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ETC
Starting Member
4 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jul 2010 : 13:53:41
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| There's also the common sense that in heavy traffic, both lanes are used. Everyone can't be in the right hand lane. Also on the HOV, the exits most exits are off the left lane. This doesn't mean you hop in the left and travel below the flow of traffic. If you join the left hand lane you should travel with the flow. Common sense, right? Nothing is gained by whipping up on a car and tailgating it. I don't care if the person is traveling 20 in the left hand land. Just pass on the right and be done with it. When you tailgate, you are being aggressive and there are laws against aggressive driving. Also, if you tailgate someone and they have to break suddenly because traffic does a rapid slow down,and you hit the car in front, guess who is responsible for the repairs? YOU! You are also responsible for any chain reaction accidents, like the car you just rear-ended hits another car. (I had this happen to me -- I was car number 3 in a line of 5.) |
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Pele
Senior Member Member
127 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2010 : 07:10:11
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quote:
Originally posted by AngloAustrian
My final note. After USA's post, I researched left lane driving. USA is right that it is ILLEGAL (I didn't know this) to hog the left lane EVEN IF THE PERSON BEHIND YOU DYING TO GET PAST YOU IS SPEEDING (in Virginia). Yes, you heard that right, even if the person behind you is doing 100, and you are doing 80 and are thinking, "What's his problem, I'm going fast enough and I'm not moving" etc., you have to get out of their way!! That pretty much blew my mind. The police say they'll take care of speeding motorists later down the road if they catch them - you do not take the situation into your own hands. Get out of their way if there is noone in front of you.
However, having said that, I still feel that, as long as you are going faster in the left lane than the rest of the traffic in the other lanes (i.e., passing) and keeping up with the flow of traffic in the left lane (no mile long gap in front of you), then you should be permitted (per safety recommendations) to keep a safe driving distance from the car in front (say a car length for each 10 mph) without being tailgated and flashed and being forced to slow down and move over for everybody who wants to tailgate the car in front of you and so on. Keeping up with the traffic in the left lane and not tailgating appears to be within the law.
So, some lessons learned all around.
Of course it's illegal to hog the left lane.
What's more dangerous:
1.) Speeding person passing you?
2.) Speeding person who gets stuck behind you, gets frustrated, and decides to pass in the wrong lane or on the shoulder?
I just wish they'd start ticketing people for driving too slow.
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Times to beat:
Horner Rd to/from Pentagon: 12 mins Without Slugs - 17 mins With slugs
Dale City exit to/from 3rd St Tunnel, D.C. 18 mins (No slugs - Holiday) |
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Tailgating - just a thought....
