Get the F*** Out of the Left Lane

[TibHockeyPlayer]

Originally Posted by Dion

Excuse me?

I posted it for information purposes. If people want to got hot and bothered over it, that's not my problem.

Sorry Dion, I was just making an example out of that self-righteous law school student. His "That's a shocker, and in other news" was veiled aggression towards you, and I thought unneccessarily so. It's pretty obvious as to what purpose your link was to serve.

[browna]

Since this topic is going several ways, I'll add a couple random thoughts. Deerfoot is one lane too narrow on each side...blame that on poor city planning in the Rod Sykes days.

To that, I think anyone, on either side of this debate, and anyone who ever drives Deerfoot, should drive the stretch of 4 lane wide (in each way) freeway between Trudeau airport and Montreal downtown for a lesson on freeway driving.

Although the left lane may be "courtesy" in theory, a couple trips there, and if you don't have your wits about you and know what you're doing and where you're going, your in big trouble, because everyone down there is complely confident and fully aware of where other cars are, like drivers are usually ok at here on roads with 70km speedlimits....except there, withthe same level of awareness, at speeds over over 110, which would be considered "crazy" or "reckless" if it was on the Deerfoot.

The issue in Deerfoot is confidence....too many people who're driving overly cautious and borderline scared, which is causing a complete lack of knowledge of who and what's going on around them....a share of people driving a bit too agressively on their own, and as a result of those driving overcautiously.

On the further ends of the specutrum, you have people completely intimitaded on there and people that are weaving in and out on the other end. You even have a small percentage who feel its there right to act as the righteous John P. Traffic Officer and bung up the left lane at under 90kph intentionally.

Cellphone drivers are another issue entirely.

[Hemi-Cuda]

this video is a great example of how just a few cars doing the legal speed limit can completely screw up the traffic flow of a major highway. i'd like to see some accident statistics comparing the German Autobahn with other similarly sized highways around the world, i've never been one to believe that speed limits are anything more than a revenue generator for police forces

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Either there should be one stickied Driving Rants thread, or they should be banned outright. They're always full of the same people spewing the same crap about "It's okay for me to speed, I know how to drive" and the rebuttals of "It's the speed limit for a reason," from the Driving Police crowd. It's so predictable. I saw the thread title from the main forum page and thought to myself 'I bet 4x4 started it' and sure enough...

Seriously, we know by now who thinks they should be able to drive like an ass and why, and who thinks those asses should live by the same laws as everybody else and why. Why do people need new threads to QQ in all the time about how they can't speed fast enough because somebody is putting the law above courtesy, or how they got cut off by some young punk in his ricer weaving through traffic?

Both sides make me want to take the bus.

[philip1985]

Hemi-Cuda that video you posted was definitely interesting. The thing is I find the people that speed are less dangerous than those people that are on their phones, eating or doing who knows what. It's just common courtesy to let people pass you on the left lane if they are going faster. Even if you are going the speed limit you should move over if someone is going to pass you. The problem with this is not everyone does this and this causes major problems as seen in the video posted by Hemi-Cuda.

[llama64]

Speeders don't bother me. Traffic weavers do.

As do 16 year olds driving around BMW 3 series and the 40 year olds driving their Corvettes.

But most of all, the people who don't think things through and decide they are sober enough to drive home really get me. If you've had any amount or type of alcholic beverage, stay off the roads for at least 4 hours!

[algernon]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I understand what you guys are saying, it sucks when people screw with the flow of traffic. I get pissed off as well. But what can you do about it? They aren't breaking the law, they are just being inconsiderate.

Or, maybe they are. That sign Photon posted was on a white background. Just like speed limit signs or in other words-the LAW. If the above sign was written on a yellow background, like exit speeds, then it would be a suggestion.

For the record, I am considerate to those who wish to drive faster in the left lane, because I hope for the same treatment, when I want to go faster.

[Flames89]

I am with you 4x4. People in the left lane are like slow walkers in the middle of the sidewalk. Technically, they are doing nothing wrong. Technically, I won't get where I am going THAT much quicker. However, I like my life to go at the pace I chose - so when in a certain frame of mind, and stuck behind someone who is the complete opposite - it is as aggravating as f***!

There also seems to be a blurring of the lines between fast drivers and a$$hole drivers. I am a fast (by Calgary conventions) driver, but very considerate. Calgary has some of the slowest drivers of any city I have lived in.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by fotze

DO YOU WANNA GO FASTER??????

As of right now...No. Thanks, though.

OT: is that Farva????

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

You umm do know that the speed limit on the deerfoot is 100 km/h right, so that person in the left lane, he's allowed to be there, and he's perfectly in his right to drive 100 km/h in that lane.

Just because you want to speed dosen't mean that you have the right of way.

So on Highway 2 you are perfectly fine with someone driving 110 in the left lane?

The same right that person has to drive the limit in the left lane gives me the same right to be on his bumper if traffic in the middle lane is passing him/her.

MYK

[Flashpoint]

Some of you folks need nicer cars.

I have a great car. I love driving it. The more time spent in my car, the happier I am. If traffic's heavy, so much the better. Car time = Happy time.

As for the left lane? Anybody who is coming up fast, I try to get out of their way. Unless they are a dick about it (honking, gesturing, flashing lights). If they are a dick about it, I do my very best to keep them boxed in.

