Georgia law goes after left-lane lingerers

[Cooter]

You can tapdance around it all you want. You know what I say is true, you just like to "debate" as much as myself which is good.

Bottom line? Until there is no speed limit, folks like yourself will never see just how ignorant people can be on the road.
until there's a timetable offense for impeding traffic, farmer brown will be doing his 65 in a 65 zone.
left or right lanes. Does it piss people off? Sure, but what's gonna a REALLY piss you off is speeders are the only ones complaining about lefties right now.
I preach about how ignorant I think it is to attempt to daily drive your Charger, three have died. How many more before people see?

[Cooter]

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

Never said it was "acceptable", or correct, just a ness. Evil when the person up my ass when I'm doing my 5-10. Over, thinks my law abiding ass should move over for that invisible unlimited speed limit in left lane. To those, I say, "F" "U".

[Troy]

I will admit that there are some dangerous drivers who speed. That doesn't make every speeder dangerous. I will admit that there are many slow drivers who aren't bothersome at all. Then again, there are slow drivers who are absolutely dangerous (I was behind a guy on the highway in a snow storm a couple weeks ago doing 12!). It's all about the mentality. You call a tailgater "ignorant" yet try to convince me that a "brake check" is a necessary evil? Really? You'll never change my mind about that.

If I die in my Charger (or Challenger or Mach 1 these days) you can be assured that I was fully aware of the consequences of driving them on the big bad roads. I don't need anyone to save me from myself. I'm not going to hide in my closet for fear that something bad might happen to me if I leave.

Troy

[Cooter]

Admit it Troy, only thing bothers you is you know there's ALOT who think and act just the same.
ignorant, arrogant, pompus, call it what you will, but the fact still remains....I'm an easy target here because I'm the only one speaking up.

We are in agreement that going below the speed limit is unacceptable in left lane. We disagree when it comes to doing 85 mph in 65 zone because "your in the left lane" . Betcha apples to peaches most of those in Ga. Who are complaining are transplants, or youngins of transplants. .

[flyinlow]

,  raising the speed limits to 145 mph would definitely solve the problem  .

Well it's a start.

[Troy]

Admit it Troy, only thing bothers you is you know there's ALOT who think and act just the same.
ignorant, arrogant, pompus, call it what you will, but the fact still remains....I'm an easy target here because I'm the only one speaking up.

We are in agreement that going below the speed limit is unacceptable in left lane. We disagree when it comes to doing 85 mph in 65 zone because "your in the left lane" . Betcha apples to peaches most of those in Ga. Who are complaining are transplants, or youngins of transplants. .

You are the only one speaking up because you're part of a very small group. If you were on the "Florida Knitting Club" web site (instead of one full of people who enjoy driving) you might have more like-minded associates.

I said 80 and our speed limits are 70. That's 10 over. In traffic that's probably very close to what people do all over the country. With little or no traffic there may be some who go faster - but at that time why is there a slow person in the left lane? Plenty of empty lanes outside of peak hours.

Troy

[Cooter]

I tend to agree, not because of stated reasons though. Imo, an influx of crazy driving yankees have moved from places like Detroit, Boston, Conn. Etc. And they bring with them their driving habits to the south. We tend to drive a little slower, we don't really chase minutes, round here we like to get to work early. Which requires waking up earlier to avoid the afore mentioned "majority".

[polywideblock]

if you drive a little slower in the  south then why not stick to the outside lane and let all the speeding Yankees get where their going so you don't have to worry about them 

[flyinlow]

You know us Yankees, where only happy goin' Mach 2 with our hair on fire.

Course we know you Southern boys, I know Cole, he always goes to the outside.

[Cooter]

if you drive a little slower in the  south then why not stick to the outside lane and let all the speeding Yankees get where their going so you don't have to worry about them  

For the same reason I don't come down under and demand you to talk like those guys on Lizard Lick towing mate.
Again, I'm only against those who wanna shove me out the way and I'm already breaking the law at 10 over.

[Ghoste]

I don't understand what is so horrible about pulling over to a right lane to let faster traffic go by?  Is it that someone is passing you and your ego can't allow such a thing or is it the physical act of having to move over?  I only hope you exercise  patience when you are stuck behind someone going much slower than you.

