The Left Lane/Right Lane Thunderdome Thread

[JiriHrdina]

So I drove the QE2 back today and it was a classic example of where the stay right concept doesn't always work.
Due to the heavy traffic from trailers and RV, the right lane was only moving at about 100.
People generally in the left lane were moving at about 120-125, so it was pretty busy with traffic moving along at about that speed.
But then you had a third group of people who couldn't handle that and were trying to still drive 140 - passing on the right. Trailgaiting. Etc.

[btimbit]

QE2 really should be 3 lanes for the amount of traffic it gets, that's why the stay right concept doesn't always work there.

But that is a good example Jiri, and what's worse is the people that simply can't process when it's too busy to be doing those speeds. Weaving is the most idiotic thing on the road imo.

[JiriHrdina]

Yup and the overly aggressive drivers make it worse
- They tailgate in the left, which makes drivers over there nervous
- Those drivers then try their best to move to an already congested right lane
- Which causes a lot of breaking in the right lane and far too much back and forth movement than should be needed.

You basically have two lanes - meaning two approximate levels of speed. Generally drivers should adhere to one of those two. If there is a third group, going above or below that, that is where you create problems.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Where the QEII is 3 lanes, the slow traffic will remain in the middle lane. I drive in the far right lane unobstructed most often for the third lanes entirety at a speed no greater than the posted limit. Be damned if I'm going to observe the no passing on the right rule when the lane is clear and open and there are strugglers in the adjacent "passing lanes".

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So I drove the QE2 back today and it was a classic example of where the stay right concept doesn't always work.
Due to the heavy traffic from trailers and RV, the right lane was only moving at about 100.
People generally in the left lane were moving at about 120-125, so it was pretty busy with traffic moving along at about that speed.
But then you had a third group of people who couldn't handle that and were trying to still drive 140 - passing on the right. Trailgaiting. Etc.

They're called Edmontonians.

[Zarley]

Had the great misfortune of driving Highway 2 between Calgary and Red Deer this weekend and, as usual on a summer weekend, it was a disgusting display of driving incompetence. 2/3 of traffic on the road was inexplicably in the left lane bringing the average speed in that lane to 110 or so and leaving plenty of space in the right lane. On top of that there's the idiots putzing along at or under the speed limit who remain in the middle lane during the stretches where there are 3 lanes instead of moving to the right.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I drove Stoney East/West across the city in the north a few times this week including yesterday.

I actually think 99% of people don't know why there are 3 lanes. It is almost prohibitive. Two lanes really would be better in a lot of ways.

No one uses the right lane. All traffic stays in the middle lane. I saw cars merge and frantically change into the middle lane cutting right in front of much faster traffic. Causes too many cars to use the left lane. Ends up being an empty right lane, busy middle and left lanes. The only cars I saw using the right lane were frustrated speeders who were tired of the left lane being clogged because the middle lane was barely at 100.

Not to mention other idiotic stuff. I had a guy merge behind me, speed up and cut me off then slam on the brakes. I saw cars just cruising in the left lane doing 100. Cars in the middle lane cruising at 80. People joining Stoney in their own lane, not a merge, just a whole new lane to themselves and they cut into traffic like their lane was ending in 20 feet at a cliff, cars merging doing 30 under the speed limit.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

No one uses the right lane. All traffic stays in the middle lane.

I think part of this is what is being educated. When I took my driving training (which is admitedly more than 20 years ago) they advise to use the middle lane because it gave you the most "outs".

And I know some nervous drivers prefer the middle lane because there is less "action" than in the right lane.

I do think that in many ways the far right lane, when there are 3 lanes, is the most dangerous.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I do think that in many ways the far right lane, when there are 3 lanes, is the most dangerous.

That's definitely not the case on Stoney SE outside of rush hour where you will literally be the only car in that lane and there's very little merging traffic. Better still, between 114 and Peigan where it's 4 lanes use the right lane NB and you will be TWO lanes away from the nearest car. Stoney SE (and similarly Henday NW) are roads done right.

[Coach]

It seems to me that a lot of the left/right lane gear grinding would be solved by removing speed limits on roads where these rules apply.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So I drove the QE2 back today and it was a classic example of where the stay right concept doesn't always work.
Due to the heavy traffic from trailers and RV, the right lane was only moving at about 100.
People generally in the left lane were moving at about 120-125, so it was pretty busy with traffic moving along at about that speed.
But then you had a third group of people who couldn't handle that and were trying to still drive 140 - passing on the right. Trailgaiting. Etc.

If people are passing on the right, then the person in the left lane being passed should have gotten over.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If people are passing on the right, then the person in the left lane being passed should have gotten over.