Why?

Dicks must be punished.

[Jason14h]

Ignoring the whole argument on whether it's ok to speed or not, here is my question:

If you are going the speed limit, along with everyone else, what motivation is there for you to be in the left/fast lane? The only logical answer I could see is a sense of entitlement that all three lanes are for everyone (which technically is true) If this is your attitude don't be surprise when I weave around you at 140 KM/h

[Ford Prefect]

Amusing thread ... thanks 4X4. FWIW, I speed ... usually 10 to 20 clicks on Deerfoot conditions permitting and 20 to 30 clicks on low traffic rural highways, conditions permitting. So shoot me. One thing that has not been discussed in this thread is that a lot of drivers are unsafe at any speed, making speed limits an arbitrary benchmark that attempt to take into consideration the worst drivers along with the best. No doubt speed limits are set according to the best science and data civil engineers have on the topic ... or whoever is responsible for setting speed limits ... but they're a one-size-fits-all solution. However, given that too many drivers are unsafe at any speed, I suggest tougher and more frequent testing is a better solution than lower or more strictly enforced speed limits. Level the playing field by getting rid of the incompetent drivers, or require them to take driving lessons, and speed limits can probably even be increased.

[The Yen Man]

As many people have alredy pointed out in this thread, yes speeding is illegal, and I'm pretty sure we are all aware of this.

However, my arguement is, the person who's speeding up the left lane is going to speed, regardless of what you do. So why would you put yourself in a situation where the speeding guy's going to cut through maybe one or two lanes, and then cut back in front of you to get past you, when all you had to do was cut over and let the person pass? Are you not making the situation worse, and putting everyone else in danger. Usually its safer when speeding to be travelling on one lane, than speeding and cutting in and out of traffic, would you not agree?

[ken0042]

I know it was several pages ago but I just can't understand those who use all of the lane that is ending to merge in. Do you not understand that it is you who is causing the traffic jam in the first place?

Not you personally at that moment, but at some point somebody decided he could get ahead of somebody else; causing somebody to brake. That causes the entire lane to slow down a bit, so now another guy comes up that lane that's ending, causing the other lane to slow down a bit more.

A rule I learned in a defensive driving course; if your lane change causes somebody to have to touch the brake pedal; then you did it wrong. (The exact words given to me was you are a jerk because you cut somebody off.) The reason the storage lane is so long was not to allow people to cut others off, but to give both lanes enough time to adjust their speeds in a manor that allows free flowing merging.

However most people merge in one of two places; the first possible chance to merge or the last possible chance to merge. Very few use those couple of hundred metres as they were intended.

Which is why I also agree with what was said earlier; people should have to be re-tested every so often. It would take care of the previously mentioned city folk who don't know how a 4 way stop works, the country person who has never driven on a multi lane road, as well as those who got their license on their 4th try, and can spend the rest of their lives driving because they happened to just barely pass a test.

[CaramonLS]

4X4, when you're going 150 in the left lane, and the person behind you is going at about 170, what do you do then?

Do you speed up? Get out of the way? Stay there?

[The Unabomber]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You're fuc**ing right I am.

And that's the biggest a**hole thing to do. You come on here complaining and whining, you think that you own the road and other drivers owe you favors.....get a grip. The speed limit is 100 on Deerfoot, show me something that says that if i drive the speed limit on Deerfoot in the right lane that i'll get a ticket. You can't, so it's legal to do! Me doing that is no different than you trying to get ahead of a jam by taking a road that closes so you can get 10 or 15 cars up.

Stop complaining, you sound like a woman.

[The Unabomber]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It's the red-faced, expletive-screaming, fist-shaking, horn-honking driver that's the real menace on the road. Last week I had stopped in the left lane at an intersection (the next one a short block away was backed up by a red light), Feller behind me wanted to turn, and I guess wanted me to turn as well to speed up his journey for him. Wasn't going to budge cause it aint was the direction I was goin' and I ain't was takin' a detour after his tirade. Guy was in a convertable too, so I heards him good.

Nuts I tells ya.

Sounds like 4x4

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I know it was several pages ago but I just can't understand those who use all of the lane that is ending to merge in. Do you not understand that it is you who is causing the traffic jam in the first place?

Not you personally at that moment, but at some point somebody decided he could get ahead of somebody else; causing somebody to brake. That causes the entire lane to slow down a bit, so now another guy comes up that lane that's ending, causing the other lane to slow down a bit more.

A rule I learned in a defensive driving course; if your lane change causes somebody to have to touch the brake pedal; then you did it wrong. (The exact words given to me was you are a jerk because you cut somebody off.) The reason the storage lane is so long was not to allow people to cut others off, but to give both lanes enough time to adjust their speeds in a manor that allows free flowing merging.

You missed the boat on this one, ken. Covered ad nauseum here: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=37208

[pope04]

Originally Posted by fotze

I tend to agree a bit with 4x4 until I am going 115 in the left lane passing the 105 goers then the dink who is going 140 has to get right up my ass instantly because the 6 more seconds until I get enough space to get in front of the guy in the middle lane and get over for the 140 guy is too long. If 4x4 and redvan are not those types of guys then fine but sometimes guys in the left lane are passing as well, just not at 150 kph.

This is exactly what I came on here to post too. Good point, fotze.