[E=mc²]

Oh no not another one of these threads!

Anyway
Just wondering what a majority of you guys think about this.

On the highway, I've always thought you should never stay in the left lane. When I was in europe, even though we were going 180 we stayed in the right and used the left lane to pass other slow cars.

But recently a friend of mine was saying you can just stay in the left as long as you're fast.

What do you guys think?

Do you guys

a) Stay in the left going uber fast and ONLY move over if you see some faster guy coming up behind you? After moving over you switch back to the left? (So basically your drive on highway 1 will be in the left the whole time except if some guy comes up behind you really fast)

or

b) Stay in the right, but when you approach slower moving traffic you switch to the left, pass, then back to the right? (So regardless of whether there are other people in the left already, you stick to the right. Use left to pass, then as you catch up to more traffic up ahead whether it's 1, 2, 3, 10 cars, you pass left then go back to the right.)


Now we're only talking about moderate traffic. If it's rush hour, I'm sure most of us will find that if we stay in the left (both lanes pretty full) you're constantly moving faster than the right lane and so this is the lane to be in.

But no, I'm just talking about iono 1pm on a weekday for #1, or iono noon on a weekend for #1.

I would pick b) but that's also mostly because I've seen first hand how they do it in Europe. Some people complain that there's too much lane changing if you stay on the right.

So it comes down to a)what's convenient, less lane changes
or b) proper method, proper use of the passing lane to *pass* only

Which is why I'm also wondering. Because in my mind presently, I keep thinking that anyone who stays in the left the whole time (doesnt matter if they are not holding anyone up and are going 120kph) are "bad" drivers vs someone who knows to switch back to the right after passing. That's what I keep thinking, maybe it is influenced by my trip to europe a couple years back iono.


What do you guys think?

[dutch]

Keep right except to pass.

[MR_BIGGS]

In a perfect world I would stay in the right lane and when I approached slower traffic I would change to the left lane, pass and then go back to the right lane. However, with highway driving or any other road area, a large amount of people do not seem to follow the “left lane to pass” rule. As a result of this, I stay in the left lane and drive a bit faster. If someone behind me is approaching and going faster, I will move into the right lane so they don’t have to make an illegal pass.

Convenience wise, stay in the left lane here in BC. I would like to practice the stay in the right lane unless passing rule, but no one else does, so fuck it.

[dachinesedude]

^true that, was on 91 today at non rush hour times, cars were going 90 on left lane, semi's were cruising on both lanes, no one gives a shit here

[Volvoman]

left lane all the time when i go fast. either that or i'd have to change lanes all the time passing slow cars on the right.

however, if i see a car gaining on me while in the left lane, i'll move to the right and let him pass. it really depends how fast other cars around me are going.

as long as you're aware of not being an asshole in the left lane, it's ok

[silk]

nice thread, u will get 5+ pages arguments ....

this kinda of thread will never gets old on RS..!!!

i think its a weak sauce thread

[MR_BIGGS]

nice thread, u will get 5+ pages arguments ....

this kinda of thread will never gets old on RS..!!!

i think its a weak sauce thread

Great input..lol

[tiger_handheld]

Have you guys noticed that most BC drivers who drive on the I5 , stay on the right except to pass? Why do they do it there, and not at home?

[k20a]

Damn, is it really true that no one gives a shit here? I went down to the states with a couple of friends in two cars, and we were both in the left lane just passing cars and the cop pulled over my friend in the back saying that we were speeding, blah blah.

[StylinRed]

Have you guys noticed that most BC drivers who drive on the I5 , stay on the right except to pass? Why do they do it there, and not at home?

haha yes, but i think thats because the left lane on the i5 is overwhelming especially the road rage


and to answer OP, im usually in the HOV lane and i go in the "left lane" to pass slow ppl in the HOV

so i guess you could say B) ;)

[mj.rx7]

personally I stay in the right lane usually but I tend to drive fast. However if I see someone faster or just dont care to go fast I move to the right lane

[BD2002]

Right lane except to pass. If you're passing cars a lot, just stay in the left lane unless someone is trying hard to pass you.

