Driving question: Was flashing one's headlights to tell someone to move over ever considered polite?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending driving under the speed limit in the left lane, and I myself usually adhere to the 10 MPH excess rule*, but I was told today that flashing one's lights to tell someone to move over is considered proper driving etiquette.

The problem I see is that whenever I've encountered such people, they always seem to combine the flashing of the headlights with heavy tailgating and I am always already going over the speed limit to begin with. So they just come off as huge flaming assholes.

At which point my mindset immediately becomes, "Screw them" and I intentionally slow down to the speed limit just to piss them off.

*Unless one is in a school zone, most police officers will not find it worth their time to pull you over if you are within 10 MPH over the posted speed limit. Generally speaking, of course.

[GeorgeGist]

1. If the right lane is open ...

I think it's rude to hang in the left lane.

[pokerfan]

11. +1 (nt)

[FoxNewsSucks]

29. +1,000,000,000,000 nt

[auntAgonist]

67. It's also illegal. I got pulled over for driving in the left lane, no ticket but the cop told me

the left is for passing only. duhh.
There was no other traffic but for the on and off ramps that were coming up.

I don't ever flash my lights at anyone. I will pass on the right if I have to do so when it's safe.

[Aristus]

2. In my recollection, the only time flashing one's lights is considered good driving etiquette

is when someone ahead of you wants to get into your lane, and signals intent. Flashing one's lights is a way of letting them know it's safe to do so. Other than that, I think it's pretty poor etiquette.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Back in the day, ( 1960's) there were 2 acceptable reasons to flash your headlights:

1. to let oncoming cars know of a road problem ahead of them ..usually a speed trap.
Cops did not jump all over you for doing that back then.

2. To politely ask someone in the left lane to move over.
Without tailgating.
They usually would, then you passed them a respectable decent speed, slowed down to wave at them in thanks, they waved back.
That was it.

That all worked just fine when I was driving in various Western states. from the 60's on.
Somewhere in late 1990's, things changed.
Red light running became common.
Speeding and bumper riding did, also.

I have noticed a lot of symptoms of "crowded rat syndrome" in this country. Lack of etiquette in traffic is one of them.

Having said that, I was very moved to see that in our smaller southern towns here, even on the a "4 lane", people will stop their cars in the road when a funeral procession drives past.
They even slow down on freeways.

[BubbaFett]

21. and even then

you turn the lights on and off once to "wave" someone in.

If you're the one getting waved in, you flash your four ways 2 or three times to say "Thank you."

[HereSince1628]

77. Flashing twice to warn oncoming traffic of speed trap

is considered good etiquette up here by drivers. The police aren't keen about it, but if it lowers the driver's speed it's done as much for safety as a ticket would

[cwydro]

3. I take that as an aggressive move.

Rude as well.

[In_The_Wind]

4. IMO: It's aggressive driving. There is nothing polite about it.

[Major Nikon]

8. I disagree

Passing someone on the right is dangerous and I avoid doing it. Germany has the best drivers of anywhere I've ever been and I guarantee if you creep in the left lane someone will flash their lights at you in very short order. That being said I'm generally in the right lane doing the speed limit, so I'm not passing too many people to begin with.

[In_The_Wind]

10. It's rarely safe to drive below the speed limit in the passing lane. I travel

in the passing lane when traffic is heavy.because, yes, I am passing the slower drivers. But I'm not going to drive 10 to 15 miles over the limit to please the driver behind me. I pull over when it's safe but tailgating me it's gonna move me any faster.

Oh, and I'm not driving in Germany but on a highway with 3 or more lanes going in my direction, I also pass on the right.

[R B Garr]

12. I was thinking of Germany, too! If I remember, those in the faster lane

(they're all fast lanes on the Autobahn) they drive with their lights flashing all the time like it's on a setting. It's been a long time since I was there, though, but I do remember those flashing lights. Not rude at all -- practical and safe in that setting.

