When Did the Driving Rules Change?

[FionaLovesShrek]

I've really noticed a difference in driver courtesy in the last year, but in the past few months, it seems actual driving rules have changed too. People no longer ride in the right lane on the interstate, they just ride out the left lane. Even cars that are determined not to drive above 55 MPH will stay in the left lane and never move over. I have believed that truckers pretty much kept to the right unless passing, but I guess that is changing too. This morning the interstate was pretty empty on my ride in to work (a little unusual for a holiday weekend, but hey, works for me ) and I came upon a semi in the left lane. I thought there must be a pretty slow car in the right lane so waited until getting over the hill for the truck to move over and I could continue on my way. But Mr. Semi stayed in the left lane, so I thought traffic must be pretty steady ahead of him. I decided to go ahead and move over to the right lane and ride it out. Come to find out, there was no traffic in front of Mr. Semi, nor was there any traffic in the right lane, Mr. Semi was just riding out the left lane because he wanted to. What is up with that? There is now so much weaving going on because people no longer want to move from their "spot"? UGH! No wonder traffic fatalities are up. And IMHO, those who drive too slow instead of going with the flow of traffic, are just as dangerous as those who speed. Ok, its Friday, my butt is dragging, I'm at work and my rant is over. For those who are already started on their long weekend, have fun and be safe! For those of us waiting for the clock to move so we can get outta here, a wishful toast to ya!

 

[DVCLiz]

I feel your pain, but none of those are actual rules or laws, are they? I think it's just been "understood" that the right lane was for slower traffic. I think I have seen a sign "slower traffic keep right" but I don't think it's a law you have to. Nothing irritates me more than a slow cruiser in the left lane. Oh, wait, one thing does. Yesterday I was on the interstate, in the far left lane, going about 9 over the speed limit (in other words, as fast as I ever go.) Somerone was right on my tail, so I looked to move over one lane and let Mr. Speedy by. There was car that just hung right there, equal to the car behind me. I ended up having to speed up another 5 miles, move over one lane, let the guy pass (and he shot me a dirty look as he passed - made me wish I'd stayed whre I was!) and then move back over.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Actually I think Pennsylvania really does have those laws. In fact, I always thought we had a law that also said if someone was merging on the highway from an on-ramp that you were supposed to pull over into the left lane to allow them to merge. Then I was corrected by a state policeman who said you could actually be ticketed if you do that sicne the left lane is supposed to be used ONLY for passing.
hmm..

 

[stevenpensacola]

I always thought this was a "soft" law.

The Florida Interstates have posted signs which read "Slower Traffic Keep Right", but you still see the folks tooling along in the fast lane at 55mph oblivious to anything around them.

When you look at what's required to obtain a drivers license these days, it's understandable how the driving skills have declined.

In other countries, drivers ed actually teaches you how to DRIVE....how to actually drive your car out of a skid, how to DO a panic stop, how to MERGE. You have to demonstrate an actual ability to CONTROL your vehicle, where here, all that is required is that you can drive around a parking lot at 10mph and do a three point turn....ooohhhh that takes skill.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

In Kentucky the interstate signs say to keep in the right lane except to pass. Years ago...not gonna give my age here I remember the book I used to study for my driving test saying that slower traffic were to stay in the right lane. I haven't read one of those books in years, but I'll have to get one in a few years for my DD. Driving has become a real hazzard these days. Remember the cars at amusement parks that go around a track? Dollywood has them I think they're called the Tin Lizzies. Anyhoo, I told DD that until she could drive that track and not touch the rail, we weren't gonna discuss her geting a drivers liscense

 

[Viking]

.

In other countries, drivers ed actually teaches you how to DRIVE....how to actually drive your car out of a skid, how to DO a panic stop, how to MERGE. You have to demonstrate an actual ability to CONTROL your vehicle, where here, all that is required is that you can drive around a parking lot at 10mph and do a three point turn....ooohhhh that takes skill.

