What's up with this passing on the right nonsense?

Where I learned to drive and did 9+ years of driving, we didn't have any roads with more than 2 lanes going any direction. You passed in whichever lane was clear.

I am temporarily residing in a place that has a lot of roads with 3 lanes. I have been passed almost entirely on the right. I don't drive in the outside lane because of drivers pulling out in front of me or coming to a complete stop to make a right turn.

Why do drivers going 20+ over the speed limit avoid the inside (passing) lane?

Because people like you inappropriately driving in the left/inside/PASSING lane?

I would prefer not to pass anyone on the right, and I will give someone a couple of seconds to move over, presuming they didn't see me coming up so quickly behind them in the left lane, but they only get a couple of seconds. Then I'm going around, and quickly. I drive fast.

Stay out of the left lane unless you are actively passing, and even then, if someone is coming up faster behind you, you should yield your lane.

It's how to drive.

http://www.trans.gov.ab.ca/Content/doctype252/images/RB-35.jpg

What part of '3 lanes' is unclear?

For the people in the cheap seats, that means left, center and right.

Just so everyone is clear....

There are 3 (1,2,3) lanes of traffic each direction plus a turning lane. I was driving in the center lane, the inside lane is vacant and there is some slower traffic in the outside lane. Despite the fact that the inside (passing) lane is clear, most drivers insist on passing in the outside lane, cutting in and out of traffic in a stupid NASCAR impression.

in a perfect world everyone would stay in the right most lane while cruising along. they would move to the center lane only to pass people in the right most lane. they would only move to the left most lane to pass people in the center lane. that's how most state laws regarding this read. however most of these roads are engineered badly. for one they weren't built with the amount of cars travelling on themin mind. people end up in the left and center lanes merely because there isn't enought room in the right lane. second, with the right lane having traffic merging on and also being the lane that is forced to exit that lane becomes dangerous for people just "passing thru" so they tend to stay as far away as possible, which puts them all teh way in the left lane or center lane when they realize that their exit is next and they start desperatly trying to get over(without signalling of course).

damn i started rambling. i had a point to make if anyone else can remember it feel free to post it.

sorry, I thought you were in the left lane.

oh i just realised that bowman wasn't talking about a highway he means a surface street. that's because you are in an rx-8 and for some reason people feel the need to show they are going faster than you evn though their car isn't as quick as yours. i had similar situations recently when i had my aunt visiting from las vegas. on the highway coming to our exit(my aunt in the car-) 3 times i had people run right up on my ass as we were coming to the exit lane. then about 25-50 feet before the exit lane actually started they jumped over the solid lines and passed like we were racing. the last time this little civic boy cut off the car that was about to merge onto the highway with his stupid move. damn near caused a big accident as people slammed their brakes and started maneuvering to avoid him. morons.

Speed-ER doc---Apology accepted. I'm sorry myself. I took offense at your response and replied in kind. My original post should have been more clear (unless you can read my mind).

My confusion is the fact that the drivers don't use the passing lane that is available.

I thought you meant highway as well. IMO on surface streets, the "slower keep right" rule doesn't really apply.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't have an RX-8. (j/k).

Yes that's right, I'm a wannabe. Circumstances beyond my control are keeping me from becoming an owner. When those circumstances change, I'll have one before you can say Zoom, Zoom!

What're you ashamed of? You don't need an RX-8 to be welcome here! You just need to cover my back from time to time, like on that hunting discussion. A well placed arrow can easily deflate some of the weak arguments that get floated up around here. :)

Hope you get yours soon, it really is an amazing car.

Ahhhhhhhh, feel the love! :D

I got your back Speed-ER doc.

Ever notice how speed traps on highways are almost always in the median? Cops tend to look for speeders in the left lane first. Consequently, I usually try to avoid the left lane if at all possible - if I'm in the 2nd lane from the left and come up on a slower car, I pass on the right if the lane is open.

The Perfect World referred to must be LA. I grew up there and that is where I learned to drive. The fast lane is for 80+ mph and unless it's stop and go traffic that is what people do. And yes they do get out of your way. There is no screwing around there and when a friend of mine was learning how to drive he was pulled over for going too slow on the highway. I miss the 101 sometimes. I miss Huntington Beach, San Clemente and Ventura beaches all the time when I think of catching waves... Oh well I guess I will learn to snowboard someday.

I usually always pass on the right for one primary reason - COPS! The left lane is targeted much more than the right, and you usually have cover from other cars in the right lane. I just try to "shield" myself by driving behind other cars whether that means driving in the left lane or right

I got passed by a Toyota 4Runner this morning - in one of those quick to the right, whip back in front of me moves - I was in the left lane on a local interstate with debris in both lanes approaching so I was not only NOT switching to the right lane but slowed a bit just to make sure it wasn't hazardous material (turned out to be magazine pages or similar paper looking stuff). SO I noted the tag # once I caught up with the jerk, then he jumped back in the right lane to exit - I got along side as he was exiting so I could get a good look at the driver - I had to laugh out loud which apparently irritated the h*** out of him and he gave me a hateful return look that looked as though he may come back from the exit ramp to get to me - and he had a patch on his arm / uniform on - it's an exit where the SHP, MVA & DOT all have HQs. Wasn't a trooper, or an MVA, or a DOT person. Turns out there's also a prison 3 miles down. I'm going to follow through w/ this and find out if he's a DOC officer/guard. (oh, all the while he was whipping around me and exiting he was on had his head glued to his cell phone w/ one arm steering...)

I don't know why, but a significant number of Texans seem to think it's their God-given right to cruise at or below the speed limit in the passing lane, and they refuse to get the hell out of the way. This isn't a big problem anywhere else I've driven.

I realize this isn't exactly on-subject, but I suddenly felt the need to vent.

I had an encounter in the first months I owned my RX-8. A 4-lane divided highway, and I was heading North. I passed some traffic in the left lane, and came upon a Taurus or Tempo or something in front of me. We were gradually passing some traffic, so I eased off and let them do their thing. We came to a significant gap in traffic, and I expected the person to move over to the right. Note - I was NOT tailgating. I kept my distance and gave the person the benefit of the doubt. To my surprise, they did not budge. I still kept waiting patiently....nothing. By this point, we came upon more cars in the right lane. After a minute or so, the right was again clear. Again, I waited for this person to slide over. After a few moments, I zipped up just a tad closer, and flashed my headlights to let them know that I definitely request them to slide over. I eased back and awaited their response - nothing. After a few moments, more traffic on the right, and I shook my head in disbelief. After a couple of minutes, the right was again clear. I began charging to pass on the right. Just as I passed, the Taurus jabbed his brakes - as if he had been trying to make me rear-end him - but I was already in the right lane passing. Here comes the best part....his wife/girlfriend had the nerve to flip me off as I passed by! How rude!

Originally posted by B-Nez
..his wife/girlfriend had the nerve to flip me off as I passed by! How rude!
No, he was just telling you that you were #1 :D

(SNL Will Farrell's hat works great!)

I, Cladius, It isn't just Texas because they do it in Washington and Oregon too. However in Montana they have more respect.

I always lean to the right when passing air. Should I go left instead?

Originally posted by hotpot
I always lean to the right when passing air. Should I go left instead?

If you're driving, always lean to the right. It's a classy move that shows respect for the person in the passenger seat.

if your gonna drive 10 mph under the speed limit then take the bus get the hell out of my way