[auntAgonist]

68. Agreed.

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. Driving in the passing lane slowly is aggressive driving, along with thoughtless, selfish and mean.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

32. But if you are driving above the limit....

.....but apparently not fast enough to the liking of Mr. Flashing His Headlights, is that still aggressive/thoughtless/selfish/mean?

[Dont call me Shirley]

35. Depends on how much over, 5-10 no, above that, yes. I would get over into the right hand lane when

safe and let them pass. It's not worth a road rage episode.

In the elderly safe driving classes, they are telling them to stay in the left lane, so they don't have to maneuver around or concern themselves with cars turning right. Then they drive generally 5-10 slower than the limit and that is just dang dangerous.

[Orrex]

58. What if the speed limit is 65 and you're doing 80 in the passing lane?

Is that still aggressive, thoughtless, selfish and mean?

[Dont call me Shirley]

62. Get into the right hand lane when safe and let the faster speeder pass. No need to engage in a

potential road rage incident. Just let them pass.

[bluedigger]

7. Depends where you are.

When I was in Europe in the 80's you could be ticketed for failing to pull over when someone overtook you in the left lane on the Autobahn - the signal was to flash your lights. I suspect that is where people here picked it up.

[mackerel]

9. When I was in one of my many driving classes-speed demon back in the day-One woman was

given a ticket for flashing her lights at someone she perceived to be going to slow for the fast lane.

[dannward]

60. Years ago, I flashed a slow car to get out of my way...

Years ago, I flashed a slow car to get out of my way, while speeding down the Grapevine towards LA at night. Car ahead dutifully pulls to the right, I pass. My passenger turns to me and says, "Wasn't that a...(sirens and lights come on behind me)..cop?"

Oops. Must have been one of the easiest speeding tickets for that CHP officer to issue.

[Skittles]

13. people don't have to do that to me

because I get out of their way

I cannot STAND having someone right behind me

[cwydro]

17. I'm the same way. nt

[steve2470]

57. same here, otherwise Skittles KICKS THEIR ASS!

[CanSocDem]

14. It's a good signal...

...when used appropriately and in the right circumstance. Any communication, indicating intention, between vehicles is a good thing. Sometimes 'turn' signals aren't enough.

You sound like an aggressive driver, more focused on enforcing your rules than 'going with the flow'. And worse, when you don't get your way, your first thought is to inject some anger into the "flow". If you want to get along on the highway you have to become less obtrusive....move quietly.

Of course, if you're doing all this for less than 10 MPH over the speed limit, forget I said it.



.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. A professional truck drivers perspective; (Edited to address your "10 MPH rule)

I've held a commercial license since the late 70's, have well over 2 million accident free miles under my belt and it is my experience that in the US, there are no hard and fast rules.

Posters above have alluded to Germany and how they do it on the Autobahn. I have never driven in Germany, but it is my understanding that "undertaking" as the British call it, as opposed to "Overtaking" is STRICTLY frowned upon, if not illegal. It is my understanding that it is a higher fine in Germany to BE PASSED on the right than it is to actually pass on the right.

It's called "Lane Discipline."

Drivers in the USA DON'T HAVE IT!

As a general rule, anyway.

If I am driving my tractor trailer in the left lane and you are coming up behind me and wish to let me know you are gaining on me, then flashing your high beams is, in my opinion, perfectly acceptable, as long as you have taken into account the entire situation.

If I am driving a speed limited truck and am passing another similarly equipped truck there is no way I can complete the task any faster, and having a car come up behind me flashing high beams does absolutely nothing to speed up the process. Trust me, I want to get out of your way, but I am driving a vehicle that either can't accelerate by design or can't because of other factors (grade, load, etc.)

If you are traveling on a two lane section of interstate in very light traffic and there is a nitwit driving in the left lane with no one in front of him, no traffic in the lane to his right and cars backing up behind him, HE IS IN THE WRONG FUCKING LANE and flashing your high beams is perfectly acceptable. Firing a TOW missile up his trunk is acceptable in my opinion. This is an example of a lack of lane discipline.

