🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4qf9ou$odi@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, expowmit@aol.com (Ex POW MIT) says:
>
>Is it just my impression, or are people around here
 (Washington DC, the 55mph land) 
>simply unable to grasp the concept of a fast/passing lane?

Actually, driving in any lane at any legal speed and its other variants (failing to
keep as far right as possible, refusing to yield, etc.) are correct when some
combination of the following exists:

o	The limit is so low that travelling slower than it in the rightward
lanes is unrealistic;

o	The posted speed limit is treated as a limiting speed (like that of
light), faster than which nothing can travel;

o	So, law abiding drivers (those at or below the limit) are not required to
yield to law breakers (those above the limit); 

o	The driving chain (training, signposting, practice, enforcement,
penalty, prosecution) emphasises speed limits over other traffic rules;

o	Legalism and vigilantism are socially accepted;

o	Nuanced requests (blinking left indicator on for the car which
wishes to pass) are generally not known;

o	Many, if not most, drivers have little first hand knowledge or
memory of good driving practices on superhighways (the norm in the US
before 55mph limits were imposed and still the norm in most parts of
Western Europe).

It would be interesting to see how good lane discipline is in those states
which have upped the limits to 75mph or in Montana.

Nitin Kibe.

Personal views, of course ;-)