[Nvasion]

i wish people here followed that... thats why i love driving in the states

[E=mc²]

nice thread, u will get 5+ pages arguments ....

this kinda of thread will never gets old on RS..!!!

i think its a weak sauce thread


dude I'm not trying to get into an argument about people going slow in the left lane.

I'm just wondering because, since there are a lot of people here who hate people blocking the fast lane, whether you guys actually follow proper procedure and keep to the right except to pass...or do you basically cruise in the left lane the whole time and ONLY move over if someone behind you is going faster?

I don't know why, maybe it's because of my trip to europe in the past, but everytime someone passes me and then moves back over to the right I'm thinking "nicely done this guy knows the rules", and every time I see some guy pass me but stays in the left lane, the word NOOB pretty much screams out at me. NOT because this guy is a "left lane blocker", he knows to move over if someone behind him is looking to pass, but mainly it's because he's driving in the left when he's not passing anyone. That's the noob part in the equation. Iono why but that's what I think everytime I see someone cruising in the left when not passing anyone.

I will move into the right lane so they don’t have to make an illegal pass.
.

FYI, passing on the right is NOT illegal. As long as there's another lane on the right to use, you can use it to pass. Maybe in Europe it's illegal, but not in north america.

[124Y]

For me, I drive in the left lane most of the time because I'm going faster than others most of the time. However, there are times when I encounter trucks or ricers who drive around 160 km/h coming up fast behind me; that's when I switch over to let them pass. Other than that, I don't see what the problem is using the left lane for cruising faster than those on the right lane.

[ELITE_TRAYUNZE]

If I only used the left lane to pass, I would be switching lanes every 5-10 seconds...

[azzurro32]

City driving I couldn't give 2 shits about "proper" left lane driving. It's a good thing to dream of but face it it's not gonna work out in most van streets. Especially since we don't have alot of left turn lanes. So when there's a possibility (Granville) I find the middle lane is best.

On highway use tho that logic should be strictly enforced IMO. It's also easier/safer to speed up on the highway to pass as it is on regular city roads also.

[Wykydtron]

My biggest, and really only anger enducing thing while driving is people that don't follow that rule. If you're going 120+ in the left lane, there won't be that many people maliciously overtaking you, so it gives you plenty of time to move out of their way. But if you're going 100 or less in the left lane, MOVE THE FUCK OVER!! I don't care if you're passing a car by 1km/h, move over, then move back and pass!
I love driving the I5/I90. HUGE signs every so often stating this rule. And if I'm not mistaken, won't they fine you for this too? Or am I thinking Europe?

[fliptuner]

I don't really care if people stay in the left lane as long as they're aware of what's going on around them and move the fuck over when someone's approaching from behind.

I personally stay to the right except to pass.

The real question is: WHAT'S THE SOLUTION???

- Better infrastructure
- Better enforcement
- Better education

Cops don't give a shit if someone sits in the passing lane doing 90, when there are 10 cars behind him waiting for an opening in the right lane. The guy passing on the right will get the ticket before the left lane blocker every time.

While the passing lane is addressed in the driver training book, it's rarely brought to people's attention after they get their license. We need bigger, bolder signage in more locations. They should read KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS as done in the States. SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT leaves too much up in the air. No one thinks they drive slow!!!! So leave the left for passing only.

[jaretron]

I'm not even going to read the other responses, pass on the left and get the fuck back into the right lane, I don't care if you're doing 180km/h, get the fuck in the right lane, the left is for passing only.

[MR_BIGGS]

I don't really care if people stay in the left lane as long as they're aware of what's going on around them and move the fuck over when someone's approaching from behind.

I personally stay to the right except to pass.

The real question is: WHAT'S THE SOLUTION???

- Better infrastructure
- Better enforcement
- Better education


I think the reason it works and people obey it in the states is because the speed limits are faster, are they not? The faster speed limits are a results of better infrastructure. My cousin from California drove here, and when he hit Hwy 1, he was like what the fuck..

But ya, if the infrastructure was better, maybe the speed limits would be higher and people would stay in the right lane.

[MR_BIGGS]

I'm not even going to read the other responses, pass on the left and get the fuck back into the right lane, I don't care if you're doing 180km/h, get the fuck in the right lane, the left is for passing only.