If I pass you in my truck and you want to let me know it is safe to change lanes back in front of you, please, PLEASE do not flash your high beams at me, ESPECIALLY at night. I really don't need to have high beams flashed in my eyes in the dark. It does nothing to help me, rather it blinds me momentarily. The best signal in that situation is to turn your headlights off for the count of 2 or 3 and then back on, if your car is able to do so (some cars have running lights that are on all the time and can not be shut off, even in day time). If you have fog lights that are not too bright, you could flash them, as long as they aren't aimed at my eyes.

Otherwise, do nothing.

And BTW, all of the above applies to me if I am in my own car as well.

"Endeavor to never be passed on the right" is a motto I try and live by. If you are being passed on the right, you are in the wrong lane, plain and simple. It doesn't matter what you are driving.

There are only two reasons to be passed on the right; You are taking a left hand exit or the traffic on the "get on ramp" has accelerated ahead of you.

Endeavor to never be passed on the right.

say it with me now........

ENDEAVOR TO NEVER BE PASSED ON THE RIGHT.


Good.

Very good!`


(edit). Re: the idea of 10 MPH over the limit, allow me to suggest the 10% rule. That is, most cops won't bother with you UNTIL you exceed ten percent of the posted speed limit* which means 38 1/2 in a 35 zone, 60 1/2 in a 55 etc up to a certain point. Many troopers are going to have a good look at you if you are doing 77 in a 70 zone, with the following * exception

* The 75 percent rule;

This is the idea that the SAFEST speed to travel, regardless of the posted speed is that speed which 75% of traffic is traveling at. In other words, if 75% of the traffic is traveling at 85 in a 70 zone, the safest speed is 85. Conversely, if 75% of the traffic is doing 30 in a 65, the safest speed is 30. There aren't too many cops that will ticket you for violating this rule. Basically, stay with the majority flow.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. thank you for this post. I use the 75% rule of thumb and use my headlights like you detailed.

And good to know about flashing the headlights OFF to let someone know it is safe to get back over.

Good tips

[A HERETIC I AM]

22. Please allow me to provide another one or two;

When you are traveling such that the sun is behind you - West in the morning, East in the evening, please turn your headlights on.

Entirely too many drivers seem to think "Well, I can see fine, I don't need my headlights on"

It isn't about you being able to see, it is about you being SEEN.

In all low visibility situations it is best to have your headlights on.

Raining? On.
Misty? On.
Foggy? On.
Dusty? On.
Sun behind you? On and ON!

When the sun is glaring on my rearview mirrors, it is very difficult to tell how far behind you are. Your headlights make that judgement MUCH easier to make.

Drive safely. Always.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

25. yes, about the headlights. I do that and MOTORCYCLES on the highways

and BICYCLES on city streets. it is about BEING SEEN as much as SEEING.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. Thumbs up in a big way!!

[lutefisk]

23. Thanks for the tips

On the interstate near me people will pass on the right even if you are in a group of vehicles in the left lane passing slower traffic. If they think they can move up one spot in traffic they'll just swerve out of the left lane, pass on the right, then cut back in to the left lane (no turn signal, of course), causing the vehicle they are passing to hit the brakes. This behavior results in people driving less than a car length behind the car in front of them so they don't get passed on the right. I think these people are watching a little too much NASCAR.

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. In heavy traffic situations in this country....

Last edited Sat Mar 7, 2015, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

to the point where it is still running at or near the speed limit, but almost to the point of saturation, notice the volume in the left lanes as opposed to the right.

American drivers just do not want to change lanes back to the right!

I have seen literally countless times (and I mean in a literal sense I could not count) traffic coming to a stop in the left lane and the right open and flowing.

Why? It's stupid. When you have completed your pass of another vehicle, move over and let the guy riding your ass get by.

People will say "Oh. but I am catching up to another car in the right lane, so why should I move over when I am ging to have to change lanes again?

YEAH....IN 2 MILES!


