Georgia law goes after left-lane lingerers

[v21hemicharger]

Only problem I see is that if they are doing the speed limit how can you fine them?  BTW I hate those guys too.

[kab69440]

50 cal on the hood of your Charger?  Obama wont like that.

Is this the part where I am supposed to care what he ( and the rest of "Them") wants? Not today, my friend.

[Cooter]

Only problem I see is that if they are doing the speed limit how can you fine them?  BTW I hate those guys too.

I'm sure it's NOT designed for the law abiding citizen. It's designed to bust the speeders that seem to want to run 90 mph in the left lane.

[Troy]

It's called impeding traffic. That's how it's enforced. If you're trolling the left lane on an empty highway no one will care and you shouldn't get a ticket. It's usually a standard moving violation (like not signaling a turn, not coming to a complete stop, etc.). I think the fine should be based on how many cars are stacked up.

Troy

[flyinlow]

Lets say you lose one minute per day to these thoughtfull folks.

Number of life's wasted by losing one minute per day to traffic impeders:

one minute  X  200 million drivers  X 365 days per year  =  73 billion minutes per year divided by 40 million minutes in a normal life  = 1825 wasted life times per year in the US.


SO..... first offense : warning,  second offense, pick up the trash on one mile of interstate, third offense involves a rope.

[polywideblock]

needs to be a world wide  "universal law " that inside lane is for passing ONLY , look at how good the germans have it on the autobahn 

you move over to "enforce "your driving style on the rest of the world and get a Porsche guided missile up the clacker at 100mph    problem solved 

[Ghoste]

Yes, lane discipline is much better there than here.

[ws23rt]

Yes, lane discipline is much better there than here.

A good question is why?  Who are those folks that block the flow?  They can't all be the elderly that don't know they are doing it.

I suspect that many are greenies trying to show the rest of us how to behave

They perhaps mean well but their arrogance is the very thing that defeats their agenda 

[Ghoste]

I think its just the same kind of self centeredness that fuels a lot of road rage here.  The "me first, me best" attitude.

[flyinlow]

Passing slower traffic, moving over for emergency vehicles or heavy traffic requiring both lanes are all good reasons for the left lane use.

Evening out tire wear and a smoother pavement are good reasons if traffic is light and you are not impeding others.

Sitting in the left lane so it is easier to drive while blabbing on you cell phone or just because you pay taxes and will drive in any lane you choose is plain rude.

[JB400]

Yes, lane discipline is much better there than here.

Only because road laws are more strictly enforced over there.

[Musicman]

Down south they drive down an 8 lane highway like a flock of geese... in formation.
It's like they all have F'n place cards or something... If the lead guy speeds up (like that'll ever happen), they all speed up... if the lead guy slows down, they all slow down.

The reason NASCAR is so popular down there is because it's the only time they ever get to see one car passing another, or God forbid, some wild man changing lanes! 

[Ghoste]

Yes, lane discipline is much better there than here.

Only because road laws are more strictly enforced over there.

Are they?  Any of the times I've driven in continental Europe I saw very little police presence on the highways.  A lot in residential areas and a lot in the UK but not highways.  I tend to think they are just better drivers in that situation and the Porsche missile up the ass may be a factor too.  Less of the "I'm more important than you" ideal.
But thats just my opinion based on driving there and here and comparing the two.  I am by no stretch an expert.  All I know is, whenever I drove over there, people on the highway showed better lane discipline than I've ever seen here and I rarely saw law enforcement vehicles on the highway. 

[RECHRGD]

Aren't we still referred to as 'ugly Americans' over there?  Many of us are arrogant SOBs and driving habits reflect that.  The lane hogs have been around all of the 50 years I've been driving...

[Cooter]

Lets say you lose one minute per day to these thoughtfull folks.

Number of life's wasted by losing one minute per day to traffic impeders:

one minute  X  200 million drivers  X 365 days per year  =  73 billion minutes per year divided by 40 million minutes in a normal life  = 1825 wasted life times per year in the US.


SO..... first offense : warning,  second offense, pick up the trash on one mile of interstate, third offense involves a rope.

Let's also say these types get there asses up earlier so they aren't 'losing' minutes. When it snows out, Get on the road earlier so you don't 'lose' minutes.
With this thinking,  raising the speed limits to 145 mph would definitely solve the problem  of 'losing' minutes.