You don't have to read the other responses, I'm sure the vast majority agree with your sentiments. But many people don't use the left is for passing, so that screws up everything...

[shenmecar]

Guys guys, it doesn't matter what we think anymore, what we're taught by our driving instructor is obsolete.

You know why? Cuz fucking C-Lais do whatever the fuck they want. They'll drive 80 on the left lane on HWY 99 with their fucking highbeams on. This is a car that has BI-XENON. GG. (from personal experience)

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

stay in the left all the time as long as u are going fast enough that no one can catch u or tailgate u
:thumbsup:

[E=mc²]

haha good stuff
appreciate the responses. I guess it wouldn't be fair to expect someone to stay right pass left if they are going fast enough that they'd be passing cars every few seconds. But I'd say unless you ARE passing cars every few secs, move back to the right anyway.

I still think someone's a noob tho if they allow open space to appear in front of them (ie. no one to pass) for some time, like if you can't see a car to pass or if the next car in front of you is miles ahead.

I always see people who switch to the left lane immediately when they get on the highway..............even when there was nobody in front of them to pass.
It's like wtf keep right except to pass, no?

[hk20000]

If you want to drive fast which lane you are in is most likely the least of your concern. Pass on whichever lane that's open.

[MR_BIGGS]

If you want to drive fast which lane you are in is most likely the least of your concern. Pass on whichever lane that's open.

In BC yes, this seems to be the rule that the vast majority of people follow. It would be so much easier if people stuck in the right lane.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

in BC's reality check, fast lane is on the right.


Becuz dumbass mofo will try to get into the fast AS SOON AS they got on the hwy, even if there is not one car ahead of them within 500 feet.


Quick now im on the hwy, woot i know, i need to make a emergency lane switch so i can get on to thatttttt sideee for no reason just for the peace of mind

[LowTEC]

we just need more "KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS" signs then people will start to learn again

[mj.rx7]

lol no they won't...... people don't read signs let alone listen to them.

[maxx]

Keep right except to pass applies everywhere except for Lower Mainland.

I stay left and move over when somebody much quicker than me wants to get ahead, which has happened only once in my 9 years of driving.

Usually when crossing the border, or even on HWY 91, the driving etiquette is pretty good.

But yes, in Europe or further down into the States, keep right except to pass. It aint that hard to move over.

[ELITE_TRAYUNZE]

Like I said...If I stayed in the right lane and only used the left to pass, I'd be switching lanes non-stop....

I just stay in the left lane, and whenever I get behind someone they switch into the right and get out of my way...

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

we just need more "KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS" signs then people will start to learn again
our city is too cheap to put them thru out hwy 1

lol no they won't...... people don't read signs let alone listen to them.

because we dont even have signs to read in the first place, how can they read

[E=mc²]

Keep right except to pass applies everywhere except for Lower Mainland.

I stay left and move over when somebody much quicker than me wants to get ahead, which has happened only once in my 9 years of driving.

Usually when crossing the border, or even on HWY 91, the driving etiquette is pretty good.

But yes, in Europe or further down into the States, keep right except to pass. It aint that hard to move over.

:confused:
but staying left and moving over only when someone behind is quicker does not equal "keep right except to pass"

[124Y]

^ If there is a lot of traffic, I'll stay on the left because I'm constantly passing other cars, so it's probably safer and more efficient if I stay in the left. However, if there is a faster car behind me, I'll switch over, let him pass, and I'll switch out and continue on passing other people in the right lane. Keep in mind, that faster car will probably be staying in the left lane to pass those on the right lane as well.

In mild traffic, I tend to stay in the left, because even if I have the chance to switch to the right lane after passing a group of cars, I will probably see another group of cars in the right lane in front of me, so I'll need to switch out of the right lane to pass them in less than a minute, so I'll just stay in the left lane (unless a faster car is catching up behind me).

If I'm driving late at night with little to no traffic, I'll stay in the right lane because there are no other cars around and I'll drive slower than usual to avoid the cops.

