perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439 
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Apr 24, 2016 22:01:26 GMT
I travel in the left lane mostly because my state has the speed limits set so semis go 70 and everyone else goes 80. Most accidents happen when changing lanes, so I avoid changing lanes over and over again by staying left. I keep an eye on my rear view mirror and move over if someone needs me to (and when I'm done passing the truck on the right.) It works and not everyone driving in the left lane is bottlenecking the freeway.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:43:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 22:02:35 GMT
It's the law here (WA) and I wish it was enforced more. Sorry you got a ticket. The problem is we have too many left lane exits. And staying in the right lane leads to exit only lanes. I usually drive the middle lane Wa highways are a nightmare. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:43:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 22:04:32 GMT
I travel in the left lane mostly because my state has the speed limits set so semis go 70 and everyone else goes 80. Most accidents happen when changing lanes, so I avoid changing lanes over and over again by staying left. I keep an eye on my rear view mirror and move over if someone needs me to (and when I'm done passing the truck on the right.) It works and not everyone driving in the left lane is bottlenecking the freeway. I have never ever somebody from Idaho who drives 80 ! Lol! |
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Apr 24, 2016 22:11:06 GMT
Then you haven't met very many people from Idaho. I drive alongside them all the time. Sure there are people who speed and people plodding along with the truckers, but not everyone and certainly not most.
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Post by cindosha on Apr 24, 2016 22:13:29 GMT
I was in Grand Rapids. The west side of the state. Of course.
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Post by winniegirl on Apr 24, 2016 22:24:03 GMT
I've been driving almost 50 years and I learned this when I took my written driving test. Left lane is for passing and turning only. They have only been pulling/ticketing drivers for the past year or two though.
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carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 3,044
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
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Post by carhoch on Apr 24, 2016 22:29:08 GMT
He is not a fucker he is a cop doing his job .
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Post by myshelly on Apr 24, 2016 22:30:41 GMT
I think this level of anger and name calling for a cop who was doing his job and gave you a ticket when you did in fact break the law is really over the top and uncalled for.
How is "pass on the left" not common knowledge?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:43:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 22:37:07 GMT
I hate that law. I don't drive in the left lane much but damn, sometimes you don't have a choice! DH never gets in the left lane except to pass so he should be fine. I believe it's been around for a while though. With the large number of crashes that have been happening on I-94 from Van Buren county to my city plus on 131 and 96, I've heard they were attempting to enforce it more. I wish they would focus on the ones who go 85 on I94.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 24, 2016 22:37:38 GMT
We've had the law in colorado for a decade or more.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,794
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Apr 24, 2016 22:44:07 GMT
Not a new law in Michigan by far. Left lane passing law I learned this in driver's ed in 1989. It always stinks to get stopped but your attitude towards the cop and the fact you didn't familiarize yourself with the law really suck. |
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Post by christine58 on Apr 24, 2016 22:45:16 GMT
Not a new law in Michigan by far. Left lane passing law I learned this in driver's ed in 1989. It always stinks to get stopped but your attitude towards the cop and the fact you didn't familiarize yourself with the law really suck. But she had a clean record and he should not have given her a ticket--insert sarcasm--- |
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Post by penny on Apr 24, 2016 22:50:25 GMT
That's always been the rule here, and using any sort of electronic device while driving is illegal too...
There's no way that police can catch every person who's breaking the law... Instead of being mad you got caught this one time while the drivers around you didn't, I'd feel glad about all the times you did drive in the passing lane and didn't get caught - you broke the law every time and didn't have to deal with a ticket...
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Post by penny on Apr 24, 2016 22:53:52 GMT
I knew nothing of this law. The only one I heard on the radio is to move to the left lane if a cop pulls someone over and is on the right shoulder. The asshat could have let me off with a warning. Especially considering my record. Nice way to make money for your county. The ticket was for impeding traffic and improper lane usage. My cruise control was set at 76. So I wasn't impeding traffic. The cop was on a motorcycle and it didn't look like a cop cycle. He asked me why I didn't notice him following me. I told him I thought it was just some motorcycle driving behind me. WTF. Cindy Yeah... Not a great attitude there... Ignorance isn't a defence, and considering you didn't know about the law, I'm not sure you have the knowledge/understanding of it to correctly evaluate if you were impeding traffic... |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:43:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 22:56:53 GMT
All 50 states have some law that states slower traffic must move to the right in a four-lane (or more) highway. It's rarely enforced in my state.
The two bolded items from your previous post show the officer that your attention is lacking. That's probably why he issued the citation - to make you pay closer attention to what you are doing and stay abreast of new laws.
I know it bites to get a ticket. In my neck of the woods drivers using the cruise control in the left lane have caused more accidents because it frustrates the drivers who are moving faster. Being "stuck" behind the cruiser causes the lane weaving/tailgating/anger management issues and the situation escalates. Yes, those drivers are in the wrong for speeding but you have to pay attention to your surroundings and get out of the way when someone is flying up on your tail.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 24, 2016 22:57:49 GMT
The ticket was for impeding traffic and improper lane usage. My cruise control was set at 76. So I wasn't impeding traffic. If you are just going along at the speed limit (I am assuming it is 75 where you live), then you are indeed impeding traffic if others are wanting to pass. We have this law here in TX and I'm happy that they are starting to enforce it. There are too many who cause backups in traffic because they just toodle along at the speed limit, not allowing others to pass. Even if there is space to the right to pass, it is less safe and shouldn't be done. As for the motorcycle office, did he not have flashing lights? They are equipped with them here. |
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 24, 2016 22:59:05 GMT
I travel in the left lane mostly because my state has the speed limits set so semis go 70 and everyone else goes 80. Most accidents happen when changing lanes, so I avoid changing lanes over and over again by staying left. I keep an eye on my rear view mirror and move over if someone needs me to (and when I'm done passing the truck on the right.) It works and not everyone driving in the left lane is bottlenecking the freeway.  |
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Post by hop2 on Apr 24, 2016 23:07:42 GMT
We have the same law, have for a very long time, though it's rarely enforced. Unless of course your blocking a police officer.