[Ghoste]

It could solve many problems depending on your point of view.

[polywideblock]

why not an unlimited inside  lane  like on the autobahn  ,you are still supposed to drive to conditions but its up to you what speed you do

only problem i'v heard of them having is burnt out alternator bearings     auto electricians must make a motza on call outs

strange you never hear of them having  massive pile ups like in the uk and us 

The overall Road traffic safety of German autobahns is generally better than that of other European highways. German autobahn fatality rates are lower than Austria's and higher than Switzerland's rates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn

The fatality rate on the United States interstate system is higher than that on the German Autobahn.

http://maps.unomaha.edu/peterson/funda/sidebar/autobahn.htm

The annual fatality rate (2.7 per billion km in 2009) is consistently lower than that of most other superhighway systems, including the US Interstates (4.5 in 2009). Furthermore, a 2005 study by the German government found that Autobahn sections without speed limits had the same accident rate as those with speed limits.

http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/autobahn.shtml

[myk]

why not an unlimited inside  lane  like on the autobahn  ,you are still supposed to drive to conditions but its up to you what speed you do

Because what you're suggesting would be considered "anarchy" on the roads by many people, and most certainly the government.  From the controllist's point of view, the average citizen is absolutely incapable of handling such freedom and the responsibility that would go with driving a road with no set speed limit.  "They" know the speed that you should be driving at, and don't you dare question it.  Then again, looking at the sea of clueless drivers on the roads these days, maybe "they" are right...

[Cooter]

Let's see, a soccer mom or  Soccer teenager, putting on make up, texting, playing with radio at 100 mph plus....

Maybe this ain't a bad idea. At those speeds, they won't do it but once. Only thing is, the innocent motorist doing his best to stay away from these idiots, won't get but one chance at those speeds.

[Troy]

Cooter you're missing the point. You seem to be under the impression that people will drive Mach 2 on the highway if there wasn't someone putzing along in front of them. That's simply not true! Many drivers will obey the law (or at least close enough to avoid a ticket) BUT, in the absence of traffic enforcement, the majority of people will drive at a reasonable speed for the road they are on. This is how engineers determine the "safe" speed of a particular road (if politicians don't mandate something else). Engineers also plan roads for the most efficient traffic flow. If they can get the majority of people to and from work in a realistic amount of time then people are happy. If not, they complain to their politicians. Obviously the people in Georgia have identified a problem and this is an attempt to remedy it. And once again, it is most certainly NOT the job of other drivers to enforce the law. Let the speeders get tickets! And I say - let the pokey fools in the left lane get tickets too!

As much as I like the idea of this law, I am firmly against adding more (ridiculous) laws to the books. I doubt it will be enforced so the problem will continue. In the end, it just gets people all riled up over something mostly meaningless.

Troy

[Ponch ®]

Yes, lane discipline is much better there than here.

Only because road laws are more strictly enforced over there.

Also need to look at the process/requirements to get a driver's license there vs. most (if not all) states here.

[Cooter]

Cooter you're missing the point. You seem to be under the impression that people will drive Mach 2 on the highway if there wasn't someone putzing along in front of them. That's simply not true! Many drivers will obey the law (or at least close enough to avoid a ticket) BUT, in the absence of traffic enforcement, the majority of people will drive at a reasonable speed for the road they are on. This is how engineers determine the "safe" speed of a particular road (if politicians don't mandate something else).

Troy

I'm glad you live in a utopia where idiots don't.  I and the rest of the world do not. You seem to think with no speed limits, when left to their own digression, the majority of people won't drive like complete idiots just because they can. If I'm driving in left lane, doing at LEAST the speed limit maybe 5-10 over, I do not, I repeat, DO NOT deserve a ticket because some jerk from outta town wants to run 100 mph. Period. Now, if your doing 50 mph in a 65?, yeah, you need to get over. I do when I'm towing.
I can see the thread/s now.....
"Doing a 130 mph plus in my 50 Y/O Charger guys!!!!"

You know it's true. You claim not to want to "heavily discuss" anything with me, yet, here we are?
It's NOT the normal law abiding citizen that causes the deaths. It's the one time putz who thought it would be cool to run a bonzai run in an older car that causes crashes. (That, and my soccer mom scenario).
Hell Troy, we got guys right here and now that do 100 plus in their older cars because they chase adrenaline.
What I can't figure out is your thinking they certainly wouldn't drive like dumbass because they are left to their own accords.....

