🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <PSHUANG.93Jan5193646@ninja.mit.edu> pshuang@athena.mit.edu (Ping-Shun Huang) writes:
>I learned to drive in California. Maybe that disqualifies me from this
>discussion. :) Then again, I'm a pretty defensive driver.

California drivers are fine as long as it's not raining. :)  Actually, it's
not funny, considering what happened there not so long ago.

>I had *NEVER* heard of the left lane referred to as "the passing lane".

That was the convention as I understood it, growing up in New Jersey.  That
rule (actually law, at least in some states) has been conveniently forgotten
by many drivers who like to drive 15 - 30 mph over the speed limit, who to
accomplish will harass people who drive only 5-10 mph over the speed limit.
The left lane has hence become known as the "fast lane".  But traditionally
it was the passing lane.  On a related issue, I think that passing on the
right was and/or is still technically illegal.  I seem to remember something
about Massachusetts legalizing it, though I'm not sure.  Perhaps that's why
it's become the fast lane now.

    - Dave Borden
      borden@m5.harvard.edu