[jello24]

i usually stay in the left lane since i usually find myself going faster than the traffic around me, so it seems more efficient than switching lanes back and forth, and more than likely less dangerous to stay in one lane.

the only time i use the right lane is when i need to make a turn, or when my exit's ahead.

[ELITE_TRAYUNZE]

"Passing lane" is a stupid name...It should just be called the "fast lane"...and if some1 comes from behind you, move over...

[E=mc²]

^ If there is a lot of traffic, I'll stay on the left because I'm constantly passing other cars, so it's probably safer and more efficient if I stay in the left. However, if there is a faster car behind me, I'll switch over, let him pass, and I'll switch out and continue on passing other people in the right lane. Keep in mind, that faster car will probably be staying in the left lane to pass those on the right lane as well.

In mild traffic, I tend to stay in the left, because even if I have the chance to switch to the right lane after passing a group of cars, I will probably see another group of cars in the right lane in front of me, so I'll need to switch out of the right lane to pass them in less than a minute, so I'll just stay in the left lane (unless a faster car is catching up behind me).

If I'm driving late at night with little to no traffic, I'll stay in the right lane because there are no other cars around and I'll drive slower than usual to avoid the cops.


true I guess it really depends on how fast you're going vs the amount of traffic

"Passing lane" is a stupid name...It should just be called the "fast lane"...and if some1 comes from behind you, move over...

Well 'passing' is the proper term. In Europe, particularly germany, it's illegal to stay in the left unless you're passing. Doesn't matter if it's a 20 sec gap between passing 1 car and then the next, you move back to the right in between.

I think the problem with staying left and only move right when someone behind looks to pass has its own problems. A lot of people driving in the left think as long as the person behind is not tailgating there's no need to move. It seems like at the current speed, everybody's satisfied. But that's not true.
I'd really wish they made it a strict law to keep right except to pass. I really do believe half the time the #1 wouldn't be as congested if this were the case. Often times I'd be behind a row of cars in the left and we're all going at 110ish and passing cars in the right, and I'd think 'damn a lot of traffic' but then when there is a slight incline up ahead and I can actually SEE up ahead more, turns out you can tell the lead car (6th car up!) is what's blocking all of us and has open space up in front of him. Doesn't matter if he's going 110 and constantly passing other cars. If it's not rush hour, moving right after passing a group of cars and then back again to pass cars up ahead would allow traffic behind (me at this particular time) a chance to pass because I wanted to go 120.

[6thGear.]

haha yes, but i think thats because the left lane on the i5 is overwhelming especially the road rage


and to answer OP, im usually in the HOV lane and i go in the "left lane" to pass slow ppl in the HOV

so i guess you could say B) ;)

In Wash state, you get ticketed for staying in the left lane if your not passing anyone.

Which BTW, didn't ICBC use to advertise on their commercials to stay on the right lane unless passing?

[hk20000]

poor distance judging is also one big reason why people go onto the fast lane ASAP. They are simply incapable of letting traffic onto the highway smoothly like how drivers from.....oh I don't know everywhere else in the world can do? On the fast lane = don't have to care about traffic merging.

[Meowjin]

seriously why do you make this thread every month?

[E=mc²]

an example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbMStoxjD4M

1:45 and 2:08, how they move back to the right after passing (and seeing that there are no cars up ahead in the distance for a great distance)
but yeah I just find it funny when I see people immediately move to the left lane even tho there are no cars to pass up ahead

btw fucking awesome vid

seriously why do you make this thread every month?

because it pisses you off

[Roach]

I do a lot of highway driving and have thought about this issue a lot.

1. The drivers are better in the US. There are exceptions, but for the most part they are better then us. IMO, this is due to better enforcement with a lot of highway patrol as well as better education - their signs explicitly say the left lane is for passing only.

2. I'm going to throw another one out there... speed. Specifically - the mantra that going 10km/h over the limit being considered "safe" from getting a ticket. IMO, the worst left lane offenders are those going 10km/h over the limit. They are not passing cars in the right lane fast enough. Yet, the mentality is that they are going faster then traffic, and therefore are entitled to their space in the left lane. If anyone approaches at 120km/h, these people take it upon themself to enforce their traffic beliefs and block. Unfortunately, 10 km/h over the limit is neither here nor there.