But you see the problem with this. Now the left lane that was going nicely at 125, now has to slow down to 100 to get into the right lane to let the 140 guy through. At some point you have to stop accommodating the minority.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Wormius

But you see the problem with this. Now the left lane that was going nicely at 125, now has to slow down to 100 to get into the right lane to let the 140 guy through. At some point you have to stop accommodating the minority.

IMO, it's more like this... If you are in the left lane, and you are not immediately behind the guy in front of you, and you have cars immediately behind you, then it's time to move over. If the cars behind you also move over, it's their way of saying that they're happy with your speed, and you are the leader. You sure as hell aren't expected to move over if you're in the middle of a big line up of cars that are wanting to go faster than the right lane. If you happen to be in this line, and some dink is riding your ass because he wants to go 150, well, he can pretty much suck a nut, but I personally still try to let the guy through, because I hate having haters on my ass. Let him get the speeding ticket once he gets through.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If people are passing on the right, then the person in the left lane being passed should have gotten over.

You are ignoring the fact that these drivers were weaving back and forth. Hardly safe.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by 4X4

IMO, it's more like this... If you are in the left lane, and you are not immediately behind the guy in front of you, and you have cars immediately behind you, then it's time to move over. If the cars behind you also move over, it's their way of saying that they're happy with your speed, and you are the leader. You sure as hell aren't expected to move over if you're in the middle of a big line up of cars that are wanting to go faster than the right lane. If you happen to be in this line, and some dink is riding your ass because he wants to go 150, well, he can pretty much suck a nut, but I personally still try to let the guy through, because I hate having haters on my ass. Let him get the speeding ticket once he gets through.

Yeah a couple things.
- Indeed I hate bumper riders too so I will get over, because I want to be out of the danger.
- But today, both lanes were so busy, that trying to squeeze into the right lane, which was very congested wasn't always possible
- There were sheriffs everywhere today so speeding was dumb anyways.

Today was a classic example of where you just have to accept you aren't going to be able to drive 140 the whole way. Both lanes were full almost the entire distance. So I could choose to stay in the left at about 120, or continually move over to the right which was sub 100.

[PepsiFree]

If you're keeping pace with the car in front of you and you're in a bit of a line all going faster than the right lane, there is zero reason to move over that I can imagine.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yeah a couple things.
- Indeed I hate bumper riders too so I will get over, because I want to be out of the danger.
- But today, both lanes were so busy, that trying to squeeze into the right lane, which was very congested wasn't always possible
- There were sheriffs everywhere today so speeding was dumb anyways.

Today was a classic example of where you just have to accept you aren't going to be able to drive 140 the whole way. Both lanes were full almost the entire distance. So I could choose to stay in the left at about 120, or continually move over to the right which was sub 100.

You don't move over if you're in a line. If someone is still riding your ass in that situation, he's just a complete dink, and you get out of the way so that you aren't the subject of his scorn. Otherwise, you just ride the left lane all the way from Mulletville to Calgary, keeping pace with the people going faster than the people in the right lane.

As long as you're keeping pace, you're a good driver. It's pretty simple. Don't be a slowass in front of people that want to go reasonably faster. If the road is full, then the pace is the pace. Just keep pace. That's it. And if there's nobody in front of you, then move over and let the people behind you decide how fast they want to go. That's it. No butthurt. Let them go their speed, and you go your speed.

[doctajones428]

If you're in the left lane and you're not passing, get out of the lane or off the road.

If you're tailgating in the left lane, get the hell off the road and tear up your liscense.

Simple. Both sides need to stop driving like knobs

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by 4X4

IMO, it's more like this... If you are in the left lane, and you are not immediately behind the guy in front of you, and you have cars immediately behind you, then it's time to move over. If the cars behind you also move over, it's their way of saying that they're happy with your speed, and you are the leader. You sure as hell aren't expected to move over if you're in the middle of a big line up of cars that are wanting to go faster than the right lane. If you happen to be in this line, and some dink is riding your ass because he wants to go 150, well, he can pretty much suck a nut, but I personally still try to let the guy through, because I hate having haters on my ass. Let him get the speeding ticket once he gets through.

The leader? LOL.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You don't move over if you're in a line. If someone is still riding your ass in that situation, he's just a complete dink, and you get out of the way so that you aren't the subject of his scorn. Otherwise, you just ride the left lane all the way from Mulletville to Calgary, keeping pace with the people going faster than the people in the right lane.

As long as you're keeping pace, you're a good driver. It's pretty simple. Don't be a slowass in front of people that want to go reasonably faster. If the road is full, then the pace is the pace. Just keep pace. That's it. And if there's nobody in front of you, then move over and let the people behind you decide how fast they want to go. That's it. No butthurt. Let them go their speed, and you go your speed.

Do you know who's at fault for the line?

Some jerk who refused to accelerate to the left lane speed before he passed the motor home. That guy at the front of the line is a jerk.