The left lane

[TheRiddler]

I wish it was free game to pass in between slow moving vehicles....oh wait...it is


Also on slow moving roads, there was a car doing slow down the twisties the other day, not a car in sight front or behind...just this..one...car....going...so...slow. I had my hi beams on and was on there ass for a mile or so and they WOULD NOT GTFO of my way..So? over the double yellow I go...

It was that or take a nap at the nearest pullout for the old people to leisurely make their way down the mountain.

Wouldn't make a difference with a lot of modern cars. My car has tinted rear windows and an auto-tinting rear view mirror.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

So is it considered good driving form to flash your high beams at a car that won't yield to faster traffic?

If a car is barreling up behind me, and I notice that in the rear view, I'll move over right away. If they approach slowly and end up a few feet from my rear fender, I'll take the hint and move over. But most left-lane riders in CA are serious tail-gaters and you see a "convoy" of 6 cars with their bumpers inches from each other barreling along at 80 MPH.

Since most left-laners do not yield, what is the advise method for letting them know to gtf out of your way?

 

[Roadstergal]

So is it considered good driving form to flash your high beams at a car that won't yield to faster traffic?

Considering that it's not good driving form to camp in the left lane, that's hardly an issue.

Considering that the person is unlikely to move anyway, it's just futile. In a moto, go by. In a car, back off and look for your gap to shoot by.

 

[gabe0807]

So is it considered good driving form to flash your high beams at a car that won't yield to faster traffic?

Not according to the CHP. An officer was nice enough to explain that to me in a roadside chat.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Considering that it's not good driving form to camp in the left lane, that's hardly an issue.

Considering that the person is unlikely to move anyway, it's just futile. In a moto, go by. In a car, back off and look for your gap to shoot by.

My lane splitting speeds have increased, but I still typically won't pass a car in its own lane at speeds in excess of 40-45 mph.

Let's say I'm going 75 mph in the left lane and I come across a driver doing 65 mph., and doesn't move. I would typically end up switching one lane over and eventually working my way back to the left....are you suggesting that in a moto I should pass him in the same lane at 65 mph?

I note two kinds of riders:

Type1: Never stop, keep going, split at all speeds, use all lanes.
Type2: Ride actively/alertly, but at highway speeds stick to your lane unless it slows down to splitting speeds


Most riders who pass me are in Type1. I am type 2. I don't feel comfortable blazing past a slow left laner at 65+ MPH. (I've only ridden in California, I am guessing there are less Type 1s in states that don't allow splitting?)

What do you suggest for me?

 

[Roadstergal]

are you suggesting that in a moto I should pass him in the same lane at 65 mph?

No. I'm suggesting that a moto doesn't need the same kind of gap to pass that a car/van/truck/etc. does, and that one can frequently go by a leftlane camper quite a bit more easily in a moto than in a car (particularly since many brain-dead campers will wake up and hit the gas when you try to go by, and a moto readily builds the head o' steam to squirt past anyway).

What do you suggest for me?

Whatever tickles yer fancy!

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Thanks a lot! Makes sense.

I've been told my way of riding is less safe than passing everyone at speed all the time because the passing way, "you're in control", while just riding merrily in my lane is asking to be killed by some idiot who "Didn't see me".

But there's no I have the skills or guts to lane split/pass at higher speeds.

 

[Tharkûn]

What do you suggest for me?

This isn't black and white, you're type 1 or 2 only. Traffic is both predictable and unpredictable, and on a bike you take up much less space and have much more acceleration available than a car would. You don't need to ride like you're qualifying, but a left lane idiot shouldn't be more than a rolling chicane.


-You don't need to split to pass someone at 65 (unless you're in a carpool lane and the #2 lane is much slower and packed)
-You don't need anywhere near the amount of staggered gap between cars to pass someone ahead of you on the right as a car would need. If you have a car ahead, a car directly to your right in the #2, and another car a couple lengths up in the #2, throttle up change lanes to the right pass and back to the left.

Bottom line is do whatever you're comfortable with, don't ride over your abilities and keep in mind your risk vs gain. If you see an opening you feel confident in then move to it and move on. Stay parked behind the dude in the left lane and you're likely to get lane changed by someone from the #2 that doesn't see you.

 

[Gabe]

Here's my theory of why this is so prevalent, other than poor driver education. There are 10 million foreign-born residents in California, people who learned how to drive in a 150 different countries. Most of those countries have very little in the way of traffic enforcement, except as a way to shake drivers down for bribes, so folks just drive in whatever way suits them.

