Drivers - are you a lane changer?

[yoda313]

So are you an obsessive lane changer while driving?

Do you treat it like a video game and hop lanes any chance you get?

While on the freeway (highway for you other folks) I'll change lanes occasionally when somebody is going more than 3 or 4 mph under the speed limit and there is an opening to change. However if I'm only a few miles away from my exit I'll usually just bite the bullet and trail them because I won't have enough distance to pass them and get back to my lane.

I almost never hop lanes on surface streets. I mean whats the point? So your there twenty seconds faster? Is it really worth the hassle?

[usually_quiet]

I'm not prone to changing lanes either, but I used to ride with someone who treated the road [s:966f87e3ef]with[/s:966f87e3ef] like a video game.

He was a skilled driver in some ways but overconfident and reckless, and he used to play games with other drivers. I hated having to be in the same car with him behind the wheel. I found out recently he was killed in a one-car accident in January.

[M Bruner]

Nope, never felt I needed to. I do keep an eye out for them though, their unpredictability makes driving even more hazardous.

[freebird73717]

No I usually just drive the posted limit. It drives my wife nuts! For her if you are not 10 minutes early for something then you are 5 minutes late! So she drives fast every where!

[Des]

I drive prudently

Typically pacing with highway drivers unless it's crazy. My norm is to drive between the speed limit and maybe 10 miles over it if conditions permit.

I don't change lanes much though, only to be prepared to exit or if I recognise something is not right up ahead or someone is moving too slowly.

I like on the very rare events that the NJ Parkway has no traffic, then I have in my younger days (and last year) hit the 100mph mark for short periods of time.

--dES

[redwudz]

I hate freeways in general, so I usually just find a comfortable speed and stick with it, no need to change lanes that much. Around here, trucks can run the same speed as autos, so there aren't that many slow drivers or vehicles. As long as the slow ones stay to the right hand lanes, they don't bother me and I just stay in the number two or number three lanes.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I have 1 rule for driving: GET THE **** OUT OF THE WAY!
That applies to you, me, and everybody. There is a reason your car came with 3 mirrors - PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND PAY ATTENTION.
Yes, I change lanes.
If I'm going right to get around some idiot left-laner I'll absolutely give the folks behind/to the right a turn signal and I'll be courteous.
If I'm going left to get past that ******* left-laner that I just went right to get around, there's a fair chance his ass is getting cut off (mostly depending on my mood).
Otherwise I'm super obsessive about turn signals. USE THEM! They're pretty much the only way you have of letting the rest of us know what the hell you're doing.
I thought they were standard equipment these days, but either all these nifty new cars aren't coming with turn signals or everybody is just too ******* stupid to know how to work them...

[hardy]

I only pass the slow drivers, which are usually old folks lol

[yoda313]

Otherwise I'm super obsessive about turn signals. USE THEM! They're pretty much the only way you have of letting the rest of us know what the hell you're doing.

I can't agree more about the turn signals. At least that much I agree with your post Xylob

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I hate freeways in general, so I usually just find a comfortable speed and stick with it, no need to change lanes that much. Around here, trucks can run the same speed as autos, so there aren't that many slow drivers or vehicles. As long as the slow ones stay to the right hand lanes, they don't bother me and I just stay in the number two or number three lanes.

What a concept. Thanks for being considerate and polite! Too bad there aren't more like you...
Around here you can (and will) get pulled over and ticketed for holding up traffic in the left lane - even if you're doing the speed limit or faster. Obstructing the flow of traffic gets you a pretty stiff fine and several points against you license. It's sweet. It's pretty much in line with my 1 driving rule.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

At least that much I agree with your post Xylob

I drive fast.
People ask "what's the big deal? you in a hurry or something?"
Yes I'm in a hurry - THAT'S WHY I'M DRIVING! If I wasn't in a hurry I'd walk or bike... Idiots.

[M Bruner]

I drive fast.
People ask "what's the big deal? you in a hurry or something?"
Yes I'm in a hurry - THAT'S WHY I'M DRIVING! If I wasn't in a hurry I'd walk or bike... Idiots.

Oh my God.

[gadgetguy]

Of course I change lanes, I couldn't get where I'm going without changing lanes. But I don't weave in and out of traffic. On highways I generally keep right except to pass, but I don't jump right back if I'm going faster than the next car and know that I'll have to come right back. If that means someone behind me has to slow down, tough. I'm already going as fast as the law allows. I once had a judge make it very clear that I AM THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, regardless of what anyone else on the road is doing.

[yoda313]

very clear that I AM THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, regardless of what anyone else on the road is doing.

I guess thats another way of saying "go the speed limit" huh?

[gll99]

I only pass the slow drivers, which are usually old folks lol

Do you really want them driving fast!

I change when there is a major advantage or in areas where I know the traffic patterns pretty well in advance and if it's safe to do it otherwise why bother.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

...if you are not 10 minutes early for something then you are 5 minutes late! So she drives fast every where!

If you're on time, you're late.
Still no reason to drive like a maniac though.

[gadgetguy]

very clear that I AM THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, regardless of what anyone else on the road is doing.

I guess thats another way of saying "go the speed limit" huh?

Yeah, my son was fighting a speeding ticket and I brought up the flow of traffic excuse. The judge jumped down my throat so hard I thought he was going to come out my... nether end.

[TBoneit]

The last person that passed me on a on-ramp was amazed that we collided. The idiot thought I'd jam on the brakes or swerve for someone passing on the shoulder to cut back in.

I do at least the speed limit and stay right and use turn signals and come to full stops for red lights and stop signs (What a concept)! When I come to a stop at a red light I stay stopped. I don't keep creeping until I'm halfway across the intersection.

Back in the 80's I was was exiting the BQE and had to stop part way down the ramp until the guy that used to be behind me backed the hood of his car out from under the trailer. Did I care? I got paid by the hour.

Just remember next time you cut in front of a big rig and brake he doesn't care, you'll bounce a few times, your car will be ruined and his bumper will be slightly bent and need a respray.

Nowdays I drive a whole 5 minutes to work and back to home and my motto is "What me hurry?"

Cheers

[redwudz]

They will likely ticket you around here more often for impeding the flow of traffic than driving too fast in the number one lane. (Fast lane) The older or slower drivers usually stay to the far right. It helps that the trucks do the same speed as other traffic, so it flows well enough except at rush hours.

A fair amount of freeways around here are also 5 or more lanes in each direction, so you have choices. You can even use the carpool lane in off hours if you want to pass everyone. Most tickets issued on the freewares are given for unsafe lane changes. (Yeah, no turn signals and HUA (Head Up your Ass) driving. But most freeway drivers are courteous and safety minded.

The surface streets are different. I have seen some 12MPH grannies with the top of their head just showing over the steering wheel. I just pull over and let someone else ride their ass, blow their horn and scream at them. Fortunately they stay off the freeways.

[G)-(OST]

I can't stand slow drivers, hence I have lost my drivers licence 5 times & one of those times for 5 years, doing a runner from the cops, I was a naughty boy when I was a teenager, always on the gas

[Xylob the Destroyer]

The last person that passed me on a on-ramp was amazed that we collided. The idiot thought I'd jam on the brakes or swerve for someone passing on the shoulder to cut back in.

Passed you on the on-ramp? These are the people that it should be legal to shoot... They're adding to the gene pool and that must stop!

[MEL15]

Driving skills it's neither goin fast or slow.....If people behind the wheel of a car,would take driving seriously we all would be better off.Driving lanes passing lanes slow lanes,there's a high percentage of people that don't know the difference.I see them every morning and every night....Braindead at the wheel........I felt safer doin 110mph in Italy then 65mph here in New york.

[DereX888]

I don't know what you mean by "obsessive lane changer".
See, in most of Europe, people who drive slow keep RIGHT lane, or lane as much towards right as possible.
In America, specially in US & Canadian cities, so many idiots keep 50 on the left lane that I swear sometimes I am not surprised by any "road rage" acts of violence at all.

Many people don't notice that, but I drive a lot (and not only in America).
Unfortunately it is so common on american highways to have all highway lanes blocked by drivers keeping the same below limit speed on all lanes, that its impossible to pass them any other way than doing "obsessive lane changing" and some honking like it were some video game.
Just few hours ago I was blocked by some stupid girl keeping 40-45 on the left lane on a 50mph highway. Hopefully she'll learn how to drive or die soon in some horrible accident run over by huge truck doing 55 and she won't piss any people ever again (it'll be a waste since she was cute - which didn't stop me from showing her finger of course
Too many idiots here don't understand that driving too slow on a highway is as dangerous as speeding.

Driving skills it's neither goin fast or slow.....If people behind the wheel of a car,would take driving seriously we all would be better off.Driving lanes passing lanes slow lanes,there's a high percentage of people that don't know the difference.I see them every morning and every night....Braindead at the wheel........I felt safer doin 110mph in Italy then 65mph here in New york.

exactly!

At least that much I agree with your post Xylob

I drive fast.
People ask "what's the big deal? you in a hurry or something?"
Yes I'm in a hurry - THAT'S WHY I'M DRIVING! If I wasn't in a hurry I'd walk or bike... Idiots.

That's right.
I drive fast when I'm in a hurry too, and it's none of anyone's business why I or someone else is driving fast.
People should just get the f**k out of the left lane if they are driving slow (and again - it's nobody's business why someone is driving slow either, it's their choice - for as long as they stay in the slow lane, a.k.a RIGHT lane(s)! )

[M Bruner]

I once sat in on a lecture by a traffic policeman, and he told us what still amazes me today. About how many people say is what I still see a lot of in this very thraed. The posted speed limit is exactly that -- the limit. If you are in the passing lane and you're over the limit, you're breaking the law, plain and simple.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

And if you are in the passing lane and not passing you are breaking the law, plain and simple.
And if you are doing 45 in the passing lane (or any ******* lane) with speed limit posted 65 and MINIMUM posted 50 you are breaking the law.
Plain and simple.

[DereX888]

I once sat in on a lecture by a traffic policeman, and he told us what still amazes me today. About how many people say is what I still see a lot of in this very thraed. The posted speed limit is exactly that -- the limit. If you are in the passing lane and you're over the limit, you're breaking the law, plain and simple.

Driving fast does not automatically mean driving over the posted speed limits, has this ever occured to you?
And OTOH the posted speed limits are calculated for *average worst driving conditions* in that area, and for the typical moron drivers.
As you probably know, like with everything else we all are NOT equal, and we all have different driving skills. I can drive fast and safely, while someone else may not drive safely at any speed.
And there isn't always winter time and winter conditions on the roads... (i.e. they don't change the speed limit signs when summer comes, however the speed limits are set according to average winter conditions, ya know).

Cops should give more tickets for driving too slow (they never do this in USA unfortunately, but they do in Europe - and that's why morons doing way below speed limit don't stay in the left lanes there like they do in America). One would think it's obvious if you are bad driver and you are not comfortable even at 50mph on a highway that you shouldn't take highways at all. Yet all such people DO take highways, you can see them every day on every highway (usually in Volvo, hahaha). Common sense is scarce in modern America.
Majority of accidents on the roads are because of these bad drivers, not because of those who are speeding (that would be distant #3 reason, after drunk drivers).

Traffic cops nowadays are just extension of local city budgets, they're after handing out tickets easiest and fastest way possible.
They are like Tax Audit officers - of course they won't tell you what options are best for you, they just want your money - the more the better (for them).

And if you are in the passing lane and not passing you are breaking the law, plain and simple.
And if you are doing 45 in the passing lane (or any ******* lane) with speed limit posted 65 and MINIMUM posted 50 you are breaking the law.
Plain and simple.

Plain and ******* simple.
<sigh> but as I said - there are too many idiots in America.
They won't understand why drivers keeping side by side by side the same speed on all lanes is not the same as them driving one by one by one on the same lane.
It requires brain to think...

'nuff said.

[usually_quiet]

Why does everbody in this thread assume its about interstate highway driving or equivalent? Most of the driving that I do at highway speeds is on a heavily traveled state route with some traffic lights, where left and right turns are permitted. I am not going to get out of the lane I need to be in to turn left at the light a quarter mile ahead, or speed up, because some idiot behind me wants to go 65 to make the light. These people espect everyone to get out of their way regardless, and weave in and out of traffic like they are driving on a speedway.

[lordsmurf]

I have 1 rule for driving: GET THE **** OUT OF THE WAY!.

Yep. 8)

[edong]

Once I was doing 70MPH (posted limit is 65) in the fast lane driving leisurely. I did not notice the SUV behind. It passed me with an angry driver then cut me on the fast lane. Am I the f***ing idiot, who was already driving 5 miles above the limit or that driver with "get-out-of-my-way" attitude? Same thing in carpool lanes. I can see that many drivers are not very happy to have cars already doing the maximum speed limit in front of them (because they are faster). Seems carpool lanes are for unlimited speed.

Even I consider myself a "careful" driver and do not aggressively change lanes, twice I got ticketed for doing 5 and 10 miles over the speed limit. Some cops are serious in implementing the zero tolerance policy.

[hech54]

I'd really love to see you guys drive over here in Germany....

Lane changing....constant lane changing....isn't optional....it IS the way you drive the German Autobahns. You can't just park your ass in a lane and hit the cruise control. You'll get a car up your ass, cause an accident and it WILL BE your fault.

It freaked me out when I first got here....