Oklahoma Drivers Beware (CNN)!

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"Oklahoma State Troopers are cracking down on motorists driving too slow in the left lane. KTUL's Abby Ross reports."

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

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Oops, just noticed this is already being discussed in Current Events / Left Lane Ticket.

[metro]

Good, its about time.

[diesel]

that is amazing... maybe people will learn to drive and quit poking around..

[AFCM]

I remember this being a very heated topic on this board about two years ago. This brings back memories to when I first joined the board.

[bombermwc]

ABOUT FREAKING FASTIC TIME! Those butt-holes piss me off every morning. Seriosuly, sitting in the fast lane going 50 ISN'T GOOD!!!!! If you look in your rear view mirror and a line of people are going insane...get your stupid butt out of the way and quit telling everyone how fast to go.

I've been lucky to not see the purple Dodge Ram that used to seriously cut across 4 lanes of traffic, cutting people off the whole way, so that he can sit in the fast lane and go the minimum 40 mph. What an ASS!

[hipsterdoofus]

I'll say this is a good thing if they'd also start ticketing the jerks that try to get around construction areas and such by zipping to the front of a lane that is about to end and then getting over and causing everyone else to slow down....Those people CAUSE the majority of the slow downs.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Aren't you supposed to slow down in construction zones?

[Ginkasa]

My concern is that this encourages speeding in the fast lane. "Slower traffic stay right," means people going under the speed limit, not people going slower than whatever you want to drive.

[PUGalicious]

My concern is that this encourages speeding in the fast lane. "Slower traffic stay right," means people going under the speed limit, not people going slower than whatever you want to drive.

You're reading a lot into a very simple statement: "Slower traffic stay right." It means just that. Traffic that is slower should move to the right. If someone is moving faster than you in your lane and you have room to pull over, move over. It's not YOUR job to play traffic cop.

This doesn't encourage people to speed any more than sex education encourages kids to have sex.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

You're reading a lot into a very simple statement: "Slower traffic stay right." It means just that. Traffic that is slower should move to the right. If someone is moving faster than you in your lane and you have room to pull over, move over. It's not YOUR job to play traffic cop.

This doesn't encourage people to speed any more than sex education encourages kids to have sex.

Exactly.

[Ginkasa]

You're reading a lot into a very simple statement: "Slower traffic stay right." It means just that. Traffic that is slower should move to the right. If someone is moving faster than you in your lane and you have room to pull over, move over. It's not YOUR job to play traffic cop.

This doesn't encourage people to speed any more than sex education encourages kids to have sex.

And my hoping it doesn't encourage people to speed doesn't mean I think people should hang out in the left lane. And, yes, I think there will be people who interpret "Slow people=right. Fast people=left. Let's go 90 in the left lane!" and think that's alright when, no, it isn't and its a lot worse, I feel, than driving 65 or 70 or whatever the speed limit is in the left lane.

[jbrown84]

Not really, because those people will zip on by. The problem comes when some silly grandma is going 55 in the left lane and they have to slam on their brakes to not hit her.

[Karried]

The problem comes when some silly grandma is going 55 in the left lane and they have to slam on their brakes to not hit her.

That's being generous... I've been stuck behind some people going around 40 in the fast lane.

Nothing brings on road rage like that.

[bombermwc]

Exactlly. It's not your job to tell people how fast to go. If you don't like how fast everyone is going, then get the F off the road.

That one person is causing more road rage and potential accidents than the 20 people behing him/her going 70.

[FRISKY]

For those that block the left lane for whatever reason…here is a little something to think about…

When I see someone purposely blocking traffic in the left lane, I never flash my lights, tailgate or flip them off. I don't do anything but write down their tag number. Later, I look up the address of the owner and pay them a visit when no one is watching. Sometimes that visit is at their home or work, but if I have the time, the easiest solution is to inconspicuously follow them off the highway to their destination. If the car looks like it will be left unattended for a few moments, I usually scratch the paint, knife the tires or put water in the gas tank.

I'm not the only one that uses these tactics on those self-righteous, lane blocking, zealots. There are a growing number of people in this cult that do this regularly. The people that have this action carried out on their precious automobile will never know who did it or why, but it gives us a nice feeling of satisfaction to know we dealt out some justice to those that deserve it.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

For those that block the left lane for whatever reason…here is a little something to think about…

When I see someone purposely blocking traffic in the left lane, I never flash my lights, tailgate or flip them off. I don't do anything but write down their tag number. Later, I look up the address of the owner and pay them a visit when no one is watching. Sometimes that visit is at their home or work, but if I have the time, the easiest solution is to inconspicuously follow them off the highway to their destination. If the car looks like it will be left unattended for a few moments, I usually scratch the paint, knife the tires or put water in the gas tank.

I'm not the only one that uses these tactics on those self-righteous, lane blocking, zealots. There are a growing number of people in this cult that do this regularly. The people that have this action carried out on their precious automobile will never know who did it or why, but it gives us a nice feeling of satisfaction to know we dealt out some justice to those that deserve it.

Wow...Aren't you a prize.

[Ginkasa]

Exactlly. It's not your job to tell people how fast to go. If you don't like how fast everyone is going, then get the F off the road.

That one person is causing more road rage and potential accidents than the 20 people behing him/her going 70.

Neither is it your job to tell people how fast to go. So if you don't like how slow everyone else seems to be going, then the F off the road, eh?

Besides, I'm not talking about people going 40 in the passing, not "fast," lane. I agree. Going that slow on the interstate is just as dangerous as people going too fast, and the two mixed is even worse because they just tick each other off.