When they drive on our nice, wide, 5-lane Interstates, they assume social status is displayed by lane position. Being in the left lane makes you the king of the freeway. The other lanes? For low-status people. Somebody behind me wants to pass? Ha! They should have got here earlier. It's MY left lane, bitches!

 

[Roadstergal]

They do it just the same in Seattle. I'm still banking on laziness. (Not helped by the lack of any kind of reasonable licensing standards in the US.)

 

[Marcoose]

There are 10 million foreign-born residents in California...

Most utterly ridiculous BS argument ever. There are 10 million California-born drivers that hog the left lane. One thing is a fact: you belong with the other xenophobic, bigot, racist good fellas.

 

[Gabe]

Most utterly ridiculous BS argument ever. There are 10 million California-born drivers that hog the left lane. One thing is a fact: you belong with the other xenophobic, bigot, racist good fellas.

Easy now. How can I be a bigot or a racist if I don't mention any specific group? I'm just saying we don't have a unified driving culture, so most drivers just do whatever they want. Not saying it's good or bad, just that it is.

 

[Marcoose]

Easy now. How can I be a bigot or a racist if I don't mention any specific group? I'm just saying we don't have a unified driving culture, so most drivers just do whatever they want. Not saying it's good or bad, just that it is.

Gabe, the statement in itself is xenophobic, bigot and racist. The statement accuses and blames all foreigners. Get real. That's very unbecoming and nasty.

 

[Gabe]

Gabe, the statement in itself is xenophobic, bigot and racist. The statement accuses and blames all foreigners. Get real. That's very unbecoming and nasty.

I think you're projecting what you want to see in my statement, but I can see what you're saying. It's just a theory.

 

[Marcoose]

I think you're projecting what you want to see in my statement, but I can see what you're saying. It's just a theory.

it's a xenophobic, bigot and racist theory. Wrap the noggin around that.

 

[planegray]

Most utterly ridiculous BS argument ever. There are 10 million California-born drivers that hog the left lane. One thing is a fact: you belong with the other xenophobic, bigot, racist good fellas.

Why do you hate California-born drivers ? have you always been so tachophobic ?





Dan;

Slow Lane; it's the new Fast lane. Learn it, live it, love it

 

[Banjoboy]

They do it just the same in Seattle. I'm still banking on laziness. (Not helped by the lack of any kind of reasonable licensing standards in the US.)

^DISS^
They drive slow in the fast lane, open a big gap ta da car in front, then they can just relax, and enjoy their phone call. Theyz lazy, they don't wanta hav ta pay attention.

 

[dinnercoat]

^DISS^
They drive slow in the fast lane, open a big gap ta da car in front, then they can just relax, and enjoy their phone call. Theyz lazy, they don't wanta hav ta pay attention.

Or maybe some people like keeping a nice big gap in front of their car so they don't have to panic stop when some idiot who just had to shave a minute off their commute causes an accident which then makes traffic slow to a crawl or stop.

I actually saw something like this first hand on 680 N a number of years back. Was going 70 or 80 can't remember the lane and then a white camry blew by at at least 90 if not 100. Few minutes later traffic came to a complete stopped grid lock with CHP and ambulances roaring down the left shoulder. 15 minutes later or so finally crawl up to see a mangled ass white camry nestled against the center divide.

 

[frab]

[*]If you are in the ANY lane and a faster car is coming up behind you, move to the right if there is room. It doesn't matter how fast you are going. Just do it.

FTFY.

I really hate the lane #2 hoggers. They mess shit up just as bad because of the lane #1 hoggers going the same speed as they are. And then during the beginning of commute hours when (in the cage) you can't use the HOV lane and are stuck behind a lane #2 slowpoke who thinks he owns that lane ...

During peak periods it's better, because lane #3 and #4 tend to open up quite nicely with all the a-holes going for #1 and #2.

I keep telling myself I will get in front of a lane #1 slowpoke and slow to 40MPH so he gets the message but I never want to waste my time and don't want to penalize all the folks behind him either.

On the bike I'm past the point of caring about safe splitting speed and will happily split at 65+ MPH. I have become "that guy". Wish I had an oil slick button.

 

[terdog55]

Cmon, common sense aint common. People get in thier cars, turn on the motor and turn off thier brain.
Along time ago I realized that, sadly, you can make better time in the slow lane.

I agree that its a matter of social status / dominance. Nothing bigotted, just pointing out the differences in cultures.