Lane discipline. We don't have it.

[Panich52]

30. My older brother & truckers taught me road etiquette. Exactly as you described.

And one set of stickers I saw on a semi in 60s stuck w/ me.
on left side of bumper:
PASSING SIDE on right SUICIDE

I also learned from truckers flashing 4-ways a cpl times = "thanks"

Do thanks, truckers, for teaching me proper road etiquette.



The always-on lights is part of the decline in exptessions of driving etiquette.

They also are a hazard to motorcyclists. Bikers started the trend to help damn 4 wheelers see them. Now that cars also do that, often w/o operator's choice, bikes are again lost in the crowd of traffic.

[A HERETIC I AM]

31. <--- Be the Leader - Meet St. peter --->

^ Another common set of stickers on the rear of trailers!

I saw one the other day that said ",<--- Passing Side Suicide Side --->

LOL...something tells me this guy didn't get the alliteration!

Yes, flashing the 4 ways or turning on and off (or the reverse) parking lights is definitely "Thanks".

As far as Motorcycles and constant burn headlights, if memory serves, back in the late 70's/early 80's the State of Florida started mandating motorcycles be required to burn headlights at all times. It seems to me that it wasn't too long after it was a rule everywhere and the manufacturers just made the headlights switch on with the ignition.

I don't mean to claim FL led that, it's just I owned a bike back in 77/78 and remember that you could get a ticket if you didn't have them on in the day time.

[Dont call me Shirley]

37. +1,000

[WinkyDink]

16. Get out of the passing lane, then! Easy-peasy!

[pintobean]

18. I would consider your actions road rage.

[BubbaFett]

20. The concept of "courtesy" is long gone

If it comes to the point where someone is flashing someone to move over, that person (the one getting flashed) has become a douchbag.

COMMON COURTESY suggests that slower moving traffic should move to the right. If you see someone barreling up behind you, what stops a person from moving over so the faster moving traffic can pass (in the hammer lane)?

I'm not saying this is true in every situation or every type of road configuration, but if you're just moseying along, you belong to the right to begin with.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

33. But if you are already driving over the limit and some guy still decides to flash his lights?

Do I have to bless that guy with "courtesy"?

[BubbaFett]

34. yes

and for the sake of traffic safety.

Why would you need to have so much control, when it is easier to move out of the hammer lane?

If you're doing 75 and someone is doing 85, why would you create a safety hazard just to prove a point or be a self-appointed Junior Traffic Marshal?

Yes, it's just common courtesy.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

39. If somone is driving 85 or 90, chances are they are already a safety hazard.

Regardless of whether I bend to their wishes or not.

[BubbaFett]

40. Actually

forcing someone to brake is more of a safety hazard.

Doing your part to ensure smooth traffic flow is just being a better driver.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

44. If you are driving 90, you should expect to brake.

It should be in your mind, if it already isn't, that the drivers around you aren't driving 90 MPH either.

[Dont call me Shirley]

45. Yes, they are in a hurry, you don't know why, could be their baby is being born. Let the

professionals handle speeding violations; that is not the layperson's job. Move out of the way for speeders, for everyone's safety.

[Iggo]

27. Flashing one's lights is a signal to me that I should gradually slow down to the speed limit.

EDIT: Actually, I think I misunderstood. Turning your headlights off and back on is not what I was thinking. When you said flashing one's headlights, I thought you meant flashing the brights. But off and back on (the way you tell a tractor-trailer to go ahead and change lanes in front of you) is fine.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

28. The left lane is called the Passing Lane

for a reason and you are not supposed to hang out in it no matter how fast you are going. The assholes are those who hog the left lane even when they see someone who wants to pass.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

38. Nope, sorry. I think the speed counts.

If I am driving 10 MPH+speed limit in the left and some guy comes up behind me driving 20 MPH+speed limit and starts tailgaiting me and flashing his lights, in no way am I the asshole in that situation. Either pass me on the right, or slow to the speed of traffic.