The speed limits have been raised. Ok. Say 70 mph. Since when, at that speed, does anybody need to be texting?
Driving and drinking? Driving while girlfriend performs in the seat beside them?
So there's no speed limit now. And all this sh*t they do at 70 mph won't happen once 140 mph feels "comfortable" enough to do it...

Yeah, ok.

The ONLY reason this doesn't happen more often at insane speeds, IMO, is once in a while, you have to watch for a cop...

[Troy]

Cooter you're missing the point. You seem to be under the impression that people will drive Mach 2 on the highway if there wasn't someone putzing along in front of them. That's simply not true! Many drivers will obey the law (or at least close enough to avoid a ticket) BUT, in the absence of traffic enforcement, the majority of people will drive at a reasonable speed for the road they are on. This is how engineers determine the "safe" speed of a particular road (if politicians don't mandate something else).

Troy

I'm glad you live in a utopia where idiots don't.  I and the rest of the world do not. You seem to think with no speed limits, when left to their own digression, the majority of people won't drive like complete idiots just because they can.
I can see the thread/s now.....
"Doing a 130 mph plus in my 50 Y/O Charger guys!!!!"

You know it's true. You claim not to want to "heavily discuss" anything with me, yet, here we are?
It's NOT the normal law abiding citizen that causes the deaths. It's the one time putz who thought it would be cool to run a bonzai run in an older car that causes crashes. (That, and my soccer mom scenario).
Hell Troy, we got guys right here and now that do 100 plus in their older cars because they chase adrenaline.
What I can't figure out is your thinking they certainly wouldn't drive like dumbass because they are left to their own accords.....

The speed limits have been raised. Ok. Say 70 mph. Since when, at that speed, does anybody need to be texting?
Driving and drinking? Driving while girlfriend performs in the seat beside them?
So there's no speed limit now. And all this sh*t they do at 70 mph won't happen once 140 mph feels "comfortable" enough to do it...

Yeah, ok.

The ONLY reason this doesn't happen more often at insane speeds, IMO, is once in a while, you have to watch for a cop...

You must live in the fastest area of the country then. So let me see if I can list the people (that I know) who live near me who drive faster than 80:
1. Me - and not by much, and I almost never get passed.

Yeah, it's an epidemic! None of my coworkers drive fast. Neither do my parents or my seven brothers and sisters. None of my aunts, uncles, cousins or second cousins have a problem with speed - although I do have a young cousin who keeps getting his license suspended for no insurance. There's well over 200 people and yet I'm still the only one driving fast. Going back to previous jobs, college and high school friends, and everyone living in my apartment complex and I still can't find any others. Heck, look through all the members here! How many people do you personally know who would drive significantly faster if there were no legal consequences? Compare that to the total number. Pretty small. Now, of that number, how many are dangerously unsafe? Miniscule.

Most people I know who are speed junkies get their fix at the track - not on populated roads!

"Distracted driving" is dangerous at any speed (and it's a completely separate topic). I don't text. I will only use my phone in my car because I have bluetooth and usually only if it's a call from family or work and when I'm not in traffic. My radio controls are on the steering wheel in the cars I drive every day and I don't listen to music in my classic cars. My step sister never speeds but has totaled seven cars - none at more than 40 mph. Who would you rather come across on the road?

For those of us who do actually overtake another vehicle on the highway... how many of them are doing something other than driving? Lots! How many just don't know any driving etiquette? Probably almost as many. How many just think they supremely important and simply don't care that they are an inconvenience to nearly everyone around them? Unfortunately, a rather large chunk - but manageable. How many think they've been deputized and charged with controlling the speed of everyone else? A few. The biggest problem with the last two groups is that they know they can be dickheads without consequence. However, all but the last group are likely to change their behavior once they are aware of repercussions.

*IF* people paid attention, knew the basic concept of traffic flow, and respected others then there wouldn't be a need for stupid laws to "train" people how to drive correctly.

Troy

[69charger2002]

You must live in the fastest area of the country then. So let me see if I can list the people (that I know) who live near me who drive faster than 80:
1. Me - and not by much, and I almost never get passed.