3. Regulations - In an age where the average family sedan is pushing 250hp, 90km/h as a highway speed limit is dangerous. Most cars can push 120km/h average without a problem. Conversely, some law-abiding citizens think they should be going 90km/h. Now we have cars hurdling through our highway system at vastly different speeds. Have you noticed, that when driving on a highway in the states, the pace is fairly even? You don't have people weaving in out of traffic as often? That's because their highway speed limits are more realistic.

4. Enforcement. Poor signage: "slower traffic keep right". Ambiguous. Limited highway patrol that has likely never stopped someone for going to slow.

5. Driver licensing. No driver testing goes on the highway to test a driver's ability. City driving is vastly different from the etiquette required to drive on a major highway. ICBC pays little attention to a major facet of living in the lower mainland. How many highways do we have here? Highway 1, Highway 99, Sea to Sky Highway, Highway 91. These are all major thoroughfares that most of us will have to travel to go anywhere outside of our own cities. Yet, drivers are never tested for their ability to merge, drive-on and exit a highway. But you sure as hell better be able to parallel park. Preventing curbed wheels and bumps to other cars is far more important than alleviating congestion and preventing major high-speed accidents.

In summary, people are shitty drivers because enforcement and ICBC have let them become that way.

Kev

[Meowjin]

obvious troll is troll

[E=mc²]

look just stay out of this thread if you're not gonna contribute.

if you can read the opening post, you'll see this isn't about "slow drivers in the left lane".

This is a convenience vs proper method issue. Two different things here, and since this is a car forum and people bitch about the left lane, I'm wondering whether people actually follow the rule of "keep right except to pass" or do they follow the "stay left and only move over if someone behind wants to pass" rule that my friend mentioned to me.

VERY different, I even said I see people (we're not talking slow asses here) moving into the left lane even when it's open space in front of them.

[hk20000]

Actually when you mention speed do you notice a very different speed spectrum during rush hour and when off rush hours? Say highway 91 the traffic flow is easily 140+ on the left lane when it's 8:30am or so but slows down to 110-120 around 9:30 ish and the rest of the day.

As though there's a "let's drive fast together" mentality during the rush hours. And traffic generally works well in those times.

[rcoccultwar]

I m no t=mc2 but when dealing with the everyday extremes of 2 lane highway driving, situational awareness ought to be key.
Your going to occasionally have drivers going well under the limit in the fast lane,
and the other end of the spectrum your also going to have berzerkers wildly speeding into traffic ahead.
Encounters, maybe broadband not worth even mentioning.

With heavy traffic you can bet its pretty much tits up.

[AzNightmare]

Left lane, Right lane, doesn't matter to me.

The only criteria I expect from drivers is to not go the same speed with a car in your adjacent lane. That way I can weave through you instead of tailgate with highbeams.

[RE-Jo]

Not sure if related, but I hate it when this happens:
When I am on the highway, I try to use Cruise Control as much as possible. Often times when I see a slower car infront I change to the left lane, then the car would speed up again just when I am about to pass them, then when I get back behind them, they would slow down again... :|
Do you guys see this happen often? Are they doing it on purpose, or do I think too much?

[jlenko]

Right lane except to pass someone slow in the right lane, then I switch to the left.

In fact, I find I do more passing in the right lane (of people going slow in the left) than I do if I were to illegally stay in the left lane.

BTW, I lean on the horn and wave my fist, as I pass the slowpokes on the right side...

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

hwy speed is a joke
lougheed hwy 60km....WTF? 10km faster than city


hwy 1 has been 80km for.......8 months now? are u kidding me?


going down SFU galgardi..60km..are u fucking with me? 60km...down that crazy slope? u better wish ur breaks dont overheat on you if not mad down shifting while cruising down with 4500rpm using engine break.

by the way, our city is too cheap to put up a dozen of signs thru out hwy 1 indicating slow mofos gtfo to the right


barnet hwy from port moody to burnaby north is fucked up

ONE LANE, u cant pass because u will have to go into HOV during morning/afternoon . Gay, even random streets have two lanes, no this so called hwy only gets one lane..because....its a hwy.