Too many of you idiots out there don’t know how to drive.
That’s why we here at Rantlister have taken it upon ourselves to launch a new regular feature to educate drivers on proper road etiquette.
AJ’s Traffic School will be a recurring series of articles designed to teach some of our more vehicularly impaired readers the basics of being on the road. We hope that these articles will serve to enhance your motor skills, and create a safer and more pleasurable driving experience for commuters everywhere.
Especially for me. Because I don’t know how much longer I can tolerate sharing the road with you fucking window lickers before I put my foot up someone’s tailpipe.
Anyway, today’s lesson will be on proper usage of the left lane, particularly on highways, freeways, expressways, and any other type of road ending in “-way”.
The left lane of the highway is commonly referred to as the “passing lane” or the “fast lane” by most American motorists. Drivers will commonly use the left lane to pass the slower motorists in the right lane. While this doesn’t actually mean that violating posted speed limits is legal, most highway patrol officers will grant drivers a leeway of around 10-12 MPH over the limit.
Some roads, like the Atlantic City Expressway in New Jersey, strictly enforce a “Keep right except to pass” law, where drivers may only use the left lane to pass another driver, then must get back over as soon as it’s safe to do so. This is an example of using the left lane as the passing lane.
Other roads, like the stretch of I95 that runs through Philadelphia (the Delaware Expressway), allow drivers to remain in the left lane for as long as they’d like. This is an example of using the left lane as the fast lane.
Both of those are considered proper uses of the left lane. Now, let’s talk about some improper uses of the left lane.
It is considered an improper use of the left lane to travel slower than traffic in the right lanes. If you’re driving in the left lane, and you notice cars repeatedly passing you on your right, chances are you’re driving too slow and don’t belong in the left lane. In this case, it’s a good idea to move over into the right lane and allow faster traffic to pass on the left.
A similar improper use of the left lane is entering the lane directly in front of a faster moving vehicle. If you’re travelling at 55 MPH, and you see a vehicle in the left lane approaching at a faster speed, it’s generally not a good idea to enter that lane until the faster driver passes. By switching lanes in front of a faster driver, you create a safety hazard for yourself and other drivers on the road. The faster driver is forced to slam his brakes, which could result in a collision with vehicles behind them. There’s also a chance that the faster driver isn’t able to slow down in time, and collides with your vehicle. It’s generally recommended to let the faster drivers pass before switching to the left lane.
While it’s true that many drivers violate posted speed limits, as a civilian it does not fall onto you to enforce traffic laws. Please do not camp out in the left lane going at the speed limit in an attempt to assert non-existent authority over other vehicles that may or may not be speeding. Instead, it’s better to simply move aside and let those vehicles pass you.
Driving on the highway can be scary for an inexperienced or unskilled driver. And that’s okay. If you’re afraid of driving at high speeds, then maybe it’s better if you keep out of the left lane, or keep off of the highway in general. A scared driver is a hazardous driver.
By yielding the left lane to faster traffic, you’re doing your part to maintain the flow of traffic and ensure a safer and more pleasurable driving experience for yourself and commuters everywhere.
Especially for me.
