I heard an argument for this that I hated. Someone confessed this was how they drive on purpose. They set cruise for speed limit or just under so everyone who wants to pass can do so on the right. They don’t have to worry about traffic merging or trying to get over for an exit. It’s all so they can sit on their phone and not have to pay attention to other drivers and be somewhat safe about it.
It makes sense, but it has the same energy as the people who drive around with their brights on all all the time so they can see slightly better, and F everyone else.
That’s a very logical and narcissistic explanation.
…but passing on the right is illegal.
Literally no one cares
In Georgia this is actually illegal. Even if you are doing the speed limit in the left lane, if you are impeding the flow of traffic, you can get a ticket.
In TN the law is Keep Right Except to Pass, but it’s never enforced.
In UT there are signs saying “keep right except to pass,” yet pretty much everyone camps in the left lane, to the point where the second to the left lane is often faster. It’s never enforced and only occasionally observed outside populated areas.
Good.
That’s how it should be. Also, it should be illegal to pass on the right. Enforce that more highly than speeding.
Alternate argument:
Even law-abiding drivers have a right to overtake trucks and not get fucked in the rear bumper while doing it.
The worst is when I go the speed limit behind a truck and we hit an incline. The truck slows down to 10 below the limit. I move over to pass. As soon as we hit the downhill, the truck goes 5 over the limit. I didn’t have a chance to safely get in front of it, so now I’m the asshole in the left lane, even though I’ve been going the same speed the whole time.
It’s an entirely predictable situation. It happens to you a few times, then you learn from it.
Truck drivers on a motorway drive steadily pretty much 100% of the time, inclines notwithstanding.
The laws of physics aren’t on your side there. The truck isn’t trying to slow down on the incline and speed up on the decline; it literally can’t not. At least not without causing serious wear on the brakes, which drivers try to avoid if it won’t cause a crash.
If you’re going to pass, you should speed up until you pass then return to whatever the limit is. If you’re not going to pass, stay behind the truck and slow down as needed.
If you’re actively passing someone, sure. But as soon as you’re done, move over to let someone else pass. I’m also more than happy to sit behind a big truck passing a much slower big truck because I know how much that sucks, and as soon as they pass, they move over.
I highly doubt this driver is passing either truck anytime soon. They’re just camping in the left land and probably don’t even realize there’s someone behind them (much less a konga line) because why would a narcissist need to check who’s behind them?
But as soon as you’re done, move over to let someone else pass.
Sure, but I’m not going to cut off the truck I just passed either. I’ve had people riding my ass and then swerve around in the right lane when I’m barely past. Of course you could be doing 80 mph and those people would still do the same thing. I just say those people must have to poop really bad.
Sure. My rule of thumb is I move over when I can see both headlights in my rear-view mirror. That gives them a wide enough berth that they should have time to stop even if I need to hit the brakes soon after passing.
The only reason IMO to pass on the right is to avoid an accident or move over for someone getting pulled over on the left side of the freeway. To make that work, police need to enforce the “stay right except to pass” rule.
In Minnesota, we created an interesting law. If you are under the speed limit, get in the right lane. As long as you’re at at least thespeed limit you can be in the left lane or if you are passing, you can be in the left lane. Would create a bit of a problem if you’re doing the speed limit everybody else trying to go faster. Most people will move over if they there’s traffic coming up behind them. But not everybody. Then again here in Minnesota we don’t care we pass on the left , we pass on the right where ever is available.
Passing on the right is incredibly dangerous. The law should be, “stay right except to pass.” If everyone followed that rule, we’d all get where we’re going with minimal drama. If you’re not going faster than the vehicle to your right, or there is no vehicle to your right, move over!
If we enforced that law over speed enforcement, road rage would likely drop, reducing accidents and improving traffic flow.
Delay, Deny, Defend