My point is that you guys seem to think that a) its safe to speed and b) legally allowed because, as you seem to see it, everybody not going as fast as you want because "slow drivers stay right."

To better demonstrate, let me give an example:

Let's say the speed limit is 70mph. I am driving 70mph. Traffic in the right lane slows down to 60mph, for whatever reason. I switch to the passing lane to pass this long line of cars. I'm still driving 70mph. While I'm still passing cars, somebody going 80mph comes up behind me.

Do you guys feel I should get in the other lane (causing myself to have to slow down to 60mph) to let the guy pass me? Even though I'm passing cars? Even though I'm going faster than everybody in the right lane?

I say no. It has nothing to do with getting the guy behind me to slow down, nor does it have anything to with ticking him off. I'm just passing everybody going less than the speed limit, and I don't feel I should have to slow down so some other guy can go fast.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Let's also say that the guy behind you going 80 has a child that got his arm lopped off in some random farm equipment and he's on his way to the hospital. The ambulance would have taken too long.

J/K...That's a bad example. I just wanted to say "lopped off".


What if you got over in the left lane, going 70 in a 70 to pass this line of cars going 60, and there was somebody there going 61, overtaking cars like they're in some sort of real life super slo-mo instant replay. Should you now wait on him to pass the entire line?

[MadMonk]

They shouldn't ride your ass and you should get over to let them pass as soon as you can. I do it all the time. I'm passing someone slower and people come up behind me. I get over as soon as I can get past the slower people on the right. Most of the time they zip on by and are out of my way in a few seconds. If I still need to pass someone the opportunity is there again. It's just simple courtesy. Too often, the people going slower seem to resent those going faster and think they need to do something about it. Also, those going faster need to back off a little and give the person a chance to get over. A little common courtesy from both sides goes a long way.

[kmf563]

what a bunch of existentialistic arses! you know, it really isn't all about YOU and what speed you think is safe or feel the need to go. it really is about courtesy and and the general flow of traffic. it is not your business what speed others are going. go the speed you need to go and do it in the right lane! the people speeding are well aware of the risks they take, the people snailing should be aware of the risks they are taking as well.

yes! ginkasa you should get back over into the right lane if you are going the speed limit passing people who are going slower than you when someone behind you is going faster. just like oh gawd says, what if someone going 61 gets in front of you. try not to personalize the highway...it's a group effort, not there for your personal convenience.

i like to think of it as the line for the bathroom - if the girl in front of you is taking too long to pee do you go in the stall and tell her how to do it? no, you wait your turn and try to go as fast as you can so the next person doesn't have to wait forever. you girls that sit in there and talk on your cell phone need to be punched in the eye when you come out. i almost guarantee you are the same ones driving slow in the fast lane because it is all about you and you have no regard for those around you.

and frisky - wow. they have medication for your issues. stalking is illegal. so is vandalism. and it's really creepy.

[jbrown84]

They shouldn't ride your ass and you should get over to let them pass as soon as you can. I do it all the time. I'm passing someone slower and people come up behind me. I get over as soon as I can get past the slower people on the right. Most of the time they zip on by and are out of my way in a few seconds. If I still need to pass someone the opportunity is there again. It's just simple courtesy. Too often, the people going slower seem to resent those going faster and think they need to do something about it. Also, those going faster need to back off a little and give the person a chance to get over. A little common courtesy from both sides goes a long way.

Exactly.

[bombermwc]

And I think most of us would agree that if we're going 70 in the left land and some yayhoo comes up behind us going 90 and riding our butts....that we're probably going to give them a big "screw you". No matter who you are, if you're riding my butt, I tend to not be courteous to you. If you back off and quit being a jerk, then I'll probably move over.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

And I think most of us would agree that if we're going 70 in the left land and some yayhoo comes up behind us going 90 and riding our butts....that we're probably going to give them a big "screw you". No matter who you are, if you're riding my butt, I tend to not be courteous to you. If you back off and quit being a jerk, then I'll probably move over.

No, I don't escalate the situation. I move over.

Being a premeditated jerk is a really crappy thing to do.

[Karried]

Originally Posted by bombermwc
And I think most of us would agree that if we're going 70 in the left land and some yayhoo comes up behind us going 90 and riding our butts....that we're probably going to give them a big "screw you". No matter who you are, if you're riding my butt, I tend to not be courteous to you. If you back off and quit being a jerk, then I'll probably move over.


No, I don't escalate the situation. I move over.

Being a premeditated jerk is a really crappy thing to do.

And there are always two sides to every story. I hate crappy drivers in all situations.

I think the guy going 90 riding your butt is also being a premeditated jerk - he probably understands that tailgating and flashing his brights might not make people very happy.

I'm thinking of the situation driving home from Houston ( Texas has some rude drivers btw) and I'm in the fast lane going around 5 - 10 miles faster than the posted speed limit in an effort to pass the guy in the slow lane and this guy comes barreling up behind me and there is the car next to me preventing me from getting over... instead of him figuring out that I can't safely change lanes just yet, he decides to try to force me to speed up to his 100 miles per hour. I'm just not going to do it.. so I do this and highly recommend it.. I put on my signal, letting him know that I do intend to get over for him and try to as soon as it's safe and speed up a bit to get out of his way ( unless of course, he is a complete and total jerk riding my tailgate to the point where I feel unsafe.. then I just stay my speed until it's safe to pass).

I've been on both sides of the situation many times.... it all does come down to common sense, staying safe and being courteous.

Knock on wood, I've never been in an accident.