I frequently drive the Florida Turnpike. There's a roughly 100 mile stretch of the Turnpike between Fort Pierce and Orlando, two lanes and just 2-3 exits in the entire stretch. Posted speed limit is 70 MPH.

It's not the scenic route, it's an expressway, so people just want to get on through that stretch as quickly as possible. I get that, and feel the same way. But I'm not in the mood for a speeding ticket either. And I don't care much for having to constantly weave back and forth between lanes.

So I've developed a system called "Pass Cruise". Basically, I go up to 80 MPH (10 over the limit) and hit the cruise. The majority of the fellow drivers are driving around 80 MPH as well, meaning I'm more or less with the flow. But you do have people in the right lane who wish to stay at or below the speed limit. I'm fine with that, but rather than having to constantly weave around them, turning on and off my cruise constantly, I'd rather just pass on by them with ease. This means I can more or less stay in the left lane the entire 100 miles between Fort Pierce and Orlando while still utilizing it as a passing lane. When I come upon someone going a couple of MPH slower than me, I'll adjust downward, since we're both still over the limit.

But if you come up behind me doing 85 or 90, I will not get out of my way for you, nor am I morally obligated to do so. You may claim that I'm hogging the left lane, but the speed demons driving 85 and 90 want to hog the left lane for themselves as well. So no honor among thieves. Either slow down or pass to my right. Don't act like an petulant little brat and flash your lights or go on my bumper.

[BubbaFett]

41. You shouldn't be setting cruise control in the left lane

unless you are at a speed where you will be passing ALL traffic.

It sounds like you need to be doing the speed limit and using the left lane to pass.

EDIT after reading your last paragraph:

You are part of the problem. What moral obligation do you feel to be a Junior Control Freak and drive like a jerk?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. But if the majority (75%ish) of drivers are doing 80 MPH...

...and 20% are doing 70 in the right lane, and 5% are doing 85-90 in the left lane, I don't understand, is staying in the left lane to pass the 20% that uncourteous to the 5% who are driving faster than me, given that they aren't interested in using the left lane to pass either? I don't see your logic here.

[BubbaFett]

50. How many angels can you fit on the head of a pin?

The answer is very simple and it works everywhere in life: JUST DON'T BE A DICK.

it really is not that difficult.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

51. I don't think failing to cede the lane to a 90 mph tailgater flashing his lights is being dickish.

But that's just me.

[BubbaFett]

52. It's the fundamental definition

of being a dick.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

53. I don't think so.

Tailgaiting someone and repeatedly flashing one's headlights who is already going over the speed limit is far, far more dickish.

[pintobean]

54. I don't think so

The only reason they would be tailgating and flashing their lights is because you refuse to get out of their way because they have exceeded what you have determined is the maximum level of lawbreaking.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

46. In FL passing on the rght in legal...

not in many states it is not... NJ and PA come to mind. Ex-hubby got a ticket in PA for passing on the right.

No, you're not morally obligated to get out of anyone's way...the fact that you refuse to do so makes you the asshole. You seem to think that you deserve common courtesy while the other driver doesn't. BTW, in Europe the flashing of one's lights is considerd the polite thing to do to let someone know you are coming through at speed.


You may find this site enlightening.

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

[A HERETIC I AM]

48. You are so incredibly wrong on this point it isn't even funny.

But if you come up behind me doing 85 or 90, I will not get out of my way for you, nor am I morally obligated to do so.

This is a perfect example of what I mentioned above - "Lane Discipline".

You don't have it and as a result, you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Anyone, and I mean ANYONE who thinks it is perfectly acceptable to drive a 100 mile stretch of roadway in the left lane is someone who just doesn't get it. Is there any time during that 100 mile span that the right lane is open? If so, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG LANE!

I get the fact that you don't want to change lanes ("weave back and forth" as you put it) but that does not reduce the burden on you to operate your vehicle in a manner consistent with the design of the road on which you are traveling. What it tells me is that you aren't really a very good driver.

