, the left lane will be a mix of 115-125 km/h, while the right lane is wide open for us 140ers to bomb up. Awesome! You do get the odd competent driver who moves to the right, but then the middle is free in their place so it works out for all. It's just so bizarre when some of these third lanes are kilometres long, and you are flying past everyone in the far right lane while they look puzzled. Others: Don't tailgate regardless of speed. It does nothing but put you in danger and irritate, or worse frighten, those ahead of you. The worst is when there is giant speed differential e.g., someone passing at 115 while someone at 130 flies up to them and camps 10 feet from their bumper. There is no reason to, assuming the 115 vehicle is competent enough to move over shortly (not always the case). Stay in the right-most lane unless necessary to be in another lane. If you can be in the right lane, but aren't in the right lane, why aren't you? Move over. Even at 30 over, it's a smooth organic process: cruise in the right lane, change to the left to pass, as soon as safely possible return to the right lane. Repeat. Others will argue that if they are doing the limit in the left lane, they aren't doing anything wrong. While technically true, the only reason to do so is to intentionally inconvenience other people. If you get a kick out of inconveniencing other people, you have other issues too. Lastly, none of this applies during times of extreme congestion, such as yesterday (a holiday Monday). Just set your cruise control with the flow of traffic and relax. When a passing lane comes, bomb up it, then resume the casual flow. The worst people in these times, on single-lane highways, are the people who accelerate past a car or two, only to squeeze into a small gap and slam on their brakes. On double-lane highways there is going to be strugglers who camp in the left lane because they are afraid of getting "stuck" in the right lane (otherwise known as not being competent enough to merge back into the left lane) but there is nothing you can do about it. If there is a big enough gap you can pass on the right but there isn't many chances. In summary, speed limits are outdated and low (the 120 zones in B.C. are great), and everyone should use common sense by letting faster-travelling vehicles pass. Easy, right? __________________ "I think the eye test is still good, but analytics can sure give you confirmation: what you see...is that what you really believe?" Scotty Bowman, 0 NHL games played Last edited by united; 09-06-2016 at 11:33 AM.