[BIGBLCK11]

I am with Cooter on this.  If, I am going 10-15 over the limit(usually just 10), I am NOT going to slow up to 55-65(assuming it's the 65mph speed where I am) to squeeze in between the snails, so you can play Richard Petty.  If the lane was open, I would already be on the right.  I do agree, going under the limit and blocking on purpose is completely wrong.  But, just because YOU want go 16-20 over the limit, YOU are the one who thinks you're entitled and it's me first and all others should part the Red Sea for you to pass.  I doubt the troopers would fine me for impeding your ability to speed.  People will get on your tail and pull a little on the left, when there are 10 cars in front of me.  Do you think they are all just going to pull off the road for you?  I would not brake check someone at those speeds either, but there is a law against tailgating.  It is basically hiding behind the wheel and bullying through intimidation.  I don't see it as much different from the keyboard warriors online.  

[Ghoste]

And thats why there is no such thing as lane discipline in this part of the world because in North America we believe in ourselves first and everyone else can kiss it.

[Brass]

And thats why there is no such thing as lane discipline in this part of the world because in North America we believe in ourselves first and everyone else can kiss it.

Agreed, which is why I really preferred driving in Italy too.  The speed disparity between lanes is also very noticeable.  If you move left, you sometimes need to be ready to accelerate hard to merge properly.  Here, I don't expect slower cars to move right if there is no space for them to move into.  I'll be patient.  But if they're in the left, they should be traveling faster than the right lane and endeavoring to move over as soon as they can.  Likewise, if I happen to be in the left and someone else is barreling down on me fast, I don't get pissy - I get over.  It doesn't matter if I'm going 45 or 125, that's how it works.  One thing I will not do is cut someone off if I can help it.  In Europe, that seems routine, acceptable, and expected.  I think they have a lot thicker skin about this stuff. 

[BIGBLCK11]

I have plenty of lane discipline.  I don't really care how fast you drive.  You still read that as me first, but what you are saying is, you first!

[Ghoste]

We clearly have differing ideas of what "lane discipline" means.  But just as I would have no right to expect you to allow me to safely pass (because the option is for me to move to the right where we should expect slower traffic), you likewise have no right to expect me to slow to your chosen speed.
Perhaps instead of lane discipline we should call it driver courtesy.

[BIGBLCK11]

I agree with you on that. I don't expect you to drive my chosen speed.  I said that my speed would be over the limit, just not fast enough for some, no problem.  But, I would expect that you have enough patience to wait for me to have a reasonable space to move safely into, then of course I would move over out of courtesy, as I said in my first response.  I am just not going to swing over and brake behind a slower person, so you can pass, that would not necessarily be the safe thing to do, would it?  I believe there is a thread on that very issue for people doing it to try and be in that little spot, say in front of a semi, to make an exit.  I wouldn't do that to make an exit and I am not doing it to get out of your way at that instant, I will when there is room.

[ws23rt]

We clearly have differing ideas of what "lane discipline" means.  But just as I would have no right to expect you to allow me to safely pass (because the option is for me to move to the right where we should expect slower traffic), you likewise have no right to expect me to slow to your chosen speed.
Perhaps instead of lane discipline we should call it driver courtesy.

 --Driver courtesy--

The intent of traffic laws and rules are that we all know what to expect from the drivers next to us.

The laws are for the event that when something goes wrong and lawyers are called in there is a way to hash it all out.

If someone makes a choice to cause a disturbance (to push the rules we all know very well) they put themselves and those around them at risk.

I believe that to be provocative whether it be a tailgater or a lane hog is the beginnings of road rage.

Our personal frustrations/anger/missing an agenda/ drug issues, etc. can and do play a roll in how we drive but those around us are not part of that and don't want to be.

I am speaking to the jackasses that clog the passing lane and those that can't stand that they do.

A resolution to this topic will never end well if it happens on the road.  And it will never be resolved period..