Sorry there Tommy, but you're wrong. So wrong as to make what you do laughable.

[dr.strangelove]

36. Just move over, I mean who cares how fast someone wants to go.

If you are driving 95 mph in the left lane and the guy behind you wants to drive 100mph, just more over. I drive fast, most often 15-20 mph over the posted speed limit. Usually I am one of the fastest drivers, but almost every time I drive, someone comes up behind me driving faster. I always move over and let them pass me. Then I go back to driving my speed. I never understand people who think, I am already going fast enough.

also, no one would ever tailgate you if once you saw someone coming up to you from behind obviously going faster than you, yo ujust moved over.

[BubbaFett]

42. Exactly

[Xithras]

47. I tend to take a different perspective on that

Changing lanes at freeway speeds is a bit dangerous no matter how you do it, and roughly 3% of highway traffic fatalities (over 1000 people per year) occur during collisions or control losses following lane changes. The NHTSB has said, for decades, that one of the best ways to protect yourself from accidents at highway speeds is to minimize lane changes. When you fly up on somebody and expect them to change lanes, you're essentially saying, "Hey, I've decided that my speeding is more important than your life, so you need to put your life at risk to make my speeding easier."

I prefer to see the speeder move right to pass. That's dangerous for the speeding driver, but as they created the risk, they should be the ones to shoulder and accept it. If there IS going to be an accident and a fatality, it's better that it be the speeder, and not the driver who is following the law or driving in a safer manner.

[trof]

49. IT IS NOT 10 MPH! IT'S 10 PERCENT!

Trust me, if you do 45 in a 35 speed zone you WILL be ticketed.

Years ago a friend who is a highway patrolman told me "We'll spot you 10 percent. If the speed limit is 70, we won't ticket you for doing 77. But don't be in my face about it. If you see me, and I know you are seeing me, back off, at least until you get out of sight."

You'll probably get away with 38 in a 35 zone, but not 45.

[DebJ]

69. Yes and the fines are much steeper if you are over 10% of the limit.

I don't know what the other gradations are, but the ticket for exceeding by less than 10% is a LOT less than the ticket
for exceeding by more than 10%.... or it was in Maryland many years ago....been a long time since I got a speeding ticket.

That's probably why the police will let someone exceeding the limit by less than 10% pass... more revenue if they wait
for the higher speeder bound to come up next.

[steve2470]

55. If I really want to make time, 99% of the time the drivers get the hint by their rear view mirror

I pull up a few car lengths behind them, not too close to be tailgating but definitely close enough to send the message that I want to go faster. I've run into a few drivers who were impaired/passive-aggressive/etc and not move over.

After a few minutes of that nonsense, I just pass on the right. I figure flashing lights would only piss people off. I've been driving for 41 years all over the USA and Canada, never had a problem with that technique.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

56. Yeah that's pretty much what I think is a normal reaction.

The thing is, if someone is following me closely in the left lane for a while without flashing the lights, I will get out of the way. But the whole light-flashing thing is reverse psychology.

[LanternWaste]

59. flashing from behind was a request to move over the allow faster traffic...

Years ago (late seventies, early eighties), flashing from behind was a request to move over the allow faster through- traffic (exception: flashing behind a semi truck indicated to the truckers that their indicated lane change was safe). Flashing oncoming traffic indicated law enforcement ahead. Very cool and rather helpful unwritten social mores we had for the roadways at the time.



As for the here and now I really don't know... except that there are indeed, many half-wits and idiots who act and react simply to "piss off" other drivers for little more than a sense of visceral satisfaction and an illustration of their character-- predicating their own flaws on those of others.

[sinkingfeeling]

61. I remember when semi truck drivers would flash their headlights to

indicate you were around them when passing.

[Xipe Totec]

63. In Mexico, the custom is opposite. The car ahead flashes lights to say:

"The coast is clear to pass"

In Texas, slow traffic moves to the shoulder to let faster traffic through.

That's on farm and rural roads, of course.