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Post by anniefb on Apr 24, 2016 23:07:44 GMT
Well sorry you got a ticket, but cars which stay in the 'fast' or passing lane (here's the right hand lane as we drive on the left) is one of my pet peeves. Even if there's no specific law which restricts use of the lane for passing only, IMO it's just courtesy - use it to pass and then move over to at least the middle lane so faster cars can use it.
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Post by bearmom on Apr 24, 2016 23:19:21 GMT
I knew nothing of this law. The only one I heard on the radio is to move to the left lane if a cop pulls someone over and is on the right shoulder. The asshat could have let me off with a warning. Especially considering my record. Nice way to make money for your county. The ticket was for impeding traffic and improper lane usage. My cruise control was set at 76. So I wasn't impeding traffic. The cop was on a motorcycle and it didn't look like a cop cycle. He asked me why I didn't notice him following me. I told him I thought it was just some motorcycle driving behind me. WTF. Cindy If your cruise was set at 76 and a motorcycle was following you, how do you know he wasn't trying to pass you? In all actuality, 76 could have easily been impeding traffic, especially in the areas of the state where there are motor cycle cops. |
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Apr 24, 2016 23:46:42 GMT
I love this law. Left lane drivers drive me crazy!
Sorry you got a ticket. A warning would have been nice.
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Post by jumperhop on Apr 24, 2016 23:52:16 GMT
I truly feel sorry for cops, they are just doing their job and people call them vulgar horrible names because of it.
Jen
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Post by littlemama on Apr 25, 2016 0:08:05 GMT
I think they should first focus on the drivers going 15 under the speed limit in perfect weather. If they were doing the limit, the rest of the world wouldn't need to remain in the fast lane!
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Post by scrappyoutlaw on Apr 25, 2016 0:22:26 GMT
You can be going 90mph and still impede traffic. Based on your post, I would guess you were spaced out cruising along with a motorcycle cop behind you. After not getting over for him he decided to ticket you.
As a Michigander, I am excited that they are starting to enforce the law. In the metro Detroit area I see scary manuevers by people trying to pass the left lane campers.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:43:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 0:26:53 GMT
It's a law to keep the traffic flowing.
Go left to pass, stay right to go.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, it is a drivers responsibility to stay up to date with the laws. They are all on the DMVS website.
I'm sorry you got a ticket but name calling an officer for doing his job is uncalled for. That f#$@#r, will keep going and doing his job, even for those that call him names for it.
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Post by melanell on Apr 25, 2016 0:35:04 GMT
I travel in the left lane mostly because my state has the speed limits set so semis go 70 and everyone else goes 80. Most accidents happen when changing lanes, so I avoid changing lanes over and over again by staying left. I keep an eye on my rear view mirror and move over if someone needs me to (and when I'm done passing the truck on the right.) It works and not everyone driving in the left lane is bottlenecking the freeway. I can't tell you how often I spend large chunks of trips passing semis and moving back to the right. I feel like entire segments of trips are spent constantly switching lanes to pass, so I can definitely understand why people just stay in the left lane. Especially in situations where there are only 2 lanes. It sounds like an accident waiting to happen to ask people to all stay in the right lane with the trucks and just keep jockeying for new positions over and over and over again. I love when we're traveling in an area that has a dedicated truck lane. |
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 25, 2016 0:38:45 GMT
Especially in situations where there are only 2 lanes. That is why I stay in the left lane. I live in a rural area with a speed limit of 80 on the freeway and mostly 2 lanes. |
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Post by mcscrapper on Apr 25, 2016 0:47:45 GMT
I think this level of anger and name calling for a cop who was doing his job and gave you a ticket when you did in fact break the law is really over the top and uncalled for. How is "pass on the left" not common knowledge? I agree! A cop doing his job? Shocking. I grew up knowing you pass on the left and move right on back over to the right lane after passing. My ex was a left-lane cruiser and it drove me nuts!! drive on the right, pass on the left. This law has been in effect for several years in Alabama but just recently has it been enforced. I heard about it all over the news, in the paper and all over FB. Cops can now ticket for anyone driving in the left lane that is not passing another vehicle. m |
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Post by laureljean on Apr 25, 2016 0:50:09 GMT
Sorry you got a ticket rather than a warning, OP. I can tell it was frustrating for you.
I live in the GR area and there are signs posted every couple of miles on all the expressways that state "Keep right except to pass". I believe they have been put there recently, maybe in the last several months or so. I for one, am glad.
We have a lot of drivers who tend to either enforce the speed limit in the left lane or are busy on their phones and don't notice they are not keeping up with the flow of traffic.
Six miles an hour over the speed limit is really not considered "fast" on the highway, even by the police. A friend who is a state cop says (regarding going over the speed limit),"Eight, you're great. Nine, you are mine."
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Post by melanell on Apr 25, 2016 0:51:39 GMT
Especially in situations where there are only 2 lanes. That is why I stay in the left lane. I live in a rural area with a speed limit of 80 on the freeway and mostly 2 lanes. The speed limits here are lower, which is probably why I never hear of anyone being pulled over for traveling in the left lane---they're all being pulled over for speeding instead.  |
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