Part of the rules of the road (written or not) are that we don't crash ----We all know how to do that----

[polywideblock]

it seems so simple   

inside lane for passing ONLY once your past get over ,

10mph under the speed limit the outside lane is yours have it

at the speed limit go past 10 under and then get over

10 mph over goes past both and then GETS OVER

no-one running in the middle lane except for passing cars and emergency vehicles

it actually works except for wanabe cops trying to inflict their driving styles on others     

[polywideblock]

if you drive a little slower in the  south then why not stick to the outside lane and let all the speeding Yankees get where their going so you don't have to worry about them  

For the same reason I don't come down under and demand you to talk like those guys on Lizard Lick towing mate.
Again, I'm only against those who wanna shove me out the way and I'm already breaking the law at 10 over.

don't have problem with understanding lizard lick it the swamp hunters that I just cant crack it   like they talk in code      

if you do like over here and get over after passing they wouldn't be up you clacker trying to shove you out of the way . 

just trying to make a point not jump on your but ,every-one has a preferred way to drive some just like to put their foot in it all the time  no such thing as cruizin 

[Cooter]

Again, if the left lane was originally intended for overtaking, there would be those who simply would drive so fast, they'd just have the mindset they are overtaking everything on the road. It has to do with common courtesy and not "unwritten" "laws" of the road.

When I know for certain I'm gonna be towing, I stay right. Don't matter if the limit is 55,65,70,80,90,100,120,145. There will be some ass that thinks if I'm doing my 110 in 100 mph zone, they can run 155 mph and I should get outta his/her way.

Speed limits here been raised twice in the past 30 years, shouldn't be a problem. Yet, even in a 70 mph zone where it used to he 55, there's some douche that wants to shove people out the way cause he paid the toll to drive in left lane by driving at insane speeds.

I still call bullsh*t no matter how many are in the "majority".

[Ghoste]

I don't think anyone is arguing for the inside lane to made wide open by law or tacit understanding Cooter.  The speed limit is stil the speed limit.  Period.  I'm in full 100% agreement with you.  But don't you think that if we create multiple lanes in an effort to keep traffic moving smoothly because we know that even within the legally established speed, both upper and lower limits, there will be those who feel all lanes can be for passing and all lanes can be for cruising at the lowest limit?  By trying to make it law, rather than understanding, that inside lanes are for the higher end of the legal speed limit and the outer lanes are for the lower limit of the legal speed and that by moving SAFELY WHEN POSSIBLE to a lane which maintains this flow, it becomes better for all with the overall traffic pattern moving safer and actually quicker with greater fuel savings.
Arguing that making the inner lane a zone in which you are no longer alllowed to just hold up faster traffic because as a self appointed speed cop you feel it will promote wide open driving is pointless.  Those people will greatly exceed the speed no matter what and trying to hold them up so that you can slow them to what you feel is right only makes them that much more anxious and less attentive to the road.  I think a smoother traffic flow will make a lot of them less anxious.
As for driving slower in the south, Georgia is in the south and I can promise you that not all of those people driving quickly in that state are form the north and damned sure bet the "yankees" aren't the ones pressing the state legislature to consider this. 

[Troy]

I am with Cooter on this.  If, I am going 10-15 over the limit(usually just 10), I am NOT going to slow up to 55-65(assuming it's the 65mph speed where I am) to squeeze in between the snails, so you can play Richard Petty.  If the lane was open, I would already be on the right.  I do agree, going under the limit and blocking on purpose is completely wrong.  But, just because YOU want go 16-20 over the limit, YOU are the one who thinks you're entitled and it's me first and all others should part the Red Sea for you to pass.  I doubt the troopers would fine me for impeding your ability to speed.  People will get on your tail and pull a little on the left, when there are 10 cars in front of me.  Do you think they are all just going to pull off the road for you?  I would not brake check someone at those speeds either, but there is a law against tailgating.  It is basically hiding behind the wheel and bullying through intimidation.  I don't see it as much different from the keyboard warriors online. 

Don't be too quick to join forces there... way back before this thread Cooter initially said he drives 5 mph over in the left lane even when there's no traffic in the right. Far cry from 10-15 over in traffic! I'm not going to be mad at anyone doing 10-15 over in the left lane in traffic - and I'm not getting out of your way if I'm doing that speed but can't squeeze into the right lane without looking like I'm doing a NASCAR pit stop during a caution. I will move when there's a big enough gap for me to move over then get back in behind the faster car. This particular law isn't aimed at any of those circumstances!!! This law is aimed at the people doing at or below the limit, in traffic, and holding up cars who would like to go faster. If there's no traffic there's no problem! If you're exceeding the limit already then they're not going to give you a ticket for going too slow! (But that doesn't mean you aren't impeding other traffic.) No matter what, you're still expected to be safe. If you can't go faster and you can't merge because everyone is stacked together then you are apparently at the capacity of the highway and they can't squeeze any more cars on it any way. The whole point is to keep the flow moving at a reasonable speed - NOT jam on the brakes/mash the gas/weave around the idiots. If the whole mass moved smoothly everyone would get where they want to go faster and more safely.