Yeah, it's an epidemic! None of my coworkers drive fast. Neither do my parents or my seven brothers and sisters. None of my aunts, uncles, cousins or second cousins have a problem with speed - although I do have a young cousin who keeps getting his license suspended for no insurance. There's well over 200 people and yet I'm still the only one driving fast. Going back to previous jobs, college and high school friends, and everyone living in my apartment complex and I still can't find any others. Heck, look through all the members here! How many people do you personally know who would drive significantly faster if there were no legal consequences? Compare that to the total number. Pretty small. Now, of that number, how many are dangerously unsafe? Miniscule.

Most people I know who are speed junkies get their fix at the track - not on populated roads!

"Distracted driving" is dangerous at any speed (and it's a completely separate topic). I don't text. I will only use my phone in my car because I have bluetooth and usually only if it's a call from family or work and when I'm not in traffic. My radio controls are on the steering wheel in the cars I drive every day and I don't listen to music in my classic cars. My step sister never speeds but has totaled seven cars - none at more than 40 mph. Who would you rather come across on the road?

For those of us who do actually overtake another vehicle on the highway... how many of them are doing something other than driving? Lots! How many just don't know any driving etiquette? Probably almost as many. How many just think they supremely important and simply don't care that they are an inconvenience to nearly everyone around them? Unfortunately, a rather large chunk - but manageable. How many think they've been deputized and charged with controlling the speed of everyone else? A few. The biggest problem with the last two groups is that they know they can be dickheads without consequence. However, all but the last group are likely to change their behavior once they are aware of repercussions.

*IF* people paid attention, knew the basic concept of traffic flow, and respected others then there wouldn't be a need for stupid laws to "train" people how to drive correctly.

Troy

Not to mention that road rage would be lessened by an infinite amount, which causes plenty of accidents and speed/aggression on it's own from these idiots in the left lane! The only time i truly get aggravated is by left lane morons doing 60 in a 70 on the interstate with 15 cars behind them and when everyone finally passes them in the RIGHT lane.. they are talking or texting or completely oblivious to their surroundings. I just want to get in front of them in the left lane and slam on my brakes..  

[Troy]

You must live in the fastest area of the country then. So let me see if I can list the people (that I know) who live near me who drive faster than 80:
1. Me - and not by much, and I almost never get passed.

Yeah, it's an epidemic! None of my coworkers drive fast. Neither do my parents or my seven brothers and sisters. None of my aunts, uncles, cousins or second cousins have a problem with speed - although I do have a young cousin who keeps getting his license suspended for no insurance. There's well over 200 people and yet I'm still the only one driving fast. Going back to previous jobs, college and high school friends, and everyone living in my apartment complex and I still can't find any others. Heck, look through all the members here! How many people do you personally know who would drive significantly faster if there were no legal consequences? Compare that to the total number. Pretty small. Now, of that number, how many are dangerously unsafe? Miniscule.

Most people I know who are speed junkies get their fix at the track - not on populated roads!

"Distracted driving" is dangerous at any speed (and it's a completely separate topic). I don't text. I will only use my phone in my car because I have bluetooth and usually only if it's a call from family or work and when I'm not in traffic. My radio controls are on the steering wheel in the cars I drive every day and I don't listen to music in my classic cars. My step sister never speeds but has totaled seven cars - none at more than 40 mph. Who would you rather come across on the road?

For those of us who do actually overtake another vehicle on the highway... how many of them are doing something other than driving? Lots! How many just don't know any driving etiquette? Probably almost as many. How many just think they supremely important and simply don't care that they are an inconvenience to nearly everyone around them? Unfortunately, a rather large chunk - but manageable. How many think they've been deputized and charged with controlling the speed of everyone else? A few. The biggest problem with the last two groups is that they know they can be dickheads without consequence. However, all but the last group are likely to change their behavior once they are aware of repercussions.

*IF* people paid attention, knew the basic concept of traffic flow, and respected others then there wouldn't be a need for stupid laws to "train" people how to drive correctly.

Troy

Not to mention that road rage would be lessened by an infinite amount, which causes plenty of accidents and speed/aggression on it's own from these idiots in the left lane! The only time i truly get aggravated is by left lane morons doing 60 in a 70 on the interstate with 15 cars behind them and when everyone finally passes them in the RIGHT lane.. they are talking or texting or completely oblivious to their surroundings. I just want to get in front of them in the left lane and slam on my brakes.. 

According to Cooter that is acceptable behavior...

I wonder why none of the "dangerous" speeders that I know think this is a brilliant move?

Troy