The Left, Slow Lane
I saw this photo today and it reminded me of a rant I wrote last year about the death of the left passing lane. In that post, I argued the right lane could be the new passing lane. Here’s a piece for a repost.
To steal a quote from Driver’s Ed: “A passing lane or overtaking lane is the lane on a multi-lane highway or motorway closest to the center of the road.”
The left lane then, I thought, was the lane to pass slower cars or drive faster.
This is no longer true.
The left lane is rapidly becoming the traffic lane or the slower lane. Much to my frustration and annoyance, I have come to see that more of my fellow motorists view it as simply another lane to drive in.
People rarely move over, or out of the left lane, when faster cars approach behind them. And most drivers don’t seem to care that they are slowing down the traffic flow by clogging up the left lane. The old trick of flashing your brights as a way to say “move over,” is also routinely ignored.
Nothing makes my blood boil on the road, more than this. But I will not rant. I will suggest an alternative.
Happy road rage!
-baierman