Troy

[Cooter]

I don't think anyone is arguing for the inside lane to made wide open by law or tacit understanding Cooter.  The speed limit is stil the speed limit.  Period.  I'm in full 100% agreement with you.  But don't you think that if we create multiple lanes in an effort to keep traffic moving smoothly because we know that even within the legally established speed, both upper and lower limits, there will be those who feel all lanes can be for passing and all lanes can be for cruising at the lowest limit?  By trying to make it law, rather than understanding, that inside lanes are for the higher end of the legal speed limit and the outer lanes are for the lower limit of the legal speed and that by moving SAFELY WHEN POSSIBLE to a lane which maintains this flow, it becomes better for all with the overall traffic pattern moving safer and actually quicker with greater fuel savings.
Arguing that making the inner lane a zone in which you are no longer alllowed to just hold up faster traffic because as a self appointed speed cop you feel it will promote wide open driving is pointless.  Those people will greatly exceed the speed no matter what and trying to hold them up so that you can slow them to what you feel is right only makes them that much more anxious and less attentive to the road.  I think a smoother traffic flow will make a lot of them less anxious.
As for driving slower in the south, Georgia is in the south and I can promise you that not all of those people driving quickly in that state are form the north and damned sure bet the "yankees" aren't the ones pressing the state legislature to consider this.  

all that is EXACTLY a rehash of Troy trying to say. that even if you are only one, driving at normal speeds (5-10over) just because everybody else is in agreement, you are fighting a losing battle and must conform.

Well, there were alot of people who thought "bo" was the best thing for this country too.
there are alot who think all musclecars need hemis.
alot seem to think that making guns illegal will stop the killing. I guess it's a good thing Meth is illegal then.
just because something's not popular, doesn't mean it's automatically wrong.

Without the voice of reason saying "hold up here", all you end up with is a bunch of sheeple blindly following the "go with the flow, even if they cause you to go straight to hell.

You will never convince any sane person that opening up the left lane to the "speeders" will cause them to slow down and drive more careful it's just asinine.  Most will consider this law an open invite to use the left lane as their personal "late for work, GTF outta my way" lane.
I saw just yesterday, some punk in a VW blasts by everybody, me included, just because the left lane was open.
Had to have been doing at least 95mph in a 65 zone. You allow people an inch, they will take a mile.
Everybody's in a damn hurry for no reason. If you got to much on your plate, cut some of it back to where you don't need to drive like a maniac. People literally LAUGH at me when they ask me how long it'll take me to get from work to home. They say things like "what? Are you driving like 40 mph??"
My reply is always the same. "So how long does it take you at 90 mph?"

Oh and btw, all those "anxious" people wouldn't be "anxious" if somebody wasn't on their ass trying to run 90 in 65 zone.
for the life of me, I can't see why telling the slower driver's if you are holding up  line of people, all wanting to run 85 in 65 zone, the law abiding cite should get the ticket, when if the line of law BREAKERS would slow down, the roads would be safer all around.

Less people anxious. Less speed. Less stress. But, I can certainly see where allowing a "fast lane" would definately cause less texting, and basic ignorance if speed is increased. Yep, the faster you go, the better drivers you get...

Speed limits been raised TWICE in Va. Still got dumbasses wanting to go faster. At least one person had tge balls to speak up for what's sensible instead of just "going with the flow" , even if Troy shut him down.

[Troy]

But again - who made it your (or anyone else on the road) job to prevent people from speeding (ie. going faster than you)? Who says people can't be in a hurry? Maybe some people really are important.

No one EVER said that this law was to make speeders slow down and be more careful. You're making stuff up as you go...

The law is specifically to STOP people from impeding traffic. If I were to actually read it (but who cares about actual facts right?) I'm positive it doesn't require slow people to go faster and doesn't negate any of the current "over the limit" laws. Why you think it will create the wild wild west on the highway I have no idea. Overreact much? All it does is give an avenue for punishing people who currently can only be touched (unless they cause a pileup and, even then the traffic behind is likely to be cited). Honestly, if it doesn't generate a single ticket BUT increases awareness then it's a success in my eyes. Obviously, some people won't "get it".

Troy