Over here in Germany the average cost to obtain a license is about €1,500/$1,900 and it usually takes you at least 3 months. You have to attend theoretical classes, do about 20 hours in a special driver's ed car with an additional set of pedals for the instructor, so he/she can interfere. The car is marked to make other drivers take special care of it. When finally teh time for your exam has come, you have to take a 90minute written exam, and then a 60minute driving exam in aforementioned car, but now with all markings removed and a person from the DOT in the backseat. The instructor's pedals are hooked up to a bell/beeper-gizmo and if the instructor has to interfere that thing goes off and you failed, but there are more opportunities to fail: Forgetting to use your turn indicator, speeding, not stopping at a pedestrian crossing, etc.
During your driver's ed you have to do at least two hours of Autobahn-driving, two hours on country roads, and two hours at night.
And of course all classes are on cars with a stick and a clutch, even if yoy only want to drive automatic later on.
For the first two years your license is on probation. Violations which would cause an experienced driver a fine only, will either bring you back to school or even void your licens completely.

 

[Arielle22]

Here is MA the left lane is for passing only (not that it is used for that).

This morning on my way to work I was in the left lane in a line of traffic when the car several cars up saw a state trooper in the median strip. (Sits there most mornings). The car decided to slow way down (about 10 miles below speed limit) and not speed up when we are past trooper.

So not only did this slow down the lane of traffic but it was the same speed as the other lanes so no one could change lanes and get past. I hate it when that happens.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I thought it was a soft law for slower traffic to stay to the right. Common courtesy would tell you to stay to the right, but a lot of drivers lack that lately. I'd actually be more worried about the truck being in the left lane, because around here trucks are not permitted to drive in the left lanes. Then again, we have some wonderful highways where trucks are not allowed at all. And it's always great when truckers enter those highways anyway, and then proceed to slam into the overpasses causing a huge kink in the rush hour traffic. It happens more often then you'd think.

Around here, apparently the new rules are that you don't have to stop at stop signs and running through red lights is a-ok. I can't tell you how many times in the last two months I have watched cars blatantly go through red lights. Not even a yellow light that is just turning red, I mean a light that is red way before they approach the intersection. Am I the only one that stops at right lights and stop signs anymore?

 

[monarchsfan16]

Here is MA the left lane is for passing only (not that it is used for that).

(Please don't take this personally)
What she neglects to mention is that a Mass driver can be spotted from miles away because they are sitting in the left lane and passing on the right. Actually it's not just Mass anymore. Apparently I've taken some lessons from my southern neighbors, because I'm getting to be just as bad
I hate it when the semis sit in the left lane. I was on the three lane highway yesterday afternoon and it was truckers ally. There were some in each lane and they were being absolute jerks, all going the exact same speed, meaning the rest of us (and traffic was heavy for 2 pm in NH) had to weave all over the place to get around them. If they're going to do the same speed, get in the same lane.
Course nothing beats the "oversized load" carrying a piece of monster equipment doing 70 in the left hand lane yesterday morning. Nothing like trying to pass that thing. I'm sorry but it's dangerous for them to go that fast
The other rule that seems to be ignored around here is pedestrians having the right of way (that's a law in NH). Actually saw a pedestrian get hit last night

 

[Chuck S]

Laws vary by state as to in what lanes truckers are allowed to travel. Many states have laws for trucks to stay in the right lanes, or right two lanes if the road way is 3 lanes or wider.

Texas is raising the speed limit to 80mph in the desolate West Texas areas of I-10, between Kerrville and El Paso. I'm surprised (but pleased) there hasn't been any 55mph national speed limit re-introduced given the current gasoline situation.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Laws vary by state as to in what lanes truckers are allowed to travel. Many states have laws for trucks to stay in the right lanes, or right two lanes if the road way is 3 lanes or wider.