In urban areas the asshole ratio is higher.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

64. I sometimes flash my headlights to let someone in.

And also to warn oncoming traffic of a speed trap.

I've never flashed to tell someone to get out of the way, though.

[Xipe Totec]

66. I have flashed to tell someone to get out of the way.

Usually after a long wait, when it is clear I'm dealing with an inexperienced driver.

I usually get out of the way myself, as soon as I see a vehicle gaining on me.

[GoneOffShore]

65. Yes. Though there are always assholes.

In Europe I've seen people put their left signal on when they're driving at speed in the left lane and not flash their lights. That little bit of orange flash is enough to let most folks know that they are coming up quickly and could you move to the right, please?

[RobinA]

70. In My Book

Light flashing to tell someone to get out of your way is not only rude, but the sign of a true dickwad. That being said, I will generally get out of the person's way to avoid being killed by some testosterone poisoned jerk (or jerkette as is unusually the case).

This, of course, is only until I can afford my oil slick emitting James Bond car, at which point I will press the button and send the aggressor spinning off the road to meet his fiery demise at the bottom of a cliff or wrapped around a bridge abutment.

When the car in front of you is going slower than you, you slow down until the coast is clear.

[alphafemale]

72. You have murder fantasies rather than give up your self-important status of being lane speed enforce

Were you a hall monitor in school?

[RobinA]

80. Nope

I just hate people who think the world should get out of their way. Don't think I mentioned a word about enforcing anything, I'm usually speeding myself.

As mentioned, I would get out of the way if someone flashed at me. I don't want to be killed by one of these asses.

[pintobean]

75. It's a form of communication.

If you don't like that, put your cell number on the back of your car so they can call and ask you politely to get in the lane that you are suppose to be in.

[RobinA]

81. So, What,

you go through life telling people you meet what they aren't supposed to be doing? Since when is this OK?

You won't have to call me, I don't ride the left lane, and if I do happen to be there and I see you behind me flashing, tailgating AND talking on your phone, I will move over to let Your Highness by. I'm not going to get killed by somebody acting out their fantasies about them self behind the wheel of a car.

[kwassa]

71. The proper etiquette is a shot fired across the bow.

Carcetti, get out of the left lane, you drive too slow.

If someone behind you wants to drive faster, get the hell out of the left lane.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

74. Again, even if I'm substantially over the speed limit myself? nt

[kwassa]

78. Yes. Many states have "Keep Right" laws, including ..... Florida.

Last edited Wed Mar 11, 2015, 10:08 PM - Edit history (1)

If you stay in the left lane you are in violation of the code.

Here is the relevant portion of the Florida Vehicle Code. Note that speed is mentioned nowhere in this section.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.081.html

(3)?On a road, street, or highway having two or more lanes allowing movement in the same direction, a driver may not continue to operate a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane if the driver knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being overtaken in that lane from the rear by a motor vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed. This subsection does not apply to drivers operating a vehicle that is overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or is preparing for a left turn at an intersection.

[RobinA]

82. Unbelievable

Everyone is supposed to yield to your desires? Does that work for you in life?

[kwassa]

84. Yes, all are supposed to yield before me.

Actually, what I am telling you is the law in Carcetti's home state and in many others.

[BootinUp]

73. Is it polite to block faster moving traffic?

[Threedifferentones]

76. It has never been polite to ride the left lane without passing in a timely fashion.

In this case I think other drivers are justified in answering rudeness with rudeness. If you're gonna camp out on the left lane, prepare to be tailgated and lit up and flipped off.

AFAIK there is no other reason to ever do this.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

83. For drivers who do the speed limit or below, yes.

But when someone's going 10 MPH over and they themselves get tailgated and flashed, there's a transfer of the asshole quotient IMHO.

[kwassa]

85. You might think that, but the law is not on your side.

[seveneyes]

79. It's a logic problem

that many flasher and obstructionists fail. To those that know, no explanation is needed, for those that don't, none will be remembered.