Highway etiquette

[hornadylnl]

I drive a 2 lane highway to work every day. It is pretty busy at 5 am with all the night shift people coming home and all the day shift people going to work so you rarely get an opportunity to pass with the limited areas to do so. I normally try to drive 5 over but am content to drive 55 if the people in front will actually do 55. There isn't a single caution reduced speed sign on any hill or curve on this road. You wouldn't believe how many brake tappers there are who have to slow down to 40-50 mph at every turn. They don't care that there are 10 or more cars stacked up behind them. There isn't a single curve on this road that can't be taken at 65 mph in a modern car but you'd swear they thought they were driving a model t as much as they slow down. I easily take these turns on my Harley with the cruise on at 60.

CRUISE CONTROL!!!!!!!! USE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!11

 

[indyjohn]

Sounds like SR 37 South of Bloomington?

 

[confused89]

If I am traveling through a city on an interstate with no intentions of using an exit in that city and there are more than two lanes in one direction I will use the middle lane in a semi so that I do not have to brake for car entering the interstate because somewhere somebody forgot to teach them that it is their responsibility to reach highway speed before entering the intestate and it is their responsibility to merge safetly into traffic. It is a common courtesy to move over to "help" those people merge into traffic. Otherwise I keep my rear in the right lane because I drive a governed semi that will run 62mph and no faster. Also please use the cruise control while on the interstate. I do not want to start passing you just for you to speed back up just to slow down again in three miles. I am "that guy" in my car in which I will do the speed limit. I do not want a speeding ticket nor will I get one if I do not go faster than the speed limit. I am the one you all cuss at, I am confused

 

[tv1217]

I'm one of those "Illinois transplants" you refer to and my experience over here is that in proportion, Indiana drivers are the same as Illinois drivers.

Northern lake and porter are a lost cause, you need to get south of 30 or east of 49 to really appreciate the difference.


At least you're better than Michigan drivers





Everyone is better than Canadians with Manitoba plates, holy crap

 

[NYFelon]

I can tell you that the ones with Quebec or Ontario plates are no better

 

[tv1217]

Never had a problem with Ontario even when I drove to Niagara falls in Ontario through Detroit. Manitoba plates tell me right away they're gonna stop at a flashing yellow light, hog the passing lane, not know how to turn right on red, not signal, not understand what an arrow means, not be in the right lane when they have to exit soon, not stay in their lane, not stop at a stop sign, pass on the shoulder...I think that's it.






Oh , by the way, that last one should be embarrassing for the passee because Manitoba drivers are slow.






















I used to drive anywhere from 15 minutes up to 3 hours a day for my previous job, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be those of you who drive as a job(truckers, cabbies, etc)

I must also be a masochist because I'm going to be in truck driving school next week.

 

[confused89]

I must also be a masochist because I'm going to be in truck driving school next week.

Congrats, don't think you know everything about driving when you get there. Listen to the instructor and do as he or she says. You will learn more that way and you will learn faster.

 

[g+16]

I drive 122 miles I-65 round trip everyday, as long as right lane moves at 70 mph I drive it, if not I pass. A few things that burn my a**, BUTT HEADS run below the speed limit in left lane passing semi then get in right lane and run 75? then there are the jerks that can not figure out that right (or left) lane closed ahead MEANS change lanes but they stay in the wrong lane and want to mearge at the chock, thus backing everyone else up for mile, there should be a leo there and if you're in the wrong lane at that point YOU are given a ticket for obsturting traffic or for being a dumba**. I've drive this route for over 25 yrs, another 5 and the morons can have it!!

 

[Timjoebillybob]

I'm voting A, although that is not entirely accurate. On a 2 lane road, I'm almost always in the right lane except to pass, the only exception to that is if there is a line of cars spaced out where I would be changing lanes every 30 seconds or so to pass them individually. And that is only if there is no one coming up behind me.

Indiana has a move over law ,genius:

It also has a law that semis and such have to be in the right lane (or right/middle lanes on roads with 3 or more lanes going the same direction) except to pass. See below for the cite.

That code DOES NOT say the left lane is for passing only. It does say that you must drive in the right lane if going less than the normal speed of traffic. It doesn't even say you must get out of the way of a speeder going faster than the normal speed of traffic.

But maybe a professional will explain it to me on the side of the road someday... LOL

If your in a semi, yes it does.