Texas is raising the speed limit to 80mph in the desolate West Texas areas

In this area that would be disasterous! I live off of a county road in the middle of nowhere. When I pulled into my driveway and got out to check my mailbox, and idiot came flying around the curve going around 100 MPH! Scared me, if I had been hit there wouldn't have been anything left to identify

 

[Free4Life11]

I have been on vacation for a few days. And this girl I am with...lets just say I am EMBARASSED by her driving! She's been doing EXACTLY what you say! She will ride in the left lane and then when people pass in front of her she starts cussing! I've had to tell her many times to move over to the right and just stay there until she comes up on a car.

Do they not teach this in drivers ed or did her parents just never tell her? Then again this pretty much goes with her attitude, selfish and rude but that's another story.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Over here in Germany the average cost to obtain a license is about €1,500/$1,900 and it usually takes you at least 3 months. You have to attend theoretical classes, do about 20 hours in a special driver's ed car with an additional set of pedals for the instructor, so he/she can interfere. The car is marked to make other drivers take special care of it. When finally teh time for your exam has come, you have to take a 90minute written exam, and then a 60minute driving exam in aforementioned car, but now with all markings removed and a person from the DOT in the backseat. The instructor's pedals are hooked up to a bell/beeper-gizmo and if the instructor has to interfere that thing goes off and you failed, but there are more opportunities to fail: Forgetting to use your turn indicator, speeding, not stopping at a pedestrian crossing, etc.
During your driver's ed you have to do at least two hours of Autobahn-driving, two hours on country roads, and two hours at night.
And of course all classes are on cars with a stick and a clutch, even if yoy only want to drive automatic later on.
For the first two years your license is on probation. Violations which would cause an experienced driver a fine only, will either bring you back to school or even void your licens completely.

In Florida, your basically just paying a tax in order to be allowed to drive.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

stevenpensacola, I caught your tag "I'd rather be watching the Andy Griffith Show".....I got a giggle this morning- doesn't take much to amuse me My co-worker couldn't get his monitor boot up so he called IRM. They asked his name and he said Bill Griffith and then he said..."yeh, like in Andy"

 

[laurajetter]

It wasn't until I started Dising that I realized people consider the left lane is for passing only. I had always thought that slower traffic kept to the right and faster traffic to the left... I didn't know that remaining in the left lane, even if you are moving fairly fast, was a no-no.

I'll admit, I do like to drive in the left lane. Go ahead flame me, I can take it! The thing is, I only drive in the left lane if I am in fact going fast and not slowing down anyone else who is using that lane. And if there is some real speed demon that is approaching me from behind, I just move out of the way temporarily.

I really don't see anything wrong with that approach. If one is in the left lane and slowing things up for others, *then* I see a problem.

 

[Galahad]

In Florida, your basically just paying a tax in order to be allowed to drive.

DS#1 got his license in North Carolina and the driving instruction was pretty cursory. We had to re-teach him. DS#2 will get his this summer here in Indy. A bit better driving instruction - more time in the car required. But still, we're going to make him go through it all with me again after he's done with driving class before we let him get the license. I remember Viking telling us about the strict "drive on the right pass on the left" rules in Germany. I wish those things were enforced here!

 

[lsyorke]

Being in the left lane and NOT passing will get you a ticket real fast in New Jersey!!! It is a law(not a soft one) here in NJ. We can always tell the New Yorkers on the highway.. they sit in the left lane. "pass left, keep right"!!!!

 

[stevenpensacola]

One thing I did was take my daughter to a local go-kart track that has the "slick" track to let her get the feel of how to steer out of a skid.

 

[Feralpeg]

I try to stay in the right lane as much as possible, but I still have people weaving around me all the time. I think I'm the only person in the state of Florida who drives anywhere close to the speed limit. In a 55 mph zone, I usually drive between 55 and 60. People drive at least 70 or more all the time. No wonder we bury so many people killed on Florida highways every day. When did the law change saying drive whatever speed you feel like driving?