🚀 go-pugleaf

Rahul Dhesi wrote in message <71d4fo$3uv$1@samba.rahul.net>...
>>>4. Always pass on the left, never never never on the right

>
>Taken to its extreme this is awfully silly.  I was once driving in the
>leftmost lane late at night, with no other traffic.  Some idiot driver
>came up in the right lane, and instead of just driving by, he changed
>lanes to the left and began tailgating me and honking, wanting me to
>change lanes so he could pass.


Well, if you follow the "Keep right, except to pass" logic, then you should
not
have been in the left lane if the right lanes were free. In some states it
is illegal to pass on the right (Connecticut?) and to cruise in the left
(New Jersey?).

Here in California, "Life in the Fast Lane" is not just a song, but a way of
life. I agree the "idiot" driver didn't really need to do what he did, but
it only reinforces the fact that we don't effectively educate or enforce the
behaviors mentioned in the 6 or 7 rules above.

>Pass on whichever side there is more room to pass.

I think the point of the thread is that this interpretation is part of the
problem. If someone wants to go with the flow, then get safely behind
someone and stick to their speed. By spreading out all over the road, the
"more room to pass" changes from lane to lane, encouraging weaving.

More orderly use of the lanes would cut down on the wolf packs (where all
the cars in all the lanes are going the same speed and no one can pass) and
frustrations of drivers who do wish to go faster.

>The exception is
>when you need to cross over into the opposing lane of traffic to pass --
>then the law clearly requires that you pass on the left.

Usually that only occurs on two lane roads (one lane each direction), the
alternaitve would be the shoulder! I don't recall seeing a 4+ lane road
without a solid yellow line or other barrier down the middle.

>Everywhere
>else it is an awfully bad idea to do any more lane changes than you need
>to.  The more lane changes to make the higher the risk of an accident.

Yes, but...

If you had been in the right lane, he could have pulled to the left to pass
and then back to the right. Two lane changes.

>Almost all highway collisions between two vehicles occur during lane
>changes.


Can you back that statement up with data? I don't necessarily disagree, but
I would think rear ending (from following to closely) is right up there at
number 1 or 2.