IC 9-21-8-12
Interstate highways; lane use restrictions for trucks
Sec. 12. Except when passing a slower vehicle, entering or leaving a highway, or where a special hazard exists that requires, for safety reasons, the use of an alternate lane, a person may not operate a truck, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer on an interstate highway in any lane except the far right lane.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
IC 9-21-8-13
Interstate highways consisting of at least three lanes; lane use restrictions for trucks
Sec. 13. Except when entering or leaving a highway or where a special hazard exists that requires, for safety reasons, the use of an alternate lane, a person may not operate a truck, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer on an interstate highway consisting of at least three (3) lanes in one (1) direction in any lane other than the two (2) far right lanes.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Good question.

Indiana does not have a law stating that the left lane is for passing only.

...

Morons!

Yes there is for semis, see above.

 

[g+16]

oh I forgot another thing that burns me is the a-hole that's in the passing lane that sits just off the left side rear bumper and goes the same speed that I'm going till I have to brake because someone is going slower in the right lane, but then that is were they should be at. Or the dunba--s who see a cop in the grass or in the right lane and slow to 60mph just because he is, I've passed leo's alot that are NOT going the speed limit, and never got stopped, as long as the road conditions allow it.

 

[Jack Ryan]

 

[lrahm]

If this hasn't been touched on, I believe that you have to drive in the right lane if it is open. Let me check with my handy-dandy code book. If you are in the left lane youe subject to a ticket. I thought I had a copy of the I.C. but I could be suffering a senior moment.

 

[BE Mike]

I really hate it when I get into the left lane to pass a slower vehicle when I am doing the speed limit. Many times I delay drivers who are more important than me and need to speed to their destinations. Often they tailgate me to encourage me to violate the speed limit. I should learn to know my place and do as these folks, who have urgent business, want me to.

 

[j706]

I hate left lane bandits.

ETA: I voted "A"

I really hope we can get a law on this. I spoke with one of our lawmakers this past summer and told them how much of a problem this causes. (Road rage incidents ect.) They though it was a worthwhile cause. At least that is what they said..but we all know about politicians.

 

[Prometheus]

Also I hate it when a police officer follows me, so I prefer them in the fast lane. It's not patrolling when you follow the same cars the whole time like they would be if they went the speed limit. Plus it make those surrounding drivers paranoid and distracted, which endangers the officers and the drivers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZhdvl_P1Zc

I love that! Seen it before and it's still epic!

I voted A.

I also think that when some a-hole comes up behind you and tailgates you for doing 75 in a 55 that's just bad form. Give me a minute to get over and not crash into the person in the slower lane and I'll gladly let you go by and I'll even drop in behind you and match your speed.

Speeding (in and of itself) is not dangerous nor does it increase the chances of an accident. Doing stupid crap, tailgating and cutting people off causes accidents.

Speed limits, at this point in time (excluding school zones), serve only one purpose- To generate revenue for the state.

 

[Kagnew]

The term "Keep right except to pass". Do you:

A.) Know it, live it.

One of my "pettest" pet-peeves. Why is it so hard for some people to understand that the left lane is for passing, and that your're not supposed to be there if your not? I've been told that sitting in the left lane and "being rude" are the two things which will get you a ticket on the Autobahns in Germany.

 

[Kagnew]

... on a 2 lane, such as I-70, I generally use the left lane, until, I prepare to exit ..... I think, this is reasonable....
I got flipped off, horns honked, and several other things

And I would be one of them flipping you off, honking my horn, and "several other things". The left lane is for passing. That's why they have those signs which say "Slower Traffic Keep Right".

 

[amboran]

Sorry to bust your bubble,but the law states left lane can be used -as long as you are going the speed limit. You are NOT required to pull over for non-emergency vehicles who wish to break the law by speeding.
I do not advocate camping in the left lane-I like to drive "with" the traffic,not "against" it. If traffic is flowing smoothly at 75 ,and some idiot in a Beemer or Buick wants to ride my bumper (whatever happened to keeping a 2 second interval between vehicles?),then he can kiss my F150's steel bumper, or be 2 seconds late to his next viagra prescription pickup-his choice. Just use some courtesy and this problem disappears.

 

[Kagnew]

the law states left lane can be used -as long as you are going the speed limit. You are NOT required to pull over for non-emergency vehicles who wish to break the law by speeding.

Could you enlighten us on just which law you're quoting?