Tonight on my ride home I met the greatest driver in SOMD.

[desertrat]

That's what I was just about to post... if you are in the left and come upon a car going slower than you want to be going, you simply go around it... why the need for road rage?

Not road rage or anything, but I have come up behind someone going under the limit (it's the LIMIT guys, not a requirement) and for some reason wanted them to move over rather than me go around. So I've flashed lights, maybe followed a bit too close and when I finally get around them I see some old lady who is scared to death (probably shouldn't even be driving though) and just trying to get to her destination. Then I feel like a real jerk. Would I want someone doing that to my Mom?

 

[kwillia]

I'm not saying the tailgater was right, but why add to the road rage when moving right is polite and safe?

Agreed... but "pushing" said car down the road does not solve anything.

 

[aps45819]

Yes Western MD and other open areas. Not here.

Like between hollywood and Charlotte Hall isn't an "open area"

 

[thakidistight]

Driving is a privilege, not a right. When you're discourteous by blocking other drivers, you're abusing the privilege. Get out on on 70 in western MD and you'll see SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT signs.

Yes, in Western MD. Little different than down here.

 

[kwillia]

Not road rage or anything, but I have come up behind someone going under the limit (it's the LIMIT guys, not a requirement) and for some reason wanted them to move over rather than me go around. So I've flashed lights, maybe followed a bit too close and when I finally get around them I see some old lady who is scared to death (probably shouldn't even be driving though) and just trying to get to her destination. Then I feel like a real jerk. Would I want someone doing that to my Mom?

The point is that no one really knows why someone is driving the way they do, and making assumptions just escalates aggressive driving.

 

[bohman]

Nothing says I have to hold a door open for a person or say thank you when I receive something..Its called courtesy, if you're not making a left and you have a line of cars behind you, move your azz to the right lane.

Correct. And another thing - the vast majority of these people claiming that they need to be in the left lane for miles to make a left turn would help themselves tremendously by learning about the function of that little stalk on the left side of their steering wheel. It's called a turn signal, and if they used it I would KNOW that they were trying to turn left, and I'd back off and wait for them to make their turn before accelerating. But since most of them hit that signal when they are already turning (pointless) they get an eyeful of me in their rearview because I assume they are too rude to allow anyone past them.

In real life, not all cars will travel the same exact speed all the time; the slower ones should move to the right.

 

[desertrat]

Like between hollywood and Charlotte Hall isn't an "open area"

Does it say slower traffic stay right? No. Then both lanes are open.

 

[aps45819]

That's what I was just about to post... if you are in the left and come upon a car going slower than you want to be going, you simply go around it... why the need for road rage?

Sometimes you can't. They're pacing the traffic in the right lane.
I'm always amazed at the difference in how I'm treated when I'm on the bike. Folks will slide over to the right and let me by.

 

[RoseRed]

Should have stayed in the left lane ...

 

[kwillia]

Should have stayed in the left lane ...

Doh!

 

[aps45819]

Does it say slower traffic stay right? No. Then both lanes are open.

As stated earlier, it's a courtesy thing. You don't have a right to block the flow of traffic just because it's legal.

 

[desertrat]

Like between hollywood and Charlotte Hall isn't an "open area"

I agree, though, that it would be nice if drivers used the right lane, when possible, unless passing slower vehicles. Sometimes, though, due to traffic volume etc. it's just not possible or practical. Can you just see everyone lined up in the two right lanes along 235 at a red light because the left lane is "for passing"?

 

[desertrat]

As stated earlier, it's a courtesy thing. You don't have a right to block the flow of traffic just because it's legal.

Blocking traffic or just one guy on a bike who wants to do 70mph? Big diff.

 

[aps45819]

Blocking traffic or just one guy on a bike who wants to do 70mph? Big diff.

Why? traffic is traffic. How many vehicals is it OK to block?


If I was doing 70, I should probably be in the right lane to let the speeders by

 

[Booboo3604]

That's what I was just about to post... if you are in the left and come upon a car going slower than you want to be going, you simply go around it... why the need for road rage?

Because chances are there was a car in teh right lane doing the exact same speed as he was. My question to people who do that (drive side by side to the car in the other lane) why can't you either speed up or even slow down for two seconds and tuck in behind that car in the slower lane. For people who criticize those trying to get to work or whereever they are going. You are holding up traffic becuase you dont want to be one car length back from where you are. Doesnt make much sense to me.

 

[desertrat]

Why? traffic is traffic. How many vehicals is it OK to block?


If I was doing 70, I should probably be in the right lane to let the speeders by

I think there is actually a law about impeding traffic, not sure how many cars that would have to be, but probably more than one, and you're right about the 70. While we're on this remember posts a while back about local law enforcement tailgating in the left lane?

 

[Vince]

Should have stayed in the left lane ...

 

[aps45819]

While we're on this remember posts a while back about local law enforcement tailgating in the left lane?

Those guys are some of the worst offenders. They speed, don't use their turn signals and pass on the shoulder. They should be setting a good example.

...and I don't believe they are always responding to a call when I see that.

 

[Vince]

Not road rage or anything, but I have come up behind someone going under the limit (it's the LIMIT guys, not a requirement) and for some reason wanted them to move over rather than me go around. So I've flashed lights, maybe followed a bit too close and when I finally get around them I see some old lady who is scared to death (probably shouldn't even be driving though) and just trying to get to her destination. Then I feel like a real jerk. Would I want someone doing that to my Mom?

That must be the little old lady that causes the Solomons bridge traffic jam every night. There's always some idiot that will slow to 25 mph when they hit the bridge and cause a chain reaction, hence, traffic jam at 4pm.

 

[aps45819]

That must be the little old lady that causes the Solomons bridge traffic jam every night. There's always some idiot that will slow to 25 mph when they hit the bridge and cause a chain reaction, hence, traffic jam at 4pm.

some folks are scared to death at the thought of driving over a bridge. Took a girl over to Solomon's once on the back of my bike and found she had that phobia while